Lets talk SVOs!

[Kevins89notch5.0]

Well we all know I have been looking for a daily driver. My notch is A/C less, has 3.73s that whine, crappy gas mileage(damn right foot), etc. Its not built for comfort.

Some of you BS regulars have seen me post a couple "whats it worth" threads. While looking over ebay and classifield ads, my attention has moved. I started looking at 94+ verts, but passed due to high costs as well as insurance. Then I kinda looked at hard top foxes since I don't like 87-93 verts. Then I fell in love with a white 86 GT vert on ebay, but the owner ended up wanting WAY to much. That leads me to my recent car of notice...

http://www.mustangmods.com/data/151/84svolside.jpg

What first caught me were the wheels. I love those wheels on black, white, or silver foxes. Here's some info on the car:

------------------------------------------
1984 Mustang SVO
80k miles
'96 Cobra wheels w/ 235/40/17 Kumho 711's
Motorsport "B" springs
Factory Koni reds
Poly bushings in rear C/A's
Stainless Pistons in front calipers
braided brake hoses
Global West sub-frame connectors

Stock 2.3L turbo
'91 Ranger cam (roller)
36lb injectors w/ '87 TC LA3 ECM
TC Intercooler
K&N cone filter
aftermarket boost controller
3" downpipe w/ single 3"MAC catback
Motorsport clutch
BBK Quadrant and firewall adjuster
'86 trans w/Kirban shifter
'86 7.5 Rear w/3.73's

213rwhp/260ftlbs
14.48@99.6 w/2.4 60ft

I am asking $3500
--------------------------------------------

Hmmm...

*decent power(more than a stock 5.0),

*great suspension(and I currently thing my notch handles good),

*much better brakes(all I have even driven is fox mustangs, so I am somewhat use to crappy ones)

*and holy crap decent gas mileage possibly!

The first thing that came to mind is hoopties old cursed white one, and the stories I have heard of it. I have also heard a couple other bad stories. I did some searching here and someone said that as long as no one has messed with the wiring, they should be good. Is that correct?

Now honestly, other than the basics(turbo 2.3 with 4 wheel disc brakes and a very nice suspension) I really don't know much about them. I spent the last hour or two looking into them more. First I noticed it seemed people like the 85.5, and 86 ones better. I started to wonder why. Then I found this page... http://www.svoca.com/FAQ/

Mainly the HP is low in 84 due to single exhaust, a different turbo, and the lack of water cooling.. With the SVO in question, that wouldn't really be a problem.

Is it just me, or does the car in question seem to lack the dual wing? Even looking through the drivers door, through the rear glass it doesn't seem to be there. Did some come without the dual wings?

As I said, I really don't kow a whole lot about these cars, so how does the mods mentioned seem a far as the cam, injectors, and ECM?

Daily driving one, what would be the average mileage. My old 174K, POS, factory tuned(never a tune up) non turbo 2.3 still pulled about 23mpg average.

Any other comments/adivce is welcome. Thanks!!

[evlrs84]

soo, what's supposed to be between the tags?

Hoop will come in and say SVOs are an abomination of wiring catastrophe.

I will come in and say we've got an 85.5 that has lived its entire life as a daily driver (save for the last few months) and is a screaming hoot to drive.

And it'll go back and forth like that for a while...

[FoxChassis]

Hoop will come in and say SVOs are an abomination of wiring catastrophe.
Seriously, what's that all about? What do I not know?

I'd like to have an SVO one day but I'd also like to know the caveats.

[Evil86lx]

I like it.. very good looking car and all of the simple mods have done to it...

the wiring is not that big of a deal and common among all of the early fox car's. They are a blast to drive, good power, and excellent handling/brake's.

I drove mine pretty much every day this summer and raced it on friday nights without a single problem. Mine had a few problems which the previous owner (before svo85) had caused.

