My 2005 GT 5 speed was modified in 2006 for drag racing, and I raced it hard until about 2011, then wound down a bit and finally garaged it. Over time, many drag only parts (struts/shocks/antirollbars,etc) were replaced with street components to make it as comfortable and reliable as I can for cruising around town. I take it out a bit on weekends and at moderate speed the car is fine although the steering seems overly sensitive and squirrelly on straight aways although the alignment is supposedly dead on (no "road feel"?). When pushed in corners on our rural back roads, the front end really doesn't want to go where I point it and takes some real concentration. I assume that is "understeer" I'm experiencing--remember I'm a straight line guy! So I want it to be more enjoyable when I want to go for run. Ultimately though, I'd love to try an HPDE event such as Friday At The Track at Summit, and see if a life long drag racing mentality can shift a bit and go do cornering for fun. I'm retiring in December, and although drag racing still holds an appeal, my better half enjoys it more when the ride is more than 11 seconds or so. Go figure.
Getting it back to street has been slow as I looked for $$ deals for front and rear suspension pieces to better suit the street and local cruise seen--I wasn't paying attention to quality or intent at the time. I've ended up with the following either carried over from drag racing (to lighten the car) or to replace suspension pieces:
BMR strut tower brace
BMR boxed non-adjustable lower control arms and relocation brackets
BMR adjustable upper control arm
BMR tubular k-member and non-adjustable a-arms
BMR radiator support/front swaybar bracket
BMR adjustable front sway bar
BMR rear sway bar with relocation kit
BMR adjustable panhard bar
Tokico adjustable shocks/struts
Steeda sport springs
American Muscle AMR Wheels Dark Stainless 18x9, 18x10
Continental ExtremeContact DW 255/45-18, 285/40-18
Add in 127500 high lift cams, aluminum intake manifold, cold air kit, long tubes, Hanlon built 3650 5-speed, etc and you have the car. It runs fine especially at high rpm, and while it's been custom tuned for track duty, currently it's on a BAMA tune that seems to just as solid (I bought a new tuner so what the hey).
So with what I have, what can I improve? Air pressures, tire alignment adjustments, adjusting front sway bar (currently in middle setting), shock settings? What's the best path for process of elimination?
That said, what do I have that's shit? I'm reading a lot of complaints about D-Specs, but like I say in my hands they feel fine--I don't know what "better" feels like! Is the staggered set up a problem or the tires or both?
Some guidance, even a book recommendation, would be a good start. And finally, what shops in or near Maryland really know their suspensions on S197 Mustangs? Lots of folks will sell you anything they have, and many shops are dragstrip oriented, but I don't know of any that get the corners. Yet. Thanks in advance, and yes, I have been reading the many many threads that cover bits and pieces of the above...
Getting it back to street has been slow as I looked for $$ deals for front and rear suspension pieces to better suit the street and local cruise seen--I wasn't paying attention to quality or intent at the time. I've ended up with the following either carried over from drag racing (to lighten the car) or to replace suspension pieces:
BMR strut tower brace
BMR boxed non-adjustable lower control arms and relocation brackets
BMR adjustable upper control arm
BMR tubular k-member and non-adjustable a-arms
BMR radiator support/front swaybar bracket
BMR adjustable front sway bar
BMR rear sway bar with relocation kit
BMR adjustable panhard bar
Tokico adjustable shocks/struts
Steeda sport springs
American Muscle AMR Wheels Dark Stainless 18x9, 18x10
Continental ExtremeContact DW 255/45-18, 285/40-18
Add in 127500 high lift cams, aluminum intake manifold, cold air kit, long tubes, Hanlon built 3650 5-speed, etc and you have the car. It runs fine especially at high rpm, and while it's been custom tuned for track duty, currently it's on a BAMA tune that seems to just as solid (I bought a new tuner so what the hey).
So with what I have, what can I improve? Air pressures, tire alignment adjustments, adjusting front sway bar (currently in middle setting), shock settings? What's the best path for process of elimination?
That said, what do I have that's shit? I'm reading a lot of complaints about D-Specs, but like I say in my hands they feel fine--I don't know what "better" feels like! Is the staggered set up a problem or the tires or both?
Some guidance, even a book recommendation, would be a good start. And finally, what shops in or near Maryland really know their suspensions on S197 Mustangs? Lots of folks will sell you anything they have, and many shops are dragstrip oriented, but I don't know of any that get the corners. Yet. Thanks in advance, and yes, I have been reading the many many threads that cover bits and pieces of the above...