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1979-1993 Fox-Body Mustang Frame Connectors

1979-1993 Fox-Body Mustang Frame Connectors

If there is one, single modification that every Fox-body Mustang on the planet can benefit from, it’s a set of frame connectors. Yes, 1979-1993 Fox-Body Mustang Frame Connectors are a must-have item, especially if you plan on adding power or heading to the track. And BrothersPerformance.com stocks a few options, including the BBK Gripp frame connectors that are featured in the video and sell for just over $100.00!

Ford Fox-body vehicles were designed in the mid-1970s with a great importance on saving weight. America had just gone through a gas crisis and economy was on everyone’s mind. This meant the Mustang (and other Fox vehicles) was getting a compact design and the unitized Fox-body fit the bill. It allowed for the popular modified MacPherson strut front suspension that used a bolt-in stamped steel K-member, with lower A-arms, separate coil springs and struts that connected the spindles to the strut towers in the chassis. The front combined with a non-parallel four-link rear, where the springs ride on the lower control arms. This arrangement was very basic, using stamped steel arms with rubber bushings to connect the rear end housing to the chassis. Most importantly, the design enabled Ford (and Lincoln/Mercury) to use the chassis for a wide range of vehicles.

The suspension/chassis setup worked well for the time, but can be greatly enhanced for performance and longevity with aftermarket components. As horsepower or torque is added, the chassis will likely flex. A close inspection of a high-mileage Fox may reveal cracks in critical areas, such as the rear suspension pick-up points. Despite this, you can affordably stiffen the chassis of your Fox by adding a set of frame connectors.

An affordable option is the BBK Gripp Mustang Sub-Frame Connector kit. These frame connectors add strength to the structure and help resist flex. BrothersPerformance.com offers a variety of sub-frame connector kits for all 1979 to 2004 Mustangs.

The Gripp connectors are made from boxed steel and can be bolted in or welded for extra strength. And like we stated, they are a must for any on-track activities including drag racing, road racing, competing in autocross, or just driving your Mustang aggressively around town. Stiffening the chassis will also help to keep your Mustang aligned, and another bonus is that your doors and will open and close more smoothly.

BBK’s connectors come in a Charcoal gray metallic powdercoated finish that’s attractive and durable. And they are made right here in America.

This entry was posted in New Products, Ford Mustang, Great Videos You MUST See!, Ford Mustang Video and tagged Drag Racing, Brothers Performance, BBK, BBK Performance, mustang, evan smith, america, evan j smith, fox-body, frame connectors, gripp, unibody on December 18, 2014 by Evan Smith.
Affordable Ways To Freshen The Fox-Body Ford Mustang

Affordable Ways To Freshen The Fox-Body Ford Mustang

Mustang enthusiasts are forever looking for Affordable Ways To Freshen The Fox-Body Ford Mustang, which was produced between 1979-1993. Whether you’ve had your Fox forever, or it’s a brand-new project car, you’ll want your Ford looking neat and tidy. And with over 20 years as a leading supplier of aftermarket parts, BrothersPerformance.com is your number one source for everything Mustang.

Despite being introduced in 1979, the Fox-body Mustang is still considered a late-model performance car. It was the first Mustang to be equipped with electronic fuel injection, which came in 1985/86 and the technology has moved forward ever since.

Fox Mustangs remain affordable and virtually all the parts, from bumper covers to driveline components, to door seals and interior trim, are available either as new old stock (NOS) or reproduction. It really doesn’t matter if you’re building a street machine, show car, race car or doing a restoration, the Fox Mustang fits the bill.

Recently, the team at Brothers Performance spent a few hours installing a new ACC carpet (which retails for about $129.00) in James Bickham’s 1990 5.0 LX hatchback. Bickam’s Fox sports a warmed-over 302 with a head, cam, and intake package, and it wears sparkling silver paint and aftermarket wheels.

His carpet, however, was shot. More than just beat up, it was worn through in one area, and had multiple stains and discoloring, too. Thankfully, the fix was easy. Brothers Performance stocks the complete line of ACC carpets for all 1979-2014 Ford Mustangs in a variety of color options. And Brothers also has a state-of-the-art installation center, so we are able to handle the job for you. Swapping your carpet isn’t overly difficult, but it will take an afternoon, some basic hand tools and a little patience. Like any cosmetic job, it’s best to work slowly, especially since you’ll need to cut and trim the new carpet for a perfect fit.

For a before-and-after look at our installation, be sure to click on the video link, which we’ve attached. I think you’ll be impressed with the results.

This entry was posted in New Products, Great Videos You MUST See!, Ford Mustang Video, New Video and tagged Brothers Performance, mustang, evan smith, evan j smith, 1990 mustang, 1990 fox-body mustang, acc, mustang carpet, youtube, video, Ford Mustang on December 16, 2014 by Evan Smith.
Headers Give Your Ford Mustang More Power

Headers Give Your Ford Mustang More Power—that’s a fact.

Aftermarket exhaust headers improve exhaust flow and cylinder scavenging compared to stock cast manifolds or tubular shorty headers. With that, most aftermarket headers (long-tube or short-tube) feature larger-than-stock and often longer primary tubes, and a performance collector design.

