Progress Thread Back in a Fox 89GT

  • Sponsors (?)


So I just had my second tuning session with Steve to get the car all squared away, ran into a little issue with my wastegate but that has since been resolved. The car is running like a Top I highly recommend anyone needing help with a tune to use Steve's services @a91what extremely patient and knowledgeable. I've owned 8 foxbodys in my lifetime and this is by far the best running fox to date.

I would say the car is close to right where I want it now, I'd still like to do subframes and try to run tailpipes to alleviate some of the exhaust smell this summer in addition address the 30yr old seats as a 2 hour driving session causes some serious backpain. Some winter plans to include a rear disc setup, and maybe some suspension components I also have a line on a forged 347 stroker my buddy has laying around I'd like to learn how to rebuild a motor from scratch so I might take that on as well.

The car has come a long way from January 6th of 2019, here are a few pics
 

Attachments

  • IMG-1042.JPG
    IMG-1042.JPG
    733.5 KB · Views: 172
  • IMG_1460.JPG
    IMG_1460.JPG
    100.1 KB · Views: 192
  • MVIMG_20200625_222718.jpg
    MVIMG_20200625_222718.jpg
    204.7 KB · Views: 190
  • MVIMG_20200625_222739.jpg
    MVIMG_20200625_222739.jpg
    170.1 KB · Views: 200
  • IMG_20200516_182540.jpg
    IMG_20200516_182540.jpg
    298.9 KB · Views: 198
  • Like
  • Winner
Reactions: 7 users
did a thing a couple weeks ago, something to keep me busy/sane this winter.

This is a motor out of my buddies boosted 89GT he sold a few years back less than 10 passes, my plan is to pull it apart completely, rebuild, and upgrade/replace a few things I got the motor for a steal and couldn't pass the deal up.

347 stroker
Eagle crank
Eagle rods
JE Pistons
Edelbrock Victor JR heads
ARP headstuds
Crane 1.7 gold
F303 Cam
Pete jackson gear drive (removing)
Moroso deep sump oil pan

MVIMG_20200808_121740.jpg
MVIMG_20200809_122609.jpg
The weakest link in this combo is definitely the stock block, but a conservative tune should keep this thing together. While the motor is out, I'll address a few other issues. I won't be tackling this until the winter the car drives perfect right now and I'm just enjoying it everyday.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 users
a stock block does not mean you cant make power... these engines do not magically come apart after 450HP.

If you dont you should watch Richard Holdener on youtube, he recently did a SBF test with many different combos and all of them have hundreds of runs on them at big power levels.
I would not hesitate to build a 347 with HCI and then throw 12-15psi at it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
a stock block does not mean you cant make power... these engines do not magically come apart after 450HP.

If you dont you should watch Richard Holdener on youtube, he recently did a SBF test with many different combos and all of them have hundreds of runs on them at big power levels.
I would not hesitate to build a 347 with HCI and then throw 12-15psi at it.

I'll check it out thanks Steve, as I've told you when we were tuning my car I don't beat on my stuff, occasionally I'll get on it but I think I'll be fine.
 
Last edited:
So I just had my second tuning session with Steve to get the car all squared away, ran into a little issue with my wastegate but that has since been resolved. The car is running like a Top I highly recommend anyone needing help with a tune to use Steve's services @a91what extremely patient and knowledgeable. I've owned 8 foxbodys in my lifetime and this is by far the best running fox to date.

I would say the car is close to right where I want it now, I'd still like to do subframes and try to run tailpipes to alleviate some of the exhaust smell this summer in addition address the 30yr old seats as a 2 hour driving session causes some serious backpain. Some winter plans to include a rear disc setup, and maybe some suspension components I also have a line on a forged 347 stroker my buddy has laying around I'd like to learn how to rebuild a motor from scratch so I might take that on as well.

The car has come a long way from January 6th of 2019, here are a few pics
Dude...that third pic. Car looks incredible. I feel like there are tons of similar styled wheels that wouldn't look right on a fox but you somehow picked the exception. Well done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Wow my last update her was in August of 2020, a lot has changed since then, and some new things are coming down the pipeline. Overall I have just been enjoying the car, hopping in an driving without much to worry about.

