Stage 1
The goal for the Project Commuter Mustang is simple: Get it on the road.
Maybe I should rephrase that. The goal for Project Commuter is simple to SAY.
I need this car on the road as quickly and cheaply as possible. The Saturn is dying and although I have been saying that for nearly three years, I can now hear the bagpipes in the distance. The Saturn lasted far longer than I ever expected, but its time is finally nearing the end.
My goal for Stage 1 is to put it back on the road bone-stock. While it has low miles, it isn’t pretty and it isn’t going to be, but it will be a sound and reliable daily driver if I can stop the severe rust on the body and replace the mechanical components that have been so badly damaged by the rust that they are beyond repair.
As I mentioned on the main page for Project Commuter, I’m beginning again with Chapter 11, but I’m including the previous ten chapters so you can catch up with the project’s convoluted past.
9/06: Everything seemed great with my plan to get a Mustang to replace the Saturn. Right up until I saw it in person for the first time – after I’d already bought it. Check out Chapter 1 for all the details!
1/07: The Friday after getting the car, confronting the seller for extreme dishonesty and deciding to go forward with the project, I found myself embarking on extensive rust repair – something I had little experience with. However, I had a secret weapon: a plan...and extensive research into rust removal techniques and products as well as body and paint repair. I’m still cautiously optimistic about my ability to gain results even if my experience is almost exclusively in the realm of theory. See what happened as I dove head long into Stage 1 in Chapter 2!
5/07: After getting the car ready to de-rust, I moved it into the garage only to run into more issues. The rust removal was going to be a lot more work than I first expected, but that wasn’t the worst part. Read Chapter 3 to find out more!
9/07: Discovering the impractical, if not impossible task of removing the rust without completely stripping the car down lead me to redirect the project towards a complete tear down...all the way to the shell. In Chapter 4 I get started with the interior and come across some surprises along the way!
1/08: After trying to get the ’87 Sedan on the road, I had to accept that I couldn’t get it done in a timely enough manner and decided to make a hard choice to switch cars between Project LX and Project Commuter, bringing out the ’93 LX Hatchback to replace the ’87 Sedan as Project Commuter. To find out more, check out Chapter 5!
5/08: The work for Stage 1 begins with the interior. Not only does the driver's seat belt squeal, the tinting needs to be removed and if that wasn't enough, there are a whole slew of repairs that ended up needing to be taken care of when doing or because of those repairs. To find out what happened, check out Chapter 6!
9/08: In Chapter 7 the engine and transmission get pulled so that the engine can be re-gasketed and the clutch and various linkage pieces can be replaced. Little did I know before I got started on this section that it would alter the extent to which I would be “repairing” the Project Commuter Mustang. Read Chapter 7 to find out more about what transpired!
1/09: Chapter 8 looks at the work I’ve managed to get done to the powertrain so far. It’s been a grueling 14 months since I started repairing the parts to go back on the engine and while it doesn’t look like I’ve gotten much done, I have and it’s all coming together ever so slowly. Take a look at Chapter 8 for the update and a bunch of photos!
5/09: Every project has its slow parts – the kind that seem like they take forever, but only because you’ve been doing a lot of work and have nothing to show for it. This one is no different, but I’m not going to let that keep me from my goal of driving this car. It’s just going to take some time and dedication. Check out Chapter 9 for the latest Stage 1 progress!
9/09: As with any project, this one has areas that are a struggle and points that are exciting. While I was on vacation this summer, I got to experience one of those exciting points. Check out Chapter 10 to find out what happened!
1/10: After a two-year break from the ’87 Sedan, life transpired to make it the best choice for my commuter needs. Take a look at Chapter 11 as I embark on a journey to get this thing done so I can finally drive a Muscle Car again!
Plan
- Inspection and assessment
- Emissions test
- Clean salt and contaminants from car
- Disassemble and repair or replace interior components
- Disassemble and repair or replace body components
- Disassemble and repair or replace powertrain components
- Disassemble and repair or replace chassis components
- Assemble the chassis
- Assemble the powertrain
- Assemble the body
- Assemble the interior
- Fire car and make adjustments
- Final detail of car
- Test performance
| Stage 1 Projections | |
| Vehicle | 1987 Ford Mustang LX Sedan |
| Exterior Color | Light Grey |
| Interior | Grey Cloth |
| Layout | Front engine/rear drive |
| Engine | 5.0L V8 (302) |
| Induction | SFI; 60 mm throttle body |
| Horsepower | 225 @ 4200 (191 rear wheel) |
| Torque | 300 @ 3200 (255 rear wheel) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual; OD |
| Rear End | 3.08:1 |
| Steering | Power assist |
| Suspension | Independent/solid |
| Brakes | Power assist; disc/drum |
| Wheels | 15" x 7" |
| Tires | 225/60VR15 |
| Curb Weight | 3250 lbs (projected) |
| Gas Mileage | 25 mpg (projected) |
| 0-60 | 6.0 sec (projected) |
| Quarter Mile | 14.0 @ 97 (projected) |
| Skid Pad | .84 g (projected) |
| 60-0 | 135 ft (projected) |
| Stage 1 results are on their way! | |