A-Arm Rebuild
Filed Under Fox Mustang
Due to the amount of cost and work it takes to do an a-arm rebuild, swapping bushings and ball joints, you can’t beat the price of a set of new Ford Racing arms with the low friction ball joints and stiffer bushings (part # M-3075-A). However, if you’re a glutton for punishment (as I seem to be), and you’re dead set on the improved geometry afforded by a set of offset bushings, prepare your self. Now, it probably would have gone a lot quicker and smoother had I worked on a cooler day, but I couldn’t change the weather and I was anxious to get the car to the next autocross. (more…)
Fabricating a Rear Seat Delete Kit
Filed Under Fox Mustang
In an effort to lighten up the interior I’d removed all sound deadening, as well as the rear seat. For what it’s worth, the 93 Cobra R was sold without a rear seat, which makes this a legal modification for autocrossing my car in Street Prepared. The 93 R had a simple piece of carpet covering the rear seat area, but I wanted something a little bit more sanitary looking. Off to eBay I went, and ordered a set of Betr Rear Seat Delete (RSD) plans from MyPonyHauls. (more…)
Gutting a Fox’s Innards
Filed Under Fox Mustang
As the Mustang takes another step toward becoming a dedicated autocrosser and loses it’s status as a semi-daily driver, certain niceties are no longer a necessity. A little extra road and engine noise, a little extra heat, and the option of hauling around more than a single passenger become less of an issue. Insulation, sound deadening and the rear seat are sacrificed in an attempt to make this car compete for Biggest Loser. So, what’s it all weigh? (more…)
Cool Tool: Pneumatic Cleaning Gun
Filed Under Tools & Work Space
Always on the lookout for tools that make my wrenching easier, I ran across this Campbell Hausfeld cleaning gun at Summit Racing. It was less than $15 and looked pretty cool, so I decided to give it a shot.
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Camber/Caster Plates
Filed Under Fox Mustang
Good old camber/caster plates.
Not all camber/caster (CC) plates are created equal. Having purchased a Mustang with a set of CC plates installed by a previous owner that ended up being too worn out to continue to use, I purchased a new set from Maximum Motorsports. (more…)
Big Brake Swap
Filed Under Fox Mustang
Swapping big brakes onto a Fox is nothing new. Most people swap over the front and rear brakes off an sn95 and are done. In my particular case, I had a 94/95 V6/GT booster and master cylinder, 94/95 V6/GT spindles and hubs, and a complete SVO rear brake setup laying around. When I ended up with a set of sn95 Cobra rotors and calipers, I went ahead with my swap. (more…)
The Elusive Black Fox Seat Belt
Filed Under Fox Mustang
The previous owner of my car installed some Corbeau 4-point harnesses and ditched the stock seat belts. (more…)
AOD to T5: A 12 Step Program
Filed Under Fox Mustang
I originally purchased my 92 GT with a bad AOD, with the intention of dropping in a DOHC modular motor and 4R70W transmission. To get the car going as a short-term solution, I was going to have the AOD rebuilt on the cheap. When a “friend-of-a-friend” deal went south and the jackass disappeared with my AOD and his cell phone was cut off, the car ended up sitting. After I decided to unload my CP autocross project, I realized I still wanted something I could autocross. Considering the parts I had lying around, making the GT an ESP car, as uncompetitive as it might be, was a great low-buck solution. (more…)
Autocrossing the Fox: ESP
Filed Under Fox Mustang
ESP
In Street Prepared and Prepared, cars are classified along “lines.†The 79-93 Mustang and 79-86 Capri are all listed on the same line, so parts can be updated and backdated between them. Here intake and exhaust are open, struts, springs, wheels, tires, swaybars, panhards, torque arms, suspension bushings, camber/caster (CC) plates can all be changed as well as updating/backdating between designated years. You cannot add non-stock subframe connectors, non-stock rear gears, aftermarket control arms, do much internal motor work or add forced induction. The Fox chassis hasn’t proven to be competitive due to its poor suspension geometry, flexible chassis, and low power (comparatively). The sn95s make a better choice because of their stiffer chassis, better front grip, and better power of the modular Cobra or 351 Windsor from the 95 Cobra R. (more…)
Autocrossing the Fox: A Primer
Filed Under Fox Mustang
At this point, my autocross experience is pretty limited and my knowledge of Mustangs is only a little better than that. What follows is basically just compiled information I’ve picked up as the internet’s biggest Mustang Bench Racer. It’s meant only as a primer, folks! (more…)
408w Swap Part 2
Filed Under 90 F-150
So, what’s going on with the swap? I’ve built up probably half a dozen shortblocks and the worst I’ve had were a mis-adjusted TV cable, failed to tighten an upper radiator hose, and a distributor that was 180 out. This one broke my streak, and my pride. (more…)
408w Swap Part 1
Filed Under 90 F-150
There are a few things to know when swapping from a 302 to a 351 in a 90 F150. (more…)