Page 1 of 54 123451151 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 1079

Thread: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

  1. #1

    Thumbs up The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    I figured I would make this thread up for everyone who has a restored/original/work in progress 89 CSX. It'd be a good way to list what's going on with your project and tell the story about your car, especially after seeing Ray's find out in NE.

    Right now, I'm simply gathering parts for my CSX. I found a mint pair of illuminated mirror sunvisors and got all of the wiring needed to install it into my CSX when the time comes (it's only the overhead light wiring extended, so nothing too major). In addition, I found a nice dark blue center console that opens and closes smoothly and slowly, like it was never even opened before! I'll be dying that when I dye some other interior parts down the road.

    So, let's get this thread rolling w/ some pics, info, plans, questions, etc.

    Here are some basic questions I have:

    What is the paint code or color name for the gold on the Fiberides?
    Is anyone's interior taillight panel not cracked?! lol...
    What types of things have you seen on other's CSX-VNT's that caught your eye compared to other's?
    What would you rather see, a restored CSX exactly to factory specs., or a slightly modified one say, with the basics of a 2.5/3 inch exhaust and a vacuum block?

  2. #2
    turbo addict
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    2,570

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    I bought my CSX a little over a year ago from "theCSXmachine" over on turbododge.com. I had it shipped out of California sight unseen. I was taking a bit of a risk, but I figured by the list of parts he had into the car, I could get my money back by parting it out. When I got the car, I was pretty pleased. It was in great condition visually.....NO RUST (something unheard of in the NE). And it had a great deal of performance work done to it. The bad side was that, first of all, it was unfinished (which I knew), and second of all, many of the expensive Shelby parts were sold off long ago. Its not easy picking up on the backside of someone else's project, especially when they didnt do everything the way you would have done. But, I was up to the task.

    My main goal for the car was to have a nice looking (almost stock appearing) CSX that went like a bat out of hell. So, my first order of business was getting it running. That was pretty easy......I just fixed up some wiring with the SDS, did some tuning, and she was running. Afterwards, I pulled the whole drivetrain and went through the motor. I had a head ported by a local machinist, bought a custom intake from a TM member, and added a Devilsown progressive alky kit. I got it all back together and running (with a few mishaps ) and now I am in the process of tuning it. It still runs very rich, but I am getting there.

    On the visual side of things, I had the rear skirt repainted (it was cracked and peeling pretty bad) and I located and installed the original "Shelby" logo seats (had racing seats in it when I got it). I recently bought a set of fiberide wheels which need to be refinished before I put them on the car. I still need to get the front grill and airdam, but I am holding off until I have more $$ to dump into it.

    When I sold my WS6 last year, I did so partly to get ahold of a Shelby that I could modify to suit my taste. I wanted either an 87 GLHS or 87/89 CSX. So far, I am pretty happy with this one and I am pretty motivated to work towards my goal of a stock appearing, 11 second, 89 CSX. Im hoping by next summer the car will be done.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	CSX.jpg 
Views:	1348 
Size:	46.0 KB 
ID:	5427   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	CSXtrack.jpg 
Views:	564 
Size:	97.5 KB 
ID:	5428   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	shelby 007.jpg 
Views:	535 
Size:	65.1 KB 
ID:	5429   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	shelby 008.jpg 
Views:	1465 
Size:	66.5 KB 
ID:	5430   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	shelby 003.jpg 
Views:	1341 
Size:	77.3 KB 
ID:	5431   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	shelby 002.jpg 
Views:	587 
Size:	65.4 KB 
ID:	5432  


  3. #3
    Moderator Turbo Mopar Staff dodgeshadowchik's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Leaving on a Jet Plane
    Posts
    1,803

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    After years of searching for a CSX, I currently own CSX #79. This is a non-recaro car. The car is complete with all shelby items and entirely stock; approximently 118,000 miles.

