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Progress Thread Finally got my first Fox Body - 1988 GT

  • Thread starter Thread starter DudeStang
  • Start date Start date Feb 7, 2020
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    fox body 5.0 grater mustang gt white fox
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90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
SN Certified Technician
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Dec 19, 2021
#921
  • Dec 19, 2021
  • #921
DudeStang said:
Some new parts arrived a few days ago. Basically all of the parts (I hope) I needed to get the 4.10s installed. Uploaded a brief Vlog to share:

View: https://youtu.be/iq91d27FpqI


I drove the car about 70 miles today to drop it off at the shop that’s going to install the new gears. That was the longest drive I’ve done in the Fox since the day I picked it up. My knees and back were killing me and I definitely contributed to future hearing loss with that drone.



Can’t wait to drive the car with the new gears, even though the same drive back with 4.10s might be even more unpleasant, lol.

Didn’t catch any pictures while driving but we saw a lot of Amish buggies a few miles from the shop. I didn’t realize there was such a large Amish presence in Southern Maryland until today. I’m used to usually only seeing those horse drawn buggies when I visit friends in Lancaster, PA.
Click to expand...

The Amish and Mennonites are all over souther MD. Glad you got over there without any issues. I went ro the Drtail Garage get together down on Lafayette Blvd. In Fredericksburg. It was rainy this AM but a few die hards were there.
 
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General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
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#922
  • Dec 19, 2021
  • #922
I hope you like those 410 gears, I personally think it's too much for a stock ride more so with the 15" wheels. But that's me, I drove a 55 shoebox with 410 gears and 15" wheels and tires about the same height as your, heavier car, first gear is useless, maybe you'll like it time will tell.
 

DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
5 Year Member
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#923
  • Dec 20, 2021
  • #923
General karthief said:
I hope you like those 410 gears, I personally think it's too much for a stock ride more so with the 15" wheels. But that's me, I drove a 55 shoebox with 410 gears and 15" wheels and tires about the same height as your, heavier car, first gear is useless, maybe you'll like it time will tell.
Click to expand...
Yeah. I mean…I understand it might not be ideal but the ring and pinion were a gift from a couple of friends. One of those friends - we bought him 4.30 gears for his 2002 GT years ago and he had them installed and it was a blast to drive. I just want to give them a try. Worst case, if I don’t like them, I will just change to 3.73s or 3.55s at some point. I think for the type of driving I do with my Fox most of the time, they will probably be pretty fun.

The point about 15” wheels - are you saying that wheel size is maybe too small for those gears? I do plan on adding the 16 inch pony wheels eventually but not sure if that will make a significant difference. I need to read more about gears vs tire/wheel size.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
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#924
  • Dec 20, 2021
  • #924
More about tire height than wheel size, you can run a taller tire with more gear (higher numerical), I chose a 355 gear for the junk pyle because it put me in that 'sweet spot' for my mods and the 5 speed.
The 410's will get you into the high rpms pretty quickly especially when tire spin comes into play more so with a short tire.
Yes it can be fun.
 
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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
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Dec 21, 2021
#925
  • Dec 21, 2021
  • #925
DudeStang said:
One of those friends - we bought him 4.30 gears for his 2002 GT years ago and he had them installed and it was a blast to drive. I just want to give them a try. Worst case, if I don’t like them, I will just change to 3.73s or 3.55s at some point. I think for the type of driving I do with my Fox most of the time, they will probably be pretty fun.
Click to expand...

4.30's in a 4.6L is different than 4.10's in a 5.0. They will pull hard to the 6K redline where a stock 5.0 is really running out of steam at 4500rpm. I've driven a 4.6L Cobra with 4.56's and it was a hoot and felt perfectly driveable due to the almost 7K redline. But those cars really do pull hard at upper RPM as well.

With the 5.0, after 4500RPM or so, it's like you are just making a bunch of noise and not really going anywhere as you go through that last 1500 or so RPM. These cars just don't breath well at high RPM in stock form

I have 3.73's in my car, and when my engine was mostly stock I just wasn't a fan. A 3.27 or 3.55 is better suited. I'll reevaluate with my new combo once i start driving it, but i have a 3.27's in a box that i might convince myself to install at some point.
 
