Progress Thread Finally got my first Fox Body - 1988 GT

[Willybill32]

Happy Fathers Day! Glad to see you make some progress on the stang.
When I did my suspension, I got the front up on the ramps I have, and then jacked up the rear by the differential, and put Jack stands under the axle tubes. That gave me enough space to get everything tight with the suspension loaded.
I also did my own “home alignment” with string, tape measure, and a small level. My intent was to do this to get it good enough to eventually get it professionally aligned, but it tracks straight down the road, and with as little as I drive it, that’s how it stayed.

Yesterday (Happy Father’s Day, dads!) I finally got a chance to make some significant progress on my Fox and I mostly got the front passenger side suspension wrapped up. Same as what I was working on previously but to recap: New (OEM) lower control arms, SR lowering springs, SVE caster camber plates, and SVE bump steer kit.



I actually ended up renting one of the internal spring compressors this time to try and do what AeroCoupe recommended but I couldn’t get it to work the way I needed. I ended up using the Maximum Motorsports tool again and getting the spring in ended up being a lot easier this time around, once I stopped wasting my time trying to install the lower spring isolator.

Getting the spindle/rotor back onto the control arm was a pain again, and I think this might legitimately be the last time I ever do something control arm related for the rest of my life.

I still need to torque down the control arm bolts and figure out how to get the car aligned or find a shop reasonably close they can align a lowered car that still leaks too much oil. I think I’ve only gotten fatter the last few months because getting under the car with the suspension loaded is close to impossible now (I imagine the presence of lowering springs on all four corners now doesn’t help too).

I know it needs to be done with the suspension loaded (and I think the sway bar end links too?) but could I just do it with the car on ramps to give myself a little bit extra space to make sure everything is torqued down accurately? Any reason that wouldn’t work?

Also, any insight on attempting to do my own alignment?

It’s been six months since you last updated your thread. Have you had the chance to do any more work on your Mustang?

Bill

 

[DudeStang]

It’s been six months since you last updated your thread. Have you had the chance to do any more work on your Mustang?

Bill

Man…I feel called out, and it’s probably well deserved.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had much time to work on the Fox lately. The rare instances I’ve had time in the garage recently, I had to take care of more pressing stuff like oil changes and most recently, I’ve been working on installing a driveshaft center support bearing carrier upgrade on my 2014 Mustang (it’s taking longer than I expected, naturally).

I am hoping to have more time to do some stuff with the Fox in February and March but then I gotta make a big decision - decide if I’m going to sell it or keep it and put it in storage while my family and I move abroad for a year.

 

[Willybill32]

Man…I feel called out, and it’s probably well deserved.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had much time to work on the Fox lately. The rare instances I’ve had time in the garage recently, I had to take care of more pressing stuff like oil changes and most recently, I’ve been working on installing a driveshaft center support bearing carrier upgrade on my 2014 Mustang (it’s taking longer than I expected, naturally).

I am hoping to have more time to do some stuff with the Fox in February and March but then I gotta make a big decision - decide if I’m going to sell it or keep it and put it in storage while my family and I move abroad for a year.

Yeah, life gets in the way of our interests and hobbies. You’re making the right choices, as cars are less important than families. Given all you’ve done on the car, it would be a shame to sell it, but your circumstances will determine your choice.

Gee, a year abroad! That has lots of opportunities for you. Make the most of them!

Bill

 

[Rdub6]

I vote you store it. I know once I start working on these cars I definitely get “attached” to them. If you’re anything like me, you’d probably regret selling it once you get back. (Is your plan to come back to the same house after a year?)

My car has just sat there, taking it for the occasional ride, and I can’t say I don’t think of selling it every day that I see it. But I know in the end, someday I’ll dig into it further, and I’ll be happy I kept it.

 

[AeroCoupe]

If you sell it you won’t get it back and the odds of getting another one is shrinking everyday. I look for another Couoe here and there (want a roller) just to have a backup in case something happens to mine.