    I bought the car from Cindy over at FWDperformance. Some of the people here caught onto that immediatly with the first few pictures I posted of it. It was not a Texas car however, so there's some rust on it. It was originally from NJ. The floorboard really only has one bad spot which will be addressed this week. The spare tire well is the worst of it with a hole and more areas where a hole will emerge at ant time. Lol! I'm going to try to locate an entire trunk from a donor Shadow and just repair it that way. For now, the car is going to get un undercoat of POR-15. Overall, for what appears to be a near daily driven northern car, the underside is really not all that bad. I think it can be saved! I won't lie, tho... I hate doing rust repairs. The car is worth saving in my book, so I'll go through with it.



    Here's the worst of it (spare wheel well):


    Other than that, the car's in pretty decent shape for being 18 years old. I recently ordered a rear bumper for it and the front bumper is next up. I also took the fiberrides off for some aftermarket wheels. The fiberrides are going into storage. The car does need window belt moldings. I am willing to pay top dollar for a set of those!! After I collect all the pieces it needs replaced and do the rust repairs the car will then be repainted; including the engine bay. The engine area will also be throughly cleaned up.

    Here's some more pics... (even though these are also posted in my other thread.)




    Oh, I also personally love to see restored CSX's that remain in stock form or modifications that do not drastically alter what the car was originally. I'm one of those people that belive in leaving numbered cars alone and using base models for the heavy modifications. For mine, I'd like keep the car VNT. I'll probably run a T-28 VNT with a 2-1/2 in exhaust and possibly a mild port on the head and intake.

    "I'll give you anything you'll ever need and I'll find a way to turn you into a monster."

  4. #4

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    Great stories! I'll post mine shortly. I saw #289 at SDAC and thought it was pretty cool. Glad to see you got your rims finally squared away as well as the front seats. The CSX from Cindy is a great project nonetheless. It looks fantastic as it sits!

    But wow, only two additional posters! Where is everyone else?
    Last edited by DC Turismo; 07-16-2011 at 05:58 AM. Reason: Removed now defunct website addy

  5. #5
    Moderator Turbo Mopar Staff dodgeshadowchik's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Leaving on a Jet Plane
    Posts
    1,803

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    Hey DC: The webpage is off to a nice start! Let me know if you need any more pics/photoshops ect. I see that you used a few of mine already; but I'd love to help out any way I can on a CSX project! lol!

    I'm sure you've seen this already, but if you haven't:
    http://www.xmission.com/~dempsey/shelby/sheldod9.htm

    "I'll give you anything you'll ever need and I'll find a way to turn you into a monster."

  6. #6
    turbo addict
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    2,570

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    Website looks good. Keep it up.

  7. #7
    Hybrid booster
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Glen Burnie, MD
    Posts
    528

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    I own 89 CSX #91. I bought it a few months ago, but I've been in the turbo mopar community for about 3 years. I started with a 90 Turbo van (sold to 1FastCSX289), an SRT-4 (totaled by someone running from the police, pics are nasty looking), and a 90 Daytona VNT C/S (1 of 21 made, sold to a friend to get funds for the CSX).

    Currently the car is pretty stock, except for the removal of the stock intake, 2.5" exhaust, and a sunroof. It does need a bit of TLC in areas, I need a new headliner (though I'm thinking of waiting on that till I decided if I'm going to have the roof reskinned to get rid of the after market sunroof), I need to put a water pump in it at some point, the seats could use a good cleaning and the driver side seat bolsters should get new fabric (if I find a upholstery guy willing to try to reuse the shelby cloth), the front clip needs to be repainted, the rear bumper cover is looking a little wavy, I need a new trunk pan and the "cardboard" carpet pannel that makes up the floor, etc. Besides those items I am also planning on dropping the stock drive train out of it (79,000 miles) and setting it aside so I can always put it back in; then building something nasty for racing. Also I’ll probably buy a set of decent looking aluminum rims to cruse and race with so I don't mess up the fiber rides.













    No fun cars any more :(

  8. #8
    turbo addict
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    2,570

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    That thing looks awesome. You did pretty well with that car.

  9. #9
    Moderator Turbo Mopar Staff dodgeshadowchik's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Leaving on a Jet Plane
    Posts
    1,803

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread



    Here's mine with "Flik" aftermarket rims. I also wanted to put those fiberrides into storage!

