ANNOUNCEMENT: MontegoMan bought a Rally Car

"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
11/07/2016 at 11:16 • Filed to: MERCURY, CAPRI, 5.0, RS, RALLYX, PROJECT, MERCURY MUSCLE

So here’s the story of MontegoMan acquiring a rally car:

I talked my friend into riding along with me so he could drive my 07 Milan back after I purchased a car. So we set out Sunday morning aiming for southern Indiana (from the Detroit area). And by the time I hit the Ohio border I got a message from the seller of the 83 Bubble Back Capri that he couldn’t meet today (AGAIN) after I was already in route.

I was less than pleased.

BUT I had a back up plan. There were 2 more Capri 5.0's in driving distance and my buddy was game to go car hunting.

I called the one that was unfortunately the most expensive but it already had a strut tower brace and frame ties. It was definitely in the nicest condition without having the 84 and up front end (that one hangs a LOT lower and is not ideal for rally). Guy said he was available no problem. So we hung a left and headed to Cleveland.

Where I found my new RallyX Car. After a test drive where the owner took us for a spin first I got behind the wheel. Only to remember (oppo confession time) it’s been YEARS since I drove stick and I have NEVER owned one. Which was proven by quite a few stalls trying to get going. EDIT : HUGE SHOUT OUT to my sister who taught me to drive manual on her 86 Mustang 4 cylinder 4 speed 13 years ago right after I got my license.

After getting around a few blocks, I pulled up here for the final negotiations:

And then I bought a 1982 Mercury Capri RS 5.0 4 Speed.

Since this was the above was the only picture I got at the time of purchase we stopped off at a rest stop on the Ohio Turnpike on the way home for a few more:

Last night I realized there was a brand new 5.0 lurking in the background:

And after a very eventful experience getting out of a toll booth, here it is in my driveway where it belongs:

Now I start the hunt for another set of wheels and some winter tires. For cheap. Because this was damn near my whole budget. At least it already has frame ties and a strut to firewall brace under the hood. I should be able to run it as is with some wheels/tires. Best part of these is the ground clearance up front and the hatch that will hold a set of tires on the way to a track!

Can’t wait to really dig through it and share the story with you guys. This weekend you’ll find me practicing manual in a local empty parking lot for at least a few hours.

Ladies and gentleman: Capri Rally has begun.

DISCUSSION (73)

TheHondaBro > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:20

dood

BeaterGT > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:21

Congrats! How much?

Speed > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:21

5.0, bubble back, turbines... Let’s be pals.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:21

This makes me happy, and very jealous!

I’ve been talking about doing a Fox body rally car for a few years now. One day...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > BeaterGT
11/07/2016 at 11:22

3,000 even. Which was 500 off the listing.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Speed
11/07/2016 at 11:23

Unfortunately it’s not a bubble. I was hoping for that. I could always swap it, but not in budget right now.

I was just eying up a second set of turbines for the rally tires....

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow
11/07/2016 at 11:23

There’s already 2 others in the Detroit area SCCA RallyX.

One of which is around 2nd or 3rd place in modified rear, he’s beating a bunch of miatas

Brian, The Life of > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:27

Awesome!

EL_ULY > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:29

coooooooooooooool!

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:30

Congrats, I can’t wait to see the first rally X report.

Nothing > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:30

Congrats! I’ve always liked those Capris! I went with one of my sisters (10 years my senior) when she bought her first ever brand new car...1982 Mustang 5.0. She had never driven stick before and learned on that car, driving home from the dealer. Fox bodies were on my list when I found the Cougar.

Party-vi > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:31

Carb’d?

Speed > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:31

In my haste I shot right down to comment. I’m pretty jelly. I was just talking to my brother about Foxes. I saw a bone stock, black hatch on Pony wheels last night while in Lexington and was smitten. Whereabouts are you?

Stapleface > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:36

I love the 80'stastic hood bulge(s).

Nice score. Good luck with it. I know how long you’ve been looking.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Party-vi
11/07/2016 at 11:36

Yeah, I would’ve preferred Fuel Injection, maybe I’ll grab a truck “off road” carb for it. It’s a 4 barrel Holley 600 someone swapped on. I may try running it as is and see if it has any consistency issues (which it probably will lol)

I plan to keep an eye out to rip a whole fuel injection system off of a newer car/truck. I believe they only made the Capri for one year in 86 with factory fuel injection. Hard to find.

uofime-2 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:36

Sweet!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Speed
11/07/2016 at 11:37

Detroit area.

I saw a set of turbines nearby for 100 bucks. Look clean. Price is unbeatable. Mainly because people don’t seek out 4 lug wheels. No cash for a 5 lug swap right now.

