The rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang 3rd-Gen FAQ

(this file created 3 April 1998)

author: David Lyons - please refer update/link requests to David

coded in html: LeAnne Davis

  1. Introduction
  2. Engines
  3. 
    ****************************1979****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    4       140     2V      88              N/A             Y
    4       140     2V      132 (Turbo)     N/A             W
    6       170     2V      109             N/A             Z
    6       200     1V      85              N/A             T
    8       302     2V      140@3600        250@1800        F
    
    ****************************1980****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    4       140     2V      88(MT)/90(AT)   N/A             A
    4       140     2V      N/A(Turbo)      N/A             W
    6       200     1V      91(MT)/94(AT)   N/A             B
    8       255     2V      118@3200        193@2200        D
    
    ****************************1981****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    4       140     2V      88              N/A             A
    6       200     1V      94              N/A             B
    8       255     2V      115@3400        195@2200        D
    8       255     2V      120@3400        205@2200        D
    
    ****************************1982****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    4       140     2V      88              N/A             A
    6       200     1V      94              N/A             B
    8       255     2V      111@3400        194@1600        D
    8       302     2V      157@4200        240@2400        F
    
    ****************************1983****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    4       2.3L    1V      88              N/A             A
    4       2.3L    turbo   145@4600        180@3600        T
    6       3.8L    2V      112             N/A             3
    8       302     4V      175@4200        245@2400        M
    
    ****************************1984****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    4       2.3L    1V      88              N/A             A
    4       2.3L    turbo   145@4600        180@3600        T(GT)
    4       2.3L    turbo   175@5000        210@3000        W(SVO)
    6       3.8L    EFI     120             N/A             3
    8       302     CFI     165@3800        245@2000        F
    8       302     4V      175@4200        245@2400        M
    
    ****************************1985****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    4       2.3L    1V      88              N/A             A
    4       2.3L    turbo   175@5000        210@3000        W(SVO)
    6       3.8L    EFI     120             N/A             3
    8       302     CFI     180@4200        260@2600        M(AT)
    8       302     4V      210@4400        270@3200        M(MT)
    
    ****************************1985½***************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    4       2.3L    turbo   205@5000        248@3000        W(SVO)
    
    ****************************1986****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    4       2.3L    1V      88              N/A             S
    4       2.3L    turbo   200@5000        240@3000        W(SVO)
    6       3.8L    EFI     120             N/A             3
    8       302     EFI     200@4000        285@3000        M
    
    ****************************1987****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    4       2.3L    1V      88              N/A             S
    8       302     EFI     225@4200        300@3200        M
    
    ****************************1988****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    4       2.3L    1V      88              N/A             S
    8       302     EFI     225@4200        300@3200        N/A
    
    ****************************1989****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    4       2.3L    1V      88              N/A             S
    8       302     EFI     225@4200        300@3200        N/A
    
    ****************************1990****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    4       2.3L    1V      88              N/A             S
    8       302     EFI     225@4200        300@3200        N/A
    
    ****************************1991****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    8       302     EFI     225@4200        300@3200        N/A
    
    ****************************1992****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    8       302     EFI     225@4200        300@3200        N/A
    
    ****************************1993****************************
    Cyl     disp    carb    HP              FT-LB           Code
    8       302     EFI     205@4200        275@3200        N/A
    8       302     EFI     235@4600        280@4000        N/A
    
    
    

