Repo_2000

K I'm about to throw this ***** ** **** mustang in the scrap yard. I use to like them and heard lotsa cool stuff about them but now i own one and now I know why people are switching to toyota or nissan. I was all happy to finally get a day off to work on this car and not one thing I've tried to do has worked even close to properly if at all. First i figured I'd try and put a decent looking set of valve covers on it since i was trying to detail the engine bay and the stock cast ones look like crap and don't really shine up. Let's just say don't try this unless you can find a set the exact same shape as the originals. Anybody know where to get original shaped ones that look nice? The intake was hitting one side and the exhaust the other. I ended up scratching up a hundred and twenty dollar pair of chrome valve covers and found there was no way, short of custom intake and exhaust, I was using anything but the originals. Next I figured I'd install my nice Autometer Tach and shift light. The same one I used last year in a Duster and a couple runs in a Monte Carlo before that. Installed it same as always and it worked kinda for about ten seconds, and now it's dead. Finally I went to install a battery box in the trunk since the battery, although fastened, wasn't enclosed. This actually did end up working out although a warning about having to drop the gas tank would have been nice. Luckily this car has never seen rain or snow so at least rust isn't an issue, since gas tank straps are usually easier to break than unbolt. So that's 120 on valve covers, about 300 for a new tach and the polished stainless battery box was about 100, totalling 520 bucks and about 11 hours of labour to have my battery enclosed. Maybe I'll trade it in on a Rolls it'll be cheaper to maintain!!

Ray Spencer

Maybe you should send an email to Desilva Racing, perhaps Joe has an answer to your installation problems.

Contact Us
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416-847-1500
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416-847-1501
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960 Brock Road
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SNAKEBITE

I'm not sure how any of the above applies to the Mustang's reliability. Mine runs like a champ. Short throw shifter, lowering springs etc and all went well.

Stang Illusions 5.0L

iTrader: (10)

Dude I totally know what your going threw...I got like 40 grand into mine now and I might be able to sell it for $18, 500.00....All I wanted to do is make it go fast lol I replaced near EVERY nut and bolt on that car...
BTW- You didn't need to drop the tank for the battery kit...you should be able to fallow up the frame and pop up near the right side of the gas tank. Worked for me.

Repo_2000

Alright I admit I was pretty Um annoyed when i wrote this and no I don't want to throw the car out quite yet, just a little annoying on a car that should be really upgrade friendly.
I'll look into Desilva Racing in the near future I'm sure, tnx for the suggestion Ray that name seems to keep popping up in the mustang circles. As far as reliability I've never owned one long enough or drove it hard enough to seriously break anything so I guess they're pretty reliable. I have an old 88 lx 5.0 that's seen many a canadian winter and many a young punk driver, I'm the 13th owner, 280,000 km.+ been sitting untouched since march. I put a thousand dollars down says that car will start first turn of the key. so yeh i don't have a reliability issue just an upgrade issue at the moment. I also realize i'll never get out what i put in unless i bail now. I bought this car mostly built. It was appraised at 22,500 last year for replacement value and i paid 7000. Already have about 20,000 in upgrades planned out for it over the next few years of course. At least I have a good foundation to start from and It seems there has to be some rough times on the way or everybody would have an 8 second street car. Thanks for the advice guys, good to know I aint the only one bangin my head on the wall at times.

Ray Spencer

So goes the song "I get by with a little help from my friends!"

fast Ed

iTrader: (1)

Ford Racing Parts sells a chromed version of the OEM covers, under part number M 6582 D302:

http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts...rtKeyField=970


cheers
Ed N.

Repo_2000

Thanks Fast Ed I'm thinkin thats my answer..

Stang Seller

Sounds like you don't know what you're doing, maybe in the future you should do some research before just buying whatever looks coolest and tossing it on. Not all valve covers clear, and having a stock EFI intake will not clear any tall valve covers. Don't get mad at the car because you didn't do your homework.
SS

Repo_2000

Well I admit I don't know what I'm doing since I've owned this car about a month and have never done any serious work on a mustang specificly. When i bought the covers (at a weekend trade show) I asked the seller if they would fit my car and he told me all the mustang guys where using them and they would fit any small block Ford. Plus my intake sits entirely inside the fuel rails nowhere near the valve covers unfortunately the throttlebody is in the way and the exhaust from the turbo on the other side, and it was allot more than just valve covers that went wrong. I generally research my purchases extensively before i buy since i don't want to be replacing expensive parts that I'm not happy with because i didn't know enough about the product. I'm just not sure how much research valve covers warrant but anyways. I can get chrome stock ones so that'll make me happy. My next big purchase i think will be a programmer, I've been researching those for a couple months or more and have pretty much decided on the Anderson Motorsport P.M.S. piggyback system , is there anything that might cause me big headaches or maybe a better system i haven't found. I'm not really buying it cuz it looks coolest but as far as tossing it on i hope it goes almost that easy.