Got a free 91 SHO! New to the forum!

[crazywayne311]

That’s right! I got a free 1991 SHO 5spd manual…but not only am I joining this forum to learn but I’m joining bc I need help! Haha

One of my best friends mother gave this to me before she passed from cancer. This car meant a lot to her. I rode in this car when I was in high school. That was many moons ago.

I’m excited to be here! Now, my first question. The intake couplings have holes in them and the car idles like crap and won’t stay running. Do I need to take off the j take to replace the couplings? Does intake have to come off to do Spark plugs and wires? Thanks guys!

EDIT: it is a 1991 the VIN has a M

 

[zoomlater]

Welcome! Nice pickup. Holes in the coupling could be one of the causes of your running problems. You can get replacement couplings here:

SHO Source V6 Intake Coupler Hoses (Set of 9) (89-95)

If you are planning on porting your intake and upgrading to our Big Bore Butterflies, then you probably should replace your intake coupler hoses, as they will probably crack and create leaks. Product is the full set of nine hoses; this does not include hose clamps. See separate ad for...

shosource.com

How many miles are on the car and did you get any maintenance information along with the car? Looks like there is some missing wire covering going to the DIS module (the wires that go under the crossover tube on the left side of the engine). Are any of those wires exposed/cut?

 

[Irish Pride]

Welcome in! The car looks really good. It has some desirable 1991 SHO body parts. The front bumper is a late 91 bumper and the spoiler on the trunk is a 1991 Plus only option. Are you sure that it's a 1990 and not a 91? If so, someone loved that car and took pride in it.

The intake does not need to come off to do plugs and wires but it is a whole lot simpler to do with it off if you've never done them. The intake does need to come off and fully disassembled to replace the couplers. I would set aside some time and start gathering parts for a full upper 60k. Plugs and wires, valve cover gaskets and plug well seals, and heater hoses at the very least. Get it all out of the way while you have the intake off.

-Chad

 

[Greg Corcoran]

Aren't those also the '91 amber rear turn signal lenses and the slicer wheels without the SHO on the centers? So 91+ not a 90?

 

[kryptto]

congrats welcome to the madness - as you can see we have some very experienced and helpful SHO owners.

 

[Irish Pride]

Aren't those also the '91 amber rear turn signal lenses and the slicer wheels without the SHO on the centers? So 91+ not a 90?

I didn't notice the Slicers, good catch. It's not a Plus but I would venture to say it's actually a 91. I'd like to see the build date inside the drivers door. It has too many 91 specific parts on it.

-Chad

 

[kryptto]

I didn't notice the Slicers, good catch. It's not a Plus but I would venture to say it's actually a 91. I'd like to see the build date inside the drivers door. It has too many 91 specific parts on it.

-Chad

I love this forum.... sorry had to say it - what a group here.

 

[crazywayne311]

Welcome in! The car looks really good. It has some desirable 1991 SHO body parts. The front bumper is a late 91 bumper and the spoiler on the trunk is a 1991 Plus only option. Are you sure that it's a 1990 and not a 91? If so, someone loved that car and took pride in it.

The intake does not need to come off to do plugs and wires but it is a whole lot simpler to do with it off if you've never done them. The intake does need to come off and fully disassembled to replace the couplers. I would set aside some time and start gathering parts for a full upper 60k. Plugs and wires, valve cover gaskets and plug well seals, and heater hoses at the very least. Get it all out of the way while you have the intake off.

-Chad

This is amazing information right off the bat!

I think it may need shocks/struts as well. I do have an extensive maintenance record but the owner of the car had cancer and the last 5 years or so the car stayed covered up and ran once in a blue moon.

I can snap a pic of the build date but I’m pretty sure it said 90

To all that have chimed in, it’s much appreciated and any info is welcomed. Always been a VW guy who now owns a 22 F150 and this SHO. It does drive seemingly fine but won’t idle and stay running.

 

[Texas Marauder]

Don't look at the production date. Look at the 10th character in the VIN.

L = 90
M = 91

 

[crazywayne311]

Don't look at the production date. Look at the 10th character in the VIN.

L = 90
M = 91

Well, I stand corrected. I know the sticker on the door says */90 can check tomorrow on actual sticker date…but title and VIN say 1991 so I stand corrected. someone mind fixing the title

 

[Irish Pride]

Well, I stand corrected. I know the sticker on the door says */90 can check tomorrow on actual sticker date…but title and VIN say 1991 so I stand corrected. someone mind fixing the title

Done.

-Chad

 

[crazywayne311]

i had no idea if the build date said 90 it would be a 91...sorry for the mistake. @Irish Pride , where is the best place to source the stuff you mentioned above? the 60K stuff? SHO Source for all of it? Local Autozone/Advance? Rock Auto? Ebay? This stuff...Plugs and wires, valve cover gaskets and plug well seals, and heater hoses at the very least.

while i have you, what about shocks/struts? not looking for anything crazy, just an OEM quality.

