Updating 4 eyes to late fox standards? Debate!

justagt · Sep 27, 2008

What wha?

So let me get this straight...

You want to buy a 86 or older fox because it's cheaper than an 87-93 and then you want to spend the time and money to update the front end and all the interior to a 87-93 style?

Why?

You are going to end up spending as much as you would have if you had just bought an aero fox. not to mention time. I wont even go into the whole desecrating a 4 eye bit... Also if you buy an 85 or earlier you will have a 7.5 rear end so subtract the cost of upgrading that to your "savings".

NIKwoaC · Sep 27, 2008

This is the way I see it. You'd be selfish to destroy a good 4 eye car for your own desires, when there is a large following of 4 eye people who'd love to have the car the way it is.

Also, the other issue is that to convert a 4 eye takes MUCH MORE than just swapping the seats and front clip. The '80 is going to pretty much take an ENTIRE '87+ car to convert. Here is a list of things that will have to change, I'm sure I'll be forgetting some:

1. As pointed out already, it has the small bore 4.2L engine.
2. Brake lights.
3. Rub strip around the car.
4. 1/4 windows and sail panels.
5. The rear is a flimsy open 7.5" differential with 2.26:1 gear ratio.
6. The front spindles are the equivalent to 87+ 4-cyl cars (this further complicates things when going to a better suspension setup or swapping to 5-lug).
7. The front brakes were a tiny, two year only (80-81), 9.31 inch rotors.
8. Is it a notch or a hatch? Hatch cars have an entirely different spoiler setup.
9. The only transmission offered in '80 was a 3-speed C-4 automatic.
10. Front lights' wiring harness.
11. Bumper supports, etc.
12. Interior wiring, gauges, etc.
13. Exhaust system.
14. Transmission cross member.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you have your work cut out for you if your plan is to buy an '80 when what you really want is an '87+.

If you DO end up doing it, at least make sure to sell the parts to someone who needs them for their 4 eye restoration/build.

skunk21 · Sep 27, 2008

If you where doing this to save money on the cost of a 4 eye vs an aero nose then you are sadly mistaken if you think you will come out ahead like the others stated. a project aero nose car can be had for about the price of the 80 if you look around, check out 4cyl aero cars since you would be doing a drivetrain swap anyway but this way at the very least you have the interior and nose you want...makes sense to me.

Stableboy · Sep 27, 2008

Like others have said two things should not be forgoten:
1.It is your car or project, do what makes you happy, but
2.It is not as easy, cheap, and might not look as good as you want it to or think it will

5.0Torx · Sep 27, 2008

i wouldnt do it based on time alone. projects like this NEVER happen the way you want them to. youd almost need a complete donor car...and if you have that....

JDelaney · Sep 27, 2008

I'm in the planning stages of my project and I intend to start with an 83. Once a vehicle is 25 years old, it is no longer required to be emission tested. Take your time, shop around and I bet you could find a suitable donor car for cheap on Craigslist or at an insurance auction.

Beasty306GT · Sep 27, 2008

:stirpot::fairyfight:

cenok is family · Sep 27, 2008

i still say do what you want. but i do agree, it's going to take longer/cost more money than you think it will. i guarantee it. i converted an 88 4cyl to v8. at the time i had never done anything near that caliber, but even having somewhat of a donor car, i ended up spending WAY more money on misc. parts to finish converting the car, than i would have if i had just kept and fixed a v8 car i already had that had front end damage. not to mention it took me 2.5 years! like i said, i was young and had never done anything like that before. given my experience now, i could easily convert one in a week, if time and money weren't an issue.

85_SS_302_Coupe · Sep 27, 2008

On one hand, i say it's your car and you do what you want with it, do what makes you happy. That's what i did.

On the other hand, it think it's retarded since the 4 eyes are getting scarce and there are a gazillion aero nose cars out there, so why not just sell or trade and get what you want?

Sure, i did a nose swap on my car, but at least i created something that i couldn't have gotten anywhere else since Ford never made it. Making a 4 eye into an aero car just makes it another run-o-the-mill aero car.

Coast2CoaStang · Sep 27, 2008

Someone please correct m if I'm wrong, but isn't the K-member going to be different as well. My brother has an 81 (originally 4.2), and was told that he would need to find a 1979, or 82+.

