Mustang SVO - Replacement Ball Joints?

Mustang SVO Ball Joints are not serviceable nor replaceable. With the limited availability of quality replacement OEM Lower Control Arms (LCA's), other options for replacement are presented in this video.
Note: this video does not recommend any specific repair method. It is not a how-to video. It is merely presented to offer the experiences of what was done for this specific SVO repair.
Link to LMR SVO LCA Upgrade info:
lmr.com/produc...
More info on the SVO: www.svoca.com
Here is my previous "Love it or Hate it" intro video on this car:
• 1986 Mustang SVO Overview
Previous video on "1986 Mustang SVO Repaint by Necessity":
• 1986 Mustang SVO Repai...
Music courtesy of:
www.bensound.c...

[@PartsMan-tw5pn]

Hey Joe it's me Ken P. Great video.

[@joeturbo7406]

Thanks Ken!

[@mlharfulm4243]

Nice work Joe. You're making me miss my two my 86 1C SVOs.

[@joeturbo7406]

Thanks! Maybe I'll just sell you my 1C... j/k.

[@travislivengood7443]

Man in my 20 years out of SVOs I would have thought a plug and play solution would have been dreamt up. I'm picking up another 86 in a week and forgot to check the dang ball joints!

[@joeturbo7406]

Good luck with your SVO purchase. The "kit" from LMR is about as much plug and play as you're going to find. With not a lot of SVO's produced, and even fewer survivors, the aftermarket isn't going to put a bunch of money into reproducing parts. That's why we have to sometimes get creative. Thanks for the comment!

[@travislivengood2744]

@@joeturbo7406 I recall Daily driving an 86 Oxford White SVO. Parts hardly existed in the early 2000s! Such is the plight of the red headed stepfox.

[@joeturbo7406]

@@travislivengood2744 That's one of the reasons they are unique and collectible. A wise man once told me to buy the very best SVO you can afford to avoid resto / parts issues.....

[@travislivengood2744]

@@joeturbo7406 I ignored that wise man the first time and bought someone else's highly modified project to DD. This time I bought the straightest most rust free and complete project that was parked from a popped head gasket. I figure the lack of witness marks on the C pillars from the hatch hitting it is a good sign. As well as the stock down pipe, converter and shifter being a good sign too!

[@scenarioL113]

Excellent video. Thank you!

[@joeturbo7406]

Glad you liked it!

[@marc-henricerar4170]

Great details. Very informative.

[@joeturbo7406]

Thanks!

[@1engineer391]

Great videos and great cars too. Always was intrigued by the SVO’s back in the day, they are cool.

[@joeturbo7406]

Thank you! Really enjoy these cars.

[@moby2263]

Another great video Joe! I'm dreading the day I have to do this.

[@joeturbo7406]

Thanks John. Hopefully you won't have to deal with it....

[@sv5813]

Well done!

[@joeturbo7406]

Thank You!

[@MustangsTrainsMowers]

In the 1980’s I thought that the SVO was odd looking and Ford was being extremely stingy for not refining the high vibration levels of that 2.3. Now oddly the SVO and other Foxbody’s are such a rare sight that the SVO is growing on me. I wanted a bright red 5 speed 1985 GT when I graduated in 1985 but of course I didn’t have any way to buy one at age 18

[@joeturbo7406]

A lot of us wanted new Fox Body's when we were in our late teens and early 20's but couldn't afford them. Now's the time to relive your youth! LOL

[@1engineer391]

I owned an 82 gt t-top car in red, fun car. I’d believe the SVO is better on the track, with a better suspension than the gt and better front/rear weight distribution, maybe faster overall with a lighter engine, but always wondered how good the throttle response was with the four cylinder turbo? The SCO had 205 HP in the final form I think. Thanks!

[@joeturbo7406]

The SVO is definitely designed more for on-track / road racing more so than the GT. But the GT is easier to modify for more HP and straight line performance.....

[@331Grabber]

Throttle response was great. Turbo response not so great. Ford put too big a turbo on it. Which if you like more boost works out great. I put an 8.8 rear with 4.10 gears in my 86 SVO with a bigger intercooler and turned the boost up to 20 PSI. It was legitimately quick for its day

[@garyreichert4461]

I’m looking into purchasing an svo and one of my concerns was finding parts.

[@joeturbo7406]

I hear your concerns. Parts are out there, but sometimes there are "work arounds" such as the ball joint issue. You have to be patient, participate in SVO communities (FB, forums, etc.). And be prepared to pay more for the SVO specific parts as compared to regular fox-body parts.

[@garyreichert4461]

@@joeturbo7406 what do I also do about rear calipers? No one makes them anymore, what options are there for that

[@joeturbo7406]

@@garyreichert4461 They can be rebuilt (I did this with one of mine a few years back). Also check with SVPU (Paul Becker). He is a good source for SVO specific parts.

[@brianblater8185]

I'm just about ready to do the same thing on my 84 SVO, but have been hesitant. Do you have any info on the machining that was done to accomplish this? I would like to take that with me to the machine shop so they get it right. Thx

[@joeturbo7406]

Unfortunately, no. The machinist that helped me used pictures from someone previous and just sort of "winged it".

[@matthewzimmerman5889]

If we cant find a machine shop to do that would you recommend going the 99-04 route? If so why those over 87-93 or 94-98

[@joeturbo7406]

The SVO lower control arms are longer (wider track width) compared to 79-93. The 99-04 LCA's closest match the stock SVO LCA's. Not sure about the 94-98, but if you search there is probably a comparison of the dimensions / track width for all of these components. Good luck!

[@deanstevenson6527]

🥝✔️

[@imakeituptoyou]

Glad I don’t own a svo after seeing this!

[@joeturbo7406]

It's been a love/hate relationship with my SVO.... But they are really fun cars!

[@wesleyutt6345]

Do u still have the 82

[@joeturbo7406]

Yes, my current fleet includes my 79 Indy Pace Car, 82 GT T-Top and this 86 SVO.

[@TOTA_777]

Why do you keep deleting my post?

[@joeturbo7406]

Hi Tim, I'm not deleting any posts.

[@TOTA_777]

@@joeturbo7406 I’ve tried to post a couple of times that Rare Parts is able to reman/machine the OE control arms with new ball joints. SVO owners don’t have to SN95ize their cars at all. I have no incentive or affiliation with them.

[@joeturbo7406]

@@TOTA_777 Good info, thanks Tim.