Stock Or Modify??

Audiophile

Well-Known Member
Sep 9, 2013
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Southern CA
Good Evening All,

It's been awhile since I've posted.

Just wanted some general thoughts from the enthusiasts and experts out there.

I've been doing some very slight mods to my 92 GT, both mechanically and visually. But, I purchased mine as an original, stored, and well cared for stock 92. It has original interior, original paint, and aside from the cat back exhaust, gears, and shifter, stock mechanical. Odometer is sitting at 76K and change, documented.

The few things I've done to it I've kept all original parts, except for the exhaust. I have them wrapped and stored properly.

I would like some thoughts and opinions from others on how important it is to keep it relatively stock, as a so called survivor, as compared to modifying goes? Unless hard times hit, I never plan on selling this car. I love to make things custom, do stuff a little differently and make it my own. However, would I be doing a, for lack of a better term dis-justice to the car to do things the way I would like? Or should I just say screw it and make it like I want?

I just want to hear opinions and or experiences of others out there. I realize the Fox platform is staring to bring more money, but that is really not my goal here.

Thanks to all in advance who take the time and care to comment.
 
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Mechanicals are reversible, and will not affect the car adversely. As long as something can be unbolted,..It's not going to damage your resale. (especially since you said it's not your intention to re-sell it)

Unmolested stock is attractive to a certain percentage for sure...but again, only when it comes to resale,..It all becomes a matter of personal choice after that.
Personally speaking, anything I had that was stock..."was" stock.
Stock left the building one minute after I own the car.
 
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Foxes are like legos. You can build anything you want out of them, but if you never build them into anything, you're missing the point!
 
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Good Evening All,

It's been awhile since I've posted.

Just wanted some general thoughts from the enthusiasts and experts out there.

I've been doing some very slight mods to my 92 GT, both mechanically and visually. But, I purchased mine as an original, stored, and well cared for stock 92. It has original interior, original paint, and aside from the cat back exhaust, gears, and shifter, stock mechanical. Odometer is sitting at 76K and change, documented.

The few things I've done to it I've kept all original parts, except for the exhaust. I have them wrapped and stored properly.

I would like some thoughts and opinions from others on how important it is to keep it relatively stock, as a so called survivor, as compared to modifying goes? Unless hard times hit, I never plan on selling this car. I love to make things custom, do stuff a little differently and make it my own. However, would I be doing a, for lack of a better term dis-justice to the car to do things the way I would like? Or should I just say screw it and make it like I want?

I just want to hear opinions and or experiences of others out there. I realize the Fox platform is staring to bring more money, but that is really not my goal here.

Thanks to all in advance who take the time and care to comment.
I've been known to modify die-casts, micro RC cars, and even rat-rod my farm trailer (painted the steelies red, put a set of dog dish hubcaps on it and left the patina of the 33-year old paint alone. If it has four wheels and I own it, it gets modded. That poor 4Runner I bought doesn't know what's in store for it yet.
 
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Back when my Saleen was a street car, it was still highly modified, 331 stroker, KB S/C, TKO, twin disc clutch, cowl hood ect. I had it at a Mustang car show that was big enough to have Steve Saleen in attendance. He autographed the dash and the rear view mirror. He looked over the car and said "well, it looks like you are having fun with this one" I replied, yup, thats the whole point of the car! Right? Some people still wonder why I turned a Saleen into a drag car, after all it is limited production, blah, blah, blah. But really, what is a Saleen but a modified production Mustang. I am just modifying the modified car. Lol :cool:
 
I like the appearance of "stock." But I also like tastefull mods. I like to stick with wheels that are designed specifically for Mustangs. I don't like wheels that at designed for any car. Cobra or Explorer intakes, Ford Racing parts, stuff like that. I personally like to stick with Ford upgrades. I like to stick with OEM style paint, I don't like custom paint jobs, racing stripes, etc. I like sleeperish looking cars. But, to each his own.
 
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I realize the Fox platform is staring to bring more money, but that is really not my goal here..

I think you answered your question right there. Personally, I don't see any reason NOT to modify these vehicles. There are just so many ways you can build and modify these cars and that, for me, is the true fun in owning a mustang. But then again, I modify every vehicle and engine I own. Who says a weed wacker doesn't need a port job, exhaust, increased compression, and a carb kit :nice: My current build had less than 60K original miles and that isn't stopping me.
 
It's really your car as to what you do.

I know if I had a second fox, I'd leave it stock and focus on restoring/preserving and repairing only with OEM or NOS parts. However, not having a car to modify...I'd probably go crazy.

There's a happy medium that you need to find.
 
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It all comes down to if you plan on keeping or selling the car, and what makes you happy.
Pretty much any modification is reverseable unless you start welding in cages and backhalfing the car
Keep all the stock parts you take off and enjoy the car
Just know there is a direct inverse relationship between driveability and the amount you modify the car.
I'm having more fun driving my 86 with only a catback than I have with several of my highly modified cars- just turn the key and go.
 
