Fox Foxbody Help

Nice car! Congrats!

As far as mods, after the basics (if needed)
- Oil change
-Coolant flush, new rad cap,
-Tune up,(cap,plugs,rotor and wires)
-Check tire pressure (easiest cheapest way of making sure it's handling like it should)
-Deep cleaning, polishing/waxing carpet cleaner
Then

I'd start with 3:73 gear set if staying with aod Or 3:55 if planning on t-5 someday?

Then weld in subframe connectors. If you installed the subframe connectors now would barely notice a difference as it's so new to you. Drive it, clean it, maintain it,
Lower Gears will help give it an all around preformance gain and after getting used to how mushy the frame is you'll be amassed with subframe connectors.

Also get a good OBD-1 ford code reader so you can keep her healthy and reliable.
Take care of it and be safe!!!
You'll never forget this car..

The AOD in my V6 Cougar did not thrive. I was almost twice that age and I did not do the shuffle thing to keep it in second very often. After subframe connectors, poly graphite bushings on the sway bars and better sway bars, upgrading the valve body (or at least saving up for the upgrade and rebuild) would be on my list.

Check out jrichker's junk yard upgrade posts and his posts on upgrades by how you want it to turn out and what you will use it for. At 16, you will need it to be reliable for the next six years, so resist the urge to trick it out and trash it. You will also get fewer tickets if you keep the outside stock looking and keep se quiet mufflers.
Leave the AC and power steering in it. Upgrade the speakers, and save the factory head unit when you get one that hooks up to your IPhone. Use adapters from Crutchfield rather than hacking up the wiring harness. Do not waste the space on a big speaker box that will slow you down and attract officer friendly's attention.

Hydroplaning, spinning, taking out three metal posts, and scraping through a barbed wire fence is a bad idea. I should have had deer whistles.

I agree on gears, and the comment about 373s for staying auto and 355s if possible T5 swap.
It really all comes down to how much and how far you want to go with it! I love my Foxes simply for the cost of modifications and the simplicity. There are very few jobs in my opinion that you could not tackle as long as you are mechanically inclined. There are so many resources available online to help you.
If you make your plan of attack and save... oh, and wait for sales/promo codes... you can modify very reasonably. I agree with everyone that it is a very beautiful unmolested 88, but you need to make her yours. My advice, don't go cheap! Use quality parts... it will end up costing you more if you have to redo things more than once. I know that I have changed my setup way too many times. I had fun doing it, but it cost me every time.
Think about what you want your car to look like and how you want to use it. If you want to cruise on road trips and pull decent MPG, don't change your gears. If you want to frequent the track but still daily drive, be careful of your mods so you don't loose you street ability (Camshaft).
Beautiful hatch! I am just now making time for my 88GT. I started with staggered 17" Cobra R's with 245 & 275 tires, H&R SS lowering springs, prothane isolators, hotchkis rear trailing arms (delete the quad shock for bigger tires), subframe conectors, **new shocks**, 373 gears w/ LSD and upgraded axles, four wheel disc brakes, with upgraded master cylinder, booster, and bias proportioning valve. Full 2.5" exhaust...must make her sound like a Fox!
I would deffinetly recommend starting with chassis, suspension, and brake mods over engine mods. I am 27 and still feel as young and dumb as when I was 16 everytime I am banging gears in my Foxes.
Sorry for the long post, I am up late and rambling. Enjoy her and don't get her too sideways. It's much more fun to modify than repair everything you break being stupid!

+1 brakes get good slotted rotors and hawk pads for the front, new drums and such in the back.
Suspension, get subframes (full length!) Have them welded in with the car on a drive on lift! this is a must or the chassis will be tweeked... trust me.
Springs, get her lowered 1" or so the look is much better. Buy name brand don't go cheap on suspension mods!.
Then do gears.
For all things bolt on, the junk yard is the place to go. Easy upgrades that make power for cheap, plus after a pressure wash and some ceramic paint the parts will look new. The best part is they will all be ford oem parts so no worries about quality.

Wow....that's a rare find.....unless your planing on making it a beast?....gears,full exhaust,brakes,suspension,and appearance.....nice find!,drive it don't mess with it yet!

And I love the turbines!....not many left!

Good advice, where was it 9 months ago? jk

Maybe he dosnt like our advice?....hasnt responded yet...lol