NP or CP?

"Tennessee Dreamer" (smokymtnhigh)
04/27/2017 at 10:48 • Filed to: Super Chicken

So this is my first post and I was gonna make an intro, but I thought introducing this SUPERCHARGED $1000 beater was more relevant to the general theme of this site, so here it is.

I’m looking for a cheap rally cross/general hooning beater. I’m thinking I cant really go wrong for the price.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Anyone have experience with the Supercharger on these? Also wondering if it has a LSD? Can’t find much info on the interwebz about these.

What do you think, OPPO?

DISCUSSION (40)

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 10:53

There is no such thing as a cheap rally-x car. Welcome, just go to stay out of the basement & you’ll be alright.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 10:58

Other than being horrifically ugly, the supercharged versions constantly destroyed head gaskets.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 11:00

Looks like a decent enough car, but I can’t see myself having much fun on a rallyX coarse with an automatic

Also that boost gauge is hot.

CalzoneGolem > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 11:01

I’d be concerned about the state of the drive train after seeing how well taken care of the exterior is.

I think the most important thing in a rally x car is one you’re comfortable working on because you will ... a lot.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 11:03

The T-bird S/coupe can be had cheap but can get expensive to repair. On the other hand, the aftermarket is significant - if only because of Ford’s parts-sharing between MN12, Fox/SN95, and Panther- although nowhere near as big as the Fox cars.

The Ford 3.8 Essex hates its head gaskets, even more so in the blown version. Expect problems there. Also the rear axle has hub and seal issues after abuse.

TCCoA forums are apparently really good with tech stuff.

Urambo Tauro > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 11:14

Kinda heavy for rallycrossing IMO, but it’d make a great beater car for getting around town.

$1000 is NP, but maybe consider throwing new head gaskets on pre-emptively before dailying it. Plenty of room to do it in-car.

The odo does work.

Um. Well, that’s good to hear, but why is it even being mentioned? The odo can sometimes fail after a while in these cars, but it’s a relatively easy fix. I wonder if this one has been recently repaired. ...and how many miles went unlogged...

Schaefft > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 11:32

An SC for a grand isn’t a bad deal, especially if that mileage is right. For autocross, especially in an automatic SC, not so sure.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 11:51

Are you a Knoxville Oppo?

Flies With Thunderbirds > Urambo Tauro
04/27/2017 at 12:03

The odometers have a habit of breaking around 150K miles.

Takuro Spirit > Urambo Tauro
04/27/2017 at 12:04

The cluster on these is bespoke, according to my several SC owning friend. There’s a module on the back that fails and is common.

Urambo Tauro > Takuro Spirit
04/27/2017 at 12:10

For me, it was a little plastic gear.

Takuro Spirit > Urambo Tauro
04/27/2017 at 12:12

I just realized it was a ‘90. Thought it was the 2nd gen.

Flies With Thunderbirds > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 12:14

SC head gaskets have a habit of eating themselves around 80-90K miles, so $1000 would be a good price for one with an intact gasket. As far as the LSD goes, the best way to know for sure if this car has one is to check the tag on the pumpkin which should be attached to one of the bolts, if it says something like 3L08 that means it’s a locking 3.08:1 duff. If it just says 3.08, that’s an open 3.08:1.

Tennessee Dreamer > Urambo Tauro
04/27/2017 at 12:43

Rally cross for me is all about fun, not necessarily to be fast. I just like to go sliding around. However after calling the owner this car is CP, I asked about the odometer and he said it was recently fixed, so telling how many miles, i asked if the head gasket had been replaced and the reply was “I don’t know what that means”

CobraJoe > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
04/27/2017 at 12:43

They’re not that expensive to repair. Or wern’t 7 years ago when I had a ‘95 V8. Suspension parts are pretty cheap on Rock Auto, and you will be replacing them because bushings wear out too quickly.

The aftermarket actually sucks for the MN12, they don’t share much with the Panther or SN95 outside of engine or trans specific things (and even then, the mod motor is so specific that you probably need to research it before you do it). You can’t even swap wheels, the MN12s had a 5x108mm bolt pattern that’s hard to source.

But, if you want something that’s incredibly comfortable and well put together for a ‘90s american car, the MN12 is a great option. I still wish I could have kept my ‘95.

Tennessee Dreamer > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
04/27/2017 at 12:44

Cool thanks for the info, I think I’d rather opt for the V8 in something like this. the search for a rally beater continues.

Tennessee Dreamer > Flies With Thunderbirds
04/27/2017 at 12:44

I asked the owner if the head gaskets had been changed and he replied, “i don’t know what that means. so i’ll be passing on this one.

