89 or 91 please help!

[gumbas89sho]

I bought my first sho about a month ago and today just picked up anouther one. My question is which is better. Im going to sell one of them but dont know which one. The 89 has 170,000 miles on it and is fast and runs very good, but the car looks really bad and needs motor mounts, new axels, brakes all new interior sunroof leaks has oil in the plug wells ect... The 91 looks pretty good but does not run very well. It has 80,000 miles on it but is slower than s**t. It sat for over a year and now runs rough and the clutch is going out. So what I want to do is make 1 good car out of 2 and sell the other for parts. Will the motor and tranny from the 89 go right into the 91 or will I have problems with this? Is the 89 a better bet to fix? Any info or oppinions would be great.

 

[Rockledge]

Welcome to SHOForum.

Only 80K? If you can get motor in the '91 running properly (and you should be able to, right?), then for me the decision is easy ...you keep it, fix the clutch and enjoy a newer car with much less mileage on it, and in much better shape overall, than the '89.

I realize some people might have sentimental reasons for favoring the '89 (original year, maybe more rare, etc.), but for me it's a practical decision all the way.

 

[gumbas89sho]

its just hard to decide when one runs so slow and the other is fast.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Im way too biased to answer honestly

 

[DHMag]

91 has ABS, airbags, updated flywheel/clutch (maybe), low miles.

89 has no ABS, no airbag with an ugly steering wheel, and old clutch...

id stay with the 91

 

[fricker66]

NotSoSlowSHO:
Im way too biased to answer honestly

Me too!

From the sounds of it, you might want to hold on to both of them and perhaps focus on getting the 91 running good first.

 

[fricker66]

DHMag:
91 has ABS, airbags, updated flywheel/clutch (maybe), low miles.

89 has no ABS, no airbag with an ugly steering wheel, and old clutch...

id stay with the 91

You have to be kidding on the steering wheel right? No way the 89 wheel is ugly. The 89 wheel looks much better than the later airbag equipped wheels! At least the 89 wheel has SHO on it!!! No comparision!

<small>[ February 08, 2004, 10:27 PM: Message edited by: fricker66 ]</small>

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

DHMag:
89 has no ABS, no airbag with an ugly steering wheel, and old clutch...

1. true, but I dont like ABS. I like to control braking and skidding myself. Just preference.
2. The ONLY year with a SHO specific wheel. Most like it over the other wheels. I know I do.
3. There is no way, with 170k, that it does not have an upgraded clutch. Either way, that is a simple swap.

In all honesty, I prefer the '89 over every other year... simply for it's 'raw' and unique styling, performance, and overall simplicity.

But yours sounds like a beater. shrug

 

[fricker66]

NotSoSlowSHO:

DHMag:
89 has no ABS, no airbag with an ugly steering wheel, and old clutch...

1. true, but I dont like ABS. I like to control braking and skidding myself. Just preference.
2. The ONLY year with a SHO specific wheel. Most like it over the other wheels. I know I do.
3. There is no way, with 170k, that it does not have an upgraded clutch. Either way, that is a simple swap.

In all honesty, I prefer the '89 over every other year... simply for it's 'raw' and unique styling, performance, and overall simplicity.

But yours sounds like a beater. shrug

The lack of ABS is one thing I would change on my 89. Since my normal drive in my SHO is for daily commuting to work, I don't wish to experience any wheel lockup!

Other than that, I have to agree with you Kenny. wink

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

fricker66:
You have to be kidding on the steering wheel right? No way the 89 wheel is ugly. The 89 wheel looks much better than the later airbag equipped wheels! At least the 89 wheel has SHO on it!!! No comparision!

 

[fricker66]

You're picture is better than mine.

 

[DHMag]

my 94 Ranger had the same style of steering wheel as the 89 SHO has. only the center cover makes it SHO specific.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Yet it is the ONLY year with a SHO wheel. finger

Yeah, I know you want one, just admit it rofl

 

[SHO_Driver]

Ok, I'm gonna say it. Only the '89 comes equipped with an Aerostar wheel, with 'SHO' stamped on it.

Thanks Fricker66.

<small>[ February 08, 2004, 11:48 PM: Message edited by: SHO_Driver ]</small>

 

[fricker66]

SHO_Driver:
Ok, I'm gonna say it. Only the '89 comes equipped with an Areostar wheel, with 'SHO' stamped on it.

Ok, as I'm not aware of the "Areostar," doesn't matter to me!! wink

 

[SHO--ripper]

89's have the best steering wheel hail

I say tune your 91 up, and race your 89 burnout

 

[Mike Kopstain]

Where do your priorities lie? If you want a fast Q ship that people will mistake for a beater, by all means, go for the 89'. (Because it's in bad shape, not because it's an 89'... not dissing the 89's guys. )

If you want a car with a solid body and some updates, then go for the 91'. I'd rather repair an engine than repair rust and repaint a car.

Either car is going to have it's issues. Make a list of what each car needs to be acceptable in your eyes and the choice will be clear.

 

[Hack]

To heck with it, fix em both!

 

[Dr. Tweak]

Mikeys_Taurus:
Where do your priorities lie? If you want a fast Q ship that people will mistake for a beater, by all means, go for the 89'. (Because it's in bad shape, not because it's an 89'... not dissing the 89's guys. )

If you want a car with a solid body and some updates, then go for the 91'. I'd rather repair an engine than repair rust and repaint a car.

Either car is going to have it's issues. Make a list of what each car needs to be acceptable in your eyes and the choice will be clear.

WERD.

Fixing, or even replacing an engine is not bad and will last. Fixing rust and painting... it's just going to come back. It's like cancer, you can't beat it.

My '92 has one very very small spot on one fender, so even though it's high mileage it's worth it to fix up, because of the solid body. ****

 

[gumbas89sho]

the 89 is not rusted but does need paint. The car is so much fun to drive. I just want the 91 to be quick like the 89. I dont want to dump hella money into the 91 engine if im not going to get a big improvement. I was thinking of doing the timing belt, new wires, plugs, o2 seners and fuel filter. Will doing all this get the power back or is the 91 just not as fast period? is there anything im forgetting that I should do? Sorry if these are dumb questions but I know nothing about this motor.