Me and two of my friends are looking into buying a car just to build up and use solely on the track. we have heard that 90-93 5.0's are a popular choice and probably the best choice for us. we are looking for something that we can get parts for quite easilyand cheaply. we are all pretty new to the drag scene and just want to be pointed in the right direction. any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

p.s we all drive 1998+ mustangs and have no experience in 5.0's previously!

thanks

 

Quote:

ORIGINAL: lewistk

Me and two of my friends are looking into buying a car just to build up and use solely on the track. we have heard that 90-93 5.0's are a popular choice and probably the best choice for us. we are looking for something that we can get parts for quite easilyand cheaply. we are all pretty new to the drag scene and just want to be pointed in the right direction. any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

p.s we all drive 1998+ mustangs and have no experience in 5.0's previously!

thanks

The late model Fox cars are a super popular & potent and would be a great platform choice. As in anything there are lots of factors to consider especially if you are going to race in a specific class. If so I would research that class and see what is popular. If this will be mostly for fun bracket racing I would stay with the SN95 platform just because you already have 3 and are more familiar with that platform. Plus in a pinch part swapping from a daily driver is a nice option.

 

The 87-93's would be a great choice, and you should be able to pick one up pretty cheap.
They are easy to mod and TONS of parts available for them.
87-92 had forged pistons, that might be a better choice for a drag car.

Suspension work, drag radials, few bolt-ons, and you should have a fun drag car.

 

I'd buy one without a motor/tranny if you're wanting to go really fast. It'd cost you more to make that 302 quick than it would to just put a whole different motor in it. Preferably big block Chevy/Ford.

 

If you are looking to keep the car EFI than an 89-93 is the car you should be looking for because they have mass air. If you want the added strength of forged pistons then it narrows your years to 89-92. Notchbacks look the best IMO and are lighter than hatches but they usually go for a little more than the hatch counterpart. Like 98LS1 said, if you are looking for a fast drag car, a roller w/o engine or trans would be a hell of a lot cheaper and then you could just get a built 331 or 347 or go with a 351w based block for more cubes and more power. All in all your best bet is to go with a roller notchback as it will be the best platform for a strictly drag racing car.

 

+1. I hear that 5.0's don't eclipse 400rwhp with h/c/i and full bolt-ons so I'd suggest a different engine if you want a really fast track car. Preferably a 351 windsor or 428 cobra jet or old 427 Ford big block. Here's a link to some of the older ford engines http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_FE_engine#427.

 

its been awhile since ive had any fox body learnings, but as far as i recall, they went to forged pistons in 85.

edit...and switched to the hypers in 93/some late 92 models

 

Well I was sticking with the euro style front end foxes, I didn't even think about the 4 eyes. Trmachuno, a 408 windsor would have plenty of torque being a stroker and not have the added weight of the BB 427s, thats why I suggested a stroked 351 platform. And a H/C/I 5.0 with full bolt-ons would be lucky to see 330 whp, the only way to get over 400whp is more displacment or a different block.

 

I wanted to say not over 350rwhp, but I wasn't sure open longtube headers, and stuff built for high rpm's (big throttle body, big maf, etc) would make it near there or not.

 

Maybe they could get 350 with open headers, but no way anywhere near 400 whp.