Im was just wondering if there was a difference between the suspension in a 4cylinder fox body and a GT mustang. Front and rear suspension.
4 cyl vs GT suspension
- Thread starter smoothmouth1962
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Yes
Shocks, springs, sway bars, struts are different, as well as the front brakes being smaller.
Factory LX 5.0 cars have exact same components as GT
Shocks, springs, sway bars, struts are different, as well as the front brakes being smaller.
Factory LX 5.0 cars have exact same components as GT
but as far as frame width and lower control arms everything is the same? for instance, could i use a tubular k member for the 4cyl? and put gt rotors and struts and sway bars in? and the spindles? are they different?
well then. the rear suspension is the same? i know the rear ends are different... but could a gt rear end go in?
Yes, the only thing you'll need tp add are the quad shock mounts. But an 8.8 will bolt right in. You just might need to relocated the brake line on the body slightly
alright. well the plan is to shove a 351 cleveland in there. ive got the cleveland in a 62 chevy truck haha. i did that about 2 summers ago. but that truck is just so heavy. i need to go faster. theres a 92 fox without an engine or trans for $100 i can get my hands on. so.. i dont know if i should go with that or wait and get a gt or lx body... any suggestions?
Well, think of it this way.
LX 5.0's are nothing more than 2.3L LX's with the 5.0 drivetrain and suspension added as a package. When equipped, there are ZERO differences mechanically between the two.
In other words, whatever you can bolt to a LX 5.0, you can bolt to a 4-banger fox.
LX 5.0's are nothing more than 2.3L LX's with the 5.0 drivetrain and suspension added as a package. When equipped, there are ZERO differences mechanically between the two.
In other words, whatever you can bolt to a LX 5.0, you can bolt to a 4-banger fox.
K member is different (V8 has wider control arm mounts)
rotors are different (V8 rotors are bigger/better)
front spindles are different
struts are different (V8 mounting point is narrower)
sway bar (front) is different (bigger than 4 cyl)
sway bar bushings are different
calipers are different (V8 calipers are better)
brake lines are different (not a huge issue but they are different)
rear sway bar is nonexistant on 4 cyl cars
no quad shocks on 4 cyl cars
rack is different (V8 rack is quicker ratio than 4 cyl)
and a ton of other stuff is different too.
However....changing from 4 cyl to V8 suspension is not hard.
Swap the brakes, calipers, rotors, struts, K member, spindles, sway bar and rack from a GT or V8 LX onto your 4 cyl car. It all bolts right on. The K-member is not really required but to have it correct, you'd want it. Mine is the original 4 cyl K member but with all the GT suspension stuff & brakes, rack, and better bushings. 4 cyl cars are terriblly boring but with the GT/V8 suspension, they handle a LOT better! Also, because the control arm mounting points are narrower on the 4 cyl cars, if you don't change the rack, you'll definitely need to adjust the toe. Better to have complete alignment done. Mine drives GREAT other than the JUNK struts and shocks that ride like poo.
And the comment about the 4 cyl cars and V8 cars being the same, it's not ENTIRELY true. There's thousands of little differences, from wiring harnesses to clips, vacuum trees, suspension & brake stuff...all kinds of differences. For those of you swapping a 4 cyl to a V8, you're much better off finding a V8 car to start with and selling the 4 cyl car. Speaking from experience!
rotors are different (V8 rotors are bigger/better)
front spindles are different
struts are different (V8 mounting point is narrower)
sway bar (front) is different (bigger than 4 cyl)
sway bar bushings are different
calipers are different (V8 calipers are better)
brake lines are different (not a huge issue but they are different)
rear sway bar is nonexistant on 4 cyl cars
no quad shocks on 4 cyl cars
rack is different (V8 rack is quicker ratio than 4 cyl)
and a ton of other stuff is different too.
However....changing from 4 cyl to V8 suspension is not hard.
Swap the brakes, calipers, rotors, struts, K member, spindles, sway bar and rack from a GT or V8 LX onto your 4 cyl car. It all bolts right on. The K-member is not really required but to have it correct, you'd want it. Mine is the original 4 cyl K member but with all the GT suspension stuff & brakes, rack, and better bushings. 4 cyl cars are terriblly boring but with the GT/V8 suspension, they handle a LOT better! Also, because the control arm mounting points are narrower on the 4 cyl cars, if you don't change the rack, you'll definitely need to adjust the toe. Better to have complete alignment done. Mine drives GREAT other than the JUNK struts and shocks that ride like poo.
And the comment about the 4 cyl cars and V8 cars being the same, it's not ENTIRELY true. There's thousands of little differences, from wiring harnesses to clips, vacuum trees, suspension & brake stuff...all kinds of differences. For those of you swapping a 4 cyl to a V8, you're much better off finding a V8 car to start with and selling the 4 cyl car. Speaking from experience!
i need help im swaping the front suspension from a v8 car to my 4cyl, the only problem i have ran into is the shock mount at the top of the shock tower. it seems that i will have to grind down the hole where the shock goes throu to get it to aline right. is this normal?
fess40
Founding Member
I just put everything from an '88 Turbo Coupe on my 4cyl a couple of weeks ago. Should be the same stuff as a GT. I haven't set it on the ground yet or gotten it aligned, but it all fit together nicely. Doesn't sound normal to me.
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