I am considering buying a 93 LX notch police interceptor. My question is how do I tell it was a real police vehicle? What do I need to look for that sets them apart from a standard LX notch 5.0?

 

Charles,
welcome to the site.
One of us will get back to you soon.

TDS [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img]

 

thanks!

 

Charles,
Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.
Mustang police cars (SS LX) have been around since 1982, made famous by CHP & FST (california & florida highway patrol. These are great collector cars.
Are you buying this car from an individual or from a municpal auction or sell? That alone can help determine if it is a Police package or just a 5.0LX. Of course there is V.I.N. check, I'm sure that someone on this website can decode it.
The actual SSLX cars were discontiuned after 1993 model year, obviously with the body change.

But you asked for noticable differences:
1) real SSLX cars, ordered from ford have an extra underhood fuse box, it has a flat wire harness, multi colored wire going into the cockpit. This harness was shipped with excess wire coiled up under dash in center hump area. Wire was for Aux. lights, siren, shotgun mount lock, etc.
2) Depending on year, engine will always be 5.0, either 2bbl., 2vv, or fuel inject, etc.
3) cars came with 3.08 rear gears in factory order special services pack.
4) the cars had no more h.p. than the factory ratings for their year, just added p/s, engine oil cooler and slightly thicker radiators. (extra row of flues)
5) suspension was the same as showroom car.
6) could be had in 5-speed or automatic.
7) 1990 & up have a speedometer face that says " Certified Calabration" just above the odometer reading.
although this was available from the very first year. Not all have this. Thats why it is a very popular addon mod item that gets ordered today off of internet. Along with police interceptor emblems that never were on the Mustangs from Ford. That was started with the Crown Victorias.

There is a great book on this subject "Ford Police Cars" 1932-1997 by Edwin J Sanow foreworded by Bob
Bondurant. Thats is where I obtained this info.

Also remember that not all police municipalitys ordered special service cars, they could have took a factory LX from local dealer on bid system and have had it dressed out for use.

Thanks,

TDS [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img]

 

Charles,

Are you wanting to buy the car to restore to it Police apperence or just use as daily driver or base for mod machine?

I can hook you up with a gentleman here in alabama with a nice 1993LX that was used by State of alabama attorney Generals office out of Montgomery. Car has had a few mods done to it by previous owner.
Drilled rotors, aluminum drive shaft, and upgrade sway bars & bushings. It is a automatic with valve body upgrade, aux trans cooler and and added MAC inner fender CAI kit.

Has the copies of bill of sale, both original and resale to past 2 owners. It is dark blue with painted pony 5 spokes (silver). Also has walker dynomax cat back system with high flow cat h-pipe, stainless tail pipes.

I know alots about this car, I used to own it, prior to selling to current owner. He is ready to sell.

It looks good, however I do not know his asking price, but he can be contacted.

TDS [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img]

 

Excuse my mistake in the above post. the wife corrected my mistake, it should be SEVERE SERVICES LX not special service as I had entered.

TDS

 

thanks for all the good info! Now I know to look for the fuse box, coolers, and possibly certified calibration! I do know that the car has 3.08 gears. Was that something that came 'ONLY' in the police package, or could you get a factory car with those gears? The car also has a new world class T-5 with short throw shifter. anywho gotta run for now, but all the help is greatly appreciated! thanks

 

oh, and the car will be a daily driver, and the guy said it has 'DSO' tags or papers or something. Any idea what that would be? Not gonna restore it, but kinda want to keep it a little original for the value and all. Another guy told me something about reinforcement plates under the seats also on those cars. Any truth to that?

 

Charles,
Yes the ss lx mustangs had reinforcement under the floor pan.
However the 1993 LX came with this also.
If you are trying to verify the autenticity of this car have the VIN ran and see what it decodes.

Contact me via PM on this site or click on my post name for my email.

TDS

 

PM svopaul. he can tell you everything to look for as far as id tags and such. 3.08 gears were an option on 5 spd fox mustangs

 

yes, 3.08s were optional on non-police 5spd foxes

 

Great info! Looked at the car this past Sunday. Dude showed me the DSO tags that are stapled to the core support just behind the driver side headlight. I also contacted the Highway patrol office in Columbia, SC....I live in the upstate, and the nice lady told me that the only way that you could get the speedo that says 'certified calibration' is from the federal gov't. she told me that Ford dealers can't even get them. She also told me that the white VIN sticker in the drivers door will also say DSO and have a state code and one option code. The vehicle had all of these things, so I am pretty sure that this is a SS LX. The guy is repainting the car right now, gonna tune it up for me, install a CD player, and refurbish the upholstery inside. I think it will turn out to be a nice car when he gets done. It is now Wed. and hopefully it will be done soon. I am like a kid in a candy store! I have wanted one of these cars since I was in middle school!