    "I'll give you anything you'll ever need and I'll find a way to turn you into a monster."

  10. #10
    Hybrid booster Turbo Mopar Contributor CSX321's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Southern IL
    Posts
    485

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    Just saw this thread! I acquired #321 about a year and a half ago from California. I also have '87 #321. Trying to get a lock on my forum name.

    It's a Recaro car, and all the Shelby items are present. It's stock, except that I have some Shadow seats in it and snowflake wheels on it right now. The Fiberides are not bad but have some a couple of gouges. The rear Shelby seats are good, but the fronts need new foam for the bolsters. A couple of very small holes in the Shelby fabric, but not bad. No rust, but quite a few small dings on it. Front airdam is not on and is in many pieces. The rear has a (repairable) crack.

    I replaced the carpet and headliner in the spring, and pulled the engine to replace gaskets and a freeze plug. Then I shelled out $$ to get the AC working. I have a brand new set of window moldings. I bought them years ago when they were still available from the dealer, intending to put them on the '87. I think I'll use them for the '89, though, instead.

    It's being driven daily right now. My oldest daughter has been driving it to school, and my dad and I drove it to Pittsburg for SDAC-17:

  11. #11
    turbo addict
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    2,570

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by CSX321 View Post

    You let your daughter drive it to school? Crazy!

    Nice car though. Lots of potential there because its so rust free.

    And......thats a nice car next to you in the pic.

  12. #12

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    How ironic is it that on the EXACT day I drove out east to get my CSX, my buddy Brian called me on the way home telling me about CSX#91 that his fellow Focus guru told him was for sale and knew I'd be interested. I'm glad to see it went to someone who will care for it though!

    Thanks for posting in here as well Dave! Do you have any leads on a spare set of window fuzzies to get fixed up with by chance??

  13. #13
    Hybrid booster Turbo Mopar Contributor CSX321's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Southern IL
    Posts
    485

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by DC Turismo View Post
    Do you have any leads on a spare set of window fuzzies to get fixed up with by chance??
    Nothing yet. There was a nice set on one in the local junk yard...but of course it was a '94. I did get a better driver's door seal from that car, though, that is in the '89 now. Much less wind noise than when I drove it out to SDAC.

    Today I picked up two new plastic thingies that attach to the back edge of the side windows so they will roll up and down. The dealer had two of them in stock! I was shocked!

    Oh, I forgot, I also replaced the valve stem seals on the '89 a while back to fix a slight smoking problem it had.

    This past weekend I fired up the '87 CSX for the first time in months. It idled well, but I need to replace the wrist pin bushings, and the brake pedal goes to the floor. After I shut it off I heard a bubbly hissing sound and found a pool of gas boiling away on the intake! Time to swap in the fuel rail and regulator I bought at SDAC.

  14. #14
    Garrett booster
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    MO
    Posts
    62

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    Wow some very nice cars in here.....
    Here is mine. Its number 461 and I found it sitting in the weeds with a blown head gasket. It was also missing the entire ground effects set and the fibrerides. All of the other Shelby items were present except the mobile1 sticker. The body was really banged up all over but nothing major. It has no rust anywhere accept some slight scale inside the hatch lip. The interior was really dirty with red clay dust, mud and spills all over the seats, but not in bad shape under all the dirt after a good steam cleaning. Even the Shelby floor mats were there but they are worn. Here are some pictures of exactly how i found it.







    I now have the complete ground effects set and all I’m missing is the fibrerides and mobile1 sticker. I have had the car for around six months and it is now being torn down for restoration. I’m not sure how far I’ll go with it or how long it will take yet but I’m meticulous and every time I work on it the restoration gets further and further in depth……. at this rate the body will be on its way for sandblasting and paint in a few years. lol

    I bought an 89 ES donor for miscellaneous parts. It has all power options that I plan on transplanting into the CSX, along with the power bulge hood. I know its not OE but its all reversible.

