5 spd fox LX's were much faster than high 14's stock, low 14's were the norm with a good driver, and 13.8's would be easily achievable with 3.73's and free mods.

 

Agreed. But stock...no way.

Anyways. I beat a 1990 mustang gt 5 speed that had a full exhaust, 3.73 gears,75 shot of nitrous, and he had it lightened up about 150 pounds as well.

This was when I had just a Lid and chokemaster cat-back.

We raced 3 times.

#1-On the highway from 70 on...he didnt use his nitrous...looked like he threw the car in reverse I beat him so bad.

#2- from about a 65 roll which was a really bad spot because it is to high for second and to low for 3rd.I just threw it in third and said oh well, He went before me and got a 1/2 car advantage, I pulled about a car back on him and was almost a length ahead by the time I hit 4th gear at around 100.

#3- First gear roll I went first, so I had about a half car advantage. raced to about 110. Had about 3 cars on him.

So...I think you should be fine. Just dont screw up to bad...or do a first gear roll when you are spooled to about 3k, then hit it.

 

the lx's are lighter than the gt's, but I don't think an lx would be faster than a new gt 260 hp vs. 200. New gt's run low to mid 14's.

 

The great debate rages on! I've seen so many different times from Mustangs its not funny. My friends 88 GT with 4.10s went 14.0 @ 100. No other mods. It was ridiculous fast. Another buddy had an 89 LB with 3.27s and the best it could muster was a 15.2 @ 89. After intake and exhaust it cracked a 14.0 @ 100. I'm not sure how much the GT weighed, but it had to at least be equal to the 3150 that the LX weighed with no driver. 88s were speed density, and a bit faster I think stock. Boy that 89 was SLOW, until he put in the 436 stroker with AFR 225s. It was rolling pretty good then.

 

Yeah...the same kid I raced got a 14.8 when his car was bone stock with 2.73 gears. That is pretty respectable for a bone stock 90 gt with that gearing.

But I just dont see any way of cutting it that 225 horsepower can get you 13's with no kind of suspension, gearing,weight reduction, or slicks/radials of any kind in a car over 3000 pounds.

The speed density L98 cars (1990-1992 f-body) with 245 horse and 345 torque ran mid 14's. Might get a low 14 once in a while. Have heard stories of high 13's. Same kind of myth.

 

It's happened many times and is documented many times over, so it's no myth. 5.0 Fox bodies have a close to 2 second spread from the fastest (no option notches with a 5spd and 3.08 gears from 87-88) to the slowest (fully loaded AOD convertibles saddled with 2.73 gears).

 

Good Morning. I have a pretty soft spot for "stock" 5.0 racing and such, and thus enjoying putting in my thoughts whenever the subject comes up. I pretty much echo what Scott said above, and will add a bit more.

Bone stock 5.0s typically ran mid to high 14s back in "the day." Some of the quicker ones went low 14s, some of the slower ones couldn't get out of the 15s. The quickest of the quickest (generally 87/88 low-option Coupes) occassionally cracked into the high 13s in 100% factory bone stock condition ("free mods" wasn't even an acronym back in the pre-internet days).

The first documented case I can remember this happening was back in late 1987. Cars Illustrated (which eventually morphed into MM&FF) went 13.9 at Atco with Tony DeFao's stock 87 LX Hatch. A few others here and there have done it too, though it is rather rare.

With gears, slicks, and exhaust, 5.0s can and have gone well into the 12s. My own 88 Coupe went 12.5s without ever lifting a valve cover, and with very little weight reduction (they are already very light to begin with).

Certainly 99+ GTs can and have done the same. As mentioned above, they are rated at 260 HP, while the old Fox-body 5.0s were rated at 225. How is it possible then for the old cars to be almost as quick as the new ones? Main reason is weight. The difference between a 99+ GT (which come mostly loaded, as far as weight is concerned) and a low-option Fox-body LX is in the neighborhood of 250 lbs. My own Coupe was ordered (by me) with no A/C, cloth seats, etc (though I did have power windows and a decent stereo). It tipped the scales right at 3000 lbs w/o driver.

Also, while weaker, the T5 has a lighter rotating assembly, and is somewhat more efficient than either a T45 (found in 99-01 GTs) or the T3650 (found in 01-14 GTs). In back-to-back testing, I made 5-6 more RWHP with a T5 over T45 (not a lot, but measurable). I suspect the difference between it and the 3650 would be a bit more, as that tranny is heavier still than a T45.

 

I really didnt mean to stir the pot but I saw it with my own eyes several times. My friends 87GT with the factory 373s 5 speed. It was ragged to the max with 1/2 inch dust under the hood. But would still pull 13.8 at the track. It even had some huge carpetless boom box in the back. He was an excellent driver and times will vary w/ temp..ect... The LXs are supposed to be a little faster becouse they are lighter. This is why a good 87-88GT goes for the same amount or more than an 93-95 LT1. Good luck and I hope you win!

 

When I said myth I didnt mean it never happened. It was really rare. Not every LS1 will run a 12.8 like evan smith did, and not every LT1 will run a 13.4, like I have seen claimed.

I even remember a website that some of you can still probably find of a guy with a red 91 z28 350 that has actual time slips and VIDEO posted of his stock 350 tpi running 13.89....this is a "mythical time" but it surely happened.HE had several other time slips with none slower than a 14.1.

But surely it is possible. But it is a "MYTH" that they are readily capapble of this when the average car is a half second slower than that.

My friend can drive like nobodys business, he ran a 14.8 with 2.73 gears, his car...respectable, ill leave it at that.

 

Well it was fun having the debate but I guess the true story will be revealed this weekend because that is when I am going to race him let me go over it one more time. It's a 90 lx vert, cam, shorties, h-pipe, flowmaster, bbk intake, 4.11 gears. Let you guys know what happens.

 

I beat a very well driven car that is lighter than the one your racing.
The car also puts out more than the car you are racing as it had a 75 shot of nitrous. ONly thing is that the car your racing has steeper gears. SO I would put them at about the same times being equally driven. A slight edge to the 90 gt.

You will only lose if its your fault...your car is faster...that is a fact.

 

The fox bodies are a like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.

That said, I know of a guy who ran a 8.3 @83mph in his 90GT with: 3.27's, Tremec 3550, shorties, flowmasters, gutted cats, and a B303 cam. This was on a 186k motor that had never been apart too. With ported stock heads and 3.55's, he got down to 7.9 @86mph, all on stock injectors and intake. The 5.0's were fast for their time and still are to an extent. Soooo much easier to mod than a 4.6, and save for the T-5's, the cars are very durable.

Jason