Rags To Riches: Chris Smith’s 1992 Termi-Swapped Fox Body ‘Vert

 

When browsing Mustang Week, Ford Mustangs of all colors and generations under the sun (literally) are packed in each nook and cranny of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. From the drag strip to the beach and everything in between, it’s as if somebody let loose a rumbling king sized bag of Mustang skittles. The bright colors and crazy combinations have everyone braving the July summer heat for a week to check out some of the sweetest rides to grace the Mustang world. The mall parking lot show is packed full of ponies with hoods propped, and this is where most of the wild builds can be ogled over. It is here that StangTV stumbled across this super clean, yet awesome build.

I pulled up to a junkyard and this car was about to be crushed. -Chris Smith

Chris Smith from High Point, North Carolina, is the proud owner of this insane 1992 Fox-body Mustang convertible with quite the extensive mod list. Just by looking at the exterior, it just looks like a super clean white Fox-body ‘vert with perfect contrasting black trim and convertible top, but just pop the hood and you will see just how much has been put into this ride. This car has been in Chris’s possession for the last eight years where it has come a long way since he first came across it by accident.

Photo gallery

VIEW FULL GALLERY >

“I pulled up to a junkyard and this car was about to be crushed,” Chris says. “I paid $1,000 and saved it.” You would never have guessed that this car was sitting on death row with just minutes to spare before facing any car’s worst nightmare, the crusher.

Chris Smith's 1992 Fox-body houses this 4.6L Terminator Swap topped with a 2.8 Kenne Bell blower.

Chris Smith’s 1992 Fox-body houses this 4.6L Terminator Swap topped with a 2.8 Kenne Bell blower.

The original 5.0L has since been replaced with something a bit more modern and indeed more sinister. Chris removed the old factory engine and performed a Terminator swap straight out of a 2003 SVT Cobra and then topped it off with a 2.8L Kenne Bell blower. The original plan was to throw in a Shelby GT500 5.4L engine into the car, but it was understandably out of the price range. He went with the next best thing and picked up a ’03 SVT Cobra just for the swap.

“I wanted 700 horsepower and still get into it and drive it to the beach with no problems,” Chris explains. “I wanted reliable with horsepower and to be different from everyone else.”

“I wanted 700 horsepower and still get into it and drive it to the beach with no problems,” Chris explains. “I wanted reliable with horsepower and to be different from everyone else.”

The swap was done last year right before Chris left for Mustang Week. “It only took a couple of months to actually do and we knocked out the wiring in just two weeks,” Chris says. He said that the whole thing would never have been possible if it weren’t for Dan from Pro Dyno, who took the car in after hours at the very last minute to get it done in time for Chris to roll out to the beach. It was finished late Thursday night before the festivities started at Mustang Week that same weekend.

Chris-Smith-116

This Kenne Bell-blown 4.6L Terminator engine features a 3.5 upper pulley and a 4-lb. Metco lower pulley routing power down through a Cobra T56 transmission upgraded 26-spline input, Spec clutch, Steeda Tri-Ax shifter, and aluminum driveshaft. Also installed was a Stifflers cross member. Aiding with added airflow is a JLT cold air intake with slot-style meter. Exhaust flows down through long-tube headers, an X-pipe, and Mac catback exhaust to give this Fox-body its threatening growl.

A 1994 Cobra rear end has been swapped into the Fox body, along with 31-spline Moser axles complete with 3.73 gears, and a Summit rear end girdle. The suspension components consist of UPR K-member kit up front with KYB struts, rear BBK control arms and KYB shocks with torque box reinforcements. Feeding the beast by fuel delivery is a Lethal Performance 1400 hp kit with twin 465 pumps, 60-lb. injectors, and a custom made fuel tank.

Chris-Smith-104Most everything is performance modifications, but complimenting the exterior are classic chrome deep dish Bullitt wheels. Also, a Kaneen cowl hood offers a mean appearance and gives enough clearance for the blower. The interior is super clean complete with SVT gauge pod. Smoked headlights and taillights add a nice contrast to exterior against the bright white paint. A black roll bar also adds a nice aesthetic touch as well as playing its role for safety. All of the work done to this Fox-body, the entire build and paint, were done in a garage behind Chris’s house.

Chris is no stranger to Mustangs, which may be obvious considering many first timers probably wouldn’t go straight for a Terminator swap in their Fox-body. He has owned many over the years and he even has his own business revolving around them called Trinity Stangs. If in the North Carolina area and looking for Mustang parts, he may have just what you’re looking for and/or you may have purchased parts from him. He buys Mustangs, returns them to their stock state, and then sells the performance parts. “Most people want to buy a stock Mustang so they can do the mods that they want to do to the car,” Chris explains as to why he turns the cars back to their factory settings. Most people aren’t looking for an already modified Mustang. OEM and aftermarket parts are easy to come by to customize any Mustang to meet personal wants and needs.

It is obvious that Chris knows what he’s doing when it comes to Mustangs, and this ’92 terminator-swapped Fox-body ‘vert definitely proves that. The car has come far from its almost death date with the crusher, and it certainly fell into the right hands at the right time. Some may call it fate, and some may call it luck, but all can agree that the outcome is certainly badass.

In regards to the build, Chris would like to send a big thank you to Mark Ford, JL Handy, Gabrielle Bartlette, Dean Smith, Jimmy Bishop, and Shawn Faircloth.

About the author

Amie Williams

Amie's love and appreciation for fine machinery began when she was a kid spending summers with her father, a pilot and skydiving instructor. Her passion for everything automotive, and especially American muscle, continued after her dad passed. It was then Amie decided to become a journalist and photographer. She currently is a freelance contributor for Power Automedia.
Read My Articles

Blue Oval Muscle in your inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from FordMuscle, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
FordMuscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

FordMuscle

We'll send you the most interesting FordMuscle articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

FordMuscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

Ford Muscle

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


Muscle Car & Hot Rods
Muscle Car & Hot Rods
Drag Racing
Drag Racing

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • Muscle Car & Hot Rods Muscle Car & Hot Rods
  • Drag Racing Drag Racing

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

Ford Muscle

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Ford Muscle - The Ultimate Ford Mustang Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading