​Getting Your Fox Body to Perform Better

Fox bodies benefit from the polyurethane bushings, shorter springs, and stiffer shocks that are used for every other performance build, but this platform also has some quirks that need to be dealt with. With the right modifications, your Mustang won't just handle better, it will be able to clock faster times at the drag strip.

Subframe Connectors

Chassis stiffness is a fundamental part of handling: a weak chassis will flex under stress, absorbing and releasing energy like a spring without a shock. While adding strut tower bars are usually the first step to building a stiffer car, for Fox bodies, the biggest weakness is in the frame.

A unibody frame uses the floor pan as a structural member, replacing the cross braces in a ladder frame. This lowers the vehicle and reduces weight. Most modern cars use a pair of frame rails that run the full length of the vehicle, but the Fox body has two subframes joined by the car's floor pan. This lack of support at the center of the car makes the chassis weak and prone to twisting. Put enough power through the drivetrain, and the force can torque the frame hard enough to break the welds on the torque boxes.

That's where subframe connectors come in. They join the two subframes together to create a single, solid structure. This cuts down on chassis flex significantly, helping the car handle curves and launches. It even improves the ride by stopping the bouncing caused by the flexing frame.

Anti-Roll Bar

Allowing independent movement of the wheels helps each corner act independently when absorbing bumps, leading to a better ride. However, too much articulation can let the body roll in turns, reducing traction. Anti-roll bars limit this movement, keeping the car planted in turns.

That's not news if you've worked on cars for a while, but using a stronger bar can also pay major dividends at the drag strip. Put enough power through the axle of your Mustang, and the torque can cause it to twist, lifting one wheel off the ground. Using a high strength anti-roll bar will eliminate this flex, keeping the axle planted during launch.

K-Member

If you're starting a build, you've probably already looked at new K-members to give you some engine swap options. Using an aftermarket K-member can also improve your Mustang's handling by replacing the stamped mild steel arms that hold the front end together with stiffer tubular steel or Chrome Moly parts. These K-members are also lighter, giving the car a better front to rear weight balance, and open up the use of high performance suspension parts including stiffer A arms.

Caster/Camber Plates

Like subframe connectors, these parts help work around one of the quirks of the Fox body's design. Normally, these plates are only needed when lowering a car to the point that it throws off the stock suspension geometry. However, the stock suspension doesn't allow caster adjustment, making this a worthwhile addition to any Mustang since it allows the wheels to be adjusted to minimize tire wear. The added articulation also allows a wide range of aftermarket suspension parts to be used including Strange Engineering's coilover kits.

Where Can I Get These Parts?

Anderson Ford Motorsport has been helping people build high performance Fox bodies since these cars were still new. We can supply you with everything you need to get your Mustang ready for anything from road trips to race day.