Fox Engine Advise Needed

[FL MISS]

Hey all! Hope everyone had a great Christmas!!!!!!!! OK, here's my situation........looking for any input.

Rob and I have been looking for a decent and cheap stang to buy for Beth (almost 12) to rebuild for when she gets her license. Of course, if you ask her she dreams of a '66 fastback (who doesn't?) and Rob is talking an old Mach (again, who doesn't but someone has to be the voice of reason). Yes....she is paying for half of everything, we are paying the other half and she has to learn how to work on the car. I have someone who has a Fox hatch in decent shape, 4 cylinder manual tranny, asking $500. I'm not worried about the 4 cylinder cause we want to pull the motor and get another to rebuild and drop back in it. We were originally thinking about changing it over to auto, but are now planning to keep the tranny manual.

Here's my questions:

1. Should we go 302 or hold off for a 351?

2. What is a good price for a 302? I know a few people that have them laying around but don't know what to spend for one.......yes I plan on rebuilding it if so.

3. If we go 351, should we go stroker or windsor and what are the advantages and costs of both?

I don't want to put a fortune into the car (nor do I have the money) but want something reliable and FUN! We will be using the car as well and if she decides later down the road she doesn't want to keep it, we plan on keeping it (unless Rob gets and rebuilds a Mach). Any help or input is greatly appreciated!

[ninety1fox]

find a 5.0l ho and rebuild it to a mild heads and cam 306, dont want to give her nothing she cant handle for a first car

[FL MISS]

That's a good thought........thanks!

[Darren]

We have a parts car, but there are several problems. By the time we get rid of it, there won't be enough to rebuild, It's a vert, and it's 1/2 the country away :lol:
I'd go with a 302 carb car. easy to work on and very reliable. Plenty of power for her too.

[Pasia]

It's good that you're making her pay her part, she'll have more respect for the car when it's done and she'll be less likely to do something stupid in it.

As for what to put in it, I agree with ninety1fox. Don't do anything too crazy with it if she's just starting off driving. A stock motor with maybe an intake or some mild gears will be plenty enough for her to handle. If she's an adrenaline junkie, when she gets bored with it, she can do other mods, if she's not, a stock motor will be just fine for her. If you're keeping it a 5-speed, get her used to practicing on a stick now in a beater. That way if she's in it and kills it in traffic, she won't panic.


Also when the time comes for her to actually start driving, check out this site for a teen driving school near you or find a similar program in your area:

http://www.streetsurvival.org/streetsurvival/default.asp

I sent my daughter to it and it was money well spent IMO.

[88PearlGT]

Just as far as engine-wise I would say the 302 is definitely your best bet for a good handful of reasons. For a first car a 351 is going to drain somebody's pockets for gas. Even driven with the sense of a seasoned veterans they are not the ideal econo machine by any stretch. I have had some of our 302's though getting fairly decent mileage for a hot rod. Plus the 5.0 has PLENTY of power to play with especially for a new driver, they are VERY easy to mod, and getting cheaper by the day in a lot of areas. There are just so many reasons to stay with a 302 base powerplant rather than 351 that I can think of.

[my86gt]

i agree, 302 or even a 306 would be good for her. later on if she wants more power she can make it into a 347 stroker and that should be way pleny power for her.

[FL MISS]

Thanks! I think we'll stick with the 302........I really don't want to keep it with the stock 4 cylinder. What would be a good offer for a 302?

[streetlightning]

Deff stick with a 302 block. I'd find a good set of gt40 iron heads, lunati 51014 cam, gt40 lower intake with a downs box upper, and a basic lower end with flattop pistons. That would be plenty of power for a new driver. I would not pay more then 200 for an old worn out 302 roller block. Parts are dirt cheap for them and you should be able to assemble a whole motor for around 1500.

[foureyedcoupe]

I would stick with the 5.0 for someones first car. You shouldnt have to pay anymore than 150-200 for a complete engine. Remember, if you're going to convert a 4cyl car to a 5.0 you'll need a trans and a rear axle assy. You can build a mild 5.0 for about a grand with no problems.

[hotrodredneck]

are you building this for someone who will know how to handle power? if so get a 331 with some mild heads and cam. if you want some good power from it get a blower. If you are worried about her not knowing how to respect or handle the power, just build a nice little 302 for it.

[FoxracerMenace]

Id say go with a mild 302!

[ttowndex]

We are talking about a car for a 12 year old, learning to drive and having it for a first car in a few years. My thought would be to keep the 4cylinder for her to learn on. It has enough power to handle itself, but it's much harder to get stupid with. Even a stock 302 can put down decent power, and can get an inexperienced driver in trouble in a hurry. In my line of work I have seen plenty of young people killed by "hi-performance car, low performance driver" issues. And a 302 Mustang, even stock, is a high performance car. And the parents always say "He/She was such a good, careful driver".....all it takes is one act of stupidity, and there are no do-overs....
If you want the V8, get it and build it, then judge when is time to install it, AFTER she gets the car and gets used to driving with the 4.....

[FL MISS]

Thanks for all the input. I think we'll stick with making it a 302. As far as the safe driver classes, they are required here in FL........plus with Rob being a cop she will have tons of "learning". Plus she has to have someone drive with her for the first full year. I'll let you all know if we get the car this weekend or not.:wave:

[FoxracerMenace]

Sounds good to me Tammy!
and dont forget the pics...:mick:

[FL MISS]

I won't! She'll need some work and paint but that's the point behind a "project car" :snicker:

[fini]

i would have to say build (rebuild) the 302 but teach her to drive on the 4 cyl ... i have seen people lose control on wet days or not perfect conditions in a 4cyl so the power from a 5.0 may be a little iffy

but start teaching her young and can drop the 5.0 in soon enough

[N2Otorious]

Keep the 4 for learning, and when more power is needed, drop the 4 outta a Thunderbird turbo coupe in it, they can make 300 stock easily with nothing more then turning up the boost.

On the other hand if you're set on pulling the 4, I might be interested in it.

We are currently looking for a Foxbody with a manually shifted 4 banger for the 24hours of LeMons race.

[Aviators chick]

All I can say is you have one lucky kid! I wish my parents had gotten me a mustang when I was 12 and were willing to help me fix it up.
I hope she knows how lucky she is to get whatever type of car yall decide on.
Best of luck!

[Speedstang302]

i say just do a stock 5oh, headers, mid-pipe, cat-back, suspension, looks, short throw and gears, it'll get up and go pretty good, sound good, and hopefully wont be to much to be able to get away from her..

it pretty dumb for some of you guys to reccomend any cam, becuase without knowing the rest of the motor, whats the point...if anything you do to that motor, i'd do CAI, explorer upper and lower, explorer 65mm TB, underdrive pullies, cap and rotor, wires and basic stuff like that..for some kid that hasnt touch 1hp yet...250hp out of a 5oh would supprise the shit out of you!!!

[ssj50driver]

I say keep the gearing low in the back. the stock 2.73's or 3.08's will do wonders and get pretty good fuel economy if she ever wants to do a highway roadtrip. good job on being a great parent and being a part of your child's learning and driving experience!

[Darren]

I dont think they even have the car anymore. this thread is from 2006 and they dont have the 05 anymore either

[ssj50driver]

oops sorry... didn't notice that...