Am I CRAZY? Foxbody Vert

So I have this itch to have a car to work on. (don't we all want to be Aussie?)

I found this: http://greenville.craigslist.org/cto/4747076287.html

1987 vert fox. It's pretty obvious it's sat for a bit and the motor has been carbed at some point in it's life instead of leaving the EFI...

$1500 bucks. (not sure if firm.) manual car.

I know reading up on some threads here that it can be a fun car to drive etc. My wife has a 2012 gt and while I think it is a blast to drive, it's wAAAAAY too heavy to be sporty without a few $k in suspenion corrections. (i.e. shocks, sways, watts). I know the fox will need quite a few items but the parts seem to be soooo much cheaper in them.

goal would be a daily driver that I can autocross or take for fun mountain runs.

I know I'd need to check to see if the floor pans are rusted out or cracked. anything else? (If I move forward with this crazy scheme.)

I'm also 6ft 3in or so and 300 lbs. I know the Sn95 was too small inside for me. My knees hit the dash. Is the fox even smaller inside?

If you think the SN95 is too small, this will be too small, I can pretty much guarantee it.

This could be a fun daily/mountain road car. I'd seriously plan on a weld-in cage as a first step; these cars are even floppier than the SN95 convertibles were. I'll let the rest of the collective pile on with opinions.

pres589 wrote: I'd seriously plan on a weld-in cage as a first step; these cars are even floppier than the SN95 convertibles were.

I was just going to say - you can reenact Steve's 2014 Challenge drag launch, with that Fox exactly as it is now. No need for 500 hp.

You're a new top away from this:

The SN95 was structurally just a mild refresh of the FOX chassis, not a clean sheet (not by a longshot).

The convertible is a limp noodle. At the very least, you should look into full length Subframe connectors (check out Maximum Motorsports) or a through-the-floor option. (maybe something like the Griggs kit). Seriously consider a cage if you want to race it.

The convertible is very floppy and if unless you have your heart set on it, get a coupe for a performance build.

As far as room, you might feel a touch more space in a Fox, it depends on a lot, you will have to test sit one. Keep in mind that you can replace the seat and gain space that way. (look at what many of us do to fit into a Miata)

Books have been written on making Fox/sn95 mustangs handle. It WILL be worse than your wife's 2012. Much worse. The 2005+ cars actually have a reasonable suspension design, the older cars are the same (IRS cobras excepted, but they have their own problems) as a 78 Ford Fairmont. That said, they can be made to work, but they need more than a 2012 needs.

Think Shocks/springs/sways and then stuff to change up geometry problems and general bad rear suspension design.

Heres a good example of dirt cheap mustang stuff (all applies to the Fox as well) http://www.roadraceautox.com/showthread.php?49926-Build-Thread-LeChumpImprovedTouringPT-Mustang-V3-0

Making a mustang handle is an exercise in compromises.

Dang... I was about to link to that same Vanilla Ice image! :)

I would consider it if the guy who did the carb conversion and the guy who wrote the ad are not the same person.

Yeah, thru-floor subframe connectors tied in nicely with some sort of cage would be nice. Then find a Cobra IRS unit and start takling to Maximum Motorsports about how to start fixing all sorts of stuff.

Or just, you know, go find a decent car to begin with. Unless you can do a lot of this yourself.

I'm more than willing to do the work myself. But I want something I can tinker with. Not a full blown project. A 10 month old son and a planned additional kiddo next year would stop me. Not all of us can pull Tuna level work out with such little sleep. I need all the beauty sleep I can get... It sounds like I'd have to do nearly the same amount of work as a Locost. (which I've also thought of.) just not THAT interested in a foxbody.

guess I'll save up the money for a c4/c5 then...

I want one, but only to use as a basis for a CP build. I would cut the windshield and build a motor with a roll bar and as limiting tubes in a "cage" to simply do away with some of the noodle.

Not sure it would be a good street car then though...

In reply to Mad_Ratel:

You could pick up a pretty decent C4 for little monies. And be lightyears ahead of a Fox body in terms of handling.

clutchsmoke wrote: In reply to Mad_Ratel: You could pick up a pretty decent C4 for little monies. And be lightyears ahead of a Fox body in terms of handling.

the moment it's a manual c4 around here it's over 5k... I'd love one with a horrible interior/bad paint for 2k I could have fun with but they just do not exist.

Mad_Ratel wrote: I'm more than willing to do the work myself. But I want something I can tinker with. Not a full blown project. A 10 month old son and a planned additional kiddo next year would stop me. Not all of us can pull Tuna level work out with such little sleep. I need all the beauty sleep I can get... It sounds like I'd have to do nearly the same amount of work as a Locost. (which I've also thought of.) just not THAT interested in a foxbody. guess I'll save up the money for a c4/c5 then...

I'll totally let you work on the truck. That way I can save you the trouble of having to buy something. You can even spend your own money on it if you want!

Foxbody good.
Vert bad.

v8, RWD, no roof, 3 pedals, cheap tires...

sounds like one heck of a hoonmobile if you are not watching the clock.

I also vote C4

Here's a good one http://www.ner.org/forums/topic/b-street-1988-corvette-for-sale/

Damn, that is a good one, in a great color...

one of my friends is 6'6" tall and somewhere around 350 pounds.. he loved the 89 Mustang notchback that he had for many years.

Extended seat tracks make a huge difference in these cars. Not too expensive (under $100). My 6'3" brother now fits comfortably in his fox-vert.

I used to love Fox bodies until I owned a few of them. Horrible brakes, horrible suspensions, and they turn themselves into razor blades. Especially convertibles. I'm not particularly fond of C4 Corvettes, but they would be a better choice.

or I could save up more cheddar and get an exocet...

Mad_Ratel wrote:

clutchsmoke wrote: In reply to Mad_Ratel: You could pick up a pretty decent C4 for little monies. And be lightyears ahead of a Fox body in terms of handling.

the moment it's a manual c4 around here it's over 5k... I'd love one with a horrible interior/bad paint for 2k I could have fun with but they just do not exist.

I feel you, but the money/time that must be spent to make a fox(especially vert) anywhere close in terms of performance isn't worth it to me. $5k for a C4 is a bargain IMO. For under $5k, an LT1 Fbody would be the hot ticket for me.

cmcgregor wrote: I also vote C4 Here's a good one http://www.ner.org/forums/topic/b-street-1988-corvette-for-sale/

OP did you check this link out? Fantastic deal!

I'd say anybody that considers any fox body anything more than scrap material is crazy. But that's just me

Never been a Camaro guy, but I'd rather have an '80s third generation Camaro. SLA front suspension and rear torque arm, correct?