what should i look at when looking for foxbodies
07-04-2006, 04:22 AM
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Nashville/Knoxville, Tennessee
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what should i look at when looking for foxbodies
ive been looking into getting a foxbody project going on and i dont know what to really look for... how many miles are these motors good up to? what is the most power the 5.0 can take till you need new internals? what years are the best to look into? ive been looking into getting a lx because i know they are lighter... also.. how hard is it to swap the 2.3 with the 5.0? is it a very hard swap or can i do it in a day or so? what all would be needed for it? thanks for all the help!
07-04-2006, 04:32 AM
#2
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RE: what should i look at when looking for foxbodies
dont get the 2.3. the 5.0 comes with everything you already need on it. so if you want to buy a new engine later it wont be a big deal. if you put a 5.0 in the 2.3 you would need to mess with your tranny, your computer, your suspension would need work (considering the 5.0 is more weight)
they may seem the same but their are alot of differences. i would just get the 5.0 and not have to deal with the pain of swaping. if you want to swap a better v8 in later, alot of the car would be already setup to take the power, depending on how much more powerful of an engine you get
year wise? it depends... the later models are a little more computerized. also the 87-89? i think all have forged internals. (dont take my word on that)
they may seem the same but their are alot of differences. i would just get the 5.0 and not have to deal with the pain of swaping. if you want to swap a better v8 in later, alot of the car would be already setup to take the power, depending on how much more powerful of an engine you get
year wise? it depends... the later models are a little more computerized. also the 87-89? i think all have forged internals. (dont take my word on that)
07-04-2006, 04:42 AM
#4
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RE: what should i look at when looking for foxbodies
The 93 5.0's did not have forged pistons in them. Your best bet would be to look for a 89-92 since they have mass air. The a mass air conversion is not that hard but its better to just already have it than to deal with doing the swap yourself and spending money. Also, the 5.0's did not come with tilt from 89-93 (Im almost positive).
You will need to worry about the block before you need to worry about the internals. Personally, the MOST I would ever take a 5.0 block up to is around 500rwhp with a nice, safe, reliable tune. The block will go before the internals will.
Also, I have seen well taken care of 5.0's reach way past 140K.... even 160-180K with no problems. It all really depends on how well it was taken care of.
If you plan on keeping the 5.0 in there than I would just get a 5.0 and be done with it BUT if you plan on dropping a 351W or something else in there and you find a nice 4 banger it would probably be worth it considering everything would be swaped out anyway.
You will need to worry about the block before you need to worry about the internals. Personally, the MOST I would ever take a 5.0 block up to is around 500rwhp with a nice, safe, reliable tune. The block will go before the internals will.
Also, I have seen well taken care of 5.0's reach way past 140K.... even 160-180K with no problems. It all really depends on how well it was taken care of.
If you plan on keeping the 5.0 in there than I would just get a 5.0 and be done with it BUT if you plan on dropping a 351W or something else in there and you find a nice 4 banger it would probably be worth it considering everything would be swaped out anyway.
07-04-2006, 05:13 AM
#5
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RE: what should i look at when looking for foxbodies
ORIGINAL: 88BlueGT
The 93 5.0's did not have forged pistons in them. Your best bet would be to look for a 89-92 since they have mass air. The a mass air conversion is not that hard but its better to just already have it than to deal with doing the swap yourself and spending money. Also, the 5.0's did not come with tilt from 89-93 (Im almost positive).
You will need to worry about the block before you need to worry about the internals. Personally, the MOST I would ever take a 5.0 block up to is around 500rwhp with a nice, safe, reliable tune. The block will go before the internals will.
Also, I have seen well taken care of 5.0's reach way past 140K.... even 160-180K with no problems. It all really depends on how well it was taken care of.
If you plan on keeping the 5.0 in there than I would just get a 5.0 and be done with it BUT if you plan on dropping a 351W or something else in there and you find a nice 4 banger it would probably be worth it considering everything would be swaped out anyway.
The 93 5.0's did not have forged pistons in them. Your best bet would be to look for a 89-92 since they have mass air. The a mass air conversion is not that hard but its better to just already have it than to deal with doing the swap yourself and spending money. Also, the 5.0's did not come with tilt from 89-93 (Im almost positive).
You will need to worry about the block before you need to worry about the internals. Personally, the MOST I would ever take a 5.0 block up to is around 500rwhp with a nice, safe, reliable tune. The block will go before the internals will.
Also, I have seen well taken care of 5.0's reach way past 140K.... even 160-180K with no problems. It all really depends on how well it was taken care of.