I may be wrong but just trying to inform him of what to expect.

85_SS_302_Coupe · Sep 27, 2008

Coast2CoaStang said:
Someone please correct m if I'm wrong, but isn't the K-member going to be different as well. My brother has an 81 (originally 4.2), and was told that he would need to find a 1979, or 82+.

I may be wrong but just trying to inform him of what to expect.

Well yes and no. There are some subtle changes in the K and especially the suspension geometry over the years, and the brakes are different. I think you could get away with it but at some point it's a good idea to upgrade those no matter what else you do with the car.

FrankenStang · Sep 27, 2008

Seriously, WHY? Just go buy an Aero Stang and leave the four eyes to the people who appreciate them. You'll end up paying the same anyway.

89Stang · Sep 27, 2008

85_SS_302_Coupe said:
On one hand, i say it's your car and you do what you want with it, do what makes you happy. That's what i did.

On the other hand, it think it's retarded since the 4 eyes are getting scarce and there are a gazillion aero nose cars out there, so why not just sell or trade and get what you want?

Sure, i did a nose swap on my car, but at least i created something that i couldn't have gotten anywhere else since Ford never made it. Making a 4 eye into an aero car just makes it another run-o-the-mill aero car.

The plan is for anything other than a run of the mill aero car. I would still be ripping the front nose off an aero car as well. This car will be run as a daily driver while the mitsubishi is the shop. While its being a dd I will be collecting the roof,interior,body,engine,suspension, and trans. Even if I started with a 2.3L mustang I would still be swapping the brakes,rearend,seats,nose,hood,gauges,trans,engine. But then I would have to deal with emissions. Would also be a bit more difficult to just swap in a hotter carbed engine. Mainly was curious to see peoples opinions on this. I will be keeping all the parts for people with 4 eyed cars. But as was said, This car isnt a rare one. Hell its been for sale for a good while and no one wants to touch it due to it being a 4.2 car.

cenok is family · Sep 27, 2008

it sounds like you already got everything figured out man, whats the hold up?

89Stang · Sep 27, 2008

cenok is family said:
it sounds like you already got everything figured out man, whats the hold up?

lol still have the mitsubishi in the shop consuming money and time. Its actually the reason I found this mustang got tired of waiting for my mitsubishi to be done. So im buying a v8 mustang while my race car imports in the shop Sad thing is even once the mustang gets swapped out to a mild 302 the import will still be faster... oh well.

Yeah actually the plans are all laid out already. From what I can tell this will be the first time a car like this has been built. Its just a mesh of different years and touches from different fox bodies that I like.

FrankenStang · Sep 27, 2008

89Stang said:
lol still have the mitsubishi in the shop consuming money and time. Its actually the reason I found this mustang got tired of waiting for my mitsubishi to be done. So im buying a v8 mustang while my race car imports in the shop Sad thing is even once the mustang gets swapped out to a mild 302 the import will still be faster... oh well.

Yeah actually the plans are all laid out already. From what I can tell this will be the first time a car like this has been built. Its just a mesh of different years and touches from different fox bodies that I like.

It's not the first time this has been done.

My abomination has been in existence since the early '90s.

venom97 · Sep 27, 2008

like said before,youll have just as much wrapped up if you swap all the parts. just buy an 87-93 car,let the 4 eyes stay 4 eyes.

JDelaney · Sep 27, 2008

It's not always about the money. Maybe he wants to do it just for the sake of the project. Maybe he's got a drinking problem and needs something to keep himself occupied with in his free time. I would also be willing to bet that not one of these guys who are getting all excited about "tearing up" a perfectly good 4 eye would even consider buying the car from you.

FrankenStang · Sep 27, 2008

JDelaney said:
It's not always about the money. Maybe he wants to do it just for the sake of the project. Maybe he's got a drinking problem and needs something to keep himself occupied with in his free time. I would also be willing to bet that not one of these guys who are getting all excited about "tearing up" a perfectly good 4 eye would even consider buying the car from you.

I would but not if it's converted.

Beasty306GT · Sep 27, 2008

dude just buy a 87-93 fox

Updating 4 eyes to late fox standards? Debate!

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