First Project Car 89 Shelby

Hey, well "saturday" i purchased a 1989 Daytona Shelby, however when I went to look at it i found out that it was actually a 2.5L automatic with only one turbo instead of the 2.2L with the TurboII. It dampened my spirits a little but I still love the car.

When I started it, it runs a little shaky but it could be because the tires were flat and the seller just pumped them up about three or four days ago. Also when I punch the gas it doesn't seem to want to go but if i put it into 1 and shift to 2 it flys much faster. I just wondering what your opinions would be on the problems there.

A friend of mine told me I could drop the tranny and put a manual in there so any kind of opinion of how realistic that is and cost and difficulty would be appreciated. he also told me to open up the exhuast and put a cold air intake into it to help the turbo.

I love this car and it was a blast driving it back to the cities. It drove about 85 mph the whole way back but the speedometer needle was jumping down and back up but stayed steady for the most part.

This is my first project car and I don't know much about cars so I'm hoping I made a good choice but the body and interior are in really good condition. So any input on what I can do to my car, or any answers to the problems the car is having are greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

John

My son has a Radiant Silver 89 Shelby, a very rare color for that year. It originally was equipped with the "optional" 150 HP 2.5 Turbo I with the automatic tranny, the 174 HP 2.2 Turbo II engine (single turbo btw :) The difference was the addition an intercooler next to the radiator allowing slightly higher boost pressures) was the standard engine with a 5 speed manual.

When it was aquired from the previous owner it had the Turbo II Intercooler and it's associated plumbing installed in it, and a 3" exhaust system from the turbo all the way back to dual 3" tips and it ran pretty nice until the Auto Transmission went. After the replacement Auto Tranny went about 6 months later, we scored a 5 Speed out of an 88 Shelby Z complete with pedals, shifter, cabling, flywheel and clutch setup for a steal (Because I use to drag race with the guy) at a boneyard and put that in.

Later came a Turbonetics Turbo when the stock one gave up and that woke things up a bit. Finally over the last summer, the engine (still the 2.5) got bored 1mm over and a topped off (After some extensive modification to the block and head) with a DOHC 4 Valve Head off of a junk Stratus Engine.

tHE

Alright well so far here's what i have done.

We decided to change the oil because it smelled like oil burning after we got it back... however when we tried to take off the drain plug, the head was stripped so i had to take of the entire oil pan, buy a new gasket and drain plug and then drill the old drain plug out. Now I have that done and the new oil filter on i just have to put the oil in. Next up is going to be the tranny fluid drain.

However I talked with my co worker and he told me the reason it may not be idleing is because there is a vaccum leak and it does kind of look like thats the problem because some of the wires for the turbo don't seem to look right but i just bought a book to figure out this stuff. I'm still don't know anything but i'm learning.

i have a 85 daytona turbo. its my first car, and im very automotive literate, and i know how to do just abouteverything, but im at a stand still right now, trying to find a good parts supplier for interior (carpet, seats, seat belts, etc), and autozone supplies most engine products, but im looking for intercooler, new turbo, trans. cooler, and cold air intake, so if anyone has any information on getting these parts please let me knoe. [email protected]
anything would be greatly appreciated

when shelby daytona's are automatics they only used the turbo1, turbo2 was manual trans only.

swaping to t2 is easy, computer, boost selenoid, the turbo, and intercooler are the main points.

turbo's go to www.turbosunleashed.com, www.fwdperformance.com