I was averaging 23mpg in town and thats with me beating on it. i'm sure that if someone drove like a normal person those number's would increase.

The only problem that i see is that they are addictive and you may find yourself spending alot of time with it and it may become less of a daily driver.

I would say it sounds like a good deal and it gets my vote....

kyle

[CarlsV6]

I'd love to have an SVO for my daily, gladly trade my V6 for one.

[FoxChassis]

I'm not familiar with these alleged wiring problems. :?: Neither my '83 GT nor '86 GT have shown any such thing.

[mfpmax]

*and holy crap decent gas mileage possibly!

Mainly the HP is low in 84 due to single exhaust, a different turbo, and the lack of water cooling.. With the SVO in question, that wouldn't really be a problem.

Is it just me, or does the car in question seem to lack the dual wing? Even looking through the drivers door, through the rear glass it doesn't seem to be there. Did some come without the dual wings?

As I said, I really don't kow a whole lot about these cars, so how does the mods mentioned seem a far as the cam, injectors, and ECM?

Daily driving one, what would be the average mileage. My old 174K, POS, factory tuned(never a tune up) non turbo 2.3 still pulled about 23mpg average.

Any other comments/adivce is welcome. Thanks!!

Gas mileage...only if you stay out of the boost...could you do that on the Notch :)

The Turbo was the same, the water cooling had no effect on HP. And HP can easily be changed by the addition of a boost controller(take your pick, $5 mechincal, $50 mechincal, or $150 electronic).

From the looks of the picture, it looks like an 87-93 hatch, probably damaged the orignal Bi-Wing...there is a Bi Wing delete option, but that certainly looks like a 87+ hatch.

Mileage...i've been pulling 22MPG city...beating on it. And my car isn't running good at all.

[Kevins89notch5.0]

*and holy crap decent gas mileage possibly!

Mainly the HP is low in 84 due to single exhaust, a different turbo, and the lack of water cooling.. With the SVO in question, that wouldn't really be a problem.

Is it just me, or does the car in question seem to lack the dual wing? Even looking through the drivers door, through the rear glass it doesn't seem to be there. Did some come without the dual wings?

As I said, I really don't kow a whole lot about these cars, so how does the mods mentioned seem a far as the cam, injectors, and ECM?

Daily driving one, what would be the average mileage. My old 174K, POS, factory tuned(never a tune up) non turbo 2.3 still pulled about 23mpg average.

Any other comments/adivce is welcome. Thanks!!

Gas mileage...only if you stay out of the boost...could you do that on the Notch :)


Yeah, but with average driving, never really seeing boost, just a couple 3-4K pulls, I'll see about 16mpg, not 22

[Kevins89notch5.0]

soo, what's supposed to be between the tags?


Damn, quick one there huh?

I found the car last night. I was about to make a post ASAP(even clicked on new thread), but decided to do some research first. After some research, my internet died. I then typed up this thread and went to bed. That way when I woke up, all I had to do some host the pic, and hit submit. Well I did that in reverse, and you caught me in that minute the pic wasn't there. :D

[mfpmax]

Yeah, but with average driving, never really seeing boost, just a couple 3-4K pulls, I'll see about 16mpg, not 22

Oh...then you'll be seeing boost then :lol:

[EFI 4-EYE]

DAMN that looks like a deal. I was looking for a decent SVO for a couple months and I would have bought that if it's what they say it is for the money

[Evil86lx]

I'm not familiar with these alleged wiring problems. :?: Neither my '83 GT nor '86 GT have shown any such thing.

Wires cracking/fraying at the TFI module and at the fuel injector's..
Thats aabout it.. thats why i said it's no big deal.

I haad the same problems with both my SVO's, my 87 GT, and my 86 LX. Pretty easy to repaire and not that big of a deal.

kyle

[Hooptie]

what do you want to know?

They DO have wiring issues. Your best bet for reliability would be to either leave it BONE stock or do a stand alone or programmable EFI with it.