    Regards
    Pat

  15. #15

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    My dad has an 89 csx, 70,000 original miles that has been hit *HARD* in the front passenger side. The interior is flawless and it has 2 good fiber rides (if anybody needs some make an offer, they aren't going back on) The ground effects in the front are all good. The grill is cracked and it really needs a side frame rail. Have the bulge hood and a front half of a sundance for frame rail and fenders. Needs a drivers side window (some idiot broke the window when the passenger side was unlocked to get to a cheap aftermarket radio) Runs Great and will look really good if we ever get it finished. Has some aftermarket stuff done to it (haven't looked to much into all of that) and hopefully by next year it will be up and moving.

  16. #16

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    Very cool posts guys. Glad to see two more are being saved. I like the idea of the power bulge hood myself, and would probably replace my flat one if it wasn't nice.

    I also think it's cool about the power options you are placing into yours Pat. Are you talking windows and the whole bit?

    And Kid, my driver's side window is fouled up as well. It looks to me like they locked the keys in the car at some point and tried prying out on the door to get it open, bending the top corner by the b-pillar. In the end though, it looks like they did something with the window arm that it sits on, causing the window to sit crooked and not go down more than two inches. That'll be another thing needing replaced, argh.

    What would someone think of adding a tilt wheel column? It feels neat as is without the tilt option, like a little race car, but at the same time it'd make for a comfier drive I would think? Thoughts?

    Kid, check your PM's

  17. #17

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread


  18. #18
    Hybrid booster
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Crestwood, Kentucky
    Posts
    277

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    Greetings all!

    I don't know if any of you were following the thread under the eBay and Ads subforum in the Lounge, but I just bought CSX #009. Will definitely need mechanical help and a few Shelby items but on the whole the body is very solid and straight. Original motor is gone, replaced with a more-than-likely dead TI. Original 555 is trashed, case and all. At least I have a good '89 TII engine and A555 to go in it. Will need two Fiberides, Shelby valvecover, front airdam and the dash plaque. All the other Shelby stuff is there. If anyone could give me some leads on the Shelby parts I'd sure appreciate it. I know I'm out of luck on the dash plaque, unless Shelby licenses repros.

    I figured I'd christen CSX #009 as "The Roach" as it'll need some work, LOL

  19. #19
    turbo addict
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    2,570

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    Quote Originally Posted by Scottmon View Post
    Greetings all!

    I don't know if any of you were following the thread under the eBay and Ads subforum in the Lounge, but I just bought CSX #009. Will definitely need mechanical help and a few Shelby items but on the whole the body is very solid and straight. Original motor is gone, replaced with a more-than-likely dead TI. Original 555 is trashed, case and all. At least I have a good '89 TII engine and A555 to go in it. Will need two Fiberides, Shelby valvecover, front airdam and the dash plaque. All the other Shelby stuff is there. If anyone could give me some leads on the Shelby parts I'd sure appreciate it. I know I'm out of luck on the dash plaque, unless Shelby licenses repros.

    I figured I'd christen CSX #009 as "The Roach" as it'll need some work, LOL

    You know the airdam can be bought from Kaminari, right? The rest pops up here and there. I pieced together almost all of the shelby stuff on my car. Mine didnt even have seats. The only thing left is the valve cover (which come up all the time for 150 bucks) and the front airdam (which can still be bought). So, it can be done. Good luck!

  20. #20
    Hybrid booster
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Crestwood, Kentucky
    Posts
    277

    Re: The Shelby CSX-VNT Owner's Thread

    Yup, I know about Kaminari. Will probably wind up going that route.

    I'm in no rush to get the car done, so I'll just pick up the parts here and there. I have plenty of projects in line ahead of it right now.

    Quote Originally Posted by 1FastCSX289 View Post
    You know the airdam can be bought from Kaminari, right? The rest pops up here and there. I pieced together almost all of the shelby stuff on my car. Mine didnt even have seats. The only thing left is the valve cover (which come up all the time for 150 bucks) and the front airdam (which can still be bought). So, it can be done. Good luck!

Page 1 of 54 123451151 ... LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •