Hey guys, I'm new here and Ive got a question I wanted to ask:

How much does it take to get a foxbody into the 12's?

I'm looking to get back into the muscle car game, and Ive decided I want to try Mustangs this time. I'm coming off a 6-speed LS1 Trans Am, which I sold in May, and Im trying to get back to the point I was at stock with the TA, which was about 300rwhp and high 12's/low 13's.

The foxbodies I like are the late 80's/early 90's style, so Id go with one of those. Would full bolt ons get me to the point I want to go? It'd be a daily driver, so i'd need it to be able to be driven everyday.

By Spring, after I sell my GSXR and save from now till then, I should be able to take out a loan which would bring my money to about $7-9k to spend on a car. Theres some already built Foxbodies (even ones with blowers) for around that price, but 1- who knows if they were built right, and 2- Most push around 400whp, and I think thats overkill for me as a daily driver and would just make getting stuck in the rain and MPG even more of a pain.

So basically, I just want to know what can be done to a foxbody to run 12's or be around 300whp and how much $ it takes to get it there.

Thanks alot guys

 

You can hit 12's with stock engine/trans. It's been done here before. All you need is proper suspension. It's not all about power.

 

About 5 grand in heads/cam/intake/exhaust will get you your power goal. ALOT cheaper if you buy used parts. (There is tons of used stuff out there). I'd go with a 5 speed car if your goal is 12s. It'll be a real challange with a stock AOD.

 

I agree with a solid suspension set up, you'd be surprised how fast you can go with the stock drivetrain, particularly if the Fox is on a diet. Gears, suspension, tires you can do 13's easy with stock engine. 12's are not far out. Bump the power a little bit or lose a bit of weight.Then putter home with the AC on, no problemo

I don't think you need to spend 5k on a top end to run 12's. If you DO buy a new topend though (brand new parts), it will cost ~5k. Like bluebeast said, carefully buying used can save a lot of dough.

 

For 7-9k you can buy one thats already running 11s, hell 10s if you're lucky.

 

lol yeah, this is a daily driver thou and like I said, theres a line for me where i think too fast will be more of a hassle than fun. This car will see the rain, maybe even snow a few times. I've driven my LS1 Trans Am throu rain and snow, and it was fine as long as you took it easy (mostly rain, I had to buy studded tires after the first snowfall i got stuck in lol). But anyway, that car was around 300rwhp, so as long as I stay within that 300-350whp range I think I'll be alright.

That being said, what are the dynamics of supercharger horsepower? Does it give you more low-end torque, or mainly act as a boost for the top end?

Too much low-end torque is what would kill a daily driver in bad conditions, but if the boost doesnt kick in until youre into the upper rpm range then it should make it alot easier.

 

Superchargers can be had either way, kicking in across the board, or just up higher. I've got an 89 Mustang, NA, with 425 rwhp, and an 04 Cobra, factory s/c, with 465 rwhp, and the difference between the two is striking. The 89 has instantaneous throttle response and an awesome exhaust note, but always reminds you it's on the edge and is tough to drive "normal". Meanwhile the Cobra essentially has two personalities, it can be driven completely normal, and feel like an ordinary car; but kick in the boost, and it can be driven as wild as you like; it is always your choice. It's s/c kicks in down low, but is very controllable on how much boost you add to the equation.

 

3.55 gears, exhaust, K&N filter and a 100hp NOS kit got mine into the 12.40's with a old pair of slicks with a 1.72 60ft back in the early 90's.