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1988 Mustang LX Hatchback 2.3 Turbo 5 spd

This is my son's '88 Mustang LX. It was an original 2.3 4 cylinder automatic car from the factory. We bought it in the summer of 2009 with a blown transmission and badly faded and peeling paint. This turned into a major father/son project with a lot of challenges along the way. The picture to the right was taken after extensive work was done to the car including body work and paint, turbo engine swap, 5 speed conversion, lowering springs, heavy duty rear axle upgrande, all new brakes, and much much more. For more details on the project click on the links to the left.

Modifications

The following modifications have been done to this car:

• Installed a 1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe Engine:
• Fuel Injected Turbo Charged 2.3 litre 4 cylinder engine
• Modified engine wiring for Thunderbird LA3 Engine Control Unit and Vane Air Meter
• Upgraded to T3 turbo charger, .63 exhaust housing, 3" elbow
• Performance valve job on cylinder head
• BoPort 1.5 camshaft and valve spring/retainer upgrade
• Intake cut and rotated 90 degrees
• Ported intake and exhaust manifolds
• Kirban adjustable fuel pressure regulator
• 255 litre per hour fuel pump
• Esslinger billet aux shaft and bronze dist gear
• Esslinger grooved aux shaft bearings
• Melling M127 oil pump
• Stinger Performance 3" single exhaust with Dynomax Ultra Flo muffler and custom home made tail pipe
• Stinger Performance front mount intercooler kit
• Installed Chevy HHR electric fan
• Converted from automatic to 5 speed transmission; bigger Turbo Coupe clutch set up
• Installed NOS Ford Motorsports heavy duty 8.8 traction lok rear with 3.73 gears
• Installed '93 Mustang Cobra steering rack with new steering hoses
• Eibach lowering springs
• Installed UPR rear control arms
• Installed poly graphite front suspension bushings
• Installed rear axle quad shock set up
• Replaced all AC o-rings and converted system over to R134 refrigerant
• Upgrade stereo to an original Ford Premium Sound 6 speaker 20 watts per channel system
• Installed boost guage

As a result of the above modifications we have taken this car from a slow 88 horse power automatic transmission car to a very strong performer able to keep up with the V8s.