So I found a cryptic craigslist add that has a project mustang svo. Supposedly ran last summer. 1984 What are the big problem areas for this type of mustang. If the engine is grenaded, is a straight forward swap for a more traditional mustang powerplant? Is there a weight difference that would require different front suspension components.
Hoping to trade a saab 9000 I got recently.
I had a couple, and before the 2.3T gets slammed, I will tell you that my experience with them was nothing but fun.
The '84 was the 175hp version with 5 lug 16" wheels, 4WDB, and built around the Koni suspension, with 3.45 rear gears.
I'd get another 2.3 and put it in before a 302.
Reason I suggest the 302, is that I'd have much easier access to one, as I'm sure a friend has a spare one lying around the shop. It would just be a beater. Think along the line of a $2009 challenger, but cut the budget in half.
Go for it.
I always want to restore them, just because of the ones that I had.
The SVO Owners Association has a classifieds section for some of the tough to find body parts.
The biggest problem with the SVO is because it was such a short-run, low production model parts are non-existent. Nobody makes ball joints so if the front end needs a rebuild you're SOL. Most non-restoration crazy SVO owners convert to complete SN95 suspension/brake swaps. Also trim and special parts like the nose, composite lights, spoiler, and interior parts are very expensive if available at all.
If you're going to build a V8 Mustang you might as well start with a non-SVO.
Thanks P71, that's the info I wanted. So when you say nobody makes ball joints, do you mean there is NOTHING that will work, or nothing that will make an svo purist happy. Guess I didn't realize the suspension was that much different. Body parts make sense though.
I mean nothing will work in the SVO A-Arm, at all, period. Supposedly around 5 years ago you could send a pair in somewhere with a grand in cold, hard cash and get a very non-OEM looking replacement welded in. I've seen otherwise nice SVO's stripped and junked over having bad ball joints.
You have to remember that nearly every part on the SVO was unique to it, which makes it really expensive, and really hard to find. For wear items like the suspension and brakes it's just a constraint that will keep the cars out of reach and pointless.
P71 wrote:I mean nothing will work in the SVO A-Arm, at all, period.
...except 83-84 Lincoln Continental control arms.
P71 wrote: You have to remember that nearly every part on the SVO was unique to it, which makes it really expensive, and really hard to find. For wear items like the suspension and brakes it's just a constraint that will keep the cars out of reach and pointless.
Again, this is all inaccurate. It's a parts-bin car. The brakes and axles all come from Lincolns. The only unique part is the K-member, which if you think about it, is just an adapter to mount the Lincoln front end to a Foxbody.
They're great cars and super cheap to operate and maintain. I had mine for 11 years as a DD, and that included the end of high school and all through college - when I had zero cash to fix my car.
The intarwebz does not agree with you Mike... 
Even if the SVo piece is the same as the Lincoln (which it's not, it's modified specifically for the SVO), the ball joint is still SOL.
"New stock replacement ball joints for the stock control arms of 1984-1986 SVO Mustangs are no longer available. This SVO Spindle Adapter allows the installation of tubular MM Front Control Arms on the original SVO Mustang K-member. This allows retention of the original SVO spindles and brakes."
"The original ball joints in the SVO Mustang are not replaceable and the torn original rubber boots allow dirt in which is what destroys the ball joints."
Everybody knows that Fords are parts-bin mish-mashers, but the SVO and 87-88 TC both were chock full of bespoke parts that would never be used again. Both suffer from short production runs and very small quantities.
Whatever you say, Mike.
sachilles, PM me if you want more details on SVOs.
EDIT: Or if there's no PM'ing here, just e-mail - mike92279@hotmail.com
One thing you don't want to do...don't post on the SVO boards and tell them you're doing anything but a complete nuts and bolts restoration. Those guys are crazy. If they feel you are defiling one of the precious SVOs in any way, they'll ban you quicker than you can say V8 swap.
I would love a tubular SN95 suspended Kenny Brown modified Cobra IRS'd twin turbo 5.4L DOHC SVO in glossy black.
ddavidv wrote:One thing you don't want to do...don't post on the SVO boards and tell them you're doing anything but a complete nuts and bolts restoration. Those guys are crazy. If they feel you are defiling one of the precious SVOs in any way, they'll ban you quicker than you can say V8 swap.
So, it's like the mini folk when they found out I'm building a vtec Mini?
<--------thick skinned
sachilles wrote:ddavidv wrote:One thing you don't want to do...don't post on the SVO boards and tell them you're doing anything but a complete nuts and bolts restoration. Those guys are crazy. If they feel you are defiling one of the precious SVOs in any way, they'll ban you quicker than you can say V8 swap.
So, it's like the mini folk when they found out I'm building a vtec Mini?
<--------thick skinned
I don't know about the Mini guys, but some of the SVO guys are hardcore. It's one of the reasons that I got out of Mustangs for a while.
SVO guys make AMC people look normal... They really are hardcore about preserving the few SVO's left.
response from the craigslist ad(no pictures by the way). I had asked What would you be looking for in cash for the Mustang? What sort of issues does it have?
response:
500.00He's quite the saleman.it ran last summer but is a project car. I am selling it for an lady. I am no mechanic.
Get it. I had to make my own SVO out of a 4 cylinder fox and a TC, I loved that car. I don't know about the front end, but it can't be as hopeless as P71 says can it? You'll figure something out. Will that something be a concours level restoration with all the "correct" parts? no, Who cares.
It's not hopeless. Like I said earlier, the non-resto guys swap over the entire suspension/spindle/brakes from the SN95 Mustangs. It's just not going to be the original setup. The OP wants a V8 though, so why swap out a rare SVO with expensive trim bits when you can just start with a V8 Mustang?
Oh yeah, for the record, I'd totally keep the lima in there.
P71, I said if the engine was grenaded, I'd want to drop in a V8, as I have easy access to one. I won't pull out a perfectly good engine. Make no doubt about it, the turbo goodness appeals to me.
P71 wrote:SVO guys make AMC people look normal... They really are hardcore about preserving the few SVO's left.
yeah he's right. They are WAY into SVO's and will give no help if you don't plan a correct 2.3 turbo project.
sachilles wrote:So, it's like the mini folk when they found out I'm building a vtec Mini?
<--------thick skinned
Well...I think putting a SBF in a SVO is not all that horrible if it saves a car from the crusher. It's still all Ford. While I can understand the appeal of putting a Honda engine in a tiny car like a Mini, my stance is if I wanted a Honda I'd have just bought a Civic. To make it fit you have to irreversibly butcher the Mini body (unless it's a Clubman). I don't care if someone does it, but I won't spend any time looking at it at a show. I won't lobby to kick you out of the club though.
I feel the love. It's actually going to be a tube frame special, with a mini shell. It stopped being a mini a long time ago.
However, you don't have to butcher the body to put in a honda motor, even with a standard nose. Several subframes out there now do not require body mods(aside from removal of the inner fender wings). That is for honda d and b series motors. The newer k series motor does require a longer nose, or firewall modification, though. Just so you know. Those vtec kits with a standard nose actually have enough room to put a radiator in front of the motor, as opposed to the side mount of a traditional mini. So the size isn't a huge deal in terms of space in the engine compartment, if oriented correctly. Anyways.....know anybody that wants some 10x6 rims with new hoosier slicks?(f500 slicks). I also have a lot of random stuff, like a piston/rod set for a 1380(pistons new, rods not new).
