However, the Fox most drag racers prefer to modify is the coupe, or trunk/notchback Mustang, primarily because of weight. The coupes were the lightest 'Stangs out there, and, of course, one of the key elements in building a successful drag car is weight-or lack of it. A stripped-down, '85-'93 coupe is the Fox to look for if the dragstrip is the place you want to be. The bare-bones four-cylinder cars are the most popular choices, as many of them are devoid of power features such as door locks and windows, factory-deleted air conditioning, and several-hundred pounds of other equipment that were included on V-8 Mustangs.
"You can be in the 12s for just a few bucks, if you put the money in the right place," a racer told us, with regard to how easy it is to modify a fairly stock coupe for drag racing. The 12s are just a start. Fox coupes similar to the '91 shown here, owned and piloted by NMRA Super Street Outlaw racer Manny Buginga, run e.t.'s in the middle-7-second range, at speeds close to 200 mph. It takes more than just a few bucks to achieve that kind of radical performance.
Fox FindingA good Fox can oftentimes be found hiding in plain sight-like on your street or in the grocery-store parking lot-with a "For Sale" sign in the windshield or marked somewhere on the glass. The local Recycler (www.recycler.com) or similar weekly auto-bargain newspaper and car shows are also great places to look for a '79-'98 'Stang, and to get ideas for mods you can do to your car. Prices vary from year to year, and a car's interior/exterior condition sometimes depends on its location, how it was driven, and how the owner took care of it.enough alone.
The UntouchablesSometimes it's just best to leave well enough alone and not modify a Mustang at all. Here's a list of a few Fox 'Stangs that came out swinging and delivered knockout blows the minute they were introduced. It's not that these cars can't be modified, of course they can. Because of their unique performance and appearance features (and, in some cases, their histories), we believe it's best to let the specialty Mustangs remain unchanged. But, who are we kidding? We're never able to leave well enough alone.
Where The Parts AreA wealth of aftermarket parts have been created for Fox 5.0 and 4.6 Mustangs, and modifying one of these cars from top to bottom can be as easy as your wallet permits. Mustang-specific classified sections, like the one on the NMRA's Web site (www.nmraracing.com), are awesome sources for locating parts that can be used to better your Fox. Local swap meets and garage sales are also good resources for 'Stang parts.
Here's our take on what some of the best, across-the-board initial upgrades are for any Fox Mustang:MechanicalAluminum cylinder headsIntake manifoldMass air sensorThrottle bodyShort-tube headersCam and 1.6 or 1.7 roller rockersPower adder (usually nitrous or supercharger, but turbos are becoming a lot more popular for street Mustangs)3.73 gearsAluminum driveshaftTremec five-speed or Lentech AOD transmission
SuspensionLowering springsAntiroll barsSubframe connectorsStrut-tower braceBigger brakes/rear disc brakesTubular K-memberAdustable control armsWheels and tires
AppearanceCustom paint/graphicsCowl or air-induction hoodBody kits/front fascia and taillight swapsInterior swaps (seats, consoles, dash, panels, etc)SeatsAftermarket gaugesStereo