The 1986 Mustang SVO stops running - That’s not good

The Mustang SVO just stops running. A rollback drops it at the house and we walk through the path to getting it back on the road in this episode of Tony’s Fords and Mustangs. Thank you to ‪@2300gearjammer‬ for a helpful video of his on how to set up the timing on a Ford 2.3 liter.
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[@Vincent-396]

Running, or not, it looks damn good in that thumbnail!

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks!

[@Vincent-396]

That is absolutely one of the best looking Mustangs in the entire lineage. I prefer the 86 GT, but this is a very, very close second.

[@omcara1]

Tony I'm a MoPar guy though & through but I also collect other cars from the big 3 that catch my fancy. Experience has taught me the hard way to use factory OEM parts whenever possible. Sure, they cost a little more; sometimes even 3 times more. But buddy, factory Motocraft, Delco and Mopar replacement parts are the best.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

I can't disagree. Sometimes the cheap guy in me wins out. Thanks for watching and sharing! I have a Challenger video on the that covers the entire history of the car that might interest you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmLNYaR_mMR7acU

[@doggerracing5243]

This is a blast from the past! I bought one of these off the lot back in ‘85. It was the 85 1/2 version with 205 hp. Like yours, mine was also Black over Grey except no sunroof. The only mod I made was to swap the 55 mph OE speedo with a 140 mph version marketed by Ford Motorsport as a direct replacement. It was my daily driver for five years. Around the four year mark, I noticed the engine was down on power and after repeated service visits with no resolution, I was done with it. I learned later from other SVO owners that the engines were prone to head gasket problems, so that may have been what happened to mine. When the car was healthy, it was a hoot to drive. Little low end torque followed by a hit when the turbo spooled up along with the clicks and whistles from the wastegate. A pretty engaging experience. Good luck with your project, should be an interesting journey.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks for sharing your experience. So far I have been just making the car better. There is still work to do but I'm getting there. Thanks for watching!

[@EffequalsMA]

Probably another TFI or PIP that shit the bed. I will make a guess now! Hard to find good quality replacements for those things.

[@MikeJBlues]

Cool car, always had a spare module in my glove box with the tool when I drove fox bodies

[@floridaliving4900]

Picking up a sweet 84 SVO, can’t wait to have these problems 😂

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Hopefully yours is a bit more sorted. Mine is getting there now.

[@richbonafede4546]

My 34k ALL ORIGINAL 86 SVO....Starts and runs PERFECT....every time

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Glad to hear it. I'm getting there with mine. It hasn't lived a sheltered life unfortunately so it needs a bit of help.

[@rogerhinman5427]

My 84 and 88 Mustangs had that TFI module go. FUN!

[@marksladoje8299]

Just happened by and am intrigued to find out how this project is coming along. I picked up an 86 a few years ago and it's quite an astonishing vehicle.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

All is good. I took it on a 250 miles covered bridge cruise about a month back with no issues. The only thing I need to square away at this point is the parking brake (finally found the right side rear caliper this morning) and I want to swap out the v-belt for a serpentine set up (almost all the parts acquired for that as well) . The final project will be updating the air-conditioning. I am working out that as well. There will be more on this car moving forward. :)

[@marksladoje8299]

Glad to hear of your good fortune. One of these days I'm going to need to meander over to PA and buy you lunch. Great YT channel!@@TonysFordsandMustangs

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

@@marksladoje8299 Sounds good and thank you!

[@andresrvlife1386]

Every time I see one of your video's, I miss my 86 SVO :-)

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

I can understand that. It's a fun car and not that difficult to work on.

[@BigStickStangs]

I’ve been happy with the Dynomods. Always good to keep a spare. Doesn’t help with the timing belt of course. Glad you’re up and running! 👊😎✌️

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks for the heads up!

