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j_gutta870 03-09-2011 02:46 PM

88 Foxbody Transmission Question
 
Ok I can't stay away from the mustang world and I found a nice looking 88 GT. Problem is that the tranny in the car doesn't have reverse. Wondering rebuilding transmission with one of the Ford Racing rebuild kits would take care of this problem or would I have to go further depth to fix the problem. I don't know much about foxbody's and I really don't know crap about transmissions so let me know whats up with that.

Oh yea the guy is asking 2k for the car with the crappy tranny.... Think I should offer 1200 for it or is 2k ok? I'll try to get some pictures of the car up soon.

whitestang04 03-09-2011 08:17 PM

Is the transmission an auto? If it is, you might be better off getting a used trans and swapping it in. The inner workings of an auto are pretty intricate which is why even most full service shops won't rebuild them. You usually have to go to a shop that specializes in auto transmissions.

As far as the price goes, it's hard to say without knowing a little more about it. what's the overall shape? Does it have any performance mods or restoration done? I mean at $2000 it could be a ripoff if it's a roundown and beat on stock GT with dead trans, but if it's a nice clean car that that has a straight body and decent paint it could be a steal.

j_gutta870 03-10-2011 03:51 AM

The car is a 5 speed.

The car is far from perfect but its a nice starter.... I'm going to offer this guy something and see if he takes it. Only thing he can do is say no.

TUFF 4.6 03-10-2011 06:00 AM

Damn, did'nt take long to get back in the saddle........didit:D
Good choice! Foxes make some of the best Hot Rods!!!!!

jameslf 03-10-2011 07:41 AM

T5's aren't that hard to open up. Hammer, roll pin punches, 8 or 10mm and a 13 or 1/2" socket is all you need to open it. You'll need some snap ring pliers and a block of wood to actually disassemble the shaft. You may need a torx bit to get the bolt out that holds on the arm for reverse. I can't remember when, but they switched from a bolt to a torx bit because people kept pulling out the wrong bolt to fill the transmission up. You really won't know what it needs until you crack it. I think the rebuild kit mainly just comes with new blocker rings and maybe bearings. It could be a bent shift fork, worn syncros or the teeth on the gears themselves, or the little plastic tabs on the shift fork that contact the synchro could be split or worn. My first Mustang quit going into 5th and I saw nothing wrong with it until I finally noticed a small crack in those plastic pieces. It spread apart just enough under a load.

As far as 2K, he wants too much. If the car was in nice shape and good working order, maybe. There are old fox bodies in VA with nothing done to them and people are asking that for them, but they're still asking it too. I don't know about those midwestern states. I"ve seen a guy from Montana pay 9K for a '92 GT back in 2003. Nearly identical cars were averaging 4 to 5K here at the time. He said you couldn't find them out there so that wasn't an insane price for the area. Whatever.

Kelly Blue Book for a '91 says $1460 for fair condition, private party sale. Fair, meaning cosmetic and slight mechanical defects, but in safe working condition, which it is not. NADA lists an '88 as a classic with something like 4100 as the lowest retail price. Just because it doesn't have an air bag, 140 speedometer, or pony wheels doesn't make it a "classic" to me. He's lucky to get 1200 for the car. Worst case scenario, you have to dump another 1200 for a new transmission. Personally I wouldn't go any higher than 800 unless the car was really nice and that's if it had reverse.

whitestang04 03-10-2011 08:47 AM

2 Attachment(s)
The T5 is a different kind of animal than the AOD. I haven't had one apart yet but I wouldn't shy away from it either. If it was me I'd probably offer around $1400-1500 and see what he says. Foxes are awesome cars and I miss my old 86'

Here she is in all her former glory.
Attachment 14452

Attachment 14453

j_gutta870 03-10-2011 03:17 PM


Originally Posted by jameslf (Post 471469)
T5's aren't that hard to open up. Hammer, roll pin punches, 8 or 10mm and a 13 or 1/2" socket is all you need to open it. You'll need some snap ring pliers and a block of wood to actually disassemble the shaft. You may need a torx bit to get the bolt out that holds on the arm for reverse. I can't remember when, but they switched from a bolt to a torx bit because people kept pulling out the wrong bolt to fill the transmission up. You really won't know what it needs until you crack it. I think the rebuild kit mainly just comes with new blocker rings and maybe bearings. It could be a bent shift fork, worn syncros or the teeth on the gears themselves, or the little plastic tabs on the shift fork that contact the synchro could be split or worn. My first Mustang quit going into 5th and I saw nothing wrong with it until I finally noticed a small crack in those plastic pieces. It spread apart just enough under a load.

As far as 2K, he wants too much. If the car was in nice shape and good working order, maybe. There are old fox bodies in VA with nothing done to them and people are asking that for them, but they're still asking it too. I don't know about those midwestern states. I"ve seen a guy from Montana pay 9K for a '92 GT back in 2003. Nearly identical cars were averaging 4 to 5K here at the time. He said you couldn't find them out there so that wasn't an insane price for the area. Whatever.

Kelly Blue Book for a '91 says $1460 for fair condition, private party sale. Fair, meaning cosmetic and slight mechanical defects, but in safe working condition, which it is not. NADA lists an '88 as a classic with something like 4100 as the lowest retail price. Just because it doesn't have an air bag, 140 speedometer, or pony wheels doesn't make it a "classic" to me. He's lucky to get 1200 for the car. Worst case scenario, you have to dump another 1200 for a new transmission. Personally I wouldn't go any higher than 800 unless the car was really nice and that's if it had reverse.

Thanks for the info man. That helps a lot.

j_gutta870 03-10-2011 03:19 PM


Originally Posted by TUFF 4.6 (Post 471467)
Damn, did'nt take long to get back in the saddle........didit:D
Good choice! Foxes make some of the best Hot Rods!!!!!

Lol sure didn't. I've been looking for the right car since I got rid of the 05 GT. I'm going to offer this guy some money and see what he says.

I just want to build up a nice street car with about 350hp at the rear wheels.

TUFF 4.6 03-16-2011 07:52 AM

Did you work a deal?

j_gutta870 03-16-2011 09:34 AM

Nope.... I think the guy sold the car because it just disappeared the other day.

Back to the classifieds I guess.


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