
The right modifications for your Fox Body are entirely unique to your goals. Are you trying to build a Fox Body track car? In that case, suspension and brake upgrades are of utmost importance. Are you trying to build a custom Fox Body Mustang drag car? In that case, massive power upgrades and chassis stiffening are crucial. Before jumping into the world of 5.0 Fox Body Mustang upgrades, it is important to consider what you are going for with your build. Best Ford Fox Body Mustang Upgradesįord Mustang 5.0 Fox Body modifications can be broken down into two main categories, engine modifications, and handling modifications.

The same could be said for many other aspects of the Fox Body. While the 5.0L V8 was unquestionably underpowered, Ford left a lot of room for improvement in the engine department open to further improvement. Horsepower peaked at an underwhelming 235 horsepower from the 5.0L V8 in the Mustang SVT Cobra in its final year. All of the engine options were underpowered to remain fuel efficient. It also came with a variety of engine options including two 2.3L Lima 4-cylinder engines, a 3.3L Thriftpower I6, a 2.8L Cologne V6, a 3.8L Essex V6, a 4.2L small block V8, and a 5.0L small block V8. The Fox Body Mustang was available in multiple different body styles including a notchback, hatchback, and convertible. Ultimately, the chassis’ overambition to do everything eventually led to it being great at nothing. The Fox Body Mustang was built on Ford’s Fox platform, meant to bridge two-door sportscars and four-door passenger cars into a single chassis. While the Fox Body represented the third generation Mustang, it was subdivided into two segments within the Fox Body framework, with the 1979-1982 Fox Body Mustangs and 1982-1993 Fox Body Mustangs often considered their own unique models due to the difference in appearance and performance. In many ways, that still ended up happening. The third generation Mustang represented a change in form for Ford, as an increasing pressure to increase fuel efficiency and everyday practicality threatened to neuter the Ford Mustang as it had previously existed. It was also the longest-running Mustang generation, spanning between 1979 to 1993. The Fox Body Mustang is the third generation of Mustang released by Ford. Ford Fox Body Mustang History and Background drag car, time attack car, track car), but instead focus on the essentials which will make a Fox Body the best all-arounder. We won’t be focused on any particular Fox Body application (i.e. In this guide, we’ll cover some of the most common Fox Body Mustang upgrades and modifications. With some much-needed modifications to the 5.0L 302 Windsor V8, suspension, chassis, and brakes, the Ford Mustang Fox Body can be transformed into a capable machine, indistinguishable from its former self. In fact, the Fox Body Mustang has such a massive aftermarket community that we’ll only glance the tip of the iceberg here. Luckily, the Mustang aftermarket community saved the day when it came to keeping the Fox Body alive.


Overall, the Fox Body is a disaster, through and through, in factory form. Suspension? It would be a stretch to even call it passable. 5.0L Windsor 302? Criminally underpowered. From the factory, it is hard to point to any part of the Fox Body that actually did its job well. The Ford Fox Body Mustang is a strong contender for the Mustang generation that has the most to gain from aftermarket performance modifications.
