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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

Budget Curve Carver

  • Thread starter Thread starter BlackFox93
  • Start date Start date Jun 1, 2010
B

BlackFox93

New Member
Mar 26, 2010
53
0
0
Greenbrier, Alabama
Jun 1, 2010
#1
  • Jun 1, 2010
  • #1
Looking for some help with planning some suspension upgrades to my 93 LX. I want to turn it into a budget curve carver. Me and some friends took a cruise to monte sano mountain saturday night and I realized that my stang handles really well for a stock fox with only subframe connectors as the only chassis mod. My friends were driving rwd japenese cars (240sx and s2000) and I was amazed at how well the s2000 handled stock. The 240sx was the only car that had supension mods and it was a set of coilovers. They were even drifting some of the curves and Iv tried my hand at it before and failed!!! lol It usually just ends up as me doing a donut I held with them all the way up the mountain but downhill was a different story. The rear end liked to come around on me too easily and not in a good way like in a drift. But im looking to make some improvments on this situation for about 1500 bucks for my budget for now. Iv always been big into drag racing but the runs on the mountain really inspired me to do something different with my LX. Any input on what upgrades I should do would be much appreciated. For reference my car only has Lakewood subframe connectors and I have a Steeda strut tower brace on order.
 

DJTR

Member
Mar 19, 2004
228
0
16
OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada
Jun 2, 2010
#2
  • Jun 2, 2010
  • #2
I'v always been a kenny brown fan myself but they aren't doing as much work with the fox anymore. They have wicked suspension.

Maximum motorsports has a descent setup, like grip in a box. not too expensive.

The main things you are going to want to do on the cheap will be in no particular order

lowering springs
camber plates
possible bump steer kit
SHOCKS & Struts
urethan bushings & mounts
gt sway bars swap
little wider tire

The tower bar is a good idea for sure, may also want to look into a K member brace.

After those mods are done then you can slowly start building from there, change your rear control arms(go tubular or adjustable depending on budget) Front control arms can go tubular as well.

That should get you pointed in the right direction for a budget suspension build. If I can help out anymore let me know. I'm not on here as much as I used to be but I'll be trying to change that
 

Shaolin Crane

Banned
Oct 6, 2008
2,627
7
0
Kommiefornia
Jun 2, 2010
#3
  • Jun 2, 2010
  • #3
If you're going to the canyons you need a predictable rear end in that car, along with supporting mods too, with a $1500 goal i would go with this
Maximum Motorsports Panhard Bar $375
Maximum motorsports road and track springs $275
Bilstein HD Shocks and struts
Urethane Bushings
Maximum Motorsports solid steering shaft since you already have subframes
You wont need C/C plates unless you dramatically lower your car, you can get plenty of negative camber out of the stock plates
Strut tower brace wont do you much good either, it wont hurt, but it shines under heavy BRAKING load, and i doubt you have the tire to need that kind of support when braking
K-member brace, same thing, unlesss you got a stout setup and are road racing or have some really sticky tires this is just a waste of money too
Unless you go with a really stiff shock and strut combo your current swaybars will work really well for you
Last but not least 5 LUG SWAP OR 4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES!
The most important thing people overlook is the fact that fox brakes SUCK DICK.
and is completely UNSAFE to try and push your car hard to the limit with stock brakes, no gray area on this one upgrade those brakes or risk flying off the canyon but its up to you, hope this list helps
 

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.
15 Year Member
Jul 6, 2006
5,232
2,652
223
gainesville
Jun 2, 2010
#4
  • Jun 2, 2010
  • #4
I would take a different route and snag an IRS from a 99-02 cobra. They can be found for under 1k and while they arent great for line launches and burnouts they will definitely keep that rear end from swinging out on you and ride quality will be light years better than a SRA.


On another note I wouldnt post in here about drifting/racing recklessly down public roads as you are likely to have the thread locked down and you will recieve and infraction. Edit that part out of your original post and you should be good.
 

Shaolin Crane

Banned
Oct 6, 2008
2,627
7
0
Kommiefornia
Jun 2, 2010
#5
  • Jun 2, 2010
  • #5
stykthyn said:
I would take a different route and snag an IRS from a 99-02 cobra. They can be found for under 1k and while they arent great for line launches and burnouts they will definitely keep that rear end from swinging out on you and ride quality will be light years better than a SRA.


