These days, installing 17-inch wheels from an SN-95 Mustang onto a Fox 5.0 is a relatively popular upgrade. Somehow, it creates a cool vibe that's different than swapping on aftermarket wheels. Not that there's anything wrong with aftermarket wheels for Fox-body Mustangs, but in this case, we're focusing on a few of the many available options from Ford Racing Performance Parts (FRPP). Updating a Fox-body 5.0 with a 17-inch wheel that, at one time or another, was a factory-installed design on '94-'04 SN-95 Mustangs is something we'd certainly like to see more of in the future as the Fox cars get older.
It would be difficult to show every style available from FRPP on one car since there are about a dozen 17-inch designs in the FRPP catalog, but it wasn't too tough for us to scrounge together three designs. In this case, we enlisted the '88 LX 5.0 convertible you've seen in our pages over the past year or two.
Representative of the legions of Fox-body Mustangs, we've lowered this particular car (May '05 issue) and also did a five-lug conversion, replacing the front brake rotors, rear drums, and rear axles to allow the five-lug wheels that came on all Mustangs after 1993. That "How-To" appeared in our Nov. '04 issue.
Take a look at the FRPP Web site and also get in contact with Mustangs Unlimited to see what other options are available. While there are clearly many other choices out there, one of the three styles shown here may be exactly what you're looking for when it comes time to update an old Fox with modern wheels while maintaining an OE look.
Shown here is another wheel...
Shown here is another wheel that's nearing classic status. Well-known as Bullitt wheels, these were equipped on numerous other Mustangs besides the 5,582 GT Bullitts sold in 2001. Although the nickname Bullitt stuck, these wheels are really part of the Premium Package offered on all '01-'04 Mustang GTs. To be clear, these wheels were not part of the standard Deluxe Package. To get them, you had to order either a Premium Package car or an '01 Bullitt. Today they're readily available used or new from sources like Mustangs Unlimited. With their 17x8-inch size and 5.72-inch backspacing, they also fit more easily than the Cobra Rs on cars like this relatively low convertible. Several versions of this wheel are available, including charcoal gray, silver, polished, chrome, and black. The charcoal gray versions are PN M-1007-J178.
The now-classic '95 Cobra...
The now-classic '95 Cobra Rs are certainly one of the more popular 17-inch wheels for a Fox-body 5.0. Several copies are also available, but these are the genuine article. Although the '95 Cobra R was a limited-production car and is the only Mustang these wheels came on from the factory, those 250 R models count as a production Mustang since they were produced and more-or-less offered for sale to the public. Compared to the other 17-inch wheels shown here, these are a tighter fit due to their 1-inch larger diameter. These 17x9-inch wheels have a 5.98-inch backspacing and include the cool red R centers. Ford Racing Performance Part's Cobra Rs are PN M-1007-R58.
Since Bullitt and Cobra R...
Since Bullitt and Cobra R wheels are so popular with both Fox and SN-95 owners, it's nice to know there are alternatives, including these lesser-known-but-still-cool wheels that were installed on '03-'04 Mach 1s. These wheels, PN M-1007-M178, have a definite retro look that gives this convertible a distinct and unique look. Even better, like the Bullitt wheels, they're an easy fit since they have the exact same 17x8-inch dimension and 5.72-inch backspacing.
We did our fair share of wheel...
We did our fair share of wheel swapping, and the pair of lightweight Powerbuilt floor jacks we had on hand certainly made the job easier.
All the wheels were mounted...
All the wheels were mounted with 245/45R17 tires, which is a good default 17-inch size for most Fox-body Mustangs. The original Goodyear Eagle ZR45s are on the Bullitt and Mach 1 wheels, while the Cobra Rs have Kumho tires. A 275/40R17 can fit on the back of some cars, but you might run into interference issues on cars with the stock quad-shock system. Possible solutions include a small quarter-inch spacer or eliminating the quad-shocks by going to better upper and lower control arms.