DutchieDC2R > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:37

Nice! As a Euro dude, I gotta ask this question. Whats the difference between this and a Fox stang 5.0?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Nothing
11/07/2016 at 11:37

Thanks! I’m so glad to have a 5.0 back in my life.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
11/07/2016 at 11:37

I can’t wait to deliver that.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Stapleface
11/07/2016 at 11:38

It’s the perfect amount of 80's cheese

The white interior helps lol

deprecated account > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:38

That is too awesome!!! That’s gonna be a hell of a lot of fun.

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:39

RALLY CAPRI!!!!!!

My race car may be way cheaper, but yours is a whole lot cooler! Congrats!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > DutchieDC2R
11/07/2016 at 11:39

This is a gentleman’s Mustang. It’s identical underneath which is ideal for parts availability and performance modification. And I don’t have to be the guy with the same car as everyone else.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > deprecated account
11/07/2016 at 11:39

It’s fun on the pavement so I can’t wait until I see dirt

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:40

Did you get a discount because it didn’t have all five liters? Any bystanders die during the test drive?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher
11/07/2016 at 11:40

Thanks man! Maybe we’ll meet at a RallyX nationals event in the future!

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:40

You done good. Plus, it’s probably better that it doesn’t have a bubble hatch...I could see that shattering almost immediately in a rally X setting. If that glass shatters, it’s a Mustang hatch, they’re everywhere.

Spaceball-Two > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:40

Sweet ride! Congrats!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
11/07/2016 at 11:42

Thanks!

The Capri bubble is actually a composite, it’s not glass. I actually trusted the bubble more than than the actual glass but I’ve seen people drive these hatches with no problem in RallyX.

The bubble is fun, it’s the only thing more divisive than the current presidential election. People love it or hate it.

vondon302 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:42

Nice! And congrats. Now RS stands for rally sport.

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:44

Maybe :)

I’m just hoping my rusty front cross-member doesn’t break in half during my first event!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher
11/07/2016 at 11:52

LOL

First repair has to be something, right?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > vondon302
11/07/2016 at 11:53

Thanks, and good plan.

I gotta work on a name now, I was going to go with Bubble Trouble, but it’s not a bubble back! Back to the non-bubble drawing board.

Party-vi > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:54

600cfm should be plenty for that engine. Your money might be better spent on new heads/cam or non-dished pistons if you’re looking for power.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 11:57

16" PONYS

CHEAP 17'S

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Party-vi
11/07/2016 at 12:08

I’m not concerned with power, it seems to moving great. 600 is almost too much for a 302 depending on the jets in it. I had a holley that I believe was a 390 or 400 cfm on the Montego it had plenty of fuel running through.

My only reason to switch is to get something that would handle the abuse of off road better. Fuel Injection would be for consistency not power. It’s got more power than I’ll probably be able top put down as is.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
11/07/2016 at 12:13

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/wto/5845681373.html

These had my attention because of price...

17's are a bit big. Those 16's are a potential good deal mainly because the tires come with...

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 12:15

Plus you can get some decent dirt tires to fit...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
11/07/2016 at 12:26

The infamous off road Mustang from the grassroots motorsports forum a guy actually crammed in Mud Terrain tires on the back of the Fox body with a touch of hammering.

TEMPTED

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Party-vi
11/07/2016 at 12:27

Also, people seem obsessed with slamming the biggest carb possible on don’t they?

I can’t imagine the amount of wasted carbs out there flooding engines with way too much gas.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 12:28

I’m pro-bubble, always have been, always will be. I had an ‘85 that came with a Mustang hatch and the first order of business was bubbling that fucker up. Thats neat to know about it being not-glass though. I learned something today!

Really looking forward to following this project. Anyone who turns a Fox into anything besides a drag racer is a-ok in my book.

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 12:30

Well, I’m being really generous with the term crossmember. It’s really just a sheet metal protrusion that the front lower a-arms mount to. Those protrusions are rusty, and once they break the car is DONE.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
11/07/2016 at 12:49

I’m pro bubble too! Maybe I’ll offer a trade with an anti-bubble bubble owner haha.

Guy I bought it from arrived at his house to meet me in his....drag built Fox Mustang. Hahahahaha

I can’t wait to have more to share.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher
11/07/2016 at 12:49

bro you should replace those. I know the budget’s tight but if you tow back another car your wife is going to kill you. And never let you Rally again.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 12:59

There’s nothing at all wrong with a drag Fox, mind you...any Fox is better than no Fox, I just really like to see creative builds. Road racers, land speed cars, your rally car. There’s so many of these things out there, you think you’d see it more, but nope...they’re all just set up with big and littles and a 4 inch cowl. You’re doing the right thing, haha.

Party-vi > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 13:02

I have a 650 on mine, which is a little bit too much. I’ve seen guys with 750s and 850s (!) on their small blocks and I’m just scratching my head as to why.

