Fox New (old) Guy Here

Bob F · May 14, 2015

Hi Guys. Sorry for a long post but it is my first. I am 51 yrs young and re-living my days of my new 89 LX 5.0! I have an 88 GT convertible with 70k miles. It is not a show car but a nice driver. In the last 3k miles I have done the following. Mac CAI, 70mm tb and egr spacer, power pulleys, phenolic manifold spacer, Valve cover gaskets, 160 thermostat, ford racing plug wires, msd cap, rotor, and coil, spark plugs, timing at 14 degrees, welded subframe connectors, short throw shifter, royal purple trans fluid, clutch cable with quadrant and firewall adjuster, Jegs chambered mufflers, coolant flush, and synthetic oil. Last month I did ford racing 4.10 gears and rear diff girdle, upper and lower tubular control arms, urethane rear spring isolators, Strange adjustable struts and shocks, front sway bar links, SSBC slotted front brake rotors and hawk pads, new stock calipers painted black, new rear drums painted black, all new rear brake hardware, Chrome 17x8.5 Cobra replica rims with 285/40 rear and 245/45 front tires. I have a front strut brace but does not fit, and a Steeda rear shock brace still to put on.
I'm thinking the next move should be shorty headers, 2.5 inch h pipe, and cat back flowmasters. What do you guys think? Thanks.

squeak93 · May 14, 2015

NICE! The engine bay appears pretty clean. You certainly don't waste time with the mods.

Bob F · May 14, 2015

Thanks, it is not really detailed yet but it will be soon. As far as not wasting time modding it, at my age and with northern IL winters, I have to do it fast!

FoxMustangLvr · May 14, 2015

Very nice car! I'm 39 and I am too back into the Fox scene and reliving my youth from 16 years ago but now I can do it bigger and better while being a lot more responsible.

With 4.10 gears I'd assume you have an auto trans? Maybe a mild shift kit is in your future? A good sounding exhaust is always a must and shorty headers are good for cars that are just fun street cruisers. Are you keeping the cheese grater tail lights or swapping for LX in the future?

Once again, nice car and welcome to Stangnet.

MY 85 GT · May 14, 2015

^^^ Car is a 5spd....he mentions shorty shifter.....Nice car !!! welcome im 44 myself...i also have a 87 GT convertible just a few mods....

Bob F · May 14, 2015

It's a 5 speed and I love shifting! Funny you mention the tailights cause I never really liked them so I was gonna change to LX lights.

hoopty5.0 · May 14, 2015

@FoxMustangLvr Nah he just replaced the clutch cable. Shift kit wouldn't be much help

My current fox had 4.10s and it wasn't tooooo bad. But the 3.55s are more highway friendly.

More importantly:

The fact that you still have this is awesome. I'm ashamed to admit that I saw my first one a few weeks ago.

Bob F · May 14, 2015

Dang I gotta go to work, thanks guys!

FoxMustangLvr · May 14, 2015

I pay great attention to detail except on my Fridays (today) I'm Engineering a building that's about to go to production soon, hope it works out

Mustang5L5 · May 14, 2015

Nice car!

BTW, the cobra wheels are on the wrong sides. The fans should "spin" the opposite way that what's on there now

FoxMustangLvr · May 14, 2015

Like so?

Onefine88 · May 14, 2015

Welcome Bob F! Your vert looks great! I'm 51 and also own an 88gt vert. I used to run the 93 cobra replicas also and by the way. I ran mine bass ackwards too. Lol

Mustang5L5 · May 14, 2015

FoxMustangLvr said:
Like so?

Yup. That's the "right" direction they spin in

Bob F · May 14, 2015

Wow I can't believe I didn't notice the wheels being wrong! I thought something was not exactly right but I couldn't figure it out.

A5literMan · May 14, 2015

Clean car!

mikestang63 · May 14, 2015

Bob, glad to see another old fart join....

I'm on my third fox vert. You have some decent first mods and a nice clean foundation. Couple of observations.

Replace the 160 thermostat with the stock 192. Contrary to internet myth, the lower stat does not help with cooling. It simply opens the stat at a lower temp and actualy will result in lower mpg, worse performance, and more wear on the motor. Ford engineers put a 192 stat in for a reason.

I'd replace the stock alternator with a 130 amp 3g or 6g one. Not only will that allow you to upgrade your stereo or add things llike an E fan, it will also get rid of the stock fire hazard power wires for the stock 2g.

If you remove the stock car pipe, you may get extra exhaust smell. Know that their is not much to be gained by removing a functioning cat pipe. Now I have removed them on every fox body I've owned, but in Florida there is no smog check and my cars are not stockish or DD.

Welcome and hope you stay a while.

Onefine88 · May 15, 2015

mikestang63 said:
Bob, glad to see another old fart join....

I'm on my third fox vert. You have some decent first mods and a nice clean foundation. Couple of observations.

Replace the 160 thermostat with the stock 192. Contrary to internet myth, the lower stat does not help with cooling. It simply opens the stat at a lower temp and actualy will result in lower mpg, worse performance, and more wear on the motor. Ford engineers put a 192 stat in for a reason.

I'd replace the stock alternator with a 130 amp 3g or 6g one. Not only will that allow you to upgrade your stereo or add things llike an E fan, it will also get rid of the stock fire hazard power wires for the stock 2g.

If you remove the stock car pipe, you may get extra exhaust smell. Know that their is not much to be gained by removing a functioning cat pipe. Now I have removed them on every fox body I've owned, but in Florida there is no smog check and my cars are not stockish or DD.

Welcome and hope you stay a while.

How old of a fart are Ya? Maybe we should ask the MODS to start an old fart forum for us. LOL

CarMichael Angelo · May 15, 2015

50 is not old. The way you guys are talking, the responsible thing to do is sell the car, and start looking at burial plots.

Even at 69, @jrichker isn't old..........well, on second thought,..yeah he is. Jrichker is old.

jrichker · May 15, 2015

madmike1157 said:
50 is not old. The way you guys are talking, the responsible thing to do is sell the car, and start looking at burial plots.

Even at 69, @jrichker isn't old..........well, on second thought,..yeah he is. Jrichker is old.

One of my lifetime goals is to outlive and outlast all the annoying and aggravating people I have had to deal with

Bob F · May 15, 2015

hoopty5.0 said:
@FoxMustangLvr Nah he just replaced the clutch cable. Shift kit wouldn't be much help

My current fox had 4.10s and it wasn't tooooo bad. But the 3.55s are more highway friendly.

More importantly:

The fact that you still have this is awesome. I'm ashamed to admit that I saw my first one a few weeks ago.

Are you talking about the manifold or the black piece on the end?

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