Mustang Monthly Homepage Mustang Monthly
Get Adobe Flash player

How To Fix '79-'86 Fox-Body Problems

Square-Light 5.0s are Getting on in Years. Make Yours Better With These Top-10 Fixes.
By Miles Cook
Photography by Miles Cook
173 0402 Fix Lead Z
When Ed Quezada isn't driving... 
   
  read full caption
173 0402 Fix Lead Z
When Ed Quezada isn't driving a double-trailer big-rig for UPS, heunwinds behind the wheel of his spotless square-light Fox. Having ownedboth an aero-body '91 GT and an SN-95 late-model, Ed came back home to asquare-light car, his favorite Mustang body style. A full feature willfollow on this clean cruiser later this year.
173 0402 Fix 1 Z
The older the car is, the... 
   
  read full caption
173 0402 Fix 1 Z
The older the car is, the more likely broken floorpans will be aproblem, mainly due to the weight of the seat and driver. Look closelyat cars that have spent lots of time in areas with harsh winters,because rust will accelerate structural fatigue and deterioration.Repair or replacement of the floors are possible solutions. Also look atsubframe connectors with a crossbrace to support the seat.
173 0402 Fix 2 Z
On the doors, directly below... 
   
  read full caption
173 0402 Fix 2 Z
On the doors, directly below the windows, cracked weatherstripping canbe a problem that's usually caused by weather damage over the years.Replacement weatherstrip is available from LRS, and the molding isincluded.
173 0402 Fix 3 Z
Heat damage will almost always... 
   
  read full caption
173 0402 Fix 3 Z
Heat damage will almost always get to the dashpad on square-lightMustangs. You can simply replace the pad or, if it isn't too far gone,cover it with a plastic cover painted to match. Or you can use amolded-to-fit cover that's held in place with pieces of Velcro. See ourApril '02 issue for a review on how to replace the pad in your '79-'86Fox.

1  | 2  | 3  | Next

Ford Mustang Research
Ford Mustang Review in-depth reviews on the new Ford Mustang, featuring test drives, comparisons, options, features and more. The Mustang gets 16 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway, and has a trade in value of $18,870.00 which should come in handy when you go to shop for your next car. Other similar vehicles are the Ford Shelby GT 500 and the Ford Fusion.
173 0402 Fix 5 Z 173 0402 Fix 4A Z
173 0402 Fix 4 Z 173 0402 Fix 6 Z
 
1967 Ford Mustang Convertible - Hot Fun In A Drop-Top
Who Cares About Getting Older When You're Having Fun?... more
 
1970 Mach 1 & 2008 Twister Ford Mustang - Twister Trio
Larry Carroll Has Created His Own One-Of-A-Kind Storm... more
 
1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 - Baby Blue
George Hatcher Was Fortunate To Locate The Original Owner Of His Low-Mileage '73 Mach 1... more
 
1965 Ford Mustang Coupe - Super Steed Handling
In A 30-Hour Period, RRS And Gateway Classic Mustang Transformed An Ill-Handling Nag Into A Sure-Footed Stallion.... more
 
1975 Ford Mustang II Mach 1 - Mustangs At The Beech
The NMRA Closed Out Its 2008 Laurel Mountain Mustang Show Season At Beech Bend Raceway... more
 
Dynacorn 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback Body - 1969 All Over Again
First Dynacorn Repopped The '67 Fastback Bodies. Now They're At It Again With The Iconic '69 Fastback, Just In Time For The '69's 40th Anniversary... more
 
1972 Ford Mustang Mach 1 - H.O. Survivor
Eric Petosa's 18,000-Mile Mach 1 Provides A Glimpse Into How Ford Built R-Code Mustangs In 1972... more
 
1967 Ford Mustang GT - Flexing Muscle
This K-Code Mustang Offers Plenty Of Fun For The Road... more
 
1968 Ford Mustang Fastback - Coincidence
Sometimes We Do The Right Thing In Spite Of Ourselves... more
 
1967 Ford Mustang Convertible GT - Seein' Green
A California Car Restoration... more