Hello! & Gen II probs to look out for???

[jrshooptie]

Hi all, just joined the forum and have a couple questions for you.

Unfortuately I'm selling my '96 Stang GT to get out of the car payment gig and looking to buy a SHO Gen II MTX. I was wondering if there are any major probs to look for on the Gen II's? I saw some posts on the main bearings which frighten me, is this a very common issue? Really leaning towards the '94-95 model yrs, any year Gen II better than others? I've always loved the SHO but unfortunately know very little about their dependability. Any info. or guidance is greatly appreciated.

JR

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'91 Explorer - 151K and still ticking
'96 Stang GT - 4 sale
'76 Lincoln TC (custom) - Long and Low is the only way to go!

 

[faxon]

Here's something to look for not only in SHOs, but any other modern car you look at that everyone misses: The "idiot" or warning lights. I know of more than a few dealers that will permanently disconnect a check engine light or an air bag light. So, turn the car to on and if all the lights don't light up, or something looks like it's missing, ask us what should be there. As for your bearing damage, if the red oil ight in the far left of the dash lights up at over 400 rpms, that is something to worry about. In other words, if that light is on at anytime except for when you bogged a launch and are about to stall the car, move on. That light, along with all others, should also light up in the test cycle, if not, move on. Bearing damage I wouldn't say is a problem I have ever seen.
Clutches and MTX differential pins are a tad weak. Some cars will only have a slipping clutch at high rpms. If when you turn the steering wheel at low speeds that could be a tie rod end or control arm replacement, which is not horribly expensive, just a common problem.
The big problem with all SHOs is expensive maintainence. There is a service that should be completed every 60,000 miles. It costs about 1500 to have someone else do. You should get proof that this has been done, or take it into consideration during negotiations. Other than making sure every control works and the AC is functioning and all that I think the SHO you will find is one of the better ford engines.
Oh yeah, here's the biggest problem nost SHO people have: once you have your car nothing short of spectacular will quite be the same anymore. You will start comparing every car you drive to your SHO, find it not as good and spend large sums of money keeping the SHO on the road.
Welcome and good luck.

 

[faxon]

I need to add the steering makes a creaky door noise at low soeed turns, then you have your problem. excuse that.

 

[jrshooptie]

Thanks faxon. I too have heard of people disconnecting the idiot lights, it's amazing how crooked some people are. Are the clutches on the SHO hydraulic or manual? The automatic adjuster on my stang, as well as alot of ford cars, is easily seen and gives a good report of clutch wear. Tie rods and the like are easy to change out so that doesn't bother me. What is involved in the 60K tune up, setting the valves, etc? I've rebuilt 2- ford 302's, a chevy 350 (young and dumb) and torn more than my share apart. Changing out parts doesn't scare me, even the lower bearings don't really bother me except for the fact that I've never pulled the motor out of a front driver and most times spun bearings = new crank which = $$$$$! What else is needed for maintainence besides the std stuff (oil change, etc) and the 60K check up?

I understand the spectacular thing, my X is not spectacular by any means other than it's the best, durable vehicle I've owned and I've owned 20+. The other reason I'm getting rid of the 'stang is that it's way too slow for what it is. Of 'course I have the anemic year for the GT and in compairison to most common cars it very fast but not in compairison to cars in it's category. I'm just looking for a fun, quick daily driver that's dependable, gets decient MPG, does decient in the snow and did I happen to mention fun to drive.

Oh yeah, do you have to run only premium in SHO's??

Thanks, JR

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'91 Explorer - 151K and still ticking
'96 Stang GT - 4 sale
'76 Lincoln TC (custom) - Long and Low is the only way to go!

 

[jthomas68]

The bearings,while they should be checked at decent intervals,are not an issue what so ever.No more than any other car anyways.
The 60k is all preventative maintenance.Valve adj,timing belt,water pump,crank postion sensor,seals.Not too expensive for a DIY,but for shops,they`ll charge between $600-$2000 for it.
If you like the Gen II`s(ugh

),the ATX tranny`s need a rebuild around 100k at about $1500.The 93-95`s had better tranny`s than the 92`s.The MTX`s are great,with the weak link being the diff pin.As long as you don`t do burnout`s everytime you drive,it`s not alot to worry about either.
As long as you are on one of the SHO boards,people will diagnose any problem,and get you thru any job.It`s a great community to be involved with.The SHO has better owner support than any other car i`ve ever seen.

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Jeremy Thomas
Modified 91+
Pic Of The Week:

 

[Brian685]

Welcome aboard JR!

- Brian

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Currant Red '89
98k miles Stock

 

[noSHO]

Hey JT, what is different about the 92 tranny than the 91? All 92s were manual; did they change something? Or maybe you just forgot? I'm always a little worried about my trans, even though I'd never dream of doing a burnout with it.

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-Dave
Green 92 77k coneless, fishtanks, K&N panel filter, SHOnut reinforced motor mounts, SFCs, Perf. Plus Y-pipe, Summitracing Turbo Mufflers

 

[ThatSHOkid]

Originally posted by faxon:
I need to add the steering makes a creaky door noise at low soeed turns, then you have your problem. excuse that.

hey my car does that? what is it?

