My 1st REAL car at 46!

I'm 46 years old and I recently bought my first real car. Sure, I've
been driving since I was 16, and have owned a number of vehicles since
then. Paid $100 for my first car, a '65 Chevy. Owned 2 or 3 other cars
after that. Had a Catalina with a big engine. That boat would really
cruise down the interstate and feel like you were doin' 30. That was
pretty nice! But for the most part, cars were just transportation for
me. Never really worried too much about styling or what they looked
like, as long as they were clean, good mechanically and had a great
sound system.
Then I bought a '76 Ford van with a straight 6. The motor had been
badly neglected. Got a deal on it because I showed the owner all the
chunks in the oil. He looked at me kind of funny when I was pulling the
dipstick, like he didn't even know how to check the oil... Replaced the
valve seals, and did a little rigging on the rocker arms. Got another
100k out of that motor before I sold the van for other reasons.
Bought an '89 GMC van new, and then decided I liked the Astros better.
I've been the owner of an Astro van for quite a few years now, and it
has over 200K on it. I do a lot of yard sales, flea markets, and
auctions. Spend a lot of time at the lake, and this van, the way I have
it set up inside is perfect for me.
I get kind of tired of driving that box around all the time though, so I
thought I'd pick up a second vehicle that got better gas mileage for
those times I didn't need a van. Only thing I knew for sure that I
wanted in a car was rear wheel drive. These days that really limited my
options.
The dealer that I bought my Astro van from had a '98 Mustang that looked
like brand new except for one little scuff on the trim panel, and a
couple of repairs on the cloth seats. He's a Mustang guy at heart.
He's owned a number of them as his daily drivers. He ordered a "Bullet"
and sold it a year later for more than he paid for it after putting
quite a few miles on it. Guess the dealer in him overrode the Mustang
in his heart, lol!
This is getting long winded, so in closing I'll say that since he didn't
lie to me about the van when I bought it, and he told me this Mustang
was good mechanically I believed him. Got a deal on it because it's
only got a 3.8, and has a 5 speed. Bad combination, but that was fine
by me because I wanted something that got pretty decent gas mileage for
my second vehicle so I bought it.
I LOVE THIS CAR!!!
There's something that happens to me when I drive this car. Something
about driving a car with a manual transmission. Instead of taking
shortcuts to get to my destination I find myself taking the longest
route. It feels so much different driving so much lower to the ground
compared to sitting way up there in that box of a van! You feel like
you're part of the road. It's only got a 6 cylinder, but there's an
unmistakable powerband bump that comes on about 2700rpm. Never had a
vehicle that would take over like that. They all accelerated gradually
and evenly.
I LOVE THIS CAR!!!
It had tinted glass, a bra, and headlight covers when I bought it. Dark
blue. It looks sharp! I'm a bit afraid to take the bra off since it
goes back to the previous owner before the dealer I got it from. I
can't believe those tinted headlight covers are legal for night driving.
They're coming off the next time I drive it at night. Almost stopped
and took them off the first time.
It had some very low profile 15" tires on it, and I didn't really care
for that because it left quite a gap between the wheel wells. I put
some 235/60s on the rear, and a pair of 215/65s on the front. The
height of the vehicle sets just right, and the width and height of the
tires fill in the wheel wells just fine. The fronts are maybe a tad too
wide, as they throw a bit of splash on the side of the car, but it's not
turning out to be my daily driver anyway. I only seem to get in the
mood to drive it on nice days, and we have those throughout the year
here in SE Missouri. This was intended to just be a totally functional,
economical utility vehicle, and now it's somehow turned into a mood
thing...
I LOVE THIS CAR!!!
Well, I was closing a while back wasn't I? I just want to say I really
enjoy following this group. Mostly just been lurking, and learning, and
enjoying the fun comments that some of you post. I've only made one
other post here when I got some amplifier wiring help and I appreciate
that.
I see most of you here have V8's, and probably don't even consider my
car a "real" Mustang, but I'm wondering if any of you have any
suggestions on things I can do toward engine and/or handling
improvements. Not that either is bad, but they can always be made
better right?
Thank you all for running a fun and very informative group. I wish I
could help out some, but even though I'm very mechanically inclined I
haven't had the need to work on my vehicles all that much so I'm not
very knowledgable in that area. I've always felt that every hour of
preventive maintenance and listening saves 10 hours of repairs, and so
far that's worked out pretty good for me. Maybe that in itself will
help some people!
Thanx again, Sam

Too much information...