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Keeping it all stock is purely about resale as stock cars become more and more rare. That being said, its hard for me to suggest modding a nice all original fox, as they are so few and far between now.

My car was all original when I bought it last year, but was straight up worn out. Wheel bearings hummed, brakes barely worked, the engine would barely rev past 3500 RPMs, and my front bumper had already been poorly fiberglassed. That helped me turn the corner on deciding to modify it.

In the end, if you literally never plan to sell, make the car whatever you want it to be.
 
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If you drive it often it will be more enjoyable if you don't go overboard on it. I like the stock look too, not many foxes I see around have stock wheels anymore. Mine looks stock except for lowered a bit.
 
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Personally, if I found an 8 original mile barn find, it would be modded within hours of purchase. That's just me. It also would depend on what things you were considering modding. If it's heads, cam, intake, wheels, tires, brakes, etc. etc. those are all things that "could" be put back stock if you so desired. If you were to flare the wheel wells, install a t-top roof, etc well that would be very hard to undo. But like others have stated, anything unbolted can be bolted back on so you should do what makes you happy and not worry about resale value.
 
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Don't forget that *how* something is modded really matters if you want to keep or increase value. Man, you can just tell when someone had a car they built to hold onto for a long time vs. someone that just wanted to do it as cheaply as possible only intending to use it for a while.
 
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Check out the Scottsdale BJ line up coming next week. Starting at lot #1561, they have 18 Fox mustangs in a row to be sold on Sunday. Never saw this done before. This may answer your question about stock or modified!
 
As long as you keep the stock stuff.....I don't see a reason not to mod it.

However, 4 cylinder shells are pretty cheap......and who cares what you do to them ? :O_o:

You can only improve on the selling price of a 4 banger by correctly swapping it to v8....and, tastefully, modding the hell outta them.
 
Check out the Scottsdale BJ line up coming next week. Starting at lot #1561, they have 18 Fox mustangs in a row to be sold on Sunday. Never saw this done before. This may answer your question about stock or modified!
I think/hope these are the ones you're referring to:
https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1979-FORD-MUSTANG-COBRA-214565
214565_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1982-FORD-MUSTANG-GT-FASTBACK-214651
214651_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1983-FORD-MUSTANG-GT-214684
214684_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1983-FORD-MUSTANG-GT-CONVERTIBLE-214650
214650_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1983-FORD-MUSTANG-GT-CONVERTIBLE-214652
214652_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1984-FORD-MUSTANG-GT-214736
214736_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1984-FORD-MUSTANG-GT350--214734
214734_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1985-FORD-MUSTANG-GT-CONVERTIBLE-215226
215226_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1986-FORD-MUSTANG-SVO-214735
214735_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1987-FORD-MUSTANG-GT-CONVERTIBLE-214740
214740_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Eve...8-FORD-MUSTANG-ASC-MCLAREN-CONVERTIBLE-214739
214739_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1989-FORD-MUSTANG-GT-FASTBACK-214738
214738_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1990-FORD-MUSTANG-214737
214737_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1990-FORD-MUSTANG-CONVERTIBLE-214731
214731_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1991-FORD-MUSTANG-214743
214743_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1992-FORD-MUSTANG-GT-CONVERTIBLE-214742
214742_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1993-FORD-MUSTANG-CONVERTIBLE-214745
214745_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1993-FORD-MUSTANG-CONVERTIBLE-214741
214741_Front_3-4_Web.jpg


I post 'em up because I am interested to see how they do, but also from the pics, I see none with so much as a 5-lug conversion. Although a couple are blown.

Chris
 
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It's rare these days to get a chance to drive a totally stock 5.0 Foxbody. When I first got mine it was 100% stock. I took it to a friend who has been working on and modding foxbodies for many years. I was so busy at the time to swap out the ignition switch and key cylinder that I just had him do it. He was positively impressed by the opportunity to drive the 100% stock LX 5.0. He just shook his head and said, "Man, unbelievable its totally stock. Driving it was like, wow" It's modded now, mostly mechanically. But just sharing how cool it is to have one in the state in which it was originally manufactured.
 
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If I bought another stock fox, here's what I'd do.

#1 3.55 or 3.73
#2. Sn95 Cobra steering rack swap
#3 m-2300-k brakes.


Top it off with a good shifter and cat-back and you have a solid car that has lost zero value. In addition to that, I highly doubt anyone would walk away from a clean car because it had those particular mods.
 
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I would do what makes you happy. Foxbodies weren't that great in the quality department, and they are falling apart these days. That being said, it's the original parts in good condition that hold value. If your car is that good, those parts will always be where the money is. Particularly the interior. There are still a lot of foxbodies out there, and there probably will still be a lot of foxbodies out there after the zombie apocalypse. Someone will alway be willing to pay for good OEM parts.

Kurt