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1993 White/Tan SHO MTX 96k Miles
[*] Eagle Super White Headlights ** American Products Company Super White Reverse Lights ** Hibrid Double Watt Super White License Plate Lights ** Colgan Custom Bra From Cincy SHO ** Gen. 2 Font "SHO" Windshield Banner ** Superchip Performance Chip ** Blacked Out "SHO" Lettering ** Sho Shop Y Pipe ** Coneless & Boxless ** K&N Filtercharger ** Blazertech Super Clear 55w Foglights ** Ventshade Sunroof Wind Deflector & Vent Guards ** GTS Headlight Blackouts (on order) ** Sony 10 Disc Changer ** All Possible Options
[*] Coming Soon: Tinted Windows, Sub Frame Connectors, Strut Tower Braces, & A Sig Pic!
[*] My Name: Jay/Jason/Hubes
[*] The Car: Zsa Zsa
[*] AIM: KingPin641 (I am a NESHOC member)

***"Drive it like you stole it!"***

 

[fredhurderjr]

Clarification - it's not the main bearings that seem to go, but rather the rod bearings. I was talking with Mark Nunnally & Steve Bowen about it this weekend, along with Jim Merksamer a few weeks ago. Mark's opinion is that the cars that are poked around town are not getting the oil to the bearings like the ones that are flogged. I would tend to concur, especially as I spun a bearing about 15k after getting mine from a "li'l ol' lady" who traded hers in.

Mark's observations of actual bearings seems to make sense.

Rotors - check for warping. Let the car get really hot, & check the Y-Pipe for red-hot cats. Clutch feel & release point. Watch the temp, or have them change the "thermostat" to be safe. Leaking water pump.

Like Jeremy said, ask about the 60k maintenance being done. 9 times out of 10, it hasn't. If you don't do it yourself, it'll cost you about $1600 to have it done at a dealer.

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White 95 SHO MTX
"Jezebel"

Spends more time in the shop than in the driveway
Teases me with occasional great runs
3.2L SHO Shop Long Block
9psi Vortech S-Trim Supercharger (12psi on the way)
Eibachs, Tokicos, 96 Brakes, SFCs, STBs
PP Y-Pipe, Custom Stainless Cat-back, Bullets
http://members.home.com/fhurderjr/sho.htm

Mocha 91 SHO
"Monique"

 

[jthomas68]

NOSHO-i`m not sure about the differences,but the 92 ATX`s weren`t as strong as the others.FPS uses 93-95`s as their rebuilds.


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Jeremy Thomas
Modified 91+
Pic Of The Week:

 

[slosho]

There is NO such thing as a 92' ATX. 93-95 only as far as 2nd gen's go. 95' is when Ford started to do the upgrades. FYI period. Oh and BTW, why in the world do people have there slicers on BACKWARDS?

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95' ATX Opal Frost
Cone Filter W/ heat shield
TB coolant Bypass
Bypassed a "PCV" line
Fog light mod
Reverse light mod
Sony head unit (el cheapo cdx-650)
JL Monoblock 500
JL 2-12w3's
Rear tint
More to come.

 

[RStalveyARFF]

91's are non directional from Canada, that's probably why you think they are backwards. There are no specific left or right rims for those cars.

 

[jrshooptie]

Thanks guys. This is some of the best response I've gotten from a forum before. The explorer crowd is also very supportive and helpful. Can't believe the crank position sensor goes out around 60K, my X has 151K + on her and it's never given me any prob. Know of alot of other cars that speak the same. The 60K tune up is all easily in my range of expertise. No worries on the ATX probs as I will only purchase a MTX no matter how cheap the ATX is. Can't compromise on some things.

Jeremy, I have an eye for the ugly models that no one really likes. My '76 Linc. does not have the typical favorite front clip of the 70' Lincs. Alot of people said YUK when I started the project, I had to twist the paint shop owner's arm to get him to lay the color I wanted on it and even then he fought me till he saw it completed and decided that I wasn't crazy afterall. I've got a thing for the odd egg. Like all SHO's, just favor the Gen II's, the I's and III's are great sleepers but not big on the body style in general. Thanks again for all the info and I'll be checking back frequently.

JR

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'91 Explorer - 151K and still ticking
'96 Stang GT - 4 sale
'76 Lincoln TC (custom) - Long and Low is the only way to go!

 

[FordLover]

Originally posted by jthomas68:
NOSHO-i`m not sure about the differences,but the 92 ATX`s weren`t as strong as the others.FPS uses 93-95`s as their rebuilds.

Ah HA, a good example of a Gen 1er trying to show what he knows about the gen 2's! Ford didn't produce any 92 model year ATX's. The ATX's were introduced late 92 only as 1993 models. The 94-95 are the 'better' ATXs if there is such a thing.
-Martin
BTW, I'm just messin with you a bit J

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AOL IM: FastTaurusSHO and Kyle5324

92 Silver UDP's, coneless, Alum SFB, SHOnut motor mounts
93 Green MTX, High Rev's Jr, lightened flywheel, grizzly paw TOB, fishtank lights, SHOnut motor mounts, K&N panel, coneless, SHOshop linears, tokicos, alum SFB, 26MM RSB, wigwag headlights, 225/55ZR16 firehawk SZ50's, G-tech [email protected], 0-60 in 6.31
94 Explorer Sport *sold*!!10-6-01

 

[ACV1081]

Not really having too hot of a week but my damn SHO is making that creaking noise now when I turn... what is it???

