If you ever found yourself awake at night, tossing and turning, trying to envision the perfect Fox Body Mustang build you’d put together if money wasn’t the issue – let me introduce you to your sleepless night’s desire! This feature is dedicated to one of the most perfect Ford Mustang Fox Body custom builds I’ve ever come across.
Built using the best that the aftermarket could offer combined with unique custom solutions of the owner, this vibrant red turbocharged Fox performs just as good as it looks (if not better). Read on to find out about the ins and outs of this truly remarkable custom build!
Key Mods:
- 427w Dart SHP Block
- Twin-Turbocharger
- Maximum Motorsports Suspension
Foxbody Build
The Fox Body Mustang is a third generation of the Mustang lineage produced between 1979 and 1993. It’s design (arguably) is pretty far from being the most successful among other generations, but it definitely carries that distinctive 80’s flair which brings that nostalgia feeling in the heart of any old-school car enthusiast, and Jimmy, the owner of this beauty is no exception.
Owner’s Insight
Why did you choose a Foxbody Mustang for your project? Is there an interesting story behind it?
– No real cool backstory on the car, I just had enough money and stupidity to build what I envisioned as a streetcar, technically it is I guess, but if I could do it all over again I would have gone with an 8.2 deck and kept it naturally aspirated.
What was the most difficult part of the build?
– Trying to fight the heat created by the turbos has the biggest headache, there is no blueprint on how to do this, it’s trial and error and there was tons of error, I’ve pretty much sorted out all the issues.
What do you love the most about this car?
– What I love most is that it’s not like anything else you’ll see out there when you look below the surface, the engine, the interior, the wheels, the hood, nothing cookie cutter on this car.
“With a little elbow grease and some clever engineering, a FoxBody can be tuned into a road-hugging beast even according to modern standardts”.
Performance
At the heart of this Fox Body beast lies the famous 427w Dart SHP Block with 9.5:1 compression, and twin Borg Warner S366 turbochargers on top that transform this Mustang into a true street monster even according to modern performance standards.
The forced induction setup is fueled by DeatschWerks 1500cc injectors and operated by Pro-M EFI engine management to handle the increased power demands.
The engine features Trick Flow 205 11R heads and a ported Trick Flow Box R intake, while a custom Ed Curtis cam optimizes power delivery across the RPM range.
To get maximum out of this race-level engine setup, the owner has installed NX Express nitrous and Snow Performance water/methanol injection systems.
The heat generated from this power plant is managed by a Griffin radiator with Mark VIII electric fan, while the exhaust gases flow through 3″ downpipes and DynoMax UltraFlo mufflers. Other mods under the hood include a high-output 225-amp TuffStuff alternator, Jones Racing power steering pump, and March pulleys.
Suspension
The stance and handling are dramatically improved thanks to the installation of Maximum Motorsports suspension package with performanced HD torque arm, Panhard bar, and extreme-duty adjustable lower control arms.
Front coilovers and Koni Yellow adjustable shocks and struts offer precise damping control, while the Team Z K-member and front A-arms reduce weight and improve geometry.
Wheels
The car sits low on a set of Signature One Flagship two-piece wheels sized 19×8.5 front and 19×9.5 rear, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires that provide ultimate grip for the rear wheels. For strip duty, the owner can quickly swap to race-spec Weld RT-S wheels with Mickey Thompson ET Street R drag radials to put all that twin-turbo power to the pavement effectively.
Exterior & Interior
With its vibrant red paint and subtle custom upgrades such as the cowl hood and few other touches this Fox Body twists heads. Keeping it simple, the owner managed to preserve the classic 80s body lines of the car while enhancing it with beefy tires and low stance.
Inside, the cabin blends classic Fox Body elements with modern features such as the 2014 GT500 Recaro seats and a custom 2017 Mustang steering wheel that improve feel and aesthetics.
List of Modifications
Engine & Performance
- 427w Dart SHP Block 9.5:1 Compression
- Twin Turbo Borg Warner S366’s
- 3″ Downpipes Ultimate Header Clamps
- 4″ Intercooler
- Griffin Radiator
- Mark VIII Electric Fan
- Pro-M EFI Engine Managment
- Coil Near Plug Ignition
- FireCore50 Wires
- Trick Flow 205 11R Heads
- Trick Flow Box R Intake (Ported) Ed Curtis Custom Cam
- 90mm Accufab Throttle Body Pro-M Blow Thru MAF Sensor DynoMax UltraFlo Mufflers
- NX Express Nitrous System
- Snow Performance Water/Meth Kit
- DeatschWerks 1500cc Injectors
- Glennsperformance Sleeper Tank / Fuel Rail
- Glennsperformance FPR
- Jones Racing PS Pump
- TuffStuff 225amp Alternator
- Edelbrock Water Pump
- March Pulleys
Transmission & Drivetrain
- Lentech Strip Terminator 4R70W w/ OD Precision Industries Torque Converter
- Hurst Quarter Stick
- Remote Mount Transmission Cooler / Fan
- Ford Racing Aluminum Driveshaft
- 8.8 Strange S-Trac Differential
- 35 Spline Strange Axles
- Ford 9″ Ends
- Stifflers Transmission Mount / DS Safety Loop
Suspension
- Maximum Motorsports Suspension
- HD Torque Arm
- Panhard Bar
- Extreme Duty Adjustable LCA’s
- Front Coilovers
- Rear Torque Arm Springs
- Caster Camber Plates
- MM Steering Shaft
- SN95 Spindles
- Koni Yellows Adjustable Shocks & Struts Team Z K-Member and Front A-Arms
Wheels
- Signature One Flagship 2 Piece Wheels 19×8.5/19×9.5 with Custom Offsets
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4S Tires 245/35/19 up front and 275/35/19 on the rear
- Weld RT-S Wheels 17.4.5/17×10.5
- Mickey Thompson ET Street R Drag Radials
- Mickey Thompson Front Runners
Brakes
- Brembo 4 Piston Front Brakes
- Full Tilt Boogie 13″ Rear Brakes Hydroboost System
Interior
- Custom Made 2017 Mustang Steering Wheel
- SpeedHut Gauges
- 2014 GT500 Recaro Seats
- Alpine ILX-W650
- Alpine Type R 6.5″ Component Speakers
Summing it up
Performance and suspension modifications dominate this Fox Body build, both scoring perfect 10s with the twin-turbo 427w engine and comprehensive Maximum Motorsports setup stealing the show. The interior and exterior earn a respectable 5 points thanks to those GT500 Recaro seats and custom steering wheel inside and subtle custom upgrades outside. This Mustang embodies the true sleeper philosophy—clean subtle looks concealing drag-strip suspension and explosive twin-turbo power.
| Parts Category | Difficulty Rating* |
|---|---|
| Suspension Mods: | 10/10 |
| Performance Mods: | 10/10 |
| Exterior Mods: | 5/10 |
| Interior Mods: | 5/10 |
* Based on our build difficulty evaluation system ⓘ
Watch the progress and find out more about this modified Fox Body Mustang by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @jhracingelectronics
Stay tuned for more convertible car reviews on Specs&Mods.com – Follow us on social media, and share this write-up if you enjoyed reading it!
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