 

Charles,
I agree with everything said except the speedo issue. The certified unit could be ordered in the cars at the time of original purchase by the police, govt, whoever agency from ford. Check out some of the Crown vics at that time that were being used by local police depts.
Some departments may have deleted this option for cost purposes.

However, no big deal, you can order it off of the web if you have to have it.

The car sounds good, bargin for the best deal. and congrats [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img]

TDS

 

You could also just check the car and see if has been really thrashed. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrinjester.gif[/img]

Police cars get used hard. You might be anticipating extra maintenance and repair bills. Plus, things like the alternator and other items will be more expensive. Keep that in mind for your budget.

 

I looked at the rear control arms....great condition. all the bushings look good and the car only has 108,000 which the lady at the highway patrol office said is very rare. she told me that they rarely ever auction a car with less than 200,000. She also told me that being painted reef blue from the factory meant that it was probably someones car that was in charge of a division. probably not one that got beat up very bad. i checked the vin with our local ford dealer and they told me that the car came off the assy line as reef blue!

 

Also, how big of a difference do the K&N panel filters make with the stock air box. Is it something you can feel the difference with???? Need to do a tune-up when I get it, so I was wondering.

 

If you remove the "baffle" from the airbox to fender and use a KN filter panel? I doubt you will feel a noticable difference.
The best difference is with a cold air intake kit, like the Moroso or similar kit.
They relocate the filter - kn type cone, inside of the inner fender well. Also has new air inlet tube to go with it.
The Mac systems are very nice and complete, some of them replace the entire system from filter to throttle body. And are shiney plated.

I myself have used Mac & Moroso, both inside the fender versions. Was satisfied with both.

However your original idea of K&N panel in the factory airbox is still better than stock paper, just remeber to remove the baffle/reducer between the air box & fender.
If it is still there.

TDS

 

anyone have a used mac or moroso cold air intake they wanna sell cheap. reason asking is because i am gonna build a stroker 347 in the next year or so and don't wanna put a huge amount of $$ into this motor. The cheaper the better!!!!! Oh, and I am picking the car up tomorrow evening, but the fella that painted the car messed up on the trunk lid, so he is gonna fix it and respray free of charge sometime next week, so I get to play this weekend! I also bought a new shift **** and a pedal 'cover' set because the shifter and pedal pads are worn pretty bad. Gonna do the tune-up stuff Saturday. Got the FRPP 9MM wires and MSD cap and rotor, and autolite double platinums.

 

anyone have a used mac or moroso cold air intake they wanna sell cheap. reason asking is because i am gonna build a stroker 347 in the next year or so and don't wanna put a huge amount of $$ into this motor. The cheaper the better!!!!! Oh, and I am picking the car up tomorrow evening, but the fella that painted the car messed up on the trunk lid, so he is gonna fix it and respray free of charge sometime next week, so I get to play this weekend! I also bought a new shift **** and a pedal 'cover' set because the shifter and pedal pads are worn pretty bad. Gonna do the tune-up stuff Saturday. Got the FRPP 9MM wires and MSD cap and rotor, and autolite double platinums.

 

well...took delivery of the car, and what a beauty she is. definitely some spots to fix on the decklid. Sanded way too deep. This car will definitely run. It has headers that are somewhat small looking, but it has offroad x pipes and single chamber flowmasters......LOUD! It is hard to believe that these cars came from the factory with this kinda power. chew the tires up in second gear! otherwise, beautiful car. interior is in great shape. has a shifter that has like stops down at the base, they are really like 3/8 bolts so the shifter doesn't go too far. tuned it up today and it runs a lot smoother. bought the m-5300-b springs the other day, hopefully it will lower it a little bit, but the car already handles like it is on rails. feels great in the road. i took the air cleaner off today, inspecting everything, and the throttle body was like super dirty, so I cleaned it the best I could without taking it off. The air restrictor in the fender has already been taken out. Also, I don't know if it is just the exhaust, but when it idles at around 800 it almost sounds like it doesn't have the stock cam. I do wanna put the cold air intake on though, so if any1 has one cheap, in the fender, holler at me 'ChevySpd@yahoo.com' I need to look at the clutch quadrant to see if it is the stock plastic piece. Anyone know what the telltale signs of a bad clutch quadrant? Sorry this is so long, but I love this car. I am incredibly happy with it, and I hope she lasts me a long time.