[@saleen367]

I would not have guessed the timing belt, but in hindsight based on other general maintenance items, I probably should have. That's asking a lot of a 37 year old belt. Oddly, I still have an OEM timing belt and idler pulley in my tool chest. From the other videos, the undercarriage looks pretty good. No winter driving for sure. A nice set of lowering spring and bigger front bar (I used a late 80's GT front bar at the time) will wake up that handling. And even though the wheels are unique to the SVO, they are so heavy. I used identical wheels to the 1989 Saleen Mustangs (also 5 lug), 5 spoke Saleen (American Racing) ... looked sweet.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

I had that timing belt sitting on my bench and I was just waiting on the water pump to arrive so I could do both at the same time. By the way the Fuel Filter and all the hoses were original as well. :)

[@stealthnetx]

Once you change one or two it is a piece of cake. I had a couple of Escort wagon in the 80's I change the timing belts on a shipping and on the side of the road. About every 30k it was time. I would change the water pump every other belt change thanks to lifetime warranty. One wagon had 186k on the odometer when it was traded in and the other has 212k. At least on the Mustang the engine not transverse like the Escorts. Happy Motoring!

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

I agree I think I could get through it much easier the second time. Figuring out the issue took a bit of time but once i was there is wasn't so bad.

[@Mustgtcs07]

I owned a 1988 Thunderbird Turbo coupe with the same engine. Blew the timing belt at 130k miles. What a SOB to change out. Got it running like a champ, then the Programmed Ride Control shocks went out....Then the Air conditioning. Impossible to find the NOS front shocks, AC was a lost cause, so at 160K miles, she had to leave me. Was a GREAT car up until then.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

It took a while to figure out but wasn't that hateful overall. The car is running well again but A/C is now an issue. I think I'm going to convert the car the serpentine belt and modernize the compressor. I made Thunderbird video for that generation you can check out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2KygnSroZhpZtU

[@Mustgtcs07]

@@TonysFordsandMustangs Are you referring to my comment? Didn't mean anything hateful at all, was just saying on my car, the timing belt was a SOB to change out. I'm sorry if you took it that way.

[@bradbradley353]

In the 17 years I owned my fox I never had to replace a TFI module. But I had a spare Motorcraft one in my toolbox. Never had good luck with parts store replacement electronic modules and such. You are learning about the SVO though. Frustrating but rewarding because what is old is new to you. I am jealous lol.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks for watching! There is a sense of accomplishment when you get these things worked out that's for sure. You are correct I normally only worked on my older cars from the 60's and 70's so a lot of this is new and that keeps it interesting. :)

[@JS-lv5pn]

I think the 2.3 was my first full engine rebuild super easy cars to fix thankfully.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

This is something new to me as I am used to working on older carbureted V8's. Once I started digging in I did find a rather simple job. Learning things as i go is fun. Thanks for watching!

[@JS-lv5pn]

@@TonysFordsandMustangs Yea you master that engine isn't going to be bad at all, but with wiring that's bad for any car lol

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

@@JS-lv5pn There's a LOT of wiring there for sure!

[@diegosilang4823]

Those ECU modules tend to expire after 20-30 years with leaking capacitors. UTG is souping up some XJ jeep and the ECU failed because of bad capacitors.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks for the head up! I will start looking.

[@chrischalk8389]

NOW you own an SVO!!! Just be glad it wasn't the dreaded stripped distributor gear/ auxiliary shaft! If you haven't done so yet, do a full 'tune-up' (distributor cap, rotor, wires, PCV valve) using only Motorcraft parts. These quirky little beasts work best with Motocraft ignition parts. A lot of people will say to only use Motorcraft/ Autolite plugs, but I've been running NGK Iridium (TR5IX) for 120K miles on my engine with no issues. If you really want to get into the weeds, check and set your base idle and TPS. With all these things you have a baseline for a good running car. Lastly, check all your vacuum lines and grounds. These cars do not react well to vacuum leaks and bad grounds. :)

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks Chris! I'm getting there, slowly but surely. It was a mostly original car and that's good and bad. The bad is everything is old. I replaced all the hoses including the heater hoses during the last video(off Camera), so the cooling system is pretty well squared away. I noticed a ground wire that should be bolted to the block isn't so that's happening today as well as new rear springs (one side isn't seated correctly) and rear brake pads.

[@oneninerniner3427]

​@@TonysFordsandMustangsyeah buddy get the ground wire on there. Very important, they will seek ground through where ever it can find it and all kinds of bad things can sometimes happen. For instance, I've seen disconnected engine to body grounds take out engine mains, transmission bearings and pumps even on an automatic trans.

