Just picked up my first Fox Body...finally
So it turned out that everything wasn't a failure from my last weekend of work on the Fox Body. A couple of days ago I started the car again, just for the hell of it, and let it run for five minutes or so, then gave it a little bit of gas. The temp gauge slowly started to move up so it appears that the sending unit might have fixed the problem. I guess I just needed to let it run longer.
In the meanwhile, I had no luck in trying to remove the nut from the fender side of the brake MC so I've now removed the driver seat and am trying to take the brake booster out. Lovely experience so far, lol.
In the meanwhile, I had no luck in trying to remove the nut from the fender side of the brake MC so I've now removed the driver seat and am trying to take the brake booster out. Lovely experience so far, lol.
I gave up on the outer nut/bolt and ended up getting the brake booster out. It was a huge pain. Getting the top two nuts required some seriously creative thinking, lol.
I managed to finally get the POR-15 kit applied to the firewall areas where the hood hinge cups go. I also applied it to the shock tower behind the factory proportioning valve.
The brake booster has seen better days. Per the advice of someone on another forum, I went ahead and ordered a reman BB from Auto Zone, which should be here sometime next week. Fingers crossed.
I documented these efforts of course. Latest video is up on my channel.
I managed to finally get the POR-15 kit applied to the firewall areas where the hood hinge cups go. I also applied it to the shock tower behind the factory proportioning valve.
The brake booster has seen better days. Per the advice of someone on another forum, I went ahead and ordered a reman BB from Auto Zone, which should be here sometime next week. Fingers crossed.
I documented these efforts of course. Latest video is up on my channel.
Cool thread.
Thanks for taking the time to document the work you're doing. I can't tell you how many times I've relied on some bodies video to figure out a fix.
The work you're doing goes to show why the value of an older Fox in good condition commands so much money. The time and money it takes to rebuild/restore one can end up costing more than just ponying up for a nice one.
Also never knew about the chocolate fox show and I don't live very far from there. So thanks to the poster that mentioned that.
I've got a teal 93' Cobra that's bone stock with 15k miles on it, an 89' Red GT that's also bone stock (same turbine wheels as your car) with 138k miles and an 88' that's been a road race car since brand new. Love them Foxes!
Thanks for taking the time to document the work you're doing. I can't tell you how many times I've relied on some bodies video to figure out a fix.
The work you're doing goes to show why the value of an older Fox in good condition commands so much money. The time and money it takes to rebuild/restore one can end up costing more than just ponying up for a nice one.
Also never knew about the chocolate fox show and I don't live very far from there. So thanks to the poster that mentioned that.
I've got a teal 93' Cobra that's bone stock with 15k miles on it, an 89' Red GT that's also bone stock (same turbine wheels as your car) with 138k miles and an 88' that's been a road race car since brand new. Love them Foxes!
Thanks man! I appreciate the positive feedback and your insight on one of the important fox body questions, lol. Your point is well noted. I have been sticking to a fairly frugal budget as far as parts go, but that doesn’t account for time spent in the garage I suppose. I do try to look at the whole thing as a great learning experience (that truthfully I wish I would have gone through at a younger age).
I keep telling myself that once I get the brakes and leaks sorted out that I will be happy but I already know that’s a lie and I have a lot more I want to do, lol.
Man, I’m insanely jealous of your 93 Cobra. That’s on my top five all time list. Having three foxes in general sounds awesome but one of them being a teal 93...sweet Jesus.
I can tell you this. If you're able to make the time and do a project like this, you'll be that much more proud every time someone comments to you about how cool your car is. Not to mention everything you'll learn along the way. Plus documenting everything the way you are you'll have pictures and videos to remember everything. I'm always in a rush and never take pictures of anything. Can't tell you how many times I wished I'd have taken pictures of projects I've done.
Now that we're back to work full time after the shut down my projects have come to a halt again. In fact I just sold a Coyote motor that I was planning on using for a swap in one of my Mustangs.
Now on the down side a project is never done..... You'll always continue to find more things that you need, well want, to do.
The 93' Teal Cobra is one of my favorite Mustangs. I sold those cars when they were new and loved them back then. Just never spent the money to buy one.
Had time during the Covid shut down so I went through all of my mustangs. Took a picture of a few of them when they were out of the garage.
Now that we're back to work full time after the shut down my projects have come to a halt again. In fact I just sold a Coyote motor that I was planning on using for a swap in one of my Mustangs.
Now on the down side a project is never done..... You'll always continue to find more things that you need, well want, to do.
The 93' Teal Cobra is one of my favorite Mustangs. I sold those cars when they were new and loved them back then. Just never spent the money to buy one.
Had time during the Covid shut down so I went through all of my mustangs. Took a picture of a few of them when they were out of the garage.
Man....of course I love the 93 but the red GT looks mint!
Part 2 of my brake master cylinder saga is up on my YouTube channel:
After making the video, I managed to replace the front left brake line with the part that came in the MM kit I got a while back.
I got it pretty secure on the brake/wheel side and it seems there's enough flexibility that I should be able to get it lined up with the new MC when I install it. I went ahead and ordered the proportioning valve eliminator kit from LMR. Probably won't be here until the weekend but I'm hoping I can make everything fit/work between that and the new front left brake line. Fingers crossed.
The molding adhesive eraser tool arrived this weekend. I definitely should have picked this thing up sooner.
I used it to remove some more of the adhesive from the body molding stripe area. I had largely ignored the rear bumper, which I assume will eventually need to be replaced but since I don't know if that will happen any time soon, I do at least want to clean it up and do the new red stripe soon, all around the car.