Last winter I converted the car to rear disc
Taurus 43mm calipers
Cobra booster
SN95 M/C
ATS Brembo swap
I drove the Car all summer, brought it to a bunch of cruise nights and shows, even took home some awards, then I went to Foxtoberfest and caught the mod bug again When I got home I started tearing the car apart.

My winter plans for the car,

I'm keeping the On3 Kit and upgrading the motor,

347 Stroker ( i've had this motor for about 3 years now, so it's coming apart and being cleaned up)
Eagle crank / Eagle rods
JE Pistons
Edelbrock Victor JR heads
ARP headstuds
Crane 1.7 gold
F303 Cam
Moroso deep sump oil pan

BMR tubular k-member
Strange shocks/struts
subframe connectors
Engine bay shave / wire cleanup / Respray

and probably some misc. stuff here and there, hopefully I can stick to keeping this thread updated throughout this process.
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20231028_151549431.jpg
    PXL_20231028_151549431.jpg
    215.5 KB · Views: 65
  • PXL_20231105_165106057.jpg
    PXL_20231105_165106057.jpg
    194.1 KB · Views: 66
  • PXL_20231028_151557646.jpg
    PXL_20231028_151557646.jpg
    330.8 KB · Views: 69
  • PXL_20231021_205601690.jpg
    PXL_20231021_205601690.jpg
    179.6 KB · Views: 67
  • PXL_20230423_174844783.jpg
    PXL_20230423_174844783.jpg
    373.4 KB · Views: 70
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: 7 users
You've done awesome work on that car. If you have the means, I'd move the 347 components into a Dart block. My n/a 347 cracked a stock block...

yikes, I don't really have the means right now to move to a Dart block, the more I think about it it makes me nervous about dropping the 347 in with the Turbo and whether or not it will hold up.

My intentions were to just clean this motor up put it back together (first time doing a motor) and let it rip, the stock 302 from the car is pretty low mileage about 57k i've been hemming and hawing about just cleaning that one up, new seals/gaskets cleaning up the engine bay and putting it back in. I'm a little torn right now on the path I want to take with this.

The 347 would be a nice candidate for my 66 as well so I dunno.
 
Stock block stroked to an 347 isn’t going to take much boost unless the pistons are low compression like 8:1 or something like that.

If you really want to boost something boost the stock motor, save your money, and when it breaks build a good motor. This way you can put the 347 in your 66 as stuffing a 351W in one of those is not fun.
 
Last edited:
What do you all think that 347 is going to make in N/A form? My guess is sub 400 at the crank.

I know nothing about sizing a turbo but the housing on that one looks big. Does it take a while to spin up? If not, hell yeah I'd toss it on the 347. :shrug:
 
Couple updates, the original 302 was degreased, replaced some stuff, got to do the rear main seal and a couple loose ends and then I can focus on the engine bay.
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20231211_224757095.jpg
    PXL_20231211_224757095.jpg
    190.6 KB · Views: 46
  • PXL_20231127_025440326.jpg
    PXL_20231127_025440326.jpg
    218.3 KB · Views: 59
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Got some other parts in for the bay, I opted for the Scott Rod rivet panels, tossed them in to just get an idea of how much trimming I'm going to need to do, I had to clean up some slight surface rust forming on the rails and got a little wild with the rust paint. I'm hoping to spend some time here on Christmas break getting these fitted and hoping to get the bay painted in the next month or so.
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20231222_135600093.jpg
    PXL_20231222_135600093.jpg
    194.5 KB · Views: 24
  • PXL_20231221_185801216.jpg
    PXL_20231221_185801216.jpg
    109.5 KB · Views: 52
  • PXL_20231221_185724758.jpg
    PXL_20231221_185724758.jpg
    227.9 KB · Views: 49
  • PXL_20231221_185729600.jpg
    PXL_20231221_185729600.jpg
    253.5 KB · Views: 49
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
Last update I didn't want throw everything in a single post,

Decided to go with new wheels, my buddy wants the XXR's for his 84, I go through wheels like underwear and i'm surprised i've had these for 4years. I also got my k-member in.
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20231221_221102620.jpg
    PXL_20231221_221102620.jpg
    185.1 KB · Views: 56
  • PXL_20231116_220928357 (1).jpg
    PXL_20231116_220928357 (1).jpg
    200.3 KB · Views: 48
  • Like
Reactions: 5 users