Today's mustang day-dream: Ever felt like building a slower fox?

I found it Ironic today that while I sat contemplating what I would do if I could find another 5.0 project to build, I realized that I've gotten to the point that I'd rather build something simpler than I already have. Of course when I started off it was always about building something bigger and faster and it's progressed to the point I'm at now - a potentially 4 digit rwhp monster (at least in my book). I can still see growing in the future.

But today, I thought about what I would do if I could start a new project. I found that I'd really like to get an 87-93 notch and try and run mid 12s with bolt-ons. I think my combo would be something simple. Here's what I day dreamed up.

87-93 notch

Engine:
1 5/8" long tubes w/ H-pipe dumped
Cobra, or GT40 intake
1.72 roller rockers
short belt
UD pullies
75mm MAF (if it's a MAF year)
65mm TB
stock heads/cam
Electric fan or removed fan/clutch at the track
AFM or similar Cold air intake
bumped timing
AFPR

Other parts:
Subframe connectors
4 cyl front springs w/ remove front sway bar
ET Streets on welds with skinnies up front
Air-bag in right rear
Battery moved to the back
4.10 gears
Wabro pump
manual steering rack
Pro50 shifter
KC clutch (would the stocker hold up at this power level I wonder?)

weight:
removed A/C
Removed smog pump
removed power steering
removed dog-bone
remove spare tire
fiberglass hood

I think this car would go 12s pretty easily, and it would be so much fun on the street with drag radials on 10-hole rims, assuming they make any that fit. The look on vette owner's faces and LS1s etc would be prices from a stop light. What other little stuff am I missing?

Who on here already has this car, and how's it running?

Chris

i totaly agree every time i open a magazine all i see is 900hp 1000hp and so on its unrealistic my father always tells me keep it original stock is nice a few bolt ons a mild car that can run with the other stangs and ls1's is nice and i couldnt agree any more
 
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Isn't that what your car is, just with nicer wheels and paint? Sarcasm?

Mine kind of is, mine is a near perfect street car, with the stock cam, great gas mileage, and other than no AC all the ameneties.

I was talking more along the lines of taking a coupe, completely top to bottom restoring it, make it look perfect, and then tossing a stock motor in it, suspension and going into the 12s. Or maybe an explorer motor deep in the 12s, or 11s.

I love what my car is, but I would also love to have the time, money and energy to do another one that way!
 
Im glad ive pretty much left my car alone for this long. Anything that makes the car less streetable makes for headaches down the road. I still have my eye on a LS1 swap down the road.

Great mileage, great street manners, 100 lbs lighter and 100 more hp. Its hard to lose.
 
Hey now, i resemble that :lol:

No you don't. You should have been at the track the last time I was there. I guess I was just referring to the ones I saw there. They were rough....I can't explain what was wrong with their look.


And to FAST DRIVER....10 holes won't look bad, as long as they are reconditioned. 10 holes in Michigan, are rough lookin. The winters here tear them apart. That would be a good track wheel....but I still say some badass 17" bullits or FR500's for the street scene.
 
Interesting topic. When I was looking for a Fox I debated buying one for a couple grand that would have needed paint, some motor work, interior work, etc just to look good again. Then add all those fun mods to it.

Then I came across the one I ended up buying. I spent only $6k on it and someone else did the paint, all the little odds and ends like new interior, trim, headlights, etc etc etc. All that nickle and dime **** that adds up to a thousands. Plus the suspension was already built up and the motor built up with some good mods and still fairly fresh.

Of course now I have a near completed project so it doesn't really give me much to do. :shrug:

I guess there will always be something more that can be done and things will break or just wear out.

So anyways, mine is supposedly a mid 12's car (I've not run it yet) with very streetable performance and IMO was very cheap for what I got. Honestly I couldn't see making it too much faster because it would just be hard to drive on the streets. The only thing that really gives away that its beyond stock is the cam lope.

