Restoration advice

[ABN2060]

I just bought a '93 SSP which is totally bone stock. However I want to make the car better but still retain it's value and character as an SSP. I had to remove the stock exhaust due to rust so I'm wondering what ehaust to buy that will look stock but give it a little performance. I'm thinking about a Force II kit from Flowmaster or a Dynomax kit which looks closer to stock. Any thoughts???
Also, on just about every Mustang I buy I do a rear disc conversion using OEM parts but I still retain the 4 lug wheels. Will this take away any value of being an SSP? In my opinion this is what Ford should of done in the first place.
Other than these two things the car will stay stock from the air silencer to the oil pan.

[ssp91ssp]

I think you were very lucky to find such a nice rare car that's NOT all cut up and beat !!!

I would say to stay very close to original , The Dynomax exhaust would be my choice because of the less noise .
As far as the brakes i would also keep the original stuff.

My USPS blue car came with the silver 10 hole wheels so i purchased a 2nd set to paint black ... take a lot at pic, that made a world of dif..
It the end it's your car to do as you wish but remember they are only original 1 time .

http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/ss28/alvar4/downsized_0130001340a.jpg

ssp91ssp

[ABN2060]

I think you were very lucky to find such a nice rare car that's NOT all cut up and beat !!!

I would say to stay very close to original , The Dynomax exhaust would be my choice because of the less noise .
As far as the brakes i would also keep the original stuff.

My USPS blue car came with the silver 10 hole wheels so i purchased a 2nd set to paint black ... take a lot at pic, that made a world of dif..
It the end it's your car to do as you wish but remember they are only original 1 time .

http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/ss28/alvar4/downsized_0130001340a.jpg

ssp91ssp

After some thought this morning I am going to keep it all original except the exhaust. Like you said, I got real lucky to kind an unmolested car like this so why start now. That is what my GT is for....:) I have the Force II kit on it so i'm going to go with something different (Dynomax) because it looks close to stock. Just unsure of what H-pipe to use.

Thanks for the input

[ssp91ssp]

If your stock H pipe is not damaged , run it ..

ssp91ssp

[ABN2060]

If your stock H pipe is not damaged , run it ..

ssp91ssp

I will be taking the H-pipe out this weekend so I hope cats are not all broke up. If not, I will.

[28HopUp]

I've read on the SSP forums good things about the Dynomax exhaust systems. IIRC, you can purchase all-new parts from the header/manifold rearward. I went with a Thrush system on my 85, with hi-flow cats (one of the four cats was plugged up), and a new h-pipe. Here's a cruddy cellphone pic I took before he cut off the ends of the u-bolts -

http://www.mustangcollective.com/imagehosting/2774ac280c9205e5.jpg

The sound is quiet at idle, with a nice tone upon accelleration (not as loud as Flowmasters I've heard).

My car also has a 93 Cobra 8.8" rear in it (installed by a previous owner), with 3.27:1 gears and 4-lug disc brakes. I've got 11" 87-up front brakes as well, and the car stops as quickly as the tires will allow. If you do change out the rear, my suggestion would be to keep the original in case you ever want to put it back to stock.

As stated, it's your car to do with as you wish. It sounds like you have a good plan that won't sacrifice the SSP heritage that makes these cars so much fun to own, drive, restore, show, and/or enjoy.


EDIT: And those awful subframe connectors will be coming off my car at some point. They're so flimsy I can't imagine they are doing any good.

[28HopUp]

http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/ss28/alvar4/downsized_0130001340a.jpg

ssp91ssp

Buying those extra 10-holes and blacking them out was a great change on your car. That blue looks so good with the black wheels. :thumbsup:

[chp1982]

My car also has a 93 Cobra 8.8" rear in it (installed by a previous owner), with 3.27:1 gears and 4-lug disc brakes. I've got 11" 87-up front brakes as well, and the car stops as quickly as the tires will allow. If you do change out the rear, my suggestion would be to keep the original in case you ever want to put it back to stock.

Do the rear disc brakes clear the ten holes or did the wheel have to be modified? Is having the rear set-up a big difference over stock? Do you have a picture of what it looks like through the wheel?

[28HopUp]

Do the rear disc brakes clear the ten holes or did the wheel have to be modified? Is having the rear set-up a big difference over stock? Do you have a picture of what it looks like through the wheel?

No modifications needed that I can see. Here are the best pics I could find, taken when the exhaust was installed.

http://www.mustangcollective.com/imagehosting/2774ac280c976870.jpg

http://www.mustangcollective.com/imagehosting/2774ac280c9c78f0.jpg

I haven't driven a stock Fox to compare my SSP to, but my car handles extremely well, given the tires (the fronts need to be replaced soon). You can see the aftermarket panhard bar in the above pics too. But the rear discs will certainly lock up the 255-width BFG's I have in the back (I know because I had to avoid a Honda one day that turned in front of me and stopped!).

