I know I wasn't very close to the limits