Pro-Touring Fox body's [Archive]

79-TA

07-28-2014, 01:22 PM

I recently sold my '87 GT. It was a fun car, but I was at the point where the speed return on investment no longer made sense for the value of the car. Buying a pre-built NASA CMC or AI car and converting it back into a usable streetcar is an option worth exploring.

One option would be to buy a '94-'95 Mustang as a parts car. An automatic convertible would work well. You could get almost everything you'd need for a 5 lug conversion and a rear disc conversion. You'd end up with a more aggressive final drive ratio and if you're lucky, the limited slip might have some life left in it.

The fox chassis Mustang lacks rigidity/stiffness. Buy the full length subframe connectors and consider a roll bar or cage for additional stiffness. Modified or aftermarket caster/camber plates are necessary to get the static camber that the car needs.

Research fender/tire clearance. I ran 245 40 17's on 8" wheels. I feel like with aggressive camber, just the right wheel offset, and a bit more fender rolling I could have run a 265 on a 9" wheel. My steering was limited a bit with the wider wheel as it came in contact with the anti-roll bar at full lock.

Research spring rates before buying. My Mustang's parts sourcing theme was cheap used junk off of craigslist. This was fine, except the Eibach lowering springs made the car impractical while barely being stiffer than stock.

If you want something that's pretty "trick" and different, Agent 47's short-long arm-conversion is pretty sweet. There are lots of different kits to help the rear out with lateral location. The angle on the upper control arms is to shallow to really hold the rear diff in place very well under cornering. While we're talking about expensive stuff, a lighter and stronger tubular K-member would be nice . . .

Lastly, put GT egg crate tail lights in an LX car just to bother Mustang people.