[chp1982]

Thanks for posting those. Since most people scrap the ten holes when upgrading their brakes, I have never seen rear discs tucked behind them. As quickly as most everyone else on the road can stop, it can be scary driving a foxbody sometimes!

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

I ordered a Walker H Pipe from Pep Boys last year. There was a problem with the first one due to UPS dropping in transit. It fit like a glove and only has two Cats on it and is 2 1/4 like the original. And very resonable in cost. I am running Dynomax 2 1/2 Ultra Flow Welded Cat Back system.:2thumbs:

Tom

[ssp91ssp]

Buying those extra 10-holes and blacking them out was a great change on your car. That blue looks so good with the black wheels. :thumbsup:

Thanks Bill !!
ssp91ssp

[ajstoys63]

How do you guys like the Walker "H" pipe?? I have a BBK 2 1/2 inch "X" pipe and I want to replace it. It is very loud out on the highway inside the car. The drone at 50-65 mph is terrible. I am looking to change the whole exhaust and would like to go to as close to stock as I can. It also has a 2 1/2 inch stainless BBK cat back system...

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

I like the Walker H Pipe. :2thumbs:

[ajstoys63]

Then the Walker it is... It is stainless steel and only has the 2 cats in it and at least it will last. What about the rest of the exhaust system??

[ssp91ssp]

Walker offers a super nice Dynomax cat back in 2.5 mandrel bent with the correct stainless tail pipe ends ... fits great !!! and looks even better !
no kinks in the bends ..

ssp91ssp

[ajstoys63]

Which Dynomax mufflers are you using?? Or better yet do you know the system/part number?? I ordered the "H" pipe last night but in looking up the Dynomax exhaust system they have 2 different ones and then you have to buy the tail pipes seperate. I don't want the car to be loud and I really don't want the highway drone. I know its cool to have noise but it is not cool when you are getting a headache driving on the highway.... Well I will have a really nice "X" pipe for sale when I start taking it apart.

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

They still show 2 different kits on their online site. I would call them so they can point you in the right direction. (734)384-7824. The Dynomax 2 1/2 kits will drone at Speed. I have the Ultra Flo Kit # 17393 but the Super Turbo Kit# 17486 is the quietest of the 2. They have a Sound FX Muffler from Walker but it is only 2 1/4 in and out an you would have to adapt it to the Tailpipes and order the correct pipes between the H pipe and Muffler. Walker no longer makes 2 1/4 Tailpipes with Polished Stainless tips only 2 1/2.

Tom

[ajstoys63]

Well the Walker "H" arrived allready. Ordered it 2 days ago and it was waiting at my house when I got home... Now to deal with the exhaust system. So the Dynomax has the dreaded drone at highway speeds... Bummer. I guess I will have to do some more research.

[ABN2060]

Are the Dynomax kits have stainless steel tips all the way back to the loop? The kit on Summit shows the tips only going back about 12".

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

Yes they are Stainless back to the loop.

Tom

[ssp91ssp]

Yes they are Stainless back to the loop.

Tom

I agree with Tom , the kits we purchased have the stainless like the factory.

ssp91ssp

[ABN2060]

Yes they are Stainless back to the loop.

Tom

I agree with Tom , the kits we purchased have the stainless like the factory.

ssp91ssp

OK. Good deal.

[ajstoys63]

Which kit did you guys use??

[ssp91ssp]

the kit i've ran is the 2.5 Dynomax Super Turbo cat back W-stainless tips.
it's worked great for me .

ssp91ssp

[ABN2060]

Just FYI. Dymomax has a $75 rebate going on right now untill sometime in March on their cat back kits. Not a bad deal. I think I saw it on Summit's web site.

[ajstoys63]

Are the tail pipes the correct style? Polished Stainless steel back to the rear hump? Not just 10 inches back... Thanks guys for your help and info..

[ABN2060]

Are the tail pipes the correct style? Polished Stainless steel back to the rear hump? Not just 10 inches back... Thanks guys for your help and info..

From what the other guys were saying, yes.

[ajstoys63]

Great! I want to get it back to as close to stock as I can... Even though I want to put the black 10 holes on her.

[ABN2060]

The only thing holding me back from new exhaust is $380.00 LOL.....

[1989 Tx DPS SSP]

Check this new Muffler from Dynomax for those of us who do not like the Drone.

http://www.dynomax.com/mufflers.php?muffler=vt

Tom

[NoDrama43]

looks pretty good. it also comes in 2 1/4 inch inlet/outlet so you can use the correct tailpipes. I like it.

[ajstoys63]

I wonder if they will offer a system with this muffler included.... Things to ponder.... I do not like the drone either...