i got one!!

[texunter]

hey fellas, my name is Teddy and I have been lurking around in the forums for a few months. I've learned a lot from reading your posts but I have never been able to fully relate. well, I finally purchased my first ssp. it is an 88 tx dps car. the dso indicates houston and it is phisically still in houston. I bought it pretty much sight unseen with the exception of a few pics. I will be making the trip to pick it up on sat. Its just a roller but by god it has bucktags. it is tx unit M8-545 . I have looked it up online but there doesn't seem to be any record of it. so the research begins! ;) anyone that might be able to lead me in the right direction to finding more info on this car would be great! I must find some in-service pics! thanks in advance for all the help I will need and I appologize if I become cumbersome to yall. Teddy

[texunter]

I have a quick question. I have seen in-service pics(tx) where the unit number doesn't match the lic. plate. is the unit number marked on the outside of the car somewhere?

[86NeSSP]

Congrats on finding an 88 TxDPS SSP. The unit Number I have never seen as the tag/plate.

Here is some restoration info.
http://www.specialservicemustang.net/DPS.htm

Here are some pictures.
http://www.specialservicemustang.net/Gallery/TX.htm

You have already found the unit number so you are far ahaed the rest... Was this car an automatic? Seems to me that the Houst DSO is where the Automatic DPS cars came from. I have seen another one that was still in service with another agency in Texas and the DSO was Houston. Very likely this car was one that was bought by another agency when it came out of duty with DPS.

Good luck on finding all the info you need... Tom Mallette, Tony Sharp, and Roman Collins (there are a few others but these are in and around Houston) are the true Texas DPS restoration guys as they currenlty own restored Texas cars. Mine is still a roller as well as missing the front sheet metal.

[FlyinTiger]

Congrats on your find! You will find quite a few Texas guys in your area, like Matt said, that will be more than happy to help.

[texunter]

thanks guys! I'm so stoked about it. its been like a bad day of fishing, trying to find one close that I could afford that's straight with no rust. it is originally an automatic car which I don't care for and also, the spots have been filled. is it hard to reinstall those?

[ImEvil1]

Congrats!

The spots are an easy fix, depending on how well they were filled in.

[86NeSSP]

thanks guys! I'm so stoked about it. its been like a bad day of fishing, trying to find one close that I could afford that's straight with no rust. it is originally an automatic car which I don't care for and also, the spots have been filled. is it hard to reinstall those?

That car is one of 100 automatics ever bought in the late 80's. Tom or Tony also figured out there was a special 1 off wire harness in those 88 automatic Tx DPS SSP's...

Where are you located?

Matt

[texunter]

hey Matt, thanks for that great info. ! 1 of 100 huh? that makes it a little more rare i guess. as for the harness< that sounds like bad news as i dont have it. maybe at least the back half will be there. my experience is noone really pulls the rear harnesses. its probably impossible to duplicate. i live in argyle, tx. its south of denton a lil. how bout you?

[texunter]

now that i think of it, i read somewhere that the 88 ssp's were maf cars as the civilian 88' cars are speed density. that would explain the uniqu:D e wiring harness. thats even better if that is true. that justifies having mass air on an 88'

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

Get us the last 6 0n the VIN as this is a car we have not documented yet. Most of the info Tony and I have is from the AUCTION brochures I have and this was not one sold at my auctions. A soon as you get Title run a VIN owner check through the state. Some of the Records are getting pured> iwas able to mine all the way back to when I bought it from the state. What part of Houston is the car in? The DSO is Houston but the cars were sold through Gallespe Ford in San Antonio.


Tom

[texunter]

i dont have the car or the title yet unfortunately. i havnt gotten to even see it in person. im going to pick it up saturday. its driving me crazy!

i will definately run a check like you suggest. i hope there are some records somewhere. is that something you have to goto the tax office for or can you do it online?


the car is in nw houston. im not familiar with houston so im not sure exactly where. this is sounding good so far. i wish it was all there. :[

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

Here is the Form. At least it will tell you where the car has been owner wise. There is NO documenation from The TxDPS available on where the car was stationed

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/txdoteforms/GetForm?formName=/VTR-275.pdf&preference=PDFForm&appID=/vtr&fileID=1233334&status=/reportError.jsp&configFile=WFServletConfig.xml

Tom Any questions call me 281 726 2120

[texunter]

here are some more pics

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i8/tsrozar3/88dps4.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i8/tsrozar3/88dps3.jpg

[texunter]

Here is the Form. At least it will tell you where the car has been owner wise. There is NO documenation from The TxDPS available on where the car was stationed

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/txdoteforms/GetForm?formName=/VTR-275.pdf&preference=PDFForm&appID=/vtr&fileID=1233334&status=/reportError.jsp&configFile=WFServletConfig.xml

Tom Any questions call me 281 726 2120

thanks Tom, i appreciate it. so is there any way of finding out where it served? also, is there anyway of identifying it in pics or finding out what the lic. plate was when it was in service?

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

The DPS computer with this info was shut off prior to 2000.

Tom

[86NeSSP]

I actually know the person who you are getting the car from... I wonder how come He didn't tell me he had this car. Not that I could have bought it from him.

Rick is his name and the location is Magnolia Texas. He's a good honest guy. I'm actually meeting him this week to pick up some parts for another car of mine as well as getting him a coupe back seat.

Have a good one.

[86NeSSP]

hey Matt, thanks for that great info. ! 1 of 100 huh? that makes it a little more rare i guess. as for the harness< that sounds like bad news as i dont have it. maybe at least the back half will be there. my experience is noone really pulls the rear harnesses. its probably impossible to duplicate. i live in argyle, tx. its south of denton a lil. how bout you?

I'm in Katy Texas (West Houston suburb) Tom and Tony are in Houston and Roman is in Lufkin.