On Fri, 7 Jan 2005 13:32:27 -0600, (Sunset
Sam) wrote:

Some snipped.

>I LOVE THIS CAR!!!

>Thank you all for running a fun and very informative group. I wish I
>could help out some, but even though I'm very mechanically inclined I
>haven't had the need to work on my vehicles all that much so I'm not
>very knowledgable in that area. I've always felt that every hour of
>preventive maintenance and listening saves 10 hours of repairs, and so
>far that's worked out pretty good for me. Maybe that in itself will
>help some people!
>Thanx again, Sam

Sam, I feel exactly the same way. I've owned some new cars, but none
has ever put a smile on my face like this screaming yellow, 5 speed
manual, Mustang GT. It's just fun!

John H

On the 'PocoLoco' out of Deale, MD,
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it."
Rene Descartes

On 1/7/2005 11:32 AM, Sunset Sam wrote:

> This is getting long winded, so in closing I'll say that since he didn't
> lie to me about the van when I bought it, and he told me this Mustang
> was good mechanically I believed him. Got a deal on it because it's
> only got a 3.8, and has a 5 speed. Bad combination,

Better than the V6 with an auto. Way better than a 2.3 with an auto!

> but that was fine
> by me because I wanted something that got pretty decent gas mileage for
> my second vehicle so I bought it.
> I LOVE THIS CAR!!!

And that's what really matters, right?

> It had tinted glass, a bra, and headlight covers when I bought it. Dark
> blue. It looks sharp! I'm a bit afraid to take the bra off since it
> goes back to the previous owner before the dealer I got it from.

Eh, those bras tend to collect grit that scratches the paint, and they
don't allow the sun to fade all the paint evenly, so your hood gets a
"tan" line.


> I
> can't believe those tinted headlight covers are legal for night driving.
> They're coming off the next time I drive it at night. Almost stopped
> and took them off the first time.

They're probably not legal, and besides, it sounds like you've arrived
at the (correct) conclusion that they're not very safe. Mustang
headlights need all the help they can get anyway, so electively dimming
the output isn't very "bright."

> I see most of you here have V8's, and probably don't even consider my
> car a "real" Mustang,

All Mustangs are real Mustangs. Except Mustang IIs.

Congrats on your first "real" car!



--
/ Garth - '83 GL V6stang Hatch <Former MW #7> \
| My V6stang: http://www.v6stang.com/v6stang |
| RAMFM Merchandise: http://www.cafeshops.com/ramfm |
\ Mail for secure reply information /

Glad ya like it. Mustangs sure are fun cars... mine's being a little of a
brat at the moment, but man there are times I really just love her.

-Mike

--
A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT
Cold air intake
FRPP 3.73 gears
Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter
Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo)
Hi-speed fan switch
255/60R-15 rear tires
Subframe connectors
Aluminum adjustable clutch quadrant


