85 Fox Hatch LX 5.0 project
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From: NJ
85 Fox Hatch LX 5.0 project
I was looking at RJheger's build thread and figured I might as well put the older sibling to his car up on the forum.
I recently purchased an 85 LX 5.0 car off craigslist. From what the PO was telling me it's been down the track a quite a few times, Both by him and the owner prior to him.
The PO told me it was a 4cyl. car that the owner prior to him had converted to a 5.0. When I ran the VIN through a decoder last night it came up as a 5.0 LX.
The PO pulled the engine and trans out and sold them to fund upgrading the car to a 351 last fall. Over the winter he lost interest and decided to put the car up for sale. He was asking for $1000 but when I went to look at the car the entire interior from the front seats back was gone. Found some rust (not bad) that he was unaware of. By the time we where done I had the car on the trailer and he was $500 richer.
So it begins. My step son and son are so excited to start rebuilding her. They already have the color, wheels and interior.
What she looks like now and what she will look like hopefully when we are done.
I recently purchased an 85 LX 5.0 car off craigslist. From what the PO was telling me it's been down the track a quite a few times, Both by him and the owner prior to him.
The PO told me it was a 4cyl. car that the owner prior to him had converted to a 5.0. When I ran the VIN through a decoder last night it came up as a 5.0 LX.
The PO pulled the engine and trans out and sold them to fund upgrading the car to a 351 last fall. Over the winter he lost interest and decided to put the car up for sale. He was asking for $1000 but when I went to look at the car the entire interior from the front seats back was gone. Found some rust (not bad) that he was unaware of. By the time we where done I had the car on the trailer and he was $500 richer.
So it begins. My step son and son are so excited to start rebuilding her. They already have the color, wheels and interior.
What she looks like now and what she will look like hopefully when we are done.
Last edited by yeeharacing; May 14, 2013 at 12:16 PM.
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Joined: October 14, 2011
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From: NJ
If you have suggestions I would greatly welcome them. It's a 5speed car but it will be rebuilt with a C4. Not sure if I'm going with a 302 or a 351 yet.
One question I have is the tunnel in the car is 5 sp. I know its lower and the auto tunnel doesn't have a hole cut in it. What would be the easiest way to mount the shifter without disturbing the original tunnel too much. Does anyone make a block off plate to close up the hole and mount the auto shifter to?
The original color was medium regatta blue. I'm thinking of repainting it sonic blue. My step son wants to leave it just the way it is... he said it looks like it belongs in MAD MAX.
One question I have is the tunnel in the car is 5 sp. I know its lower and the auto tunnel doesn't have a hole cut in it. What would be the easiest way to mount the shifter without disturbing the original tunnel too much. Does anyone make a block off plate to close up the hole and mount the auto shifter to?
The original color was medium regatta blue. I'm thinking of repainting it sonic blue. My step son wants to leave it just the way it is... he said it looks like it belongs in MAD MAX.
Last edited by yeeharacing; May 14, 2013 at 12:29 PM.
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When I converted my 90 to a 5 speed I had to massage the right rear corner a little to clear the trans bolt. As far as I could tell there really wasn't that much difference between a 5 speed car and the auto car.
Sonic blue would look pretty good, I don't know if gabber blue catches your eye but I think it woul look pretty good that color as well, the factory color looks nice as well.
Sonic blue would look pretty good, I don't know if gabber blue catches your eye but I think it woul look pretty good that color as well, the factory color looks nice as well.
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Monday night I decided to start putting headlights in. Took me an hour and a half to put one headlight in. What a pain in the ***. I pulled the passenger seat out to check the floor and everything looks better than I had hoped. A family friend is going to build us subframes and help install them so the interior has to come out.
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We picked up an 84 302 from a gt 350 convertible today for 50 bucks. Block looks ok. Needs some clean up since it has been sitting for three years. But looks to be in good condition all considering.
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Last Friday I picked up a set of GT40P heads. Sunday all day I helped my brother-in-law get his Trans Am running. In between we broke the engine block down and got it cleaned up and ready to go to the builder. Got the call last night from my buddy we are going to bring the engine down to the builder tonight to discuss what needs to be done.
Last edited by yeeharacing; Jul 3, 2013 at 06:36 AM.
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Last Friday I picked up a set of GT40P heads. Sunday all day I helped my brother-in-law get his Trans Am running. In between we broke the engine block down and got it cleaned up and ready to go to the builder. Got the call last night from my buddy we are going to bring the engine down to the builder tonight to discuss what needs to be done.
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Thanks for the heads up... plan is to have the builder take a look at everything tonight and tell me what to put on it. Plan is to rebuild the heads I want something that kicks *** everyday. Not something I have to tear down everytime I turn the key.
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The car has been torn down to just a shell.
My friend is installing through floor subframe connectors. We are planning on doing the rust converter with in the next couple weeks and painting the bottom of the car.
My friend is installing through floor subframe connectors. We are planning on doing the rust converter with in the next couple weeks and painting the bottom of the car.
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Well.... Some updates,
The engine builder has called with an update... The block is savable but the cost would be more than another block would cost. So the hunt is on for a Roller 5.0 block.
My friend Charles has been busy doing the welding and fab work on the car.
Subframes and roll bar kick outs are in along with the UPR Torque box reinforcements.
He's also fabbed up a new tunnel as well as several patches for rusted areas.
The engine builder has called with an update... The block is savable but the cost would be more than another block would cost. So the hunt is on for a Roller 5.0 block.
My friend Charles has been busy doing the welding and fab work on the car.
Subframes and roll bar kick outs are in along with the UPR Torque box reinforcements.
He's also fabbed up a new tunnel as well as several patches for rusted areas.
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