 

[luigisho]

Rock auto is great for variety of choices and pricing but--if you have a problem-- incorrect part etc, returning and getting things sorted out is a bitch. I hasd to stop using them for alot of stuff. Support for SHO Source is always a good thing (plus they know what parts work and aren't listed wrongly in parts data bases) as they are one fo teh few remaining focused vendors still around. Or you can use good parts locally to make returns and whatnot easier. I usually patchwork it together depending on the part and how fast I need something.

 

[crazywayne311]

Rock auto is great for variety of choices and pricing but--if you have a problem-- incorrect part etc, returning and getting things sorted out is a bitch. I hasd to stop using them for alot of stuff. Support for SHO Source is always a good thing (plus they know what parts work and aren't listed wrongly in parts data bases) as they are one fo teh few remaining focused vendors still around. Or you can use good parts locally to make returns and whatnot easier. I usually patchwork it together depending on the part and how fast I need something.

I see youre local to me…sorta yea i hate to have to deal with returns like that anything ever pop up locally? Parts wise?

 

[Irish Pride]

i had no idea if the build date said 90 it would be a 91...sorry for the mistake. @Irish Pride , where is the best place to source the stuff you mentioned above? the 60K stuff? SHO Source for all of it? Local Autozone/Advance? Rock Auto? Ebay? This stuff...Plugs and wires, valve cover gaskets and plug well seals, and heater hoses at the very least.

while i have you, what about shocks/struts? not looking for anything crazy, just an OEM quality.

Monroe SensaTracs and nothing else for a good replacement strut. You can usually find really good deals on RA. I have a spare set in my parts shed that I don't think I paid more than $150 for. Search the forum for more info on them.

-Chad

 

[luigisho]

I see youre local to me…sorta yea i hate to have to deal with returns like that anything ever pop up locally? Parts wise?

Some parts are incorrectly listed in the databases. I just had to ship stuff back and forth to RA and that soured me due to time with a daily driver SHO. I don't have that problem anymore. I suggest with parts availability and age of electrical system, that you not do make one a daily driver.

I like to use SHO Source when i can even though they are on the other side of the country. They know a great deal about the cars. They also have some used parts that are not on the website and you can email and ask. I have always used member SV&HOdan for used parts. His used stuff is priced well and shipping from Pittsburgh doesn't take too long.
I try to make sure I am pretty sure of the part number before I order to cut down on errors in database listings.

 

[crazywayne311]

Some parts are incorrectly listed in the databases. I just had to ship stuff back and forth to RA and that soured me due to time with a daily driver SHO. I don't have that problem anymore. I suggest with parts availability and age of electrical system, that you not do make one a daily driver.

I like to use SHO Source when i can even though they are on the other side of the country. They know a great deal about the cars. They also have some used parts that are not on the website and you can email and ask. I have always used member SV&HOdan for used parts. His used stuff is priced well and shipping from Pittsburgh doesn't take too long.
I try to make sure I am pretty sure of the part number before I order to cut down on errors in database listings.

Monroe SensaTracs and nothing else for a good replacement strut. You can usually find really good deals on RA. I have a spare set in my parts shed that I don't think I paid more than $150 for. Search the forum for more info on them.

-Chad

I cant thank you guys enough for taking time out to give great replies. I'll have to find out what Monroe SensaTrac part numbers work for the the SHO. I'm assuming i'll find it here on the website. As of now, the car runs and drives just doesnt idle and i believe thats b/c of the holes on the intake couplings. I hope to be able to drive this car back and forth to work to save miles on the truck. haha

 

[SHO_Diehard]

Nice looking car, congrats!

I would hang on to a daily driver so you will have time to properly go through the car. But it will definitely be worth it!

 

[Irish Pride]

I cant thank you guys enough for taking time out to give great replies. I'll have to find out what Monroe SensaTrac part numbers work for the the SHO. I'm assuming i'll find it here on the website. As of now, the car runs and drives just doesnt idle and i believe thats b/c of the holes on the intake couplings. I hope to be able to drive this car back and forth to work to save miles on the truck. haha

SensaTracs
Front all years(89-95) #71780
Rear (89-93) #71781
Rear (94-95) #71616

You can interchange the rears with any year but depending on what year car you are searching one may come up and not the other. Personally, I use the 71781s on all my cars with SensaTracs.

On Rockauto it might list them as OE Spectrum struts but I've always received SensaTracs when ordering. Don't limit your search to just SHOs on Rockauto. Sometimes you will find parts listed under the 3.0 single cam engine or the 3.8 and not under the DOHC options.

-Chad