Let's come up with ideas for my next car

"Matthew Phillips" (flatsidewaysfl)
09/20/2017 at 10:35 • Filed to: None

it feels like an eternity ever since I sold my 86 Notch. So now I’m about to hop back into the saddle by purchasing my roommates 89 5.0.

This car is special because I’ve learned to drive stick on it and it’s he last car I ever thought about purchasing. It’s a deal I couldn’t refuse and it’s a hunk of project I already know every detail about.

But let’s also not dwell on the fact it’s in the middle of a clutch install and is being used as a shed.

Ideas I’m ignoring for now, Five lug swap and IRS... I want to do both at the same time but not for some time.

DISCUSSION (13)

crowmolly > Matthew Phillips
09/20/2017 at 10:39

Street friendly road race car. Build it up over time, starting with the chassis first.

Then again, that’s my solution for pretty much every car.

Nothing > Matthew Phillips
09/20/2017 at 10:44

Engine transplant, with the 5.0 coming to me to put in the Cougar.

Tripper > Matthew Phillips
09/20/2017 at 10:48

My best friend had 3 hatchback 5.0's when we were first driving, so I have always had a soft spot for fox bodies. In addition my sister had white ragtop 5.0 (vanilla ice style), so I’m kind of stumped as to how I haven’t had one of my own at this point.

As far as ideas, I’ve always hated the seats in these. One of my friends 5.0's had a super heavy clutch and a really weak drivers seat. So I’d love to see a decent set of seats in a fox body. Beyond that I’d throw in a stereo so I could bump wu-tang like we always used to haha.

Rock Bottom > Matthew Phillips
09/20/2017 at 10:49

Few cars offer more smiles-per-dollar than a 5.0 Fox. Very Jalop. What’s your overall plan? Street? Strip? Track day (bro)?

Matthew Phillips > Rock Bottom
09/20/2017 at 11:00

Definitely street build with plans for auto cross (hence the future IRS). I would love to keep it NA with around 4-450 HP one day so a 351w swap with a 6-speed is in the future.

Urambo Tauro > Matthew Phillips
09/20/2017 at 11:03

Is it stock? Subframe connectors would be a good place to start. And definitely get a short-throw shifter in there if it doesn’t have one yet. After that, I’d tackle the suspension- get some springs that’ll lower it about an inch, nothing crazy.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Matthew Phillips
09/20/2017 at 11:03

What’s the interior like? Would it benefit from grabbing a rough Mark VI/VII as a donor for seats and the like, in addition to better brakes/ five lug?

The other option would be parts-donoring a Thunderbird or Mark VIII, possibly including the IRS.

Matthew Phillips > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
09/20/2017 at 11:13

Kinja'd!!!

It’s gross, I’ll look into the donor cars for parts !

Matthew Phillips > Urambo Tauro
09/20/2017 at 11:13

It’s got a short throw, I’m looking into suspension options currently.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Matthew Phillips
09/20/2017 at 11:17

Lincoln Mark seats would be, IMHO, an epic thing. A couple pounds heavier, but so nice...

Urambo Tauro > Matthew Phillips
09/20/2017 at 11:30

I just remembered that you wanted to go IRS, but not yet... It’d be good to do that all at once, but are you looking for a temporary setup to hold you over until then? I think I read that IRS uses different springs (or coilovers) than the solid axle.

Rock Bottom > Matthew Phillips
09/20/2017 at 12:22

Nice. Have you considered a big-inch low deck Windsor? 302-based 331s and 347s are getting pretty common. I think (not positive) a tall-deck Windsor requires a higher hood. I’m generally an opponent of domed hoods :)

Jason Spears > Matthew Phillips
09/20/2017 at 12:43

Shaker hood?