  4. Production Numbers
  5. 
    *****************1979******************
    Notchback                       143,382
    Hatchback                       108,758
    Ghia Notchback                   48,788
    Ghia Hatchback                   31,097
    Mustang Pace Car Replica         11,000
    All 5.0L                         47,568
    TOTAL:                          369,936
    *****************1980******************
    Notchback                       117,015
    Hatchback                        86,569
    Ghia Notchback                   20,288
    Ghia Hatchback                   17,192
    TOTAL:                          241,064/271,322 Conflicting data from 2 sources
    *****************1981******************
    Notchback                        69,994
    Hatchback                        68,111
    Ghia Notchback                   11,991
    Ghia Hatchback                   12,497
    TOTAL:                          162,059/182,552 Conflicting data from 2 sources
    *****************1982******************
    Notchback                           N/A
    Hatchback                           N/A
    L/LG Notchback                   45,316
    GLX Notchback                     5,828
    GL Hatchback                     45,901
    GLX Hatchback                     9,926
    GT Hatchback                     23,447
    non GT 5.0L                       4,656
    GT                               24,799
    TOTAL:                          130,418
    *****************1983******************
    Notchback                        33,201
    Hatchback                           N/A
    L/LG Notchback                      N/A
    GLX Notchback                       N/A
    GL Hatchback                        N/A
    GLX Hatchback                       N/A
    GT Hatchback                     26,656
    non GT 5.0L                       7,891
    GT (turbo 4)                        604
    GT convertible                     1001
    Convertible (all)                23,438
    All 5.0L                         35,540
    TOTAL:                          120,873
    *****************1984******************
    Notchback                        37,680
    Hatchback                        86,200
    L/GL Notchback                      N/A
    GT Hatchback                     26,658
    non GT 5.0L                       5,280
    GT (turbo 4)                      3,798
    GT convertible                    6,256
    Convertible (all)                17,600
    All 5.0L                         38,194
    SVO (US)                           4258
    SVO (Canadian)                      250
    TOTAL:                          141,480
    *****************1985******************
    Notchback                        56,781
    Hatchback                        84,623
    GT hatchback                     36,879
    non GT 5.0L                       6,326
    GT                               42,428
    GT convertible                    5,549
    Convertible (all)                15,110
    All 5.0L                         48,754
    SVO (US)                           1496
    SVO (Canadian)                       19
    TOTAL:                          156,514
    *****************1985½*****************
    SVO (US)                            428
    SVO (Canadian)                       11
    *****************1986******************
    Notchback (all)                 106,720
    Hatchback (all)                 117,690
    Convertible (all)                22,946
    LX 5.0L                           6,674
    GT hatch                         40,578
    GT convertible                    9,887
    All 5.0L                         57,139
    SVO (US)                           2906
    SVO (Canadian)                      476
    TOTAL:                          224,410
    *****************1987******************
    Notchback (all)                  64,704
    Hatchback (all)                  94,441
    Convertible (all)                21,447
    LX 5.0L                          16,609
    GT hatch                         47,539
    GT convertible                   10,451
    All 5.0L                         64,148
    TOTAL:                          159,145
    *****************1988******************
    Notchback (all)                     N/A
    Hatchback (all)                     N/A
    Convertible (all)                   N/A
    LX 5.0L                          30,877
    GT hatch                         50,294
    GT convertible                   18,174
    All 5.0L                         99,345
    TOTAL:                          211,225
    *****************1989******************
    Notchback (all)                     N/A
    Hatchback (all)                     N/A
    Convertible (all)                42,244
    LX 5.0L                          45,876
    GT                               59,701
    All 5.0L                        105,577
    TOTAL:                          209,769
    *****************1990******************
    Notchback (all)                     N/A
    Hatchback (all)                     N/A
    Convertible (all)                26,958
    LX 5.0L                          44,851
    GT                               34,435
    All 5.0L                         79,286
    TOTAL:                          128,189
    *****************1991******************
    Notchback (all)                     N/A
    Hatchback (all)                     N/A
    Convertible (all)                21,513
    LX 5.0L                          27,880
    GT                               24,428
    All 5.0L                         52,308
    TOTAL:                           98,737
    *****************1992******************
    Notchback (all)                     N/A
    Hatchback (all)                     N/A
    Convertible (all)                23,470
    LX 5.0L                          19,131
    GT                               20,445
    All 5.0L                         39,576
    TOTAL:                           79,280
    *****************1993******************
    Notchback (all)                     N/A
    Hatchback (all)                     N/A
    Convertible (all)                26,300
    LX 5.0L                          22,902
    GT                               26,101
    Cobra                             4,993
    All 5.0L                         54,103
    Cobra R                             107
    TOTAL:                          114,228
    
    

  6. Technical
  7. Off-Road H-pipes

    This is a controversial topic. It usually boils down to a disagreement to what kind of effect off-road H-pipes have on low RPM torque.