Last edited: Dec 21, 2021

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
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Dec 21, 2021
#926
  • Dec 21, 2021
  • #926
The advantage will be you don't have to down shift to pass at 50 mph.
 
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DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
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#927
  • Dec 23, 2021
  • #927
Mustang5L5 said:
4.30's in a 4.6L is different than 4.10's in a 5.0. They will pull hard to the 6K redline where a stock 5.0 is really running out of steam at 4500rpm. I've driven a 4.6L Cobra with 4.56's and it was a hoot and felt perfectly driveable due to the almost 7K redline. But those cars really do pull hard at upper RPM as well.

With the 5.0, after 4500RPM or so, it's like you are just making a bunch of noise and not really going anywhere as you go through that last 1500 or so RPM. These cars just don't breath well at high RPM in stock form

I have 3.73's in my car, and when my engine was mostly stock I just wasn't a fan. A 3.27 or 3.55 is better suited. I'll reevaluate with my new combo once i start driving it, but i have a 3.27's in a box that i might convince myself to install at some point.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I wasn’t trying to imply it would be exactly the same but thanks for the additional information.

Most of the driving I do in my Fox is running errands or slightly spirited driving on some twisty back roads not too far from my house. I think the 4.10s might be fun for this but I won’t know until I get the car back and drive it again.

I guess another option would be using the gears as an excuse to mod the engine more heavily…maybe.
 
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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,260
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Dec 23, 2021
#928
  • Dec 23, 2021
  • #928
Do it. We love to spend other people’s money here
 
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Rdub6

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues
5 Year Member
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Dec 23, 2021
#929
  • Dec 23, 2021
  • #929
DudeStang said:
I guess another option would be using the gears as an excuse to mod the engine more heavily…maybe.
Click to expand...
Now your thinking!!
 
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DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
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Dec 25, 2021
#930
  • Dec 25, 2021
  • #930
I didn’t get my Fox back from the gear shop yet (hopefully early next week) but my wife did get me this t-shirt.


Merry Christmas y’all. Hope you’re enjoying the holidays and you and your families are safe and sound!
 
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General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
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Dec 25, 2021
#931
  • Dec 25, 2021
  • #931
I'd get one but I'd grow tired of explaining it to my brand x friends.
 
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DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
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Jan 4, 2022
#932
  • Jan 4, 2022
  • #932
Fox is still in the shop. I was expecting to pick it up this week but now I’m kind of glad it was delayed.



Power has been out for over 24 hours. Lots of trees knocked over onto power lines all over the area. Folks in Virginia, Maryland, and DC, hope you’re staying warm and safe.
 

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DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
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#933
  • Jan 13, 2022
  • #933


Almost a month later, I finally picked the Fox back up today. The 4.10 gears are installed…..along with new 31 spline rear axles, a new rear main seal, a new clutch, a new clutch cable, and the speedometer gear kit. Long story but I think most of you know how it goes. I wasn’t thrilled to spend more money but I am happy that some things I knew the car needed (or would need not too far down the line) are fixed or replaced.

So far, I’ve only driven the car back from the shop to my house because I am working today. I didn’t drive it too hard right after picking it up. Maybe folks on here will have thoughts but it seems I should not go too bananas for a few hundred miles after the new gears are installed.

So far, my takeaway is that this was extremely accurate:
General karthief said:
The advantage will be you don't have to down shift to pass at 50 mph.
Click to expand...

It actually reminds me a bit more of my other mustang now, in that it feels like there’s enough power/torque no matter which gear I’m in. We’ll see how I feel in a few weeks or months.

Also, the clutch feels lighter, which is nice. I haven’t driven the car in almost a month though. Will need to drive it more.

I’m curious to see if the RMS being replaced will help significantly reduce the amount of oil dripping. Fingers crossed.
 
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Willybill32

But at least it's tight!
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Lexington, KY
Jan 13, 2022
#934
  • Jan 13, 2022
  • #934
I paid a shop $500 to replace my 2.73 gears with 3.55 gears, plus the price of the gears. He said to take it easy for the first 500 miles to allow it to break in correctly.

