Video: Tuff Mounts Barra-powered Fox-body Mustang comes to life

Jason Waye’s Mustang project is finally a runner

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It’s been a while since we checked in on the Tuff Mounts Barra Mustang dubbed ‘FOXSAKE.’ In between several other killer projects like a VH Commodore Group C racer and the Craven Mild Monaro Sports Sedan (not to mention his own business), Tuff Mounts head honcho Jason Waye has been toiling on this 1989 Fox-body for the better part of three years.

Plenty of work has been done since Jason’s last video update seven months ago, and it’s now time to get the pony up and trotting.

If you’re unfamiliar with the story so far, Jason and the Tuff Mounts crew picked up the Fox-body ’Stang as a stocker in October 2018. With the factory 2.3-litre four-pot under the bonnet, it made a pathetic 42rwkW on the dyno.

Since then, it’s copped a stock-rotating-assembly FG Barra with Plazmaman gear and a stonking BorgWarner snail. In addition, Adam Rogash and his MPW Performance team installed a super-tight, ANDRA-spec six-point rollcage, which now wears a coat of velvety red to match the interior.

Other goodies include a Haltech Elite 2500 ECU, pre-terminated loom and an iC-7 dash. The car has functioned as a test-bed for Tuff Mounts Fox-body kit, as the Aussie six continues to grow in popularity Stateside.

In part eight of the build series, the Tuff Mounts boys are finally ready to hit the key. Adam was tasked with tuning the car despite being over 700km away, handling the job remotely via Haltech’s software.

Three-and-a-half hours of cranking, firing and tweaking later, the Mustang was idling away happily in the Tuff Mounts workshop.

It’s a win for Jason, but there’s still a way to go before FOXSAKE hits the quarter-mile. Glass has gone into the car since the video, but suspension, brake and transmission testing is still needed. A performance tune is also on the to-do list before the car runs into the low nine-second bracket.

Keep an eye on the Tuff Mounts YouTube channel for more FOXSAKE action soon!

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