The harness is going to be part of the headlight harness as that is part of the alternator harness which is what is different.

The 88 Civilian cars in California were mass air and the SSP's were all speed density. Is this car missing the entire engine ECM harness?

Did Rick supply you with any under hood shots?

[texunter]

thanks for the correction about the harness. I'm almost certain the headlight harness has been removed. I'm not familiar with Rick. who is he?

[texunter]

sorry, I missed the previous post. I have never spoken with rick, only his wife. she seemed to be good people. othewise I would have never bought the car sight unseen and not knowing who I'm dealing with. I do have pics of the engine compartment and there is no wiring. too bad huh? I hope you don't have hard feelings toward me for buying this car. I didn't mean to "take" it from anyone. I know there were several guys chomping at the bit to get this car. I just got lucky and was able to pay first. its in good hands though. I have an illness, its called Mustang obsesseditis. I cherish these cars and hate to see them taken for granted

[28HopUp]

Congrats on your new project! Although you haven't elaborated on your plans for the car, it's nice to see another one saved...

[texunter]

Get us the last 6 0n the VIN as this is a car we have not documented yet. Most of the info Tony and I have is from the AUCTION brochures I have and this was not one sold at my auctions. A soon as you get Title run a VIN owner check through the state. Some of the Records are getting pured> iwas able to mine all the way back to when I bought it from the state. What part of Houston is the car in? The DSO is Houston but the cars were sold through Gallespe Ford in San Antonio.


Tom

here is the last six of the vin#252558
when I get the car, I will send pics of the bucktags for verification. Thanks

[86NeSSP]

sorry, I missed the previous post. I have never spoken with rick, only his wife. she seemed to be good people. othewise I would have never bought the car sight unseen and not knowing who I'm dealing with. I do have pics of the engine compartment and there is no wiring. too bad huh? I hope you don't have hard feelings toward me for buying this car. I didn't mean to "take" it from anyone. I know there were several guys chomping at the bit to get this car. I just got lucky and was able to pay first. its in good hands though. I have an illness, its called Mustang obsesseditis. I cherish these cars and hate to see them taken for granted


Nope not taking it from ME... I don't have the $$$ right now or the space.. I just got rid of my 85 CHP to jarhed... Have had and sold a few Texas cars over the years. I have the same disease. I only have 3 mustang coupe 5.0 mustangs right now 2 SSP's and another that is not.

Yes, Rick and his wife are good people. They are local forum members to a car club as well as a Mustang club. southercreationz.net and westsidemustangs.com SSPSTANGDRIVER is his ID if you hit those sights...

[mac88chp]

now that i think of it, i read somewhere that the 88 ssp's were maf cars as the civilian 88' cars are speed density. that would explain the unique wiring harness. thats even better if that is true. that justifies having mass air on an 88'

The 88 Civilian cars in California were mass air and the SSP's were all speed density.

Just a point of clarification here. Ford built the "49 State" '88 retail cars with speed density induction and all the retail '88s shipped to California were built with mass air.

But it's not so clear cut how the '88 SSPs were built. There are non-CA delivered SSPs that came with mass air and CA delivered SSPs that have speed density. The best theory out there so far is that this situation may have been caused by scheduling interaction between when CA cars and SSPs were produced. All SSPs were special order cars and their daily build numbers were limited so as not to slow the factory line down too much. They were individually slotted into the line among all the retail cars and it may have just been the luck of the draw as to what induction any particular SSP received depending on if it was built on a CA or non-CA production day.

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

If you look at the VIN info on .ORG you will see that it falls in line with everything. I use to own 252511 and regret selling it:crying: because it gone forever as the car I remember.

Tom

[texunter]

wow, i just looked at the vin registry and it looks like the plate number on my car in service would have been 540-074 unit # m8-545?

[texunter]

do you think it would be safe to say this car came with black ten hole wheels?

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

YES on Black Wheels

[texunter]

ok good, I just picked up a set of ten hole wheels. they are silver but that can be fixed. no idea on the lic. plate #? looks like they fell in order according to the vin. reg.

[texunter]

I would like to find a set of spotlights for this car. anyone have a good source? unity S6 correct?

[FHP813]

eBay is a good start. You need the s6 with the "K" length shaft. The mounting bracket is #221r drivers and 221 pass.

Found these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-MUSTANG-SSP-POLICE-UNITY-SPOTLIGHTS-LEFT-RIGHT_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33709QQihZ006QQit emZ160298619327QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[FHP813]

And these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Mustang-Spotlight-Police-Spot-light-Tow-Fire_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ42610QQihZ008QQite mZ180306431427QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

You can still get them from Unity .


Tom

[texunter]

new ten holes painted black.

[texunter]

im having a problem with the pics. I may have to post them later.

[FHP813]

I see you got the chrome ones.:thumbsup:

[texunter]

the spotlights? did tx have black ones? I bid on them but I've never seen an auction like that. its really long!

[texunter]

i did buy the spots!! :) they had no problem accepting my offer. i hope they are unity's. it didnt specify what brand or size. i should have checked into this a little better! it only specifies used so they must be from an ssp? chrome is correct for my car right? :O !!

[FHP813]

i did buy the spots!! :) they had no problem accepting my offer. i hope they are unity's. it didnt specify what brand or size. i should have checked into this a little better! it only specifies used so they must be from an ssp? chrome is correct for my car right? :O !!

It's hard to tell if the brackets are the mustang ones but the spots are the correct length for a mustang and chrome is correct for Texas.

[texunter]

well, that's a little relief. how hard are brackets to come by? I can't wait to get them on the car! is there instructions on reinstalling the spots? self explanitory? figure it out?

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

I have a set of brackets for sale if you need them.


Tom