    The side that claims off-road H-pipes cost low end torque base reason that they do not provide enough back-pressure to effeciently scavenge, and thus a portion of the intake charge goes right out the exhaust port during overlap. Some also relate their "seat of the pants" experiences to back up their claims.

    The side that claims off-road H-pipes increase (or at least don't cost any) low end torque reasons that the stock H-pipe (or even an aftermarket H-pipe with high-flow cats) is way too restrictive, and that headers have more of an effect on scavenging and tuning than any other exhaust component. They also relate personal experiences claiming their cars felt stronger at low RPM than before the off-road H-pipe.

    Also, in a recent test by "Super Ford" magazine, the two off road H-pipes they tested outperformed the two high-flow cat H-pipes everywhere in the RPM band.

    Also, off-road H-pipes are against federal regulations (as if that isn't a violation of the 10th Amendment) and may be prohibited in your state as well. So the legal risks of intalling them on a street driven car must be assesed along with the benefits of any kind of performance increase.

    Computer Chips

    Most people will tell you that computer chips to not work, or that your money is better spent doing other tweaks and mods.

    Bascially, computer chips change certain calculations and look-up tables the EEC uses to set fuel delivery, spark advance, etc.

    Buying a chip for a stock car for the sole purpose of increasing performance is a relatively expensive option. However, a custom chip burned for your particular setup can prove to be a worthwile investment. When you start tinkering with fuel delivery and recalibrating some sensors, then you might want to consider a chip, especially if you don't feel your car is running correctly.

    How To Adjust TPS
    "Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords"
    April 1993

    The throttle position sensor is one of those things that falls into the category of "computer stuff" that makes a big difference and is easy to deal with, but average people like us would never know about. Without the proper adjustment, the throttle position sensor (TPS) will give the computer a false reading as to the exact throttle opening. A false reading will limit wide open throttle performance (something we definitely don't want). A voltage reading must be taken using a digital volt/ohmmeter (DVOM) with the Key On/Engine Off and with the Key On/Engine Running. A Radio Shack DVOM, part No. 22-185A, works well for this job.

    The TPS is located directly on top of the throttle body and is adjusted by loosening the two phillips mounting screws and swiveling the sensor until the highest reading is found. It may be necessary to elongate the holes with a small file to achieve the desired reading.

    The spec range for Key On is from .88 to 1.0 volt; shoot for the .97 to .99 volt. With the engine running, the voltage should be no higher than 1.05 volts.

    Incorrect Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) voltage will result in reduced performance. The best way to take a TPS voltage reading is by using two safety pins through the wires coming from the sensor. The positive lead is attached to the green wire, while the negative goes to the black wire. Always ground the meter through the sensor's black wire. This gives a direct, and more accurate ground into the computer.

    Basic Tune-up Recipe For EFI 302

    This is the first in a series of "recipes" for building up your EFI 302 with mods that are known to work and be reliable. It's a concept I ripped off from the Buick Turbo Regal guys.

    This first recipe assumes a bone-stock Mustang. It does not call for the purchase of any aftermarket engine bolt-ons.

    This should get your '87-'93 302 running 97-99mph in the 1/4-mile while retaining stock drivability and appearance. Throttle response should be noticably improved. ET depends on your launch, shift points, and traction.

    Street Performance Recipe For EFI 302

    This recipe involves steps you can take to give your Mustang noticably more grunt while retaining street drivability. In this part, we're concentrating on two things: exhaust (which is a known weak area on stock 3rd-gen EFI Mustangs), and accessory drag.

    These mods should get your 5-speed Mustang running 99-102 in the 1/4-mile.

  8. Resources
  9. A. Websites

    Mustang 5.0 LX Registry
    1982-1993 Mustang GT Reistry Homepage
    The OFFICIAL 20th Anniversary Mustang Website and Registry
    The Corral
    SVT Cobra Mustangs
    5.0 Mailing List InfoPage
    Mustang Works Online Magazine
    Gateway 5.0 Mustang Club
    TurboFord.Org

  10. Glossary
  11. Credit
  12. SVO engine info and production numbers provided by Carl Haines.
If you find any of my links inoperable, please email me with the URL & the broken link reference. Thanks!

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Last modified: 15 July 1999