Before:
After (like 2-3 minutes):
My gaskets also arrived (intake manifold, EGR spacer to intake) and I already have the valve cover gaskets but I think I'd like to get the brakes done and drive the car for at least a few days before tackling the gaskets and then working on the rest of the oil leaks.
After making the video, I managed to replace the front left brake line with the part that came in the MM kit I got a while back.
I got it pretty secure on the brake/wheel side and it seems there's enough flexibility that I should be able to get it lined up with the new MC when I install it. I went ahead and ordered the proportioning valve eliminator kit from LMR. Probably won't be here until the weekend but I'm hoping I can make everything fit/work between that and the new front left brake line. Fingers crossed.
The molding adhesive eraser tool arrived this weekend. I definitely should have picked this thing up sooner.
I used it to remove some more of the adhesive from the body molding stripe area. I had largely ignored the rear bumper, which I assume will eventually need to be replaced but since I don't know if that will happen any time soon, I do at least want to clean it up and do the new red stripe soon, all around the car.
Before:
After (like 2-3 minutes):
My gaskets also arrived (intake manifold, EGR spacer to intake) and I already have the valve cover gaskets but I think I'd like to get the brakes done and drive the car for at least a few days before tackling the gaskets and then working on the rest of the oil leaks.
Pictures make it look a little better than it is. It's an original color repaint that appears to have been done with single stage. So it gets "chalky" if you don't keep after it. Interior is in great shape. Body has zero rust anywhere. Car spent 7 years in AZ and when it was here in PA was parked all winter.
Looks like you're making great progress!
Being back to 12 hour days my cars will sit again for a while before I will have time to work on them again
I made a video documenting the recent mistakes/foolish assumptions I made, while I patiently wait for the correct brake lines to arrive.
I am also still waiting for my Koni shocks to arrive. In the meanwhile, I am searching for (and saving for) a second set of wheels and tires in the hopes that I can get to at least one track day or autocross event before winter time.
I am also still waiting for my Koni shocks to arrive. In the meanwhile, I am searching for (and saving for) a second set of wheels and tires in the hopes that I can get to at least one track day or autocross event before winter time.
My latest attempt on the brakes didn't go the way I'd like, so naturally I documented my latest round of mishaps and failures.
I went ahead and ordered the Motive power bleeder, which arrived this week. Going to visit family for a few days so I’m planning to get back to the fox and get this brake issue fixed early next week.
These arrived this week too and fingers crossed that the Koni parts arrive soon. It would be nice to get the brakes sorted, install all new shocks and struts and drive the car some.
I went ahead and ordered the Motive power bleeder, which arrived this week. Going to visit family for a few days so I’m planning to get back to the fox and get this brake issue fixed early next week.
These arrived this week too and fingers crossed that the Koni parts arrive soon. It would be nice to get the brakes sorted, install all new shocks and struts and drive the car some.
Finally took some time to start working on the suspension this past weekend. Finished up installing the struts but still need to make time to do the rear shocks and quad shocks.
Weirdest/most time consuming part about the strut install was definitely repurposing the dust boot upper retainers.
Weirdest/most time consuming part about the strut install was definitely repurposing the dust boot upper retainers.
Suspension upgrades continue....this past weekend I finished up the sway bar end links on the front and installed Koni rear shocks and Gabriel (OEM-ish) quad shocks. Love the improved feel. Car would definitely benefit from some new wheels and tires though. Hopefully coming in the not too distant future.
I like your doggie.
Latest update on the Fox Body....I recently installed a Cervini's Ram-Air kit to go with the Cervini's Ram-Air hood (that was on the car when I bought it). It was a bit of a messy process and in retrospect, there are things I could have done smarter/differently, but it seems to be functioning as intended.
I made a somewhat detailed video of the installation process, since I hadn't found a tutorial/instructional video on this.
I made a somewhat detailed video of the installation process, since I hadn't found a tutorial/instructional video on this.
Some recent updates - I discovered a small fuel leak the last time I filled up the tank on the Fox Body. I recently dropped the tank and checked the fuel pump, replaced a few parts (filler neck grommet, vapor valve seal, filler pipe to trunk floor seal, filler neck to housing gasket, new tank pads).
Here's how the tank looked when I dropped it:
And after a little bit of cleaning and removal of the old pads:
I didn't get a pic of it with the new pads and a bit more cleaning. While I had the fuel tank out, I went ahead and flushed the differential fluid. I read from multiple accounts how bad the diff fluid smells but I was still pretty surprised. That stuff is nasty.
I documented these processes in my latest video:
And a little preview of some upcoming mods/installs:
Here's how the tank looked when I dropped it:
And after a little bit of cleaning and removal of the old pads:
I didn't get a pic of it with the new pads and a bit more cleaning. While I had the fuel tank out, I went ahead and flushed the differential fluid. I read from multiple accounts how bad the diff fluid smells but I was still pretty surprised. That stuff is nasty.
I documented these processes in my latest video:
And a little preview of some upcoming mods/installs:
Latest video is up, documenting the installation of the OEM-style upper control arms and getting the fuel tank re-installed.
My latest install, over this past weekend, was the lower control arms...which took a lot longer than I originally anticipated. Video on that coming soon.
My latest install, over this past weekend, was the lower control arms...which took a lot longer than I originally anticipated. Video on that coming soon.
My first Fox was an ‘88gt exactly like it.
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