Breathing new life into sleeping beauty

[paramedicrt]

My first car was a 1989 Maroon Sho, LOVED that car, had to get rid of it when I couldnt afford tires, rear brakes etc on my college budget, when I finished college, I was driving on a back road, Drove by a house that was very nice (brick, green lawn, 2 story, attached 4 car garage, new f-350 truck and an awesome out building), but in the front yard was a white 1989 sho, I drove by this place the next week a few more times because my job was close, I finally stopped in to talk to the guy, it didnt have a for sale sign in it or anything, it had 3 flat tires, covered in tree sap, etc (did not fit in for what this house looked like) He told me it was his daughters (he worked as a nucular engineer at the local power plant and avid Ford guy), she told him the clutch was out in it and she wanted one of the new cougars, I asked if he wanted to sell it he said yes, I asked how much, he said $50. My heart stopped, I said why so low, he said he called the junk guy thats what he would give him, I said Ill call a tow truck and get it out today, He said give him til tomorrow so he could find the title, I told him about the love affair I had with my first car as mentioned above. The next morning the tow truck and myself showed up, however this car had air in the tires, and was washed.... Red faced the man told me that his daughter just wanted a new car and he still only wants $50 for it and to drive it out of there. He said if I got it re done he wanted to see it even if its 20 years from now. I put new tires on it and a new clutch about a year later, Then I started my family and it has sat for about 6 years now. I am this summer going to get it going again, My girls are finally at an age I can work on things and spend some money. What do you all recommend to go thru prior to restarting? It will be going to the ford dealer for rear strut and brake work that was needed when I parked it. I will check fluids, put some sea foam and add fuel. It has sat out side. I live in central Illinois. Any help would be greatly appreciated and thank you for reading my post!!!!

 

[94SHO_Norfolk]

Just amazes me how these Gen I and II SHOs are abused and left to fend for themselves...if it's been sitting outside all these years without being run, you'll have your work cut out for you. Good luck with your project, hope to see some "work in progress" pics, sounds like you're definitely one who's dedicated and motivated to get 'er back on the road!

 

[Bob Gervais]

What do you all recommend to go thru prior to restarting?

A service manual, searching here and asking questions, patience, and a decent set of tools.

Not sure how mechanically inclined you are, but you're about to become better. Having someone do all of the work on your car is going to cost you quite a bit. There's plenty of us here that are knowledgable, and more than willing to help. Most times, the cost of the tools you're going to need will be way less than what you'd pay for dealership or mechanic labor. Money well invested.

You're on the right track with checking all the fluids. Was the car parked with any fuel in the tank? At this point, being six years old, that fuel is going to be in rough shape. I'd recommend a bottle of dry gas in the fuel tank, along with five gallons or so of fresh fuel.

After all of that is taken care of, I'd suggest popping the air filter lid off, and checking the filter box and intake tube for critters, or critter debris.

Before starting, I'd disconnect the electrical connectors from the DIS (plastic box on the passenger's side intake manifold), and crank the motor over like this a few times to build oil pressure.

Good luck with the project, that's an interesting story, and I'm looking forward to reading about your progress!

 

[paramedicrt]

This is already helping, Yes there was fuel in it, Is dry gas the same as sea foam? also I will do the disconnect and crank. Thanks so much!!!

 

[zoomlater]

It's great to hear you are bringing it back to running condition as white 89's appear to be a rare breed

 

[paramedicrt]

The thing interesting to me on this car is it must have been the more expensive model for the year, my first one had leather trimmed seats and non digital heat control and no moon roof, this one is full leather and digital control along with moon roof. I liked my first cars color better tho.

 

[FastAndFurious]

I don't know how much you are mechanically inclined, but I would suggest you should do the strut and brake jobs. That will save you tons of money. I would gladly help you if you live closer, but it seems a little too far. Haha

 

[paramedicrt]

For me its going to be a time constraint as well, I would love the help and am hoping to do some of the work myself as well, that black on black looks awesome!

 

[paramedicrt]

Also what do you all recomend for a service manual?

 

[frosho]

Stay away from Chiltons manuals. They have some incorrect info. If you can get your hands on a Ford (Helms) shop manual, that would be your best bet. I'm not sure where you can find those other than ebay, but you could try posting in the Wanted To Buy section of the forum. Somebody might have one that they're willing to let go.

The "rare breed" comment above is definitely true. If I remember correctly, white 89's are the rarest of the V6 SHO's ('89-'95) with only 318 built.

Lastly, welcome to the forum!

 

[paramedicrt]

and to think I thought about repainting it!!! Im feeling better and better about saving it! I have our local dealer looking now to see if they have the manual, they said they would give it to me if they did.

 

[Jh8990]

do you have any pictures of it?

 

[jayro]

Glad to hear you are bringing it back to life. I would say change all the fluids. Address the 6 yr old gas (as has been stated). New battery and tires (probably). Once you get it going you should expect to find some thing from it sitting such as sticky brakes. hoses needing replaced, leaky seals ect. Most of it shouldnt be too expensive if you do it yourself. Depending on the maintinance history you may want to start getting parts for a full 60K. Have fun....man 50 bucks for a driver. Im jealous.

 

[Bob Gervais]

This is already helping, Yes there was fuel in it, Is dry gas the same as sea foam? also I will do the disconnect and crank. Thanks so much!!!

Dry gas is very different from Seafoam. Dry gas is mostly isopropyl alcohol that will help to take any condensation out of the old fuel. I'd hold off on the Seafoam. I'm probably in the minority here, but I really don't care for any additives aside from maybe Lucas products, but you can deal with that once it's running and driving.

You're very welcome! You'll find this forum to be a very helpful and friendly place.

 

[TimboSHO]

Another white 89! Welcome to the club

 

[Toolman]

Welcome!

 

[wrenchturner]

Dry gas is very different from Seafoam. Dry gas is mostly isopropyl alcohol that will help to take any condensation out of the old fuel. I'd hold off on the Seafoam. I'm probably in the minority here, but I really don't care for any additives aside from maybe Lucas products, but you can deal with that once it's running and driving.

You're very welcome! You'll find this forum to be a very helpful and friendly place.

I am not a big fan of sea foam as well. I have used it numerous times with the black could coming from the exhaust thinking it cleaned the car out. Take the car apart afterwords and it's still filthy. I feel it's a waste of 8-10 bucks.

 

[pbgsho]

Having just gone through this with my 90 and 93 I feel qualified to make some suggestions. Like you, my SHOs sat for about 6 years before I decided to fix them. If you saw my fuel senders and pumps I doubt that you would want to send that fuel through the injectors. When I first tried to start them there wasn't any attempt by pumps to run. Finally I dropped tanks, had them cleaned and replaced the senders and pumps in both. With fresh fuel both started immediately and ran quite well.
My task now is to replace the brake fluid and bleed the system since I have no brakes.
Check your *** for some other thoughts on what you may want to do.

pbgsho

 

[32MTX]

hey good u got some of the SHO's running

if you have an air compressor I have a bleeding tool that will suck all your fluid out of the lines and stuff... works pretty quickly and doesn't make mess or spill a drop if u do it right.... let me know if your interested

 

[SHOtime2511]

6 year old gas?
I'd drop the tank and clean it out.
This would be especially important if your area uses 10% ethanol as it begins to separate in as little as a few months.