[@oneninerniner3427]

Glad you got it figured out & going again Tony! I don't care for autolites much. A long time ago autolite used to be Ford parts, but not anymore.They are allied signal fram autolite now, junk! IMO. I use Motorcraft & NGK. I like NGK and have put them in all kinds of engines, with good results. 👍

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

@@oneninerniner3427 I bought NGK but when you buy something from RockAuto they don't package it very well. I didn't notice the crack until the first 3 were installed :(

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

@@oneninerniner3427 I had a marathon session with the SVO today. Ground wire is mounted, New Fuel filter, Yes I believe I replaced the original, New rear brake pads, and new rear coil springs. Thank you for your support!

[@darylthomas4676]

Here's to a better week Tony! 🍺

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks Daryl! Things are much better this week!

[@dougpendleton1266]

The car gremlins took you to task for saying "I just want it to run"...

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Most likely an accurate statement. :)

[@chicagoui9299]

👍@ 8:49

[@floydmarseeii4007]

Oh no!!

[@johnmcmullen456]

I have owned a few 2.3 & 2.3T cars and my experience is quality timing belts lasting for at least 50,000 miles. Anybody getting only 10,000 miles likely has an issue elsewhere.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Well that might be true. I think this was (just like everything else on the car) the original belt. 37 years and 67K's miles isn't to bad. :)

[@joelubner3879]

You having fun yet!!

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Well I knew this going to be a project. :) The thing is I had already bought the Timing belt and it was sitting there waiting to be installed. I was waiting on the water pump and a one hose because I was going to do everything at once. It would have been much easier had the engine remaining in time and i just needed to swap out the belt.

[@joelubner3879]

Great videos @@TonysFordsandMustangs

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

@@joelubner3879 Thank you!

[@ManuaLiberty]

Lol awesome editing. I’d much prefer some mechanical repairs over electrical headaches with computers etc

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks brother!

[@elliottbutts153]

Even the “quality” parts are hit and miss these days. OEM and aftermarket. Motorcraft on the box of your new part doesn’t mean much either. NOS is probably the way to go. But at the same time they are overpriced with no warranty. TFI’s and Dizzys are the biggest culprits

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

It is rough finding quality parts anywhere anymore. Thanks for watching!

[@RoadRunnergarage8570]

Too bad you're having issues with the SVO.. hopefully you can work the bugs out..

[@jimlafreeda43]

Great video. I would feel fortunate that a valve did not get damaged when the belt slipped. I think that can happen on a timing chain or belt failure?

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

It's a non interference engine so it shouldn't happen on a 2.3. It can but you really needed to be hammering it and I was just driving along.

[@mortyis]

That's what happened to my SVO

[@michelleleeginger5225]

Better check your compression, I only say this because you ran or attempted to run it while the timing was out of sync. Hopefully, you didn't smash the pistons into the valves.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

I'm good. The car is running better than ever. The 2.3 is a non interference engine and I know that doesn't always work out but in this case, I'm good.

[@Wooley689]

It seems these days more and more, we're getting cheap imported replacement parts that are garbage.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

No doubt about that.

[@chicagoui9299]

Tony, I've always and I mean always wanted an SVO. Is this a car worth getting? How well does the 2.3 Lima hold power?

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

They can be found at decent prices compared to the V8 of the time period and they are as fun to drive. Some parts are hard to come by and can be expensive (turn signal lens, etc.). I think so because I bought one. :) Power wise it's the mid 80's so don't expect much in stock form but they can be built to put out quite a bit. I'm not going that route.

[@chicagoui9299]

@@TonysFordsandMustangs nice. I went the euro route 5 years ago. Bought a Saab 95 '04 and I've gotten it tuned and built to 315hp & 380lbft at the wheel. She's fun. She looks like a fox from the front.

[@yankeetraveler1118]

Fords prefer Motorcraft parts, especially for ignition.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

No Doubt.

[@fredfuchs3573]

What are ya doing new timing belt every 10k or less any 2300 owner knows that

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

I am a new 2300 owner. I had it bought the belt and was simply waiting for the water pump to come in before installing it. One trip to the ice cream shop too many I guess. Thanks for watching!

[@stevegursky8149]

Timing belts are always a little quirky..ive done alot of them.geting everything lined up is hard.then its chasing gremlins...new parts are always subject..i feel your pain.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks Steve! It's good now.