"Sunset Sam" > wrote in message
...
> I'm 46 years old and I recently bought my first real car. Sure, I've
> been driving since I was 16, and have owned a number of vehicles since
> then. Paid $100 for my first car, a '65 Chevy. Owned 2 or 3 other cars
> after that. Had a Catalina with a big engine. That boat would really
> cruise down the interstate and feel like you were doin' 30. That was
> pretty nice! But for the most part, cars were just transportation for
> me. Never really worried too much about styling or what they looked
> like, as long as they were clean, good mechanically and had a great
> sound system.
> Then I bought a '76 Ford van with a straight 6. The motor had been
> badly neglected. Got a deal on it because I showed the owner all the
> chunks in the oil. He looked at me kind of funny when I was pulling the
> dipstick, like he didn't even know how to check the oil... Replaced the
> valve seals, and did a little rigging on the rocker arms. Got another
> 100k out of that motor before I sold the van for other reasons.
> Bought an '89 GMC van new, and then decided I liked the Astros better.
> I've been the owner of an Astro van for quite a few years now, and it
> has over 200K on it. I do a lot of yard sales, flea markets, and
> auctions. Spend a lot of time at the lake, and this van, the way I have
> it set up inside is perfect for me.
> I get kind of tired of driving that box around all the time though, so I
> thought I'd pick up a second vehicle that got better gas mileage for
> those times I didn't need a van. Only thing I knew for sure that I
> wanted in a car was rear wheel drive. These days that really limited my
> options.
> The dealer that I bought my Astro van from had a '98 Mustang that looked
> like brand new except for one little scuff on the trim panel, and a
> couple of repairs on the cloth seats. He's a Mustang guy at heart.
> He's owned a number of them as his daily drivers. He ordered a "Bullet"
> and sold it a year later for more than he paid for it after putting
> quite a few miles on it. Guess the dealer in him overrode the Mustang
> in his heart, lol!
> This is getting long winded, so in closing I'll say that since he didn't
> lie to me about the van when I bought it, and he told me this Mustang
> was good mechanically I believed him. Got a deal on it because it's
> only got a 3.8, and has a 5 speed. Bad combination, but that was fine
> by me because I wanted something that got pretty decent gas mileage for
> my second vehicle so I bought it.
> I LOVE THIS CAR!!!
> There's something that happens to me when I drive this car. Something
> about driving a car with a manual transmission. Instead of taking
> shortcuts to get to my destination I find myself taking the longest
> route. It feels so much different driving so much lower to the ground
> compared to sitting way up there in that box of a van! You feel like
> you're part of the road. It's only got a 6 cylinder, but there's an
> unmistakable powerband bump that comes on about 2700rpm. Never had a
> vehicle that would take over like that. They all accelerated gradually
> and evenly.
> I LOVE THIS CAR!!!
> It had tinted glass, a bra, and headlight covers when I bought it. Dark
> blue. It looks sharp! I'm a bit afraid to take the bra off since it
> goes back to the previous owner before the dealer I got it from. I
> can't believe those tinted headlight covers are legal for night driving.
> They're coming off the next time I drive it at night. Almost stopped
> and took them off the first time.
> It had some very low profile 15" tires on it, and I didn't really care
> for that because it left quite a gap between the wheel wells. I put
> some 235/60s on the rear, and a pair of 215/65s on the front. The
> height of the vehicle sets just right, and the width and height of the
> tires fill in the wheel wells just fine. The fronts are maybe a tad too
> wide, as they throw a bit of splash on the side of the car, but it's not
> turning out to be my daily driver anyway. I only seem to get in the
> mood to drive it on nice days, and we have those throughout the year
> here in SE Missouri. This was intended to just be a totally functional,
> economical utility vehicle, and now it's somehow turned into a mood
> thing...
> I LOVE THIS CAR!!!
> Well, I was closing a while back wasn't I? I just want to say I really
> enjoy following this group. Mostly just been lurking, and learning, and
> enjoying the fun comments that some of you post. I've only made one
> other post here when I got some amplifier wiring help and I appreciate
> that.
> I see most of you here have V8's, and probably don't even consider my
> car a "real" Mustang, but I'm wondering if any of you have any
> suggestions on things I can do toward engine and/or handling
> improvements. Not that either is bad, but they can always be made
> better right?
> Thank you all for running a fun and very informative group. I wish I
> could help out some, but even though I'm very mechanically inclined I
> haven't had the need to work on my vehicles all that much so I'm not
> very knowledgable in that area. I've always felt that every hour of
> preventive maintenance and listening saves 10 hours of repairs, and so
> far that's worked out pretty good for me. Maybe that in itself will
> help some people!
> Thanx again, Sam
>

"Sunset Sam" >

| The dealer that I bought my Astro van from had a '98 Mustang that looked
| like brand new except for one little scuff on the trim panel, and a
| couple of repairs on the cloth seats.

Sam, you bought THE purtiest body style they have ever made on a Mustang!
Some of the folks in here will disagree with me, but it's ok if they are
blinded by love.
YOu know the old saying "A face only a mother could love"
Well, some of the folks in here can be real mothers when it comes to their
cars *snikker*

Stick around, you can learn allot in here.
Once you get used to the regulars that is.

Congratulations on your new baby (now you'll have to name her) and on your
good taste!

OH! Burn the damn bra.

| I see most of you here have V8's, and probably don't even consider my
| car a "real" Mustang,

If it looks like a Mustang, smells like a Mustang and tastes like a
Mustang...
You better stop licking the car LOL

Of course it's a REAL Mustang.

| but I'm wondering if any of you have any
| suggestions on things I can do toward engine and/or handling
| improvements.

Sub frame connectors & strut tower brace are must haves.

|Not that either is bad, but they can always be made
| better right?
| Thank you all for running a fun and very informative group. I wish I
| could help out some,

Oh, you'll learn, then you will pass it on. Ask enough questions and it's
bound to happen.


Welcome to the herd Sam.


Kate
98 Cobra Drop Top.

Congrats!
Here are a couple of site to get you started.
http://www.3.8mustang.com/
http://www.v6mustangstuff.com/
Enjoy and have fun.

