nathansmith50

I think they run pretty similarly. I'll know more for sure in a couple of days.

I pulled the struts, springs, and sway bar last night in preparation for dropping the engine and trans out the bottom tonight.

nathansmith50

a progress update.

I got the shell of the 96 sold this weekend. so now i have a little room to work. as you can see in the pictures having no space i've just been piling stuff in and on the 88. now i'll be able to spread out a little and get some stuff done finally.

needmorespeed

I know you said you are using as much of the donor 96 as possible but any thoughts on upgrading the suspension as you build? The suspension isn't the best design in these cars.

Also, any plans on stiffening up the 88 as you build it up?

Definitely a challenging and fun project. And yeah stick with the 4.6, my concern is the width of the 4.6 in the fox body for the headers you will need.

nathansmith50

perhaps you know something i've not yet thought of? the engine bay is pretty much the exact same shape in both cars isn't it?...the radiator support is different and the sheet metal is stamped a little different with respect to the location of some holes...and of course the plate where the steering shaft comes through.

I'm using the K member from the 96 and the steering shaft...so i'll have some welding to do on the firewall so i'm expecting the manifolds currently attached to the heads to fit just fine.

though i'd welcome any information to the contrary before i begin putting it in.

Sure I know that while the engine is out is the right time to put heads and/or headers on but this is a serious budget build. I'm trying not to spend any money outside of parts that need to be replaced...i.e. motor mounts and drivers side spindle. I am using a set of rear control arms i got from summit. i have them sitting here and i was going to put them on my 96 but i figure i'll use them on this.

needmorespeed

I don't know anything specific with regards to the shape of the engine bay, just offering my thoughts. I do know this though, the 4.6 is wider than the 5.0 that came with the car. I know others have put the new 5.0 (and a cut up GT 500 platform stuffed under a fox) in the fox bodies but I don't know how much cutting was involved.

The headers would be my main concern. I know that they can be an issue with engine swaps. But you are there with the stuff in your garage and have a better sense of what will fit. Just offering my .02 cents as to what may become a problem in the future.

Hope the build goes well.

nathansmith50

Like I said I'm open to any and all advice. I'm a neophyte to the world of engine swaps.

I did a fair bit of reading before going for this but i'm sure i'll run into all manner of problems along the way.

I know the 4.6 is wider...and i don't think it would fit with the original brake booster. but i'm using the hydroboost from the 96...

I expect it will fit. I do appreciate the feedback though. The two biggest unknowns for me right now are the trans mount and the radiator...then modifying the wiring at the doors and lights.

nathansmith50

26 year old control arm bolts are a pain in the ***. I cut the control arms this afternoon to give me more room to work and finally broke them loose.

school boy

What rear suspension is going back under? Personally a irs would be cool! just saying...

nathansmith50

Believe me if I were making this car for myself I'd put in a 4v and an IRS. But I'm building this to flip and I'm doing so on a budget. So it will be the 96's 8.8 solid axle going in...it will have new control arms and urethane bushings

nathansmith50

Also...the fuel and brake lines are run completely differently from the fox and the sn95. The understructure is the same so the lines I have should work out.