Rob and Drew,,, Need some thoughts on a 86 Coupe 5.0 setup

[KAILUAZ]

So I recently acquired a 86 coupe. My plan for the car is to have a auto-crosser that is still street legal,, but it wont be a daily driver. The car was a 4 banger that has a 302 transplant, its a Frankenstein,,, I don't care about cosmetics.
I'm gonna strip the interior etc, no a/c or smog the normal stuff. I have a LSC rear with disks lined up and will change out the fronts using SN95 spindles etc.
Keeping in mind my measly county salary, what should I look at as far as suspension goes, front and rear. I'm not looking to compete so I don't care about rules or classing issues. A new K member would be fine. Just looking to have some fun.
This is the 7th Stang I've owned and I know the normal stuff, I'm looking for some info from you guys who know auto-crossing Mustangs.
It will be a while before I hit the track and I'm trying to lay out a plan before I do anything to the car.
Thanks!!

[WAFlowers]

So would you call it the FrankenCoupe or the FrankenStang?

[KAILUAZ]

So would you call it the FrankenCoupe or the FrankenStang?

Its definitely FrankenStang,, it was free so I cant complain too much

[AScoda]

How complete was the conversion? Did they swap the suspension and rear axle as well? If not, you have soft springs and front swaybar and I believe the 4cyls of that year still had 7.5 inch rear end.
Make sure you have an 8.8 rear which will have the factory posi. Even better if it has better rear gear in it.
Get a spring & shock/strut package together. Get subframe connectors. The full-length ones from Maximum motorsports are the best you can get. Will make a world of difference in stiffening up the flexi-flyer chassis.
Suspension bushings from 1986 are probably pretty scary by now. Poly is good everywhere in front, not so much in back.
The entire rear suspension in pretty much garbage from the factory. In does fine if you are traveling in a straight line, but when you start going from side to side and ask if to control axle windup and side motion at the same time, it doesn't do either very well. Snap oversteer is no help when autocrossing.
Poke around http://www.maximummotorsports.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Go to their product listings and you will find a lot of info. Check the rear suspension section and read about the upper and lower control arms.
When mustangs are involved, they are the gurus of all things suspension.

Will add more as I remember what I surely am forgetting right now.

Always remember this: Make it safe, make it stop, make it handle, then make it fast. In that order, no exceptions!

[KAILUAZ]

Its got a 8.8 transplant now, but I have the LSC rear on the way with 3.55 gears and trac-lok. It still has all the 4 cyl suspension so I will be starting from scratch (thats why the front is so low).
Ill check out Maximum, they have been around a long time and I know they race what they sell.
What about wheels, whats light and cheap? And whats the max usable size to run?
Thanks for the info,, keep it coming!

[AScoda]

You are going to 5 lug, so any later model mustang wheels will fit. Other ford rims will probably fit, but I don't know what their offsets are, so not sure.
You can pick up take-off 17x8 mustang rims all day for cheap if you don't mind a little curb rash. Some you can buy new for around $100 a wheel.
245/45/17 tires on 17x8's will fit. You may get a little rubbing at full lock, maybe not. Depspite Ford's legendary accurate build tolerances , it will vary from car to car.
17x9's will fit fine in back, but you have to have the right offsets in front and you may still have problems. You could take the old BFH to the front fenders for some home-made flares and maybe fit 275's on some 9 inch rims front and rear. Or you may just wreck your fenders and still rub on something.
I suggest to stick to the 8's and 245 tires. Don't put bigger tires on back or you will just dial in more understeer, which you will already have in spades.

[KAILUAZ]

Cool, thanks,, one day I'll get out there. I just want to plan this car out and do it the right way. For once I don't mind taking my time.

[blacksheep-1]

sorry, I was asleep, uh, oh yeah. Definately like Drew says, what kills us is the front end weight, anyhting you can do toget rid of that is the ticket, front subframe, coil overs move the battery to the trunk, A/C delete pulleys and see if you can even slide the motor back a few inches with the new subframe (some you can, some you can't).
http://www.seanhylandmotorsport.com/onl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 16c9f2bd93
http://www.bmrfabrication.com/2005MustangSUSPENSION.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.agentfortyseven.com/chassis_" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... index.html
agent 47 makes some cool stuff but I don't know if they cover your car.
Maximum is also good like Drew suggested.
BTW, that looks just like the pile I just bought... 8)
Maybe an earlier version of this?
http://www.agentfortyseven.com/gallery/racecar.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
vid clips
http://www.agentfortyseven.com/racing/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[KAILUAZ]

Thanks Rob, I'm gonna start tearing into it this summer. Just getting my game plan done first, this time I want to do it right and not cut too many corners.

[blacksheep-1]

Another basically free mod is when you're in there weld up all the factory sticth welds so they make a solid bead.

[KAILUAZ]

If I knew how to weld Id do it,,, I guess I could rent a welder and learn

[KAILUAZ]

What do you think about running manual brakes? I'm looking at the Maximum kit.

[Anonymous]

I would agree. You should shed some weight from the front. I had a 87GT that I used March A/C & Sterring eliminator bracket. Is all I had left was the water pump and Alternator. It cost about $130 new in 1999 dollars. You may be able to pick a used one up on ebay. Works great and easy to install. Unlike the "power pulleys" this really freed up some Poneys

[Stealth Mode]

i never realized so many ppl from tamparacing r on here. cant wait to get out there with u guys