My '88 Fox build thread
 

My 88 fox build thread.





Decided to go with 1 pc. Headlights cause in my opinion they look a lot better
Mid way

Attachment 129235

now she's looking better

Attachment 129236

In the end it only took about an hour and a half and $120 off amazon.com

not feeling them but I'm a stock headlight guy. If you like them that is all that matters, nice job.

That look SINISTER. Very nice.

Gotta say that on a white or other color car, not sure it'd be as good lookin' though. The dark color really lends itself to that setup.

I like it! :nice:

:nice: I like the one piece lights as well

Right right. I hear ya skunk. Thanks guys. I almost went with silver/chrome backing but i knew the black would be better. And im not a big smoked guy

+1 on preferring stock headlights. I've seen these on other cars - it's the gap between the hood and the top of the lights plus being able to see the thickness of the clear plastic "ring" all around the lens (except for the smoke tinted ones) makes them look "squinty" and throw off the look IMO.
In any case, out of curiosity, can you adjust the aim of the headlights?

yeah i understand where you're coming from, but my old ones werent very bright and for about $50 cheaper i found these ones rather than stock. Yeah there's an adjustment knob on the back.

Im just turning this into my build thread.
Got this trick flow intake manifold and plenum pretty cheap with gaskets. Now i just need a 75 mm throttle body and some extra time to do the swap. Shouldn't be too long before that happens. I will keep you guys updated.


Attachment 129877

Thanks for looking

nice find. I would maybe do a 70mm TB and 75mm maf upgrade. also some nice heads used or new and 24lb injectors with a 255lph pump. this would make a nice street combo. If you are just doing the intake swap for now the 19lb inj. are fine still go with the 70mm TB but get a 70mm maf from a 94-95 mustang, it is plug and play and flow much better than the stock. you can get maf swap info in our tech thread.

Ok sounds good i just saw a 70mm tb on craigslist. What is maf? And thanks for getting my title changed. Much appreciated

Mass air flow... lol had to think about that for a minute

I read all the tech about the maf. Thanks a lot Chris. Ill get ordering a 70 mm maf and 70 mm tb and 70 mm maf adapter because im sticking with my 19 lb injectors for now. maybe if i go to a bigger maf and tb ill get the 24 lb injectors

you only will need to get 24lbers when you get heads/cam and increase your hp. the 19s have a threshold, what you are doing is fine bit once aluminum heads and a cam go in then you need to switch. if all you do for now is an intake your fine, even a cam swap with stock heads your fine..this is how much heads are worth on these motors..biggest gain after the intake.

Ohhh. I got ya. Then im in good shape then. Eventually ill go with different heads and a cam but for now just the intake, tb, and maf

yeah your good with the 19s. everyone starts some where my friend. the intake, tb and maf will give a little bump in power and some better throttle responce. a bump in timing will be good with those mods also ( timing info also in tech ).

Thanks and yeah i read all of that as well. Go two degrees advanced at a time and test for pinging. Right around 14* is a good rule of thumb.
But my question to the tech article on timing is if the timing on my motor comes stock 10 degrees advanced already?

It is in the 1st sentence. stock timing is 10*btdc. btc is advanced atc is retarted.

I see. Thank you sir. Also in the timing article the first step is to locate the spout connector but it doesn't say to remove/disconnect but then it says before test run turn off engine tighten down dizzy bolt and reinstall spout.
I am assuming the first step is to locate and remove spout connector.
Sorry for so many questions, i just want to be 100 % sure before i get myself into it

fixed it , I missed this when I typed it up. This is what I like someone who reads stuff and gives me feed back. I'm not perfect and miss stuff, sometimes I'm typing a bunch of stuff up and get lost in the words :D.

all set now.

Alrighty thanks Chris. I appreciate all of your help

Had to go get some felpro upper and lower intake manifold gaskets because bbk gave me 2 uppers instead of an upper and both lowers

So your '88 is a "California car" (MAF-equipped)? Because my '88 notch sure wasn't. If your car is factory SD, start looking for conversion parts, or it will not play too nicely with the new parts.

Not sure. Ill have to check tonight when i get home from work. What is SD? Thanks for the heads up

Speed density and if you are just doing an intake and TB change it should be okay. speed density doesn't do well with big changes like cams and heads even then it does work but issues can come up and it is much better to convert to mass air at that point for better tuning. If needed there is maf conversion info in tech.

sum up, if you are SD then do your intake swap and TB change and drive it normal for a day or so, the eec will relearn itself. the intake is only a minor mod.

Ok. Thanks again

There was a list of "speed density compatible" cams for the Fox Mustang posted somewhere on the internet long ago. Can't remember which site it was.

Ok ill try to look them up. Thanks

Just looked under the hood. No maf. Looks like that just means in one step closer to getting it all done then

Before

Attachment 130355

After. Still didn't un-mask anything. Waiting for it to dry completely. Will update later

Attachment 130354

Next step is to put the lower on.
Probably wait until tomorrow

All done

Attachment 130364

Nice job :nice:

Thanks. Took forever to mask off and cut everything out

I have a question I have a 89 lx convertible is the areodynamics on them bad or can I still. Get it to performe like a hard top

Wrong thread to post on, but i don't know. I would assume its not that big of a difference

start your own thread so we don't clutter this one, and explain your ? further.

I tore into her today



Attachment 130959



Attachment 130960



Attachment 130956



Attachment 130957



Attachment 130958

got everything on the new lower and ready to go. Hopefully I'll have time to finish it this week or weekend

Got the lower back in and fuel rail put back together. The woman is getting mad that i spend more time in the garage than with her so ill hold off for a couple days

Attachment 131210

Im having some trouble getting my throttle body off of the stock upper. Any solutions?

Intake manifold torque specs;
intake manifold to cylinder head bolts - 23-25 ft-lbs. with a note to re-torque with the engine hot upper intake manifold to lower- 12-18 ft-lbs
Source: (www.mustangforums.com)

Does this sound right?

Torque spec is 23-25ft-lbs. Here is how I did mine a few year no leaks and didn't have to go back. I don't use the rubber/cork and gaskets.


1. clean all surfaces really good

2. use the TB/Maf studs or get bolts and cuts heads off 2 will be fine to guide intake down w/o messing up rtv.

3. take some black rtv(not right stuff to thick), spread a skim coat(not thick!) around the coolant ports on the heads with your finger.

4. lay on intake gasket then lay a min. of 1/4" bead of permatex "right stuff" part way up the intake gasket then across the block and part way up the intake gasket on the other side.

5. after setting intake on, follow torque sequence then go back to 1st bolt and start over (it will be loose again) do this until they all click at the right spec. may take 3 times.

Torque sequence


http://repairguide.autozone.com/znet...528006932d.gif

Already got the intake on the motor, just needed the torque specs, but thanks lol

selling the mustang any takers in ne Ohio

I deleted all of the vacuums except the map sensor and it runs perfectly now. Not selling it anymore

Glad to hear you decided to keep it!