Modified 89 SHO

[meSHOhorny420]

I recently purchased this car from a retired gentleman here in Oregon for $1500. I believe I'm the third owner. First owner is the brother-in-law of the seller. He owned a shop somewhere in California and built this car for track use. Seller said it has raced at Laguna Seca. After retiring from mechanic work he sold his shop, sold the SHO to his brother-in-law, and held onto his built fox body. The guy who sold it to me owned it for less than two years.

Since it was the brother-in-law who built the car, the seller wasn't able to provide a detailed account of what exactly was done. He claimed the car has 300 horsepower, and the transmission is geared for track use. I asked, "So what's done to the engine? Cams, pistons, rods, head work..?" He replied, "All of it." So the powertrain is a mystery to me. It is a fast car though, so the horsepower claim seems to be accurate.

The 1st owner added lower chassis bracing. It handles really well. Driver rear wheel well was already trimmed, so I don't think he was running the current package of 215/45/17s on poverty-spec Loco brand wheels. I trimmed/rolled the rear passenger to prepare for a set of 235/45/17s I ordered. Seller included shop manuals and a set of straight pipes in the trunk.

Just want to thank everyone who runs this forum. It's already provided me with a wealth of information. I'll take more photos after tires come and I get it on the road more.

 

[zoomlater]

Welcome!

 

[PaulTAutoX]

Welcome, likewise. 300 HP takes a significant number of parts. Probably cams, a chip and tune, maybe extrude honed intake, updated headers with high-flow or deleted cats, maybe injectors.
As far as "transmission is geared for track use", I personally have never heard of transmission mods other than swapping in a Quaife gear-type limited slip diff or other LSD. Those didn't have a changed final drive gear ratio.

The individual gears in the stock trans in my '92 is good for roughly 49 in 1st, 74 in second, I forget 3rd, something in the 120's in 4th, and way faster than 143 in top though that's where the power equals the drag unless the engine is significantly breathed on. While it's possible to engineer new transmission gear ratios, it's beyond most garage to moderate-size fabricators. And the stock ratios are capable of keeping the car "in the boost" that is between 4000 and 7000.

 

[meSHOhorny420]

Welcome, likewise. 300 HP takes a significant number of parts. Probably cams, a chip and tune, maybe extrude honed intake, updated headers with high-flow or deleted cats, maybe injectors.
As far as "transmission is geared for track use", I personally have never heard of transmission mods other than swapping in a Quaife gear-type limited slip diff or other LSD. Those didn't have a changed final drive gear ratio.

The individual gears in the stock trans in my '92 is good for roughly 49 in 1st, 74 in second, I forget 3rd, something in the 120's in 4th, and way faster than 143 in top though that's where the power equals the drag unless the engine is significantly breathed on. While it's possible to engineer new transmission gear ratios, it's beyond most garage to moderate-size fabricators. And the stock ratios are capable of keeping the car "in the boost" that is between 4000 and 7000.

Thank you for your insight regarding the transmission! It was a bold claim, so I'm not surprised to hear it's likely inaccurate. It doesn't have an LSD from what I can tell either. When I spin one wheel, the other spins in the opposite direction with little resistance.

Hoping to pick up some Volvo canisto wheels this week. Seller seems flaky though :-/

 

[kryptto]

wow very nice find and she is a beauty. welcome

 

[meSHOhorny420]

Got the Volvo wheels. Had to use Honda lugnuts to make it work.

 

[mavericksav]

Make some photos of engine and suspension pls

 

[Qshiplvr]

Got the Volvo wheels. Had to use Honda lugnuts to make it work. View attachment 95238

Volvo wheels go GREAT on SHO's!


Volvo Comets from V70 on Gen3 SHO

 

[meSHOhorny420]

Volvo wheels go GREAT on SHO's!

View attachment 95253
Volvo Comets from V70 on Gen3 SHO

Those look great. Same 17x7.5 +43 size as mine. I bought 3mm spacers and ended up not needing them, possibly because my hub assembly sits further outboard due to the aftermarket brakes. I did use 65.1mm to 63.4mm hub centric rings.

Additionally, with the 3mm spacers installed, I did not have nearly enough thread engagement (see pic). I've read on this forum about how extended lugs are not possible due to none being manufactured with the correct knurl size, which is a bummer.

If the offset was any higher it wouldn't have worked. Most of the Volvo wheels have way higher offsets. I considered the 17x8 +46 Pegasus wheels but was nervous they wouldn't fit. So glad I lucked out and nabbed these canisto wheels for $260 shortly after being posted on Facebook.

I'm running the Honda lug nuts because they are M12x1.5 with a ball seat. The Honda ball seat has a 13mm radius, whereas volvos use a 14.5mm radius seat. The 1.5mm difference probably doesn't matter all too much. Volvo uses a M14x1.5 lug nut, so those can't be used.

Just glad this worked out. Your car looks good with those wheels.

 

[luigisho]

You can spin the wheels to see if there is a limited slip diff diff or even look for the viscodrives that were made in small batch for Bondurant.

Bondurant/Roush Engine & Visco-Drive Trans and More

After a lot thought I've decided to sell my Bondurant Engine and Transmission. The engine is straight from Roush to Bonduranat with ZERO miles. It has been sitting some time, but has always been keep in the dry and cranked over by hand regularly. The 5 speed transmission is a one of a kind...

shoforum.com

 

[meSHOhorny420]

You can spin the wheels to see if there is a limited slip diff diff or even look for the viscodrives that were made in small batch for Bondurant.

Bondurant/Roush Engine & Visco-Drive Trans and More

After a lot thought I've decided to sell my Bondurant Engine and Transmission. The engine is straight from Roush to Bonduranat with ZERO miles. It has been sitting some time, but has always been keep in the dry and cranked over by hand regularly. The 5 speed transmission is a one of a kind...

shoforum.com

Thanks man! I did spin the front wheel while it was on jack stands, and the other wheel spun freely in the opposite direction. So no LSD for me sadly.

 

[luigisho]

I got tired of wrenching on SHO's recently but at 1500 I would have snapped that up in a heartbeat! Good purchase.

 

[meSHOhorny420]

I got tired of wrenching on SHO's recently but at 1500 I would have snapped that up in a heartbeat! Good purchase.

Behold, my shitbox fleet.

 

[luigisho]

The thing with s*boxes is you need multiples to be able to ensure you get to work reliably

 

[meSHOhorny420]

Installed a wink mirror. Not sure if I actually like it though.

 

[luigisho]

Carpet looks like the usual parking brake pedal pad turned to goo. Such a bad material they used

 

[meSHOhorny420]

Carpet looks like the usual parking brake pedal pad turned to goo. Such a bad material they used

Wipers won't currently turn off. It's probably the stalk. Driving me nuts.

 

[luigisho]

Hopefully mulitfunction switch. Which is not the worst job. They used to have them aftermarket. Not sure what is available now

 

[Devin]

Hopefully mulitfunction switch. Which is not the worst job. They used to have them aftermarket. Not sure what is available now

Still available on Rock Auto

 

[meSHOhorny420]

Still available on Rock Auto

View attachment 95333

I ordered the SHEE-MAR. Only the best for my car. Rock Auto showed different part numbers for me though.