Ford Performance Handling Pack in my V6 S197

[Kniepisler]

Hey all, new to posting in the forum but a long time lurker. I have an 06 4.0l with 121k that has a whooped suspension. My long-range plan for the car is for a NYS street-legal coyote swap, but my short term needs are to refresh the suspension and to upgrade to a 8.8” rear (and cobra pinion). Just pulled the trigger on the axle from a wrecker in Texas, 2010 axle with 3.73’s which should pep up my take offs over the stock 3.31s. Also ordered the GT500 lower control arms as my existing ball joints and LCA bushings were shot.

My question is this, has anyone installed the Ford Performance handling kit for the GTs into their V6 car? I’m assuming that the front strut valving is tuned for the added weight of the V8 and the mounts for the rear sway bars and pan hard bar is unique to the 8.8. But who knows... also planning to replace the rear lower/upper control arms while I’m doing the axle swap...

From what I could find the v8 doesn’t weight that much more than the v6 so the struts valving shouldn’t be that big of an issue. But Maybe I’m wrong...
Any help and insight is appreciated... thanks

KP

 

[Juice]

I ran my coyote swap at an HPDE event, on the 100k stock v6 suspension.
There is a 40 lb difference between the 4.0 and the coyote.

 

[Kniepisler]

I ran my coyote swap at an HPDE event, on the 100k stock v6 suspension.
There is a 40 lb difference between the 4.0 and the coyote.

Thanks and I’ve stumbled across that figure elsewhere as well. But I’m specifically concerned if the lighter weight of the V6 is going to screw with the strut-response or even the ride height. The FPHP is supposed to drop the front end 1” and the rear 1.25”. 40lbs doesn’t seem like a huge amount, but I’m not sure how much Ford tweaked the package to the exact weights of the V8 GTs over the v6.

The coyote swap is at least a year away and until then I’ll be cruising with the v6...

 

[Jack F]

The question I would have to ask is it worth putting a $1500 suspension package into a $3,000 car.

 

[DieHarder]

I swapped my 06 GT suspension into my son's 07. Not FRPP but No appreciable change.

 

[Kniepisler]

The question I would have to ask is it worth putting a $1500 suspension package into a $3,000 car.

The answer is yes, the car is in mint condition and cost me nothing to acquire. Plus I like the 06 styling far better than even the newest models. And the cost of getting a same year/condition GT with only 90 more horse would be at least $7500. Better to put that toward the cost of a coyote swap with a tremec magnum xl...

 

[Jack F]

No, the answer is to wait until next year when used car prices return to a sane level and then buy an 11-14 GT.

 

[Juice]

No, the answer is to wait until next year when used car prices return to a sane level and then buy an 11-14 GT.

Some don't like the 10&up body style.

 

[Kniepisler]

Some don't like the 10&up body style.

Indeed...

 

[OX1]

Thanks and I’ve stumbled across that figure elsewhere as well. But I’m specifically concerned if the lighter weight of the V6 is going to screw with the strut-response or even the ride height. The FPHP is supposed to drop the front end 1” and the rear 1.25”. 40lbs doesn’t seem like a huge amount, but I’m not sure how much Ford tweaked the package to the exact weights of the V8 GTs over the v6.

The coyote swap is at least a year away and until then I’ll be cruising with the v6...

I put probably close to 80 lbs on front end from blower (minus some weight savings up front) and I don't notice any difference in ride height. You that worried about it, put 40 lbs of weights on top of engine.

 

[dhrmx5]

We rant the 05+ V6 car in SCCA T4 racing and won the National Championship with the Ford track suspension. IT WORKS GREAT. The V6 and V8 package use the same spring but the V8 spring is wound shorter than the V6 spring. Same number of coils and same size wire diameter. They both used the same struts and shocks. I would stick with the V6 springs if you can still get them as the cars is pretty low with the V8 springs. Either way it is a great package.

 

[richie9mt]

I would stick with the V6 springs if you can still get them...

Is there a reason why V6 springs [new] wouldn't be available??? New or aftermarket???