Full Size Jeep Network

While visiting my friend, he started to share with me this story of woe that he was struggling with.
Seems his youngest daughter and husband decided that they no longer wanted to live in the Midwest and wanted to move to California.
My friend's daughter up and rented a box truck, packed what they wanted and announced they were leaving.
...and "Oh, BTW Dad, my vehicles are now yours and anything left in my apartment that you do not want, just donate it or throw it away."

My friend kept the one vehicle he wanted (it started and drove) and the other vehicle was still parked in front of the apartment.
The apartment management was getting grumpy about the second vehicle and was harassing my friend to get it moved.
I asked him what kind of car and what was wrong with it.
It was a blue 1998 Mustang coupe(fastback?) 3.8 V6 with a 5 speed and he did not know its present condition.
What he could tell me was that he thought something was wrong with reverse and it had not started in well over a year.

Being a 5 speed and low to the ground (hard to get in and out of) my friend nor his wife wanted nothing to do with it but make it go away.
I causally commented that I had some kids that might be interested in such a project.
Before I could even get the words outta my mouth, my friend reached into his pocket, pulled out the key and tossed it on the table.
"It's yours but only if you can move it soon as you can"
The next evening, I call AAA and had this new to me project towed to my house.
(This is a much abbreviated story)

My son and I got it started and it runs really good.
The clutch was(is) nearly gone and rear axle needs to be replaced. (pinon bearing is shot--I think, but does not matter, gonna swap it with a 8.8")
The front brakes were non-existent! Seriously!
The passenger front caliper piston was grinding on the rotor...no inside pad!
The car was a mess inside.

So, far, I have upgraded with dual piston calipers from a '99 Mustang from our local Pick-a-Part and completed that brake job with Autozone "Gold" pads and rotors

Here it is being loaded on the rollback:

Free-ish still isn't a bad price

Looks great on the outside. I would have taken it for that price

Sounds like your friend's daughter and husband need a little lesson in personal responsibility. Taking what you want and leaving the rest for Mom and Dad, or apartment complex to deal with is irresponsible. (ok, sorry for that, but this sort of thing and that sort of attitude REALLY ticks me off..)

I would be a bit leery of engine condition based on the lack of care/maintenance she/he obviously neglected. Sounds like a good project for a first car for a teenager or maybe a builder for HS auto class. My nephew just picked up a really REALLY clean F-body and is in the process of updating for handling and power. There was even discussion of putting an LS motor in it! ? ? He had one when he was younger and has always loved them.

Humming this now: TheBottleRockets-" $1000 Car "
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... m2LELMSS7w

I got orders to go back to active service in December 1990. I had a week to report for duty. Among the 'Stuff' I had was a 70 440/SixPack 4-speed Challenger about 90% completed sitting in a storage unit. I simply ran out of time and couldn't find someone to take it while I was deployed. The day I had to get on the plane I dragged it out of the storage unit and parked it at the curb...filled to the headliner with parts. Sometimes the situation demands sacrifice. Other times it's laziness or not considering the burden placed upon family once you leave.
Either way, it sucks.

SCORE!

I'd beat on it

Time for a junkyard 5.3

243 wrote:Time for a junkyard 5.3

Nah...time to find a Supercharged 3.8L V6 from a Supercoupe Thunderchicken.
It's a bolt it, plus it has the "beef" to take boost from that Eaton supercharger

jpswapmohn wrote:I would be a bit leery of engine condition based on the lack of care/maintenance she/he obviously neglected.

Oh trust me, this Pony car was seriously neglected.
A Great Example:
The reason the rear axle is junk, is because the pinon seal leaked and they run the diff low/dry until the pinon bearing is now trashed.
The yolk has more play than a Broadway show....so, 8.8" rear axle from a GT(or V8 Mustang) is slated to get swapped in.
Those rear axles are really common and cheap.

We changed the oil with cheap conventional oil and parts store filter before we did much to it.
We looked at many things and in spite of the abuse, that 3.8 liter V6 runs really good.
Like a Timex watch, that V6 takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
I am impressed with this little 3.8L V6.
...don't ask me how I know, but this little V6 has some b@lls!
Wait, weren't we just talking about abuse?

jpswapmohn wrote:Sounds like a good project for a first car for a teenager or maybe a builder for HS auto class.

Agreed!
I have a 21 year old son that is a Master Technician at Sears that has been helping me.
I also have a 22 year daughter and 24 daughter that would like the use of it...AFTER they learn to shift a 5 speed.
The plan for this unexpected free-ish car is to put it my name, but is more a shared family ride.

fulsizjeep wrote:SCORE!

FREE is always a SCORE in my book!
At my station in life, FREE is my favorite F word! <snicker>
Now the cost of fixing some of these issues is a different matter.
I see myself laying in the mud at the junkyard...often...might be using other F words there...children and sailors be warned.

4BT would work good maybe the turbo sticking up thru the hood puffing black smoke down the street.