 

[Jeremy Hohn]

Adam,
Mine was outer tie rods. Had mine replaced and fixed the problem. Sounds like it could be the same thing.

------------------
Jeremy

1993 atx 122k miles
-PIAA headlamp bulbs (thanks Fratperformance)
-fish tanks installed
-fog lamp mod w/ blazer fog lamps
-6" 5% tint border on windshield
-black body filled lettering
-wclewis "powered by yamaha" badges
-Sho Shop Cold Air Induction Kit
-Lund blackouts front and back
-cincysho colgan half bra with "SHO" lettering
-KVR chrome cadmium plated rotors with carbon fiber pads
-Sho Shop cat back system with magnaflow chrome tips
-Performance Plus y-pipe
-TX personalized plates "SHO FUN"
-Shoshop underdrive pulleys
-Shoshop 80mm MAF
-60k completed by Sdpatt
-Redline atx tranny fluid and water wetter
-Ted Breaux LPM
-D4U1 computer upgrade
-Rebuilt 94/95 AXOD tranny with TRANS-GO shift kit

 

[jrshooptie]

Thanks for all the info guys. After much deliberation I have reluctantly decided not to go with a SHO. I average 40K miles/yr, at that rate I would be doing the 60K tune up way too often. Love the cars but want something that I can just rack the miles onto and not have to mess with it that frequently. I've got my Lincoln to do that with. Now researching SVT Contours or at least SE's with the 2.5L MTX. It'll be hard to find a sedan that will be as much fun as the GT 'Stang but finances always seem to dictate. Thanks again, if it weren't for you guys I might have bought a car that I would not have been satisified with in the long haul.

Regretably, JR

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'91 Explorer - 151K and still ticking
'96 Stang GT - 4 sale
'76 Lincoln TC (custom) - Long and Low is the only way to go!

 

[ASSMAN300]

hey bro,,, the 60 000 only has to be done once,,,,,, regardless of what others say,,,, mine has 160 000 on it, i do about 60 000 miles a year,,, and i havent done any special maintenence,,,,,,, i havent even done the 60 000 yet,,,,,,

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93 SHO MTX, White, Every SHO Option Available. She's My Little Rock And Roll.
Also Nicknamed:
THE 5 LITER EATER.
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Completly Stock
K/N Air Filter
10 Disk Changer (Factory)

 

[jthomas68]

The 60k needs to be done EVERY 60k.

------------------
Jeremy Thomas
Modified 91+
Pic Of The Week:

 

[Imnotsureyet]

The bearings,while they should be checked at decent intervals,are not an issue what so ever.No more than any other car anyways.
The 60k is all preventative maintenance.Valve adj,timing belt,water pump,crank postion sensor,seals.Not too expensive for a DIY,but for shops,they`ll charge between $600-$2000 for it.
If you like the Gen II`s(ugh

),the ATX tranny`s need a rebuild around 100k at about $1500.The 93-95`s had better tranny`s than the 92`s.The MTX`s are great,with the weak link being the diff pin.As long as you don`t do burnout`s everytime you drive,it`s not alot to worry about either.
As long as you are on one of the SHO boards,people will diagnose any problem,and get you thru any job.It`s a great community to be involved with.The SHO has better owner support than any other car i`ve ever seen.

------------------
Jeremy Thomas
Modified 91+
Pic Of The Week:

I really like what you said about the car and the community both of course meaning the show car in the show community. It seems that sence I've been a member I've only communicated with a couple of people but they seem to have been the best people I've met in a long time one in fact paying it forward to me from a debt of somebody paying it forward to him in this community and I plan on paying it forward as soon as you opportunity arises. Not that I have a lot of money! I don't but that doesn't matter to me. I've helped people my whole life and been riped off more times then I can ever count and that doesn't matter to me ether. Not that I don't get ****** off I do and that's not healthy for the people who ripped me off or me for that matter. But what is important to me is that I will ever stop.helping people. O I don't mean I'll keep helping the ones that burn me. I mean I we'll not stop helping people because I've been screwed by others I've learned to see though most folks and know who they are and what their gonna do before they do it. The point is that if I stop helping people because of getting riped off then they win because then I don't get to be who I want to be and if I can't be me I more then likely become one of them. And that just won't do!!! I'll never let that happen. O and I'm no religious nut job I have my faith I keep it to myself and it's nobody's business but mine I'm not looking for any pray for anybody and don't really want any I just find it's a better way for me to live. That and I hate to see you in a liar funny thing is every time I need a thief find a liar every time I find a liar I mean to see you go figure!!!
I'm glad I join the S H O FORUM SINGED IMNOTSUREYET