Tennessee Dreamer > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
04/27/2017 at 12:47

dat boost gauge tho.. i just like sliding around in rally cross i don’t really care to go fast. 5 speed is definitely preferred, but i’m not having much luck finding something 5 speed and rwd or awd that’s sub-$1500

Tennessee Dreamer > CalzoneGolem
04/27/2017 at 12:48

oh yeah I’m ready to do some wrenching, my first car ever was a 95 cougar with the 5.0 so i’m familair with the platform, but Ithink I’d rather have a V8

Tennessee Dreamer > Schaefft
04/27/2017 at 12:49

yeah I think ill pass on this one. the odometer was recently repaired according to owner. so no telling how many miles

Tennessee Dreamer > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
04/27/2017 at 12:52

are there snacks in the basement?

Urambo Tauro > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 12:54

A MN12 can be super fun for sliding around! Very easy to break the rear tires loose, even in stock form.

Too bad about the odo, I was afraid of that. You could ask how long he thinks it was driven without it working, but you can really only hope for a truthful answer.

If the unknown head gasket thing is a deal-breaker for you, that’s your call. I would at least check the coolant level before a test drive, and check it again afterward. If there’s no loss of fluid (taking heat expansion into account, of course), it might be worth bringing home. But if there’s no history of the head gaskets having been done yet, then it should really be the first thing on a buyer’s list to take care of.

Tennessee Dreamer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/27/2017 at 12:54

my first car ever was a 95 cougar with the V8 so I have a strange attraction to this body style, but yeah I think I’ll pass on this one

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 12:54

Yup, there are “Snacks” there.

Tennessee Dreamer > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
04/27/2017 at 12:55

Yep, been here since ‘08

Tennessee Dreamer > Urambo Tauro
04/27/2017 at 12:57

I haven’t quite decided if that’s a deal breaker, but i think I’d rather have one with a V8 anyway and these things are everywhere.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 12:58

I’ve been here on a “learning visa” since 2013. I finally get to go home to Nashville in a week and a half. I love this city so much though. Living in The Fort is quite the experience you never forget. Have you heard about the SE Oppo Meet?

Urambo Tauro > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 13:07

V8s are pretty cool. I replaced my ’94 V6 (NA) Cougar with a ’96 V8 Thunderbird, and the only thing I didn’t like about it was that the 4.6’s oil filter was a PITA to get to.

Another thing you might want to take into consideration is the transmission. My 4R70W had to be rebuilt at 178,000 miles, but if you J-Mod the valve body and get some fresh Mercon V in there, you might be able avoid needing a rebuild for even longer. Not sure if that’s applicable to older AODs, but both transmissions have a lot in common.

Tennessee Dreamer > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
04/27/2017 at 13:09

My “learning visa” expired in 2013 and I found a job and stayed! I lived in the fort all 4 years, it truly is a magical place, in it’s own grimy way.

I have heard about the SE oppo meet. I’d like to come. I’m trying to convince Ms. Dreamer to come with and enjoy Nashville, but when I showed her the plan she said “cars and coffee and a car museum... umm, why?” so it will be a hard sell

Tennessee Dreamer > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 13:13

edit: it was the 4.6 actually

Tennessee Dreamer > Urambo Tauro
04/27/2017 at 13:15

my first car when I turned 16 was a 95 cougar with the 4.6. I still miss that car. Sadly breaking the rear wheels loose with out much driving experience led to it’s demise..

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 13:38

Well there’s going to be at least three wives and maybe one baby so she won’t be alone. Also we included the winery for a reason haha.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Tennessee Dreamer
04/27/2017 at 14:37

That’s far, best bet in that price range, with a manual trans, is a V6 SN95. Just weld the diff and go.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/27/2017 at 15:43

They’re really not that ugly. Plain? Sure. Ugly? Nothing objectively bad about the design.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/27/2017 at 15:59

When there is more window than door, it is ugly.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/27/2017 at 16:14

There isn’t though. And tall greenhouses is pretty much every car before 1998

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/27/2017 at 16:18

But it looks that way, and most cars from the States built during the 90's haven’t aged well at all. It’s ugly, unless you have really weird tastes. Like a fetish for Buick sedans.

Compared to the SC300, which can now be had for nearly/just as cheap, it looks absolutely classless.

Reigntastic > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
04/27/2017 at 16:36

Sweet summer child

Steve in Manhattan > Tennessee Dreamer
04/28/2017 at 12:13

That is a $500 car, if that.

Nobi > Tennessee Dreamer
04/28/2017 at 21:29

A bit heavy for Autocross, but with enough money, anything is possible. I say make it what it is, a comfortable highway cruiser.