I still ove SVOs, and you found the sweet spot with the wheels.
http://www.foureyedpride.com/phpBB2/album_pic.php?pic_id=658
GOD that was a sexy sexy car.

made 300hp and a tick over 300ft-lbs, got 27mpg on the highway and would outhandle anything anyone I knew drove.

The car was a monster when it ran right, sideways through third without powershifting.

YOu have a good idea, but like I said, leave it stock or do n aftermarket EFI.....oh, I can send you a sound clip of mine with an aftermarket cam and 3" single exhaust all the way out and a mac flowpath.

[Kevins89notch5.0]

YOu have a good idea, but like I said, leave it stock or do n aftermarket EFI.....oh, I can send you a sound clip of mine with an aftermarket cam and 3" single exhaust all the way out and a mac flowpath.

Sure, kevinpauletti@gmail.com

You say to leave it bone stock, but look whats already done to it. Any comments on that?

[Kevins89notch5.0]

Well I just got a reply to my email. What I said is in quotes.

Let me first say it appears to be a very nice SVO you have. I have some questions if you don't mind.

It appears by the list of modifications, you know the car pretty well. Were these done recently, or simply over time? How long have you had the car?

I have owned the car for almost three years now.... the first year and a half were spend putting the car back together. so most of the mods were done as I was reassembling the car...


Has it given you any problems?

It has had it's share of problems... the car is 20 years old... and had been sitting for 10 years of that.....
Has it ever been in an accidents?

since I have had the car no.... but from what I see it took a light hit in the left front years ago... no structural damage, just cosmetic.
Could you send me the VIN so I can run a CarFax report on it?

1FABP28T7EF129717

I can tell you where the car has been for the past 13 years...

Does the A/C work?

No the A/C doesn't work... I never hooked it back up when I put the car back together... It's all there but I never resealed it and charged it....
It just wasn't a priority to me...

How is the interior, any rips, burns, etc?

The drivers seat has a rip on the outside bolster from where the seam has split.. no burns, since I don't smoke... And it has a PERFECT dashpad.

Being from AL, I am going to guess its a rust free southern car?

The car isn't "from" AL, it is from MD, It does have some rust in it. it will be real hard to find a 20 year old car that doesn't....
Is the paint origional?

everything except the front bumper, LF fender and drivers door have the original paint...

This may sound odd, but has the wiring harness been messed with at all? I know that can be a problem on these cars once tampered with.

The ONLY parts of the wiring that have been messed with are the radio, and the cursed TRW fan controller, i replaced it with a modern relay.

ALso, it may be the pic, but the car looks as if it doesn't have the dual wing?

Your right, the car currently has a hatch from a '90 GT on it... I still have the original hatch and wings that were on it...


If you have any other pictures, as far as the interior, rear, engine, etc, please send them by way at kevinpauletti@gmail.com Thanks for your time.

-Kevin

I will send Pics as soon as I get to my other computer at the shop...


To be totally honest with you this car isn't perfect, The car is 20 years old and it is in very good shape considering that 3years ago the car was a shell. The car is very dependable... and very fun to drive. but if your are looking for a perfect '84 SVO this isn't it...
I have driven the car everyday for the past year and a half with minimal problems... the nice thing for you is that all the bugs have been worked out and fixed...

[mfpmax]

There "was" an SVO in my area for sale. Only thing was it had a Aero nose on it.

[Hooptie]

with whats been done to it? Its fine.

However, you suck, as I know of one rust free black 85 SVO thats in need of work........and I'd like to own it.

[Kevins89notch5.0]

Well I'm passing on it, but here is the link if anyone is interested.

http://www.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=554362

I don't like how it sat for a long time, has some rust, has been apart, and doesn't have working A/C!

However, I erally am liking the idea of a SVO, and plan to keep my eyes open for a better one.

Now that I'm in FL, I will never buy a car thats from the north!!!!