Bill
 
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Potomus Pete

I'm still waiting for the fully nude shots
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Jan 13, 2022
#935
  • Jan 13, 2022
  • #935
50/50 chance on the rear main seal. Next time I'm getting a sleeve.
 
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Rdub6

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues
5 Year Member
Dec 29, 2017
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Jan 13, 2022
#936
  • Jan 13, 2022
  • #936
DudeStang said:


Almost a month later, I finally picked the Fox back up today. The 4.10 gears are installed…..along with new 31 spline rear axles, a new rear main seal, a new clutch, a new clutch cable, and the speedometer gear kit. Long story but I think most of you know how it goes. I wasn’t thrilled to spend more money but I am happy that some things I knew the car needed (or would need not too far down the line) are fixed or replaced.

So far, I’ve only driven the car back from the shop to my house because I am working today. I didn’t drive it too hard right after picking it up. Maybe folks on here will have thoughts but it seems I should not go too bananas for a few hundred miles after the new gears are installed.

So far, my takeaway is that this was extremely accurate:


It actually reminds me a bit more of my other mustang now, in that it feels like there’s enough power/torque no matter which gear I’m in. We’ll see how I feel in a few weeks or months.

Also, the clutch feels lighter, which is nice. I haven’t driven the car in almost a month though. Will need to drive it more.

I’m curious to see if the RMS being replaced will help significantly reduce the amount of oil dripping. Fingers crossed.
Click to expand...
Nice man!! Can’t wait to hear what you think after a while!! You’ve done, and had done, a lot of work to that car to turn it into a real nice Fox! Awesome.
 
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Potomus Pete

I'm still waiting for the fully nude shots
5 Year Member
Mar 7, 2019
3,308
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153
Sarasota Florida
Jan 13, 2022
#937
  • Jan 13, 2022
  • #937
I would love to try a car with 4.10s or 373s to try it. Nobody can every get the description worded good enough to imagine the feel. Need a 1 to 10 score on the experience.
 
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Olivethefet

I will own your nuts! LOL
5 Year Member
May 17, 2018
2,596
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Enterprise AL
Jan 13, 2022
#938
  • Jan 13, 2022
  • #938
My car has 373 gears. I don't have a lot of experience with other gearing options. The only other fox I've owed was a 90 automatic with factory 308 gears. My current car is much more fun to drive with the 373 and a 5 speed gear box. 10/10 would do again!
 
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DudeStang

Nuts fell off while driving
5 Year Member
Apr 30, 2017
659
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Jan 13, 2022
#939
  • Jan 13, 2022
  • #939
So…funny thing about the gears: I was pretty convinced that the gears in my fox were stock or something close to it. I had driven a couple other foxes with 3.73s before buying mine and I thought mine felt different than those.

The guy at the transmission shop said that mine had 3.55s or 3.73s (there was another fox at the shop at the same time apparently and he said one had 3.55s and one had 3.73s). So it’s possible mine had 3.55s or 3.73s the whole time and I didn’t even know. I forgot to ask again when I picked the car up so I will have to call tomorrow and see if he ever confirmed.
 

Rdub6

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues
5 Year Member
Dec 29, 2017
3,955
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Long Island, NY
Jan 13, 2022
#940
  • Jan 13, 2022
  • #940
DudeStang said:
So…funny thing about the gears: I was pretty convinced that the gears in my fox were stock or something close to it. I had driven a couple other foxes with 3.73s before buying mine and I thought mine felt different than those.

The guy at the transmission shop said that mine had 3.55s or 3.73s (there was another fox at the shop at the same time apparently and he said one had 3.55s and one had 3.73s). So it’s possible mine had 3.55s or 3.73s the whole time and I didn’t even know. I forgot to ask again when I picked the car up so I will have to call tomorrow and see if he ever confirmed.
Click to expand...
I went from 2.73 to 3.73 and first reaction was ........ “this car just wants to go”. I had redone all the brakes, suspension, steering rack, and everything that goes with it, so I had a lot to dial in and to work the kinks out of.
I still haven’t just “sent it” in first gear to see what happens, but this spring, I’ll have some fun....... and then report back! Lol
 
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