If you plan on keeping the 5.0 in there than I would just get a 5.0 and be done with it BUT if you plan on dropping a 351W or something else in there and you find a nice 4 banger it would probably be worth it considering everything would be swaped out anyway.
granted you wont be able to pound on the thing. but if you need to get it from point a to b for some work... itll be possible
07-04-2006, 11:55 AM
#6
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RE: what should i look at when looking for foxbodies
i didnt know they had forged internals, thats kinda intresting.. haha. i do plan on swapping out the motor eventually with a better motor... but i also planned to just throw some nitrous on there and run it like that for awhile... or get a 347 stroker with a 200 shot.. its going to be mostly a track car but i want fuel injection with it....
07-04-2006, 01:28 PM
#7
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RE: what should i look at when looking for foxbodies
ORIGINAL: joshafmil
not everything would need to be swapped out... a 351 would be better placed into a 5.0 considering alot of the 302 parts can be used on a 351... if you want to make the project a progressive one, and not have the car out of order for a long time. then you can use alot of the old 302 parts to help.
granted you wont be able to pound on the thing. but if you need to get it from point a to b for some work... itll be possible
ORIGINAL: 88BlueGT
The 93 5.0's did not have forged pistons in them. Your best bet would be to look for a 89-92 since they have mass air. The a mass air conversion is not that hard but its better to just already have it than to deal with doing the swap yourself and spending money. Also, the 5.0's did not come with tilt from 89-93 (Im almost positive).
You will need to worry about the block before you need to worry about the internals. Personally, the MOST I would ever take a 5.0 block up to is around 500rwhp with a nice, safe, reliable tune. The block will go before the internals will.
Also, I have seen well taken care of 5.0's reach way past 140K.... even 160-180K with no problems. It all really depends on how well it was taken care of.
If you plan on keeping the 5.0 in there than I would just get a 5.0 and be done with it BUT if you plan on dropping a 351W or something else in there and you find a nice 4 banger it would probably be worth it considering everything would be swaped out anyway.
The 93 5.0's did not have forged pistons in them. Your best bet would be to look for a 89-92 since they have mass air. The a mass air conversion is not that hard but its better to just already have it than to deal with doing the swap yourself and spending money. Also, the 5.0's did not come with tilt from 89-93 (Im almost positive).
You will need to worry about the block before you need to worry about the internals. Personally, the MOST I would ever take a 5.0 block up to is around 500rwhp with a nice, safe, reliable tune. The block will go before the internals will.
Also, I have seen well taken care of 5.0's reach way past 140K.... even 160-180K with no problems. It all really depends on how well it was taken care of.
If you plan on keeping the 5.0 in there than I would just get a 5.0 and be done with it BUT if you plan on dropping a 351W or something else in there and you find a nice 4 banger it would probably be worth it considering everything would be swaped out anyway.
granted you wont be able to pound on the thing. but if you need to get it from point a to b for some work... itll be possible
07-04-2006, 01:52 PM
#8
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SC
Posts: 579
RE: what should i look at when looking for foxbodies
I would get an old 4 cyl. Just like somebody said before the 4cyl springs are better for drag racing than the 5.0's. I have bought two foxes (both 85's) for about 250-300 a piece. No motors or tranny of course. both had full interiors. Where are you from. If you are close to SC I can put u together with a guy that has like a mustang junkyard. Has more mustangs than a car lot! All you need from a 4 cyl. is the rear end, tranny, motor, and motormounts. Then get your regulars like an MSD and you can be running cheap!
07-04-2006, 02:06 PM
#9
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Join Date: Jan 2006
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RE: what should i look at when looking for foxbodies
ORIGINAL: racer02GTstang
i didnt know they had forged internals, thats kinda intresting.. haha. i do plan on swapping out the motor eventually with a better motor... but i also planned to just throw some nitrous on there and run it like that for awhile... or get a 347 stroker with a 200 shot.. its going to be mostly a track car but i want fuel injection with it....
i didnt know they had forged internals, thats kinda intresting.. haha. i do plan on swapping out the motor eventually with a better motor... but i also planned to just throw some nitrous on there and run it like that for awhile... or get a 347 stroker with a 200 shot.. its going to be mostly a track car but i want fuel injection with it....
07-04-2006, 02:41 PM
#10
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 667
RE: what should i look at when looking for foxbodies
Check the underside of the floorpan for signs of rust-rot... i forgot to look at mine and theres a 4" long by 1" wide spot that needs to be patched over.. which isnt that big of a deal, but larger spots can be QUITE costly. Suprisingly, other than that 1 spot, the rest of my car looks like brand new on the underside... weird. I've been told Hyper. pistons are ok for S/C and T/C but not nitrous