Good Afternoon,
My name is Grant and I've been a fan of the early fox body Mustangs since Ford redesigned the Mustang II in 79. I used to have pictures of 85 and 86 GTs on my bedroom walls. My very first car was a 69 Grande with a 289 HO engine that had been built for the track and dropped in to the six cylinder engine bay. The car was fun to drive, but on a minor fender bender and seemingly constant engine problems led me to begin collecting parts for a 351c swap. Well, other interests began to take over, and I finally decided to sell off the project. My second Mustang was a 2008 GT. I loved the way it looks very similar to the 69 fastback. LOVED that car, but when a family member fell sick, I had to liquidate and it was one of the first things to go. Well a few weeks back, I was watching a show at a buddies shop called "Wheeler Dealers" where they picked up an 88 GT for around $2500. I guess I hadn't followed the market, and when I started looking around, I found everything from $500 rollers to $15,000 near perfect specimens. I figured I could pick up a relatively decent mechanic's special for around $2500 and set that as my target. Well, after a couple weeks I found a 1986 GT Convertible in Austin, Texas for $1000. Needs top, tires, exhaust, battery, interior work, etc. Good rust free body, and engine fires right up on starting fluid. Car had been sitting for almost 10 years, so the fuel in the tank and fuel system wouldn't allow the car to stay running, and possibly needed a fuel pump. Well, I borrowed a trailer and made my way to Austin to pick up my new family member. I give it the once-over in the guys driveway. Everything looks good. Coolant level is low, but the car has been sitting for a while. Radiator internals look good, only a little light corrosion. Got the car home and it's just as described, Relatively clean, straight body. Interior about what you'd expect for a 30+ year old convertible. Dropped a new battery in and a shot or two of ether and it fires off like it just rolled out of the showroom. Nice. So, I grab a gallon of distilled water and start pouring it in the radiator. After about ten seconds I notice water pouring out from under the car. I get down and check the hoses. All tight. Pour a little more and start looking for the source. It's coming from behind the power steering pump and a/c compressor. Freeze plug must have popped. So I start pulling the accessories off of the front of the engine, and low and behold the freeze plug is in place and solid. I do the fill test once again and now can see where the water is coming from. A silver dollar sized hole in the front of the block just to the right of the water pump. Crap. I pull the water pump off and damned if there isn't another hole in just about the same location on the passengers side of the water pump. I have a friend who is a welder and says that he can patch it up. However, I'm seriously losing faith in the integrity of this engine, and setting out to find a replacement block. Well I'm hoping the Four Eyed Pride forums can help me determine my options. So I'm on my way to the V8 Powertrain forum to do some research and probably post my second post!
Thanks!
Grant
1986GTVert
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