Mark M

Agreed! Purtiest body style indeed! Elizabeth just put a smile on my face
for the first time in a few weeks! She's running like a champ again =).

-Mike

--
A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT
Cold air intake
FRPP 3.73 gears
Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter
Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo)
Hi-speed fan switch
255/60R-15 rear tires
Subframe connectors
Aluminum adjustable clutch quadrant


"SVTKate" > wrote in message
k.net...
>
> "Sunset Sam" >
>
> | The dealer that I bought my Astro van from had a '98 Mustang that looked
> | like brand new except for one little scuff on the trim panel, and a
> | couple of repairs on the cloth seats.
>
> Sam, you bought THE purtiest body style they have ever made on a Mustang!
> Some of the folks in here will disagree with me, but it's ok if they are
> blinded by love.
> YOu know the old saying "A face only a mother could love"
> Well, some of the folks in here can be real mothers when it comes to their
> cars *snikker*
>
> Stick around, you can learn allot in here.
> Once you get used to the regulars that is.
>
> Congratulations on your new baby (now you'll have to name her) and on your
> good taste!
>
> OH! Burn the damn bra.
>
> | I see most of you here have V8's, and probably don't even consider my
> | car a "real" Mustang,
>
> If it looks like a Mustang, smells like a Mustang and tastes like a
> Mustang...
> You better stop licking the car LOL
>
> Of course it's a REAL Mustang.
>
> | but I'm wondering if any of you have any
> | suggestions on things I can do toward engine and/or handling
> | improvements.
>
> Sub frame connectors & strut tower brace are must haves.
>
> |Not that either is bad, but they can always be made
> | better right?
> | Thank you all for running a fun and very informative group. I wish I
> | could help out some,
>
> Oh, you'll learn, then you will pass it on. Ask enough questions and it's
> bound to happen.
>
>
> Welcome to the herd Sam.
>
>
> Kate
> 98 Cobra Drop Top.
>
>

> wrote in message
om...
> Agreed! Purtiest body style indeed! Elizabeth just put a smile on my face
> for the first time in a few weeks! She's running like a champ again =).


So the new wireset finished off what was left of the rough idle/running?
Were they leaking electrons (arcing) or just high resistance?

--
John
ThunderSnake #59

Happy Day!!!
Glad to hear it!

K.

> wrote in message
om...
| Agreed! Purtiest body style indeed! Elizabeth just put a smile on my face
| for the first time in a few weeks! She's running like a champ again =).
|
| -Mike
|
| --
| A happy kid behind the wheel of a 98 Mustang GT
| Cold air intake
| FRPP 3.73 gears
| Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter
| Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers (self-installed woohoo)
| Hi-speed fan switch
| 255/60R-15 rear tires
| Subframe connectors
| Aluminum adjustable clutch quadrant
|
|
| "SVTKate" > wrote in message
| k.net...
| >
| > "Sunset Sam" >
| >
| > | The dealer that I bought my Astro van from had a '98 Mustang that
looked
| > | like brand new except for one little scuff on the trim panel, and a
| > | couple of repairs on the cloth seats.
| >
| > Sam, you bought THE purtiest body style they have ever made on a
Mustang!
| > Some of the folks in here will disagree with me, but it's ok if they are
| > blinded by love.
| > YOu know the old saying "A face only a mother could love"
| > Well, some of the folks in here can be real mothers when it comes to
their
| > cars *snikker*
| >
| > Stick around, you can learn allot in here.
| > Once you get used to the regulars that is.
| >
| > Congratulations on your new baby (now you'll have to name her) and on
your
| > good taste!
| >
| > OH! Burn the damn bra.
| >
| > | I see most of you here have V8's, and probably don't even consider my
| > | car a "real" Mustang,
| >
| > If it looks like a Mustang, smells like a Mustang and tastes like a
| > Mustang...
| > You better stop licking the car LOL
| >
| > Of course it's a REAL Mustang.
| >
| > | but I'm wondering if any of you have any
| > | suggestions on things I can do toward engine and/or handling
| > | improvements.
| >
| > Sub frame connectors & strut tower brace are must haves.
| >
| > |Not that either is bad, but they can always be made
| > | better right?
| > | Thank you all for running a fun and very informative group. I wish I
| > | could help out some,
| >
| > Oh, you'll learn, then you will pass it on. Ask enough questions and
it's
| > bound to happen.
| >
| >
| > Welcome to the herd Sam.
| >
| >
| > Kate
| > 98 Cobra Drop Top.
| >
| >
|
|