88 hatch project.

[Nathansmith50]

Hey guys. I just joined because i'm about to start a project involving an 88 hatch body and a 96 GT everything else including interior. I thought this would be a great resource for info if and when i run into issues.

I've gotten some grief from some folks about using the 2V motor but i'm not trying to build a race car and the 88 is motor/transless so the 2V is a huge improvement over that.

Anyway just wanted to introduce myself.

 

[Bill]

Hi Nathan, welcome to the party. You are in the right place. Don't let anyone give you grief about using your 2V. It sounds like a great project. A 96 GT makes a good donor car and will have virtually everything you need to complete the project. You can always upgrade to go-fast stuff after the initial build is complete. You will find a huge amount of information on your build right here on this site. There are a lot of builds that will show you step by step how different things can be done. Make yourself at home. If there is something you can't find, feel free to ask. There are likely two or three ways to do everything you plan to do. Pick the one that fits your skill level and get started having fun.

 

[ModFoxMustangs]

@Nathansmith50 Welcome and Good Luck, Hope you enjoy your stay.

 

[Nathansmith50]

thanks guys. I can already see that this is a less troll filled environment.

here is my project on the day i picked it up and in its current state. i only work on it for about an hour or two a day after my girls go to bed so it's going to take FOREVER. but any time i spend working on it i'm not watching tv and that's good.

 

[Bill]

It looks like a good start.

 

[Nathansmith50]

some update. I got the rearend, exhaust, dash out this week. and i got the motor/trans dropped out the bottom on the K member.

not having a lift i think i'm just going to strip all of the lines from the front clip and just cut it off.then i'll roll the body out of the garage and finally have some room to work.

 

[Walt460]

Cheap upgrade for that 96 4.6L GT engine is to find a set of used PI heads with cams. There are plenty out there, on 2001 and new 4.6L 2V engines. Do the swap while the engine is out. Yes, if the motor is around 100K, you should pull the front cover and change the timing chains and idlers/tensioner too, but then you will have a great running 4.6L 2V. Compression jumps to like 10:1 and that really wakes up these motors. Best if you get the PCM retuned, and tunes for this swap have been around for a long time and well proven. I did this on a 100K 1996GT auto convertible, that I bought as a daily driver, and it ran so good (flowmasters too) that someone offerred me good $$ for it.

 

[CabernetFox]

Good luck with your project. I'm doing a 5.0 mod in my 89.

 

[Eatonualive]

i like that you want to be different with the 2v. you dont see too many of those running around

 

[5.4 turbo]

looks like a very cool project..keep us posted

 

[Nathansmith50]

Well it's been a while since I was on here...but I've got her running driving and painted...sprayed anyway...still rough...needs to be sanded and another coat and then cleared but it looks good and is surprisingly fast for a little 2V 4.6. Lot lighter than my 96 vert. Here are a couple pics.

 

[ModFoxMustangs]

welcome back and that looks real good.. Any issue along the way you can share would be nice..

 

[Nathansmith50]

Hmmm.

It was really pretty simple. So much of the two cars are the same. The hardest part for me was taking the steering bearing and welding it into the new firewall...because i'm not much of a welder.

And the dash took pretty significant work.

I had a little trouble with the k member that I had given my donor car was a front end collision so I had to replace it.

Oh yeah and the a arms...definitely would use the fox a arms and steering rack to keep the front tires inside the wheel wells.

 

[chais87gt]

That is a nice car the work u put into it really shows. Great job