* Inoperative interior courtesy-lamp switches. (In the previously mentioned '90 CHP car, the lights did work. They were turned on by moving the dashboard-light dimming wheel all the way to bright, then clicking through the detent to turn on the lights. This option kept the lights from coming on when the doors were opened).
Body And Interior
SSP Mustangs were available in all standard production colors, and unmarked cars were ordered in a wide variety of standard colors. As mentioned above in "Standard Equipment," SSP cars came with floorpan reinforcement plates under the rear of the front-seat frame's fasteners. These welded-in lateral steel braces stiffened the floorpan and spread the seat load over a larger area.
Some SSP Mustangs were ordered with power windows and locks (though all the CHP cars we've seen had crank windows and no power locks). The '90 CHP reference car we've mentioned had crank windows and no power locks, but did have power-operated outside mirrors with the switch in the center console. Some states such as Oregon and Colorado even equipped cars with a rollbar.
Electrical And Cooling Systems
Mechanical subsystems in SSP Mustangs were upgraded for the rigorous duty of police work. This included electrical equipment and a number of updates for cooling components. The main electrical upgrade was one of two high-output alternators eventually made optional at different times of production. Beginning in 1987, a high-output Lestek unit was optional and was rated at 135 amps. It was used along with a Motorcraft external voltage regulator. For the '92-'93s, the Lestek component was replaced with a lower-cost Motorcraft 130-amp unit that also had an internal voltage regulator. A unique cast-aluminum bracket was used to mount the Motorcraft alternator to the engine. The optional noise suppression package was another upgrade mentioned above.
Cooling was also addressed with the SSP componentry. Upgrades were standard or optional for cooling of water, engine oil, and transmission fluid. Though the radiator was standard as used on all 5.0s, a unique fan clutch was used on SSP cars for improved cooling effectiveness. Silicone rubber coolant hoses were available as an option, though there was some debate as to whether they were any more durable than the standard hoses.
An engine-oil cooler became available in 1986 and was reportedly standard. It mounted between the engine-block filter pad and oil filter, thus it's referred to as a sandwich-type unit. Its presence required the use of a shorter oil filter to allow it to fit the cooler with adequate clearance.
SSP Mustangs equipped with an automatic transmission came standard with a transmission oil cooler. This unit was mounted on brackets fastened to the radiator core support forward of the A/C condenser, which was carried in front of the radiator.
Drivetrain
There were no significant revisions in this area. There were no horsepower-enhancing modifications to any SSP Mustang 5.0L engines or durability upgrades to the T5 transmissions or 7.5- and 8.8-inch rearends. The trans-oil cooler for AOD-equipped cars was the only upgrade that pertains to the drivetrain in SSP 5.0s.
Suspension, Brakes, Wheels And Tires
All SSP Mustangs had standard front disc and rear drum brakes as found on all other V-8 Fox-body Mustangs. Contrary to rumors, there were no brake upgrades whatsoever from the factory for SSP-optioned 5.0s.
The story is almost the same for the suspension: Everything is the same as in all other Fox 5.0s, except for one thing. During the '92 model year, Ford began installing revised rear upper control arms with stronger upgraded bushings.