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I havent read anything aside from the original post, but go for the fox.
96-98 Mustang GT's are whats known in the Mustang world as "Non PI" cars. Meaning "Non Performanced Improved" when comparing to other 4.6 modulars.
96-98 cars are seriously turds. They're soo slow. The factory intake manifolds are plastic, and WILL crack.
If you buy the 96-98, for good (cheap) gains, do a PI head/cam/intake swap. That means use the factory heads/intake manifolds/cam from a 99-04 GT. Be sure the new intake mani doesnt have the plastic crossover tube, thats where they crack at.
Onto the fox.
These cars have been proven time, and time again. You seriously can't go wrong with a 79-93 Mustang. They're just an all around GREAT platform, regardless of what you're wanting to do with the car.
The 302cu 5.0's are amazing little motors too. They've been around for over 4 decades now, and people are STILL using them for a reason. Parts are cheap, and they'll go stupid fast with ease.
Good example, I own a '95 GT. Its equipped with a stock 302/T5 transmission. I ran 13.12@104.98mph with 3.73 gear, offroad H pipe, mufflers, under drive pulleys, and a little dry shot. The car runs 14.20's all day long.
Another example, my best friend owns a '92 GT. It has a rebuilt 302 (stock bore, stock stroke, stock pistons/rods/crank). Car has Trickflow Twisted Wedge heads, stock cam, 1.72 Scorpion rockers, Hellion Power Systems Gen1 turbo kit, Master Power T70 (.68 a/r). On 10psi, the car made 506hp/612tq.This car is unbelievable. Easily traps 120mph at Bristol. Car gets 18-21mpg, and is dead nuts reliable.
Only bad thing about 302 motors, the stock block's will split literally right down the middle at the mains once you start making so much power. Most people say anything over 500ish is a ticking time bomb. Which is why my car is receiving a F4TE 351w roller motor, stroked .030 over (357cui) Motors have been proven to hold up to more power by a mile.
Go for the fox, in my opinion. You can't really go wrong either way though.
Thanks, I went down this past sunday and checked the 88 GT out first hand. I drove it once....The titles are being switched next week