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 13:03

There is no replacing them. They’re part of the unibody. I’m flat-towing it to each event, and I’ bringing the title with me to each time. If it breaks, I call the closest junkyard and dump it.

Also, I have AAA now, so i it has to be towed anywhere, it’s covered.

Die-Trying > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 13:28

NICE find.....

Frank Grimes > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 13:28

those came with 4 speed manuals and not a T5?
I would get some of these because they would look cool and because i could tell people they are for preventing mud buildup.
they are mudcovers for dirt track cars.

Kinja'd!!!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher
11/07/2016 at 13:46

Been considering AAA, I have roadside assistance through liberty mutual.

If I can push it up to the road away from the rally course I can claim it died there LOL

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
11/07/2016 at 13:48

It seems like a perfect platform for a Rally Car. It’s small (for an American RWD anyhow), has more than enough power, and a million spare/performance parts around for it.

So much aftermarket. So much help at junkyards. I mean, I could throw an SN95 rear diff/axles under the rear of it no problem. (may happen in years down the road, automatically converts you to rear disc and 5 lug)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Party-vi
11/07/2016 at 13:49

Yeah I don’t get it at all. I probably wouldn’t have gone to a 600 if it didn’t com on it already, but it doesn’t seem too rich.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Die-Trying
11/07/2016 at 13:49

Thank you!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Frank Grimes
11/07/2016 at 13:50

Hahahahhaha

And nope, no T5, I hear they’re a really easy swap though if the 4 speed becomes a hold back.

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 13:50

I had roadside assistance through my insurance company when I crashed the Roadmaster. Where AAA covers a tow anywhere up to 100 miles, my insurance covered the first $100 of the tow. I had to negotiate with the tow company to get my 86 mile tow down to $217 after the $100 deduction. If I had spent $90 on a AAA membership it would’ve been completely covered.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher
11/07/2016 at 13:54

Damn. I’ll look up AAA pricing. I’ve got 100 on the normal cars and 150 on the Capri right now. It’s insurance needs to be adjusted just wanted to get it on so I could drive it home on a Sunday.

Die-Trying > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 14:22

keep the carb. 600 is just about right.small carbs are more responsive at low rpms.

you dont need an offroad specific carb. if anything, put a bridge(small rubber hose) that goes from one vent tube to the other, with a hole at the very top of the hose.........

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 14:34

But is it 100 miles or 100 dollars? That’s the detail that I missed that killed my wallet.

For what it’s worth, the tow truck driver gave zero shits that I had been racing it. It was all the same money to him.

Urambo Tauro > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 15:29

Very cool! Really glad to hear about the reinforcements. Looking forward to a more full assessment. Hopefully there won’t be too many surprises.

Kinda sucks that you need wheels and tires so soon. I’m sure you want to get your money’s worth out of them before doing a 5-lug swap. Is that something you’re planning to do at some point?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Die-Trying
11/07/2016 at 15:40

Oh trust me 600 is probably more than enough. I ran a 390 or 400 cfm holley (can’t remember anymore) on the Montego and it was plenty on that 302. The only change would’ve been to an offroad carb or switching to fuel injection at some point.

Interesting trick with the rubber hose bridge, does this help a lot? Off roader trick I don’t know about?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Urambo Tauro
11/07/2016 at 15:42

yeah I’d like to do a 5 lug at some point. Definitely. they make kits to change out easily and for only around 150 i believe. But that would mean I need to buy 2 sets of wheels and tires.

Maybe next summer I’ll pickup a whole rear end/axles from a newer car, go through the rear end and stock pile some wheels tires before swapping it on.

Urambo Tauro > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 15:48

Good plan. I was just about to suggest swapping a whole axle unit over. MUCH easier.

So many questions... but I can wait for the full report. I’m sure you need time to go over it with a fine toothed comb. Nice find!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Urambo Tauro
11/07/2016 at 15:53

Thanks, I hope it’s as nice as I think it is! Mechanically it is. I had a couple drips come through the top seam of the windshield this morning, landed in a plastic tray on the console, no big deal. And it’ll be in the garage soon anyhow. I’ll figure out how to seal that.

A big benefit of getting a whole rear axle is that it can be an auto upgrade to rear disc brakes too.

Urambo Tauro > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 16:08

That would be sweet!

I’m a little fuzzy on some of the finer differences between Fox and SN95 stuff, but I do have a few parts lying around from my ’95 that you’re welcome to if you have a use for them. I’ve got some rear control arms that just need bushings, and I just got Cobra brakes, so my old calipers would be a direct bolt-on if you ever do go for the SN95 spindles. I also have an entire steering rack (just needs tie-rods) but that might be a SN95-only fit. Not sure.

Die-Trying > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/07/2016 at 16:36

drag cars, off roaders, boats. its a dumb trick, to keep the fuel from sloshing out of the vents, and down the carb at off angles and hard acceleration

Kinja'd!!!