TTSaleen's Foxbody Project

[TTSaleen]

I picked this car up in January 2024.
It was mostly stock with bolt ons, B303 cam and Cobra intake.
Over the last year, I started fixing, upgrading, and modifying the car to suit my tastes.

Did an E85 experiment with the car and proved you can run E85 with a 19# mass air meter calibration and 27 pound injectors.
Dyno'd the car and made 230hp / 270tq with stock iron heads and shorty headers.

A few months ago, I picked up a used 331 stroker with GT40 aluminum heads, mystery cam (maybe a 1087 grind) and added a 150hp shot of nitrous.
Dyno'd the car (on E85) and made 315hp / 360tq on motor and 440hp / 530tq on nitrous running rich.

I recently picked up a used Vortech V2-Si supercharger kit and have been piecing it together for the car.
Waiting on a couple small parts (hopefully this week) and I will be able to fire it up.

Here's some pics. You can check it out and my other builds on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/98saleen

Day I bought it -

Old motor pulled -

331 stroker -

Nitrous -

Drag pack setup -

Supercharger kit - Waiting on some small parts - silicone adapter, radiator cross over tube, etc.

Here's my latest video on it -

 

[gkomo]

Damn, thats a nice Saleen Fox.

 

[TTSaleen]

Damn, thats a nice Saleen Fox.

Thanks!

Got the supercharger installed. Ran into a few issues, but it's running now.
Needs a tune and E85 to realize full potential.

Check it out.

 

[slow84lx]

That is a beautiful car!

 

[91AOD5.0LX]

All Beautiful cars and great/helpful videos on your YT-channel! Thanks for sharing!

 

[bird_dog0347]

Sweet Saleen!

 

[TTSaleen]

87 Foxbody update:
Put together info about the LMR Contour electric fans upgrade in addition to the Holley TerminatorX computer and MF Kustoms adapter.
Car is running very well and need to get to the dyno to fine tune it in on boost.

 

[TTSaleen]

Broke 3rd gear in my T5 recently, so ordered a new TKX and Centerforce clutch.
As others have seen, the TKX stock shifter really moves over toward passenger side noticeably more than the T5.
I put a spacer block on it and longer bolts to move it more to driver side.
Anyway, here's a video of installing it and repairing the rear main seal.

 

[TTSaleen]

Well had nothing but problems trying to use the MFK adapter and Holley Terminator X.
Back story - Got the kit installed and initially running/tuned. Noticed that car just didn't sound like it did before (didn't cam as hard) and would randomly cut off when decelerating.
Started troubleshooting and found #5 cylinder would not fire (get hot) when running.
Did a barrage of tests on engine and nothing found wrong.
Changed injectors and problem went away. Tried multiple injectors and anything 60# and higher caused the issue.
Even put it back to stock computer, mass air and 27# injectors and it ran perfectly fine, so not in my harness as everyone suggested.

Pulled the kit off and shipped back to AFM. In return I purchased the Gen3 Holley Kit from AFM.
Today I pulled off the stock harness in anticipation of the new kit to be installed.
Also picked up a new set of 80# Deka injectors to run (I run on E85 and see about 14# boost).

 

[TTSaleen]

Pulled the 331 out. Having some issues breaking up over 5K rpm likely due to valvesprings weak.
Surprised to find this engine has dome pistons!
Gotta decide if to port the X302 heads and new springs or just replace some better flowing ones such as AFR.

Got another engine and dropped it in. 347 with AFR Renegade 185 heads.
Had shoulder surgery so I cannot work on it for a few months now, which sucks.
Here's what I accomplished this week.
Monday - Pulled engine.
Tuesday - New engine installed. Finished at 1AM so didn't try to start it.
Wednesday - After surgery got it fired up and set static timing.

 

[TTSaleen]

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/FOiifgP_6m0

 

[AeroCoupe]

Just me but I would see what I could get for the X303 heads plus what you would spend on the springs and porting work and see if that gets you a better set of heads.

 

[TTSaleen]

 

[TTSaleen]

Fought an issue with this 347 engine that I finally figured out.
The balance was totally wrong. The engine came with a 50 oz flywheel and balancer already installed. These turned out to be wrong!
After many tries, I finally fixed it with Zero Balance on the balancer and flywheel.
I have the LMR balancer that you can remove the weight and a McLeod flywheel that allows me to remove/add weights.

 

[TTSaleen]

Fixed another issue I was having with the idle trying to "hunt" when coming to a stop.
I installed a GM Stepper Motor IAC conversion from Accufab and retuned it.
At first I had an issue with stalling, and hunting idle still.
Found out that the Holley changed from PWM to Stepper properly, but was still holding onto the 315hz frequency.
Once I figured that out and changed it, car idles better than it ever has with no more stalling/hunting idle.

 

[TTSaleen]

Got the Saleen on the dyno this week.
Was expecting around 500hp, but was pleasantly surprised to make more!
There was plenty left on the table with timing, but I left it very conservative (only 14 degrees total at 6K rpm) as it makes enough to split this stock block!
Hope you enjoy the vid!

 

[gkomo]

I just watched your MM steering shaft replacement video i believe which was for this car. I have the MM hybrid steering shaft i will be replacing soon. It looked pretty straight forward, but any other tips/tricks?

 

[TTSaleen]

It works very well for clearing the BBK long tube headers. I completely didn't catch this interference when I installed the engine.
But other than what I captured in the video, you should be fine.
My main problem was trying to break bolt loose that holds the shaft to the column by myself. I wedged a socket/wrench in there and got it, but having a helper would have been much easier!
Good luck. It's a worthwhile mod for sure!
Ryan

 

[TTSaleen]

 

[TTSaleen]

Got stranded in my 87 Fox Saleen. So my new purchase was a fuel pump!

Got it all fixed up and took the time to fix other items I had been putting off.
Valve cover gaskets, 160 thermostat, new belts, new fuel pump wiring, and new fuel pump.