The Fox-body Mustang has written itself into the chronicles of drag racing as one of the best strip vehicles of all time. From its triangulated four-link rear suspension design, to its lightweight unibody construction, few, if any, are better. Even Bow Tie guys have caught on, throwing LS engines between the fenders. The now-classic and sporty look has ripened to become established as ever on the street and in the field at car shows as well.
Whether you're hammering down the strip, or cruising around town, there's one modification that most everyone makes-wheels and tires. Short of mini-tubbing the rear, few things can be done to help your Fox accept a larger tire without rubbing.
The fender finisher is the...
The fender finisher is the last step, and can be used with the wheels and tires on the car.
One solution to this problem is the Eastwood fender roller tool (PN 31158). With its heavy-duty steel construction and powder coat finish, this tool is built tough and up for the job. For the affordable price of $269.99-less than a set of most rear tires-it's an easy and effective way to keep your fenders from scrubbing away at the precious rubber (that your saving to burn off elsewhere).
The tool comes fully assembled, so all you have to do to begin is support the vehicle and remove the wheels. The tool mounts directly to the hub using your lug nuts, and adjusts using the height adjustment knob. Once you've obtained the proper length from the hub, it is time to set the roller wheel angle. It is best to start at a shallow angle, and progressively sharpen the angle slowly.
Once you've achieved a good angle to begin, heat the area to be rolled with a heat gun. A heat gun kit (PN 43522) is available from Eastwood for $49.99. Heating the surface helps soften the painted area to avoid cracking. Slowly roll the tool back and forth, turning the pressure screw to maintain pressure on the lip. Continue heating with the heat gun as you go.
Once you've achieved the desired point, simply unbolt the tool from the hub. The next step is to use the fender finisher (PN 11537; $39.99). The finisher is designed to fine-tune the fender lip, even after the wheels and tires are installed. It is also recommended to heat the surface when using the finisher.
We used these tools on our SSP coupe, and it took about 30 minutes to do both rear quarters-start to finish. So if you have a Fox-body-or any other Mustang or fast Ford-that needs a little extra tire clearance, check out these handy tools from Eastwood. They worked great for us.