Still Surprised By The Foxbody Enthusiasm

If we're posting pics of our favorite Fox Bodies, I might as well drop my two favorites here:

Calypso Green Notch:


1985-86 Mustang GT in red:


Both of those are high on my "favorite cars ever" list. 

The addition of properly installed subframe connectors will make a world of difference in the handling. 

Getting loose on power application in a turn is the infamous Fox snap oversteer, which isn't usually well controlled.  Rear suspension mods definitely help, especially LCA bushings.  But DON"T make the mistake of putting poly bushings in the rear UCA's, the rear suspension has to move or it will bind due to the crazy control arm angles.  It will wallow like a pig and tear the upper arm torque boxes out.

My Fox (ex), four banger style.  

z31maniac said:

DirtyBird222 said:

Is it because all of the Nissan 240SX chassis are trashed so the enthusiasm moved over to the next most affordable/compact RWD chassis from that generation? 

Fox bodies have always had a huge following. 

Really, the Mustang has always been popular? You don't say. 

Anyways, I was speaking in regards to their resurgence in popularity coupled with the fact a lot of the driftor bois utilizing the chassis for events now too. 

I thought I wanted a notch but I've grown to like the hatch more.

In reply to Tom1200 :

I really like that combo. 
 

Griggs suspension Baer Brakes

Coniglio Rampante said:

z31maniac said:

DirtyBird222 said:

Is it because all of the Nissan 240SX chassis are trashed so the enthusiasm moved over to the next most affordable/compact RWD chassis from that generation? 

Fox bodies have always had a huge following. 

Sure did/does.  And it was like the aftermarket just exploded with products overnight.  Chassis/suspension, intake/exhaust, bolt-on cylinder heads (from one of the 351's, Cleveland, Windsor, or maybe both...I don't recall now), forced induction, everything.  That model was crazy-popular and easy/relatively inexpensive to upgrade.

Oddly enough it was the Fox bodies that spawned the Windsor aftermarket heads revolution.  Before the Fox, your options for an 8.2 deck engine (or a 351W I guess) were basically just ported pre-1977 351W heads (after 1977, they were the same castings as 302) because the smallish performance engine was the Cleveland.  NASCAR ran/runs(?) Cleveland based engines and so did Pro Stock.  The Windsor wasn't considered much of a performance engine unless you were into 289s.

You can technically run Cleveland heads on a Windsor block but it's screwy because you need a specific intake manifold and pistons.  The aftermarket Windsor heads available since the 90s are way better than Clevelands ever were because Clevelands had crappy port shapes with waaaay too much volume for a small engine.  351C-4V heads had the same size ports as a 429/460!

But Cleveland valve covers look soooo much better 

Tony Sestito said:

If we're posting pics of our favorite Fox Bodies, I might as well drop my two favorites here:

Calypso Green Notch:


1985-86 Mustang GT in red:


Both of those are high on my "favorite cars ever" list. 

I know we’ve had this debate before, but 10 holes or five-spokes? 

In reply to David S. Wallens :

I love the Bullet wheels on my car but I'd vote 10 holes.......they are just so 80's.

Have had both

Plain Jane COP CAR wheels for the WIN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9-wa_Dh4y0

This just popped up in my feed. Sorry if it's been posted before but it's still always good to see Steve.

In reply to David S. Wallens :

5-spokes > 10 holes. 

but I prefer the 93 Cobras

David S. Wallens said:

Tony Sestito said:

If we're posting pics of our favorite Fox Bodies, I might as well drop my two favorites here:

Calypso Green Notch:


1985-86 Mustang GT in red:


Both of those are high on my "favorite cars ever" list. 

I know we’ve had this debate before, but 10 holes or five-spokes? 

10 hole, all the way.  The 5 spoke wheels looked like the cheap aftermarket wheels you got from Sears for your clapped out Beretta with bubbly purpled window tint.

If we are just dropping foxbody pics, this one just went up from Pennsylvania Hillclimb at Weatherly last weekend.

I'll take a 4 eyed fox with t-tops and steamroller sized tires please and thanks.

In reply to Apexcarver :

THAT is a BAD AZZ picture!

David S. Wallens said:

Tony Sestito said:

If we're posting pics of our favorite Fox Bodies, I might as well drop my two favorites here:

Calypso Green Notch:


1985-86 Mustang GT in red:


Both of those are high on my "favorite cars ever" list. 

I know we’ve had this debate before, but 10 holes or five-spokes? 

For me, it depends on the year. I like the 1979-86 cars on 10-holes, and the 1987-93's on the Pony 5-spokes. All those "Sears" wheels became a thing BECAUSE of the Pony wheels! 

I also had a pair of '87 Cougar XR7's, and they both came with 10-holes. They are Fox Bodies, after all. People hated them at the time, but I thought they were cool. 

And I also have to mention that there are trims of the new Bronco Sport that come with a new flavor of the 10 hole wheels. Not a huge fan of the rest of the car, but those wheels!

I never liked the 10-hole (we called them "phone dial" in another indication of how long ago this was) wheels when I had my Fox bodies, but now I kinda dig them because they look period-correct on these cars. Though if I was building one today, I'd probably go with the LMR 17" 10-hole reproductions so I could fit some decent brakes under it and go 5-lug.

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

That's interesting and it makes sense. But I've always heard of "phone dials" being the old 80s Porsche wheels. 

z31maniac said:

In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :

That's interesting and it makes sense. But I've always heard of "phone dials" being the old 80s Porsche wheels. 

Yeah, those too. They are fairly similarly-styled wheels, but the Porsche version had fewer holes:

Both bear a decent resemblance to this:

Ding Ding   the 80s are calling

In reply to Blunder :

Nice......