If this style header makes more power, why doesn’t the factory use them? Fact is, very few factory vehicles are equipped with an exhaust system that’s optimized for power. That’s because tubular headers are more expensive to produce and they generally don’t fit as tight to the engine, which would slow assembly at the factory.

And while every engine is different, a typical set of high-quality aftermarket headers, like those sold at BrothersPerformance.com can be worth 25-40 horsepower depending on your combination.

In this example, we installed BBK 1 ¾-inch long-tubes which feature 1 ¾-inch primary pipes that are CNC-mandrel bent, a thick 3/8-inch flange for solid sealing, and clean welds for strength and durability. In addition, they have a 2-bolt lower flange with a ball-and-socket collector so you never have to worry about old-fashioned header leaks. And all BBK header kits come with new gaskets, installation hardware, and detailed instructions.

If you’re Coyote is really pumping out the power, you should consider the larger BBK 1 7/8-inch headers. These are more suited for max-effort naturally aspirated engines, supercharged engines or nitrous applications. It’s important to mention that BrothersPerformance.com sells header and exhaust kits for all 1979-present Mustangs, including those with engine swaps.

When you make the move from shorty to long-tube headers, you’ll need a shorter mid-pipe. Fortunately, BBK Performance sells a dedicated X-pipe to mate its long-tubes to virtually any Mustang exhaust. BBK’s mid-pipes feature 3-inch Mandrel Bent Aluminized Tubing, oxygen sensor bungs. Unfortunately, they can’t be sold or shipped to California residents.

Simple modifications that compliment headers on a 2011-2014 Ford Mustang GT are cold-air kits, throttle bodies, flash tuners, gears and exhaust mufflers. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to click on the video to see how much power we gained with our 2011 Mustang GT test car.

This entry was posted in News, Ford Mustang, Great Videos You MUST See!, Ford Mustang Video and tagged 2011 Ford Mustang, 2012 Ford Mustang, BBK Performance, Mustang GT, ford, mustang, 2013 ford mustang, evan smith, 2014 ford mustang gt, evan j smith, headers, long-tubes, horsepower on December 15, 2014 by Evan Smith.
Mustang is Still Rolling After 50 Strong Years

Mustang is Still Rolling After 50 Strong Years

The Ford Mustang has been around for 50 years—it’s been the talk of the automotive media now for months. There have been 50-year celebrations of great magnitude, Ford even recreated the feat of assembling a Mustang atop the Empire State Building in Manhattan. The cake-topper was the introduction of the all-new 2015 Ford Mustang. Yes, Mustang is still rolling after 50 strong years. In fact, it just keeps getting healthier.

Having a nameplate last 50 years, puts the Mustang in rare air. Other vehicles that survived half a century (or more) include the Porsche 911 (1963-present), Chevrolet Suburban (1933-present), Ford F-series truck (1948-present), Ford Thunderbird (1955-2005), Corvette (1953-present), okay we know there was no ’83 Vette, and the original Mini (1959-2000) to name a few.

From its humble beginnings, Mustang has grown to become a world-wide icon and a timeless item for pop culture. There are hundreds of Mustang clubs, web forums, dedicated websites, magazine and even aftermarket companies, which specialize in Mustangs. Ford Mustang currently has over 8 million Facebook followers and Mustang is one of the most commonly modified vehicles. Mustangs have graced the silver screen, you can find an endless supply of Mustang toys, collectibles, RC Mustangs, even bands sing about them—who can forget Vanilla Ice’s drop-top 5.0? The power of Mustang will just grow stronger with the announcement of Ford’s new Global Performance Team.

Racing history has been covered in countless books, too. The Ford Mustang is unrivaled on track, as they have won races all over the world. And Ford’s racing involvement continues today, as Mustangs can be seen winning in NASCAR, NHRA, IHRA, NASA, NMRA, NMCA, World Challenge, and there are thousands of weekend warriors who bracket race, autocross, or compete in time trials or open track events. You can even buy a Cobra Jet or Boss 302 racecar straight from Ford. And let’s not forget how popular Mustang have become in Drifting.

Of course other Ford models like the Fiesta compete in Rally, its Daytona Prototype Sports Car program is very strong with the Roush-Yates twin-turbo EcoBoost engine, and rumor has it that Ford will return to Le Mans with a new Supercar very soon. Mustang fans will soon get a new Shelby model, the GT350 and an “R” model is likely to be announced soon. Ford also recently announced plans to sell the Focus RS world-wide.

Through the years, the Ford Mustang has remained affordable, it possesses style, performance, and has a racing pedigree that is historical. Just look at social media— everyone wants to be the “first” to do something with a Mustang. According to Ford, over 50 years, of the more than 9.2 million Mustangs that have been produced and sold, most of them originated close to Ford’s home base in Dearborn, Michigan. And I think many will be around celebrating 100 years of Mustang.

This entry was posted in Ford Mustang, 2015 Ford Mustang News and tagged Shelby, ford, mustang, nmra, 2015 Mustang, corvette, NMCA, nascar, empire state building, dearborn, global performance, social media, Michigan, shelby ft-350, daytona, Facebook, first, 50 years, thunderbird, chevrolet, mini, focus, fiesta, manhattan, nhra on December 12, 2014 by Evan Smith.