If I ever move onto a different project, I think it would be a 60's pony to rebuild with similar power and a modern suspension.

Problem with my method is I'm really only a shade tree mechanic and by not building my current Fox I'm not familiar with exactly how it was built and didn't gain the skillz in mechanics by doing it. Hell, I'm not even sure what's it the short block.
 
That's probably a better way to do it though, Doc. You'll always end up with a car with less miles and a nicer finish for the same amount of money if they take the depreciation on the parts and labor that went into the car. I couldn't sell or insure my car for more than 1/2 of what I've got in it.

Chris
 
That's probably a better way to do it though, Doc. You'll always end up with a car with less miles and a nicer finish for the same amount of money if they take the depreciation on the parts and labor that went into the car. I couldn't sell or insure my car for more than 1/2 of what I've got in it.

Chris


Yeah, financially I saved a bundle I'm sure since the car was built the way I would have done it anyways. I'm sure I missed out on some of the fun along the way though. Some of the work is older too and it shows. Like much of the suspension was built probably 5 years ago. The engine supposedly has about 15k miles on it, but is probably 4 years old itself. All fine of course but isn't exactly show car in the looks department.

I actually have mine insured through Haggerty with specialty insurance. Its covered for $15k flat. If its totalled I get $15k basically. Of course with such insurance I have mileage and usage limitations, but mine isn't a daily driver, just a fun toy.
 
But today, I thought about what I would do if I could start a new project. I found that I'd really like to get an 87-93 notch and try and run mid 12s with bolt-ons. I think my combo would be something simple. Here's what I day dreamed up.

I think this car would go 12s pretty easily, and it would be so much fun on the street with drag radials on 10-hole rims, assuming they make any that fit. The look on vette owner's faces and LS1s etc would be prices from a stop light. What other little stuff am I missing?

Who on here already has this car, and how's it running?

Chris
I'm probably not supposed to link to other forums. But this is an amazing thread. Awesome read. "official" 12 second stocker combo thread! - Corral Forums

I love your idea btw...
No you don't. You should have been at the track the last time I was there. I guess I was just referring to the ones I saw there. They were rough....I can't explain what was wrong with their look.
And to FAST DRIVER....10 holes won't look bad, as long as they are reconditioned. 10 holes in Michigan, are rough lookin. The winters here tear them apart. That would be a good track wheel....but I still say some badass 17" bullits or FR500's for the street scene.
10 holes ftmfw hahaha. I love 10 holes just because they look so slow. This is my junk.
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What size tire is on the rear of that thing Blackened! :eek:

Basically what you guys are talking about is what i did with my project. Only thing is, my car is slow :rlaugh: I build a bone stock (minus exhaust and a k&n filter) stang. I plan on messaging the e-7's one day, and maybe an intake, but i really just want to slap a small kenne bell on it and just have a little fun and thats about it.. I even have stock 2.73's :)
 
If you guys wanna do this, all you really need is a clean car to start with, and swap in an Explorer 302 with a valve spring upgrade and a nice cam (TFS Stage 1 is a great one) and just add some supporting hardware like a bigger throttle body and CAI etc, get it running perfect and with slicks and some dropped weight you'll be in the 12s all day long with a super cheap engine.

I have a buddy on a local forum who's running 11.90s on literally $600 worth of engine. Granted, he has money in his suspension and rear end and the rest of the drivetrain, and the car cuts crazy fast 60 foot times, but the engine itself is an unopened junkyard Explorer engine with a few goodies bolted to it (no nitrous or anything like that). 12s are more about using what you've got than making gobs of power, and doing it with a stripped down lightened car is even easier.

This whole thread kinda has a Factory Stock feel to it :lol:
 
I agree, 258 rwhp with mine and on 18" street tires I've been 12s a bunch of times.

A junkyard Explorer motor is a great way to get a deep 12 second car on the cheap. Buy one, toss in an HO cam, some suspension, tires and gears and you have the makings of an easy 12 second daily driver!