Buying a foxbody

Slowstang96

Founding Member

May 31, 2002

92

0

0

Tampa

Aug 3, 2008

#1

• Aug 3, 2008

• #1

I'm looking to buy a foxbody, but sadly am a complete retard with these cars. I've had several SN95's but no experience with these. I'm really looking for a notchback, but found a nice 85 t-top hatch in my area. Going to look at it tomorrow, any advice on what to look for or what questions to ask in this age range? Thanks guys.

 

L

lang williams

New Member

Jun 11, 2003

567

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0

cleveland, oh

Aug 3, 2008

#2

• Aug 3, 2008

• #2

Check out the weather stripping out an look for rust prob known to happen on the strut towers/ where the fender meets the frame under the hood.

 

justabigkid

New Member

Jul 1, 2007

20

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1

chicago

Aug 3, 2008

#3

• Aug 3, 2008

• #3

Good luck I hope its what you are looking for. But be sure to also look for rust on the floor boards, the A pillars by the door hinges, bottom of doors and spare tire well. No fox especially in the midwest is perfect but just make sure everything is repairable.

 

skunk21

Active Member

May 22, 2007

1,203

3

36

Taxachusetts

Aug 3, 2008

#4

• Aug 3, 2008

• #4

I'll list stuff some important stuff of the top of my head that I can think of.. hatch area, look at the base of wing where it mounts to the hatch, water sits there and rots the hatch. The underside of the hatch is known to go. look at the license plate area also. pull up the hatch rug and look at the spare tire well for rust. underneath look around the gas tank and where the bumper mounts(rear section of the frame). known spots are floors, firewall more so along the pinch weld, the strut tower look at the weld line where frame and the tower meet, also look inside the wheel well where the strut is inside the tower for rust. Look through the cowl vent down inside for heavy rust inside where the wiper motor arms are. a-pillars under the moldings, the lower fender under the gt's trim.check the torque boxes both upper/lower.if a T5 2nd & 3rd gear grind, no blinkers are a common issue. I'm others will chime in with some more.

These are issues found on negleted foxes, drivetrain wise they are strong. Take your time and look it over good and you will find a good one, it took me awhile to sift through some jems.

 

Slowstang96

Founding Member

May 31, 2002

92

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0

Tampa

Aug 4, 2008

#5

• Aug 4, 2008

• #5

Thanks, great information. I'll get back with what I find and, I'm sure, more questions. At the price he's asking I'm not expecting anything perfect, but I do basically want a driveable resto.

 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta

Founding Member

Nov 22, 2001

3,501

28

119

Motor City

Aug 4, 2008

#6

• Aug 4, 2008

• #6

Left front upper corner or the windshield and roof. They rust there. Floor boards, trunk floor, torque boxes, rear quarter panels behind wheels.

 

aaros

Member

Dec 3, 2004

114

0

17

Aug 4, 2008

#7

• Aug 4, 2008

• #7

someone with more knowledge about spotting a junk foxbody than i have should write up a sticky on this subject. seems there is still interest by people wanting to buy their first fox, it might not be a bad sticky...

 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

15 Year Member

Nov 11, 2003

6,945

1,598

223

Northern KY

Aug 4, 2008

#8

• Aug 4, 2008

• #8

aaros said:

someone with more knowledge about spotting a junk foxbody than i have should write up a sticky on this subject. seems there is still interest by people wanting to buy their first fox, it might not be a bad sticky...

Click to expand...

The problem with that is some people's trash is another person's gold. To some, my coupe is a POS, to me it's nothing but a pile of potential.

Now, making a sticky about issues and details to look into when buying a fox is a great idea. The Merkur forums all have similar stickies that have gobs of info about things that break and things that you should check before buying.

 

strtrcr50

New Member

Jun 21, 2006

0

4

0

Previously from Dirty Jerzey exit 7a

Aug 4, 2008

#9

• Aug 4, 2008

• #9

Make sure you check the ashtray door..

 

Slowstang96

Founding Member

May 31, 2002

92

0

0

Tampa

Aug 4, 2008

#10

• Aug 4, 2008

• #10

Man, I forgot to look at the ashtray door. Oh well. Overall, very clean for a 23 year old car. 103 on the original 5.0, runs very smooth. A little shake, but looks like a tune up could fix that? Some surface rust, but nothing that seems concerning, it all looks like just that - surface. Definitely needs a little cosmetic TLC, weatherstripping, paint, etc. but looks to be fairly solid all the way around. And for a little over a grand, it may be very worth it.

 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end

15 Year Member

Nov 11, 2003

6,945

1,598

223

Northern KY

Aug 4, 2008

#11

• Aug 4, 2008

• #11

I mentioned this once before and everyone got uptight about it...but i'm a firm believer in revving an engine until it hits the rev limiter (assuming that the engine is stock and has a stock rev limiter). My logic behind it is that hitting the rev limiter shouldn't cause any damage unless the engine is on its way out already....and if it'll rev clean to 6250 then it should be a pretty good running engine. That'll also show you if it's going to smoke or not when you get on it.

I think people fear the RPMs too much...i've beat mine for 4 years and i've lost count on how many miles it has (well over 250k) and i've missed shifts and saw the tach just about hit 7k (i don't have a rev limiter) and nothing has broke yet.