On another note I wouldnt post in here about drifting/racing recklessly down public roads as you are likely to have the thread locked down and you will recieve and infraction. Edit that part out of your original post and you should be good.
Click to expand...
True clay, the IRS is an awesome choice, but you cant just toss one in, to really get teh full benefit you need to balance the car and spend another good 2-3k in supporting mods to make it worthwhile
 

KamiKaziDK

Member
May 16, 2005
555
0
17
Mesa, Az
Jun 2, 2010
#6
  • Jun 2, 2010
  • #6
You should get good lowering springs and new shocks and struts for starters, also get a strut tower brace and k-member brace as well, they're pretty cheap and add a decent amount of rigidness to your ride, decent tires are one of the best things you can invest in though. If you're spinning your car out though, it sounds like you mainly need practice driving it and that's where you'll make up the most time....and that's free
 
T

thethirdeye88

New Member
Apr 22, 2008
113
0
0
paragould arkansas
Jun 2, 2010
#7
  • Jun 2, 2010
  • #7
call maximum motorsports and talk to jason...
 

notchback

Founding Member
May 30, 2000
1,950
0
36
St Clair Shores MI
Jun 3, 2010
#8
  • Jun 3, 2010
  • #8
eibach lowerin kit, konis, energy suspension full poly kit

the car will feel like a vette almost on the cheap. might want some mega bite jr lca's too
 
M

makindue84

New Member
Jun 26, 2010
7
0
0
Jun 27, 2010
#9
  • Jun 27, 2010
  • #9
BlackFox93 said:
Looking for some help with planning some suspension upgrades to my 93 LX. I want to turn it into a budget curve carver. Me and some friends took a cruise to monte sano mountain saturday night and I realized that my stang handles really well for a stock fox with only subframe connectors as the only chassis mod. My friends were driving rwd japenese cars (240sx and s2000) and I was amazed at how well the s2000 handled stock. The 240sx was the only car that had supension bushing mods and it was a set of coilovers. They were even drifting some of the curves and Iv tried my hand at it before and failed!!! lol It usually just ends up as me doing a donut I held with them all the way up the mountain but downhill was a different story. The rear end liked to come around on me too easily and not in a good way like in a drift. But im looking to make some improvments on this situation for about 1500 bucks for my budget for now. Iv always been big into drag racing but the runs on the mountain really inspired me to do something different with my LX. Any input on what upgrades I should do would be much appreciated. For reference my car only has Lakewood subframe connectors and I have a Steeda strut tower brace on order.
Click to expand...

I think you need new energy suspension that can increase its power. I can refer him to you.
 

Maryland Stang

Active Member
Aug 21, 2002
1,656
30
39
Greenville, NC
Jun 27, 2010
#10
  • Jun 27, 2010
  • #10
KamiKaziDK said:
If you're spinning your car out though, it sounds like you mainly need practice driving it and that's where you'll make up the most time....and that's free
Click to expand...

I agree with this 100%. The Fox Mustang is great for drifting because the rearend does get loose so easily. You just need to be able to properly coordinate between where the car is going, what direction the nose of the car is pointed towards, what your feet are doing and the direction of the front tires.

If you have a go kart nearby that is an excellent place to hone your skills. You can practice heel and toe anywhere.
 

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,024
1,616
194
NJ
Jun 27, 2010
#11
  • Jun 27, 2010
  • #11
Sounds like you are driving in what sounds like a dangerous place.
The Panhard bar is more like a requirement than an option. The rear moving around is what causes a mustang to be unpredictable. Snap oversteer can quickly wreck your car.

I'd buy this stuff.
MM panhard bar $400
CC plates $200
Shocks $500
Springs $200
Lower control Arms $250
Alignment $100

That's about your whole budget.
Then be prepared to get some ford racing uppers for $100 (damn things used to be $60)
 

Shaolin Crane

Banned
Oct 6, 2008
2,627
7
0
Kommiefornia
Jun 27, 2010
#12
  • Jun 27, 2010
  • #12
Maryland Stang said:
I agree with this 100%. The Fox Mustang is great for drifting because the rearend does get loose so easily. You just need to be able to properly coordinate between where the car is going, what direction the nose of the car is pointed towards, what your feet are doing and the direction of the front tires.

If you have a go kart nearby that is an excellent place to hone your skills. You can practice heel and toe anywhere.
Click to expand...

Sure its great for drifitng after a few thousand dollars, but in stock trim foxes are a joke for ANY type of handling, especially for drifting. First off the lack of a panhard bar makes it impossible to keep the rear axle precisly where it needs to be and its very unprfedictable, one turn it may stay where you want but another it wont do what you want at all, next is the brakes. The drums will not lock up the rear with the use of the E-brake like its needed and the front brakes are **** too. And then comes the steering angle, its garbage.

You cant get any real angle to keep control of the vehicle, sure you can get enough angle to drift, but good luck trying to control it once you are there, too much and you will spin out, too little and its just a ****ty drift. Hope this helps
 
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