Just bought another foxbody to add to my collection. I have a 1987 LX 5.0 hatch and just recently bought a 1987 LX 5.0 notch. I want to build up the notch to be very comfortable to drive and reliable. I want to do a 5 lug conversion, mm or griggs racing k member and a SLA front suspension. Trying to plan everything out and wanted some advice on which to do first or if it has to be done all at once? Would love some help from someone who has an sla front.
What to do first?
- Thread starter Riley Barth
- Start date
gkomo
now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft
In that case, leave it stock. Replace any worn bushings with OE style rubber and put a nice set of shocks on it.
Any sort of aftermarket suspension is going to make it ride firmer. That's the nature of the beast when you put race car parts on a street car.
gkomo
now i can hopefully expect to receive the shaft
Sounds like budget isn't too much of a concern? I don't think those SLAs are cheap, neither is the MM K-member.
I remember reading on MM's website that their K-member is mostly for changing the geometry and running offset control arms. Even they say the stock K-member is pretty stiff with the addition of their 2 or 4 point braces, and there isn't much weight savings going with the MM. Let me see if i can find that verbiage.
Edit: so i was wrong about the weight... they say it saves 28% over stock, which is pretty significant for a single part. Need to find where MM was saying the OEM k-member is pretty good as far as stiffness goes. Or i'm completely remembering what i read wrong, could be.
I remember reading on MM's website that their K-member is mostly for changing the geometry and running offset control arms. Even they say the stock K-member is pretty stiff with the addition of their 2 or 4 point braces, and there isn't much weight savings going with the MM. Let me see if i can find that verbiage.
Edit: so i was wrong about the weight... they say it saves 28% over stock, which is pretty significant for a single part. Need to find where MM was saying the OEM k-member is pretty good as far as stiffness goes. Or i'm completely remembering what i read wrong, could be.
Last edited:
But I would rather do an sla now than spend money on bushing and stuff that I will be replacing down the road anyway.
Jack Hidley said it directly a few times if I recall. It’s in various posts on Corral.
The stock K-member is the stiffest. The MM K-member is stiff where it needs to be for performance/handling/braking.
But you are right. The biggest benefit to the MM K-member is the geometry changes. In terms of weight savings, it’s the k-member with the least amount of savings. When I did my full MM kit up front it only amounted to maybe 30 pounds of savings…for $3k or whatever it cost me for the front end.
You say you want to build up.the notch to be very comfortable and reliable.
For
s and giggles you then want to change the k member and go sla.
I've daily driven my 93 lx for seventeen years and 316,000 miles and its been comfy and very reliable with the stock.
Make up your mind first, then plan on changing as you go.
For
s and giggles you then want to change the k member and go sla.I've daily driven my 93 lx for seventeen years and 316,000 miles and its been comfy and very reliable with the stock
.Make up your mind first, then plan on changing
as you go.
Yeah... "comfortable" = OEM suspension bushings, shocks, and springs with bolt-on, low-boost supercharger.
SLA = Race Car, Big Block, or Coyote Swap
SLA = Race Car, Big Block, or Coyote Swap
You can make an SLA ride really well. It’s just the spring and shock selection. Now don’t get me wrong if you put soft springs and comfy shock settings on an SLA I’m questioning why the F you got an SLA suspension but you do you boo-boo.
I’ve posted this before but the best my Coupe ever rode was with the H&R Super Sport springs and Tokico Illumina dampers. This was with a stock k-member, stock front control arms with OEM bushings, & MM CC plates up front with MM LCA’s, stock UCA’s, and OEM bushings in the rear end.
I’ve posted this before but the best my Coupe ever rode was with the H&R Super Sport springs and Tokico Illumina dampers. This was with a stock k-member, stock front control arms with OEM bushings, & MM CC plates up front with MM LCA’s, stock UCA’s, and OEM bushings in the rear end.
General rule of thumb is use 94-98 axles as they are 0.75” wider per side than a Fox rear end. The 99+ axles are 1.5” wider per side and cause fitment issues.
The 8.8 housings from 86-98 are the same is just the axles that are longer to compensate for the ABS exciter rings. The 99+ housings are wider as are the axles so they are completely different.
I would recommend you pass.
The 8.8 housings from 86-98 are the same is just the axles that are longer to compensate for the ABS exciter rings. The 99+ housings are wider as are the axles so they are completely different.
I would recommend you pass.
