To add to this the '79-'82 Mustangs didn't have the stronger floor panning the '83-'93 have. If you ended up with one of these years you better reinforce the flooring. This is the best opportunity to upgrade to through-the-floor bracing.
1986 was the year the 5.0L Mustang received the 8.8 trac-lock rear axle assembly. Remember not to call them "posi" because that is a GM term and GMs are for "girly men."
For the color matched side mouldings......yes it started in '91, but for the '92 models that they started building then. So it's actually the '92 & '93 that Ford color matched the moulding.
Originally posted by Mars_302
79-85 Carbed with 7.5" rear ends
Early yearrs were either C4 autos or SROD 4 speeds.
Think it was 82 the 2.55 v8 was available and its a boat anchor of a motor.
85 was the first year I believe of the HO motor with forged pistons and roller cam.
86 was first year for EFI
79-86 also have 10" front brakes 87+ are 11"
87 front end designed and interior changed quite a bit. They went to e7 heads and forged pistons with valve reliefs, 60mm throttle bodys
86 were e6 heads with flat top pistons and 58mm throttle bodies
88 was first year for mass air for california cars
89 all cars were mass air
85 gt were rated at 215 or 205 hp, 86 gts were rated at 195. but had more torque due to fuel injection.
90 was first year of the air bag steering wheel
91 first year of pony rims and larger fenders to accomdate the larger 16" rims, it also got body color matched side mouldings, earlier years were black mouldings
91 they went to o ring style valve cover gaskets and a slightly different wiring harness
92 got better hatch striker bushing setup
93 got hyperautic pistons