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  1. #1
    FEP Power Member f4fntm's Avatar
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    Default Difference between '79s and other years?

    I know that the model years 1979 and 1980 were different from the later Fox Mustangs in some ways. Example, the goofy low-mount interior door latch. In what other ways are they unique?
    Lee
    '79 Mustang Ghia 5.0 notch

  2. #2

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    mainly wiring! also green dash lights dash pad screw
    in different place and only 2 screws on fuse block
    cover, also splined steering wheel and horn on
    turn switch..... probably more but ive run accross
    all of the above so far.
    78 Bronco 400 *RIP*
    85 Capri 2.3 5spd
    99 Sable 3.0 wifes ride
    95 Volkswagon GolfIII
    and of course my baby,
    86 CAPRI 92 302 /SROD

  3. #3

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    Door handles on the bottom of the doors, different style hatch latch.
    1979 Mustang Indy 500 Pace Car
    Modified Mustangs Aug, 2006 Feature Car

    2016 Shelby GT350

    2015 F150 2.7 Ecoboost

  4. #4
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    Default

    I always liked the inside door handles in my 79 Capri. And the lock button. It always drove people nuts when they rode in it for the first time.

  5. #5
    RedFox82
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    Quote Originally Posted by roughbutfun
    also green dash lights
    Hrmmm.... my 82's got dem purdy green lights...?

  6. #6
    FEP Senior Member
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    Yep, My Capri does too (82) Along with the STUPID horn button located on the turn signal lever. What the heck were they thinking???
    1986 (2A) Saleen #120.

  7. #7
    FEP Member 79 cobra's Avatar
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    5.0 was in 79s .
    4.2 in 80 .
    For V8s .

    79 had front aluminum bumper reinforcments .

  8. #8
    Travis T
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    Only the 79's had low door handles, both 79 and 80 had the locks in that goofy location, and not all 79's have the aluminum bumper reinforcement. That's mostly on the turbo cars.

  9. #9
    FEP Member 79 cobra's Avatar
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    All 79s should have had aluminum front bumpers .

    79 had 2.5 mph bumpers .
    80 and up had 5 mph bumpers .

    79 turbos had aluminum rear drums .

  10. #10
    Travis T
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    I've taken apart a few 79's, and I know that aluminum doesn't rust. Some 79's have aluminum bumpers, not all.

  11. #11

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    Mine has aluminum bumpers.
    1979 Mustang Indy 500 Pace Car
    Modified Mustangs Aug, 2006 Feature Car

    2016 Shelby GT350

    2015 F150 2.7 Ecoboost

  12. #12
    Venomous Moderator Hissing Cobra's Avatar
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    I don't know what year they stopped doing it, but the '79's had trim pieces that were secured to the top of the door's/quarter panel's sheet metal that ran along the belt molding of the windows. I do know that on the convertibles, they at least had them until 1984 (I've seen them on an '84 GT-350.) My brother's '85 GT doesn't have these 4 pieces. Does anyone else know anything about these?
    Pete Slaney

    1979 Mustang Cobra

    347/T-5/4.30's
    420 rwhp/380 rwt (New Motor)
    11.49 @ 121.86

    306/T-5/4.30's (Old Motor)
    307 rwhp/278 rwt
    12.38 @ 111.38

  13. #13
    FEP Member 79 cobra's Avatar
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    My 3-79 and 7-79 non turbo mustangs had aluminum
    bumpers .

    Chances are if replaced , they would be steel .
    Alot can happen after 25 years .

  14. #14
    Travis T
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    Those window trim pieces you are talking about Hissing Cobra, were optional. The base model cars don't have them, but cars with the exterior decor group or Ghia package do. All of the Cobras seem to have them too, along with the Pace Cars.

    And the cars I took apart with steel bumpers were original, none had ever been wrecked.

  15. #15
    Mike Croke
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    Something not mentioned yet is that the transmission crossmember mounts are different. You cannot interchange crossmembers with the later years without welding.

    My '79 Capri had steel bumpers.

  16. #16
    FEP Power Member f4fntm's Avatar
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    Something not mentioned yet is that the transmission crossmember mounts are different. You cannot interchange crossmembers with the later years without welding.
    Is that because of the changeover from C4 to AOD? Or SROD to T5?
    Lee
    '79 Mustang Ghia 5.0 notch

  17. #17
    Mike Croke
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    SROD to T5 happened sometime in '83 I think.

    The difference is the "tubes" that the crossmember mounting bolts go through are about 3" long compared to the ones on later cars that are 6" long. Thus, the flanges the crossmember bolts to are spaced differently. Not a big deal unless you want to run a double hump crossmember on a '79. Then the welder comes out.

  18. #18
    Venomous Moderator Hissing Cobra's Avatar
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    I should have remembered that crossmember difference, as we had to relocate mine. I swear, sometimes my mind is on a different planet!

    I'm not too sure about this one, but I've read a post on another board recently where someone was looking for '79 V-8 motor mounts because the newer style wouldn't fit his '79 crossmember. Is there any truth to that? I didn't experience this with my Turbo 4 cylinder to V-8 swap, because we switched crossmembers to a 1986 GT unit and I bought new '86 style mounts for that one.
    Pete Slaney

    1979 Mustang Cobra

    347/T-5/4.30's
    420 rwhp/380 rwt (New Motor)
    11.49 @ 121.86

    306/T-5/4.30's (Old Motor)
    307 rwhp/278 rwt
    12.38 @ 111.38

  19. #19
    Mike Croke
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    I believe that isn't a '79 specific issue. I think the inline-6 cars had a different engine crossmember which required unique motor mounts.

  20. #20

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    My car has the stock crossmemeber and 88 mustang engine with 88 convertable motor mounts and it all fit fine.
    1979 Mustang Indy 500 Pace Car
    Modified Mustangs Aug, 2006 Feature Car

    2016 Shelby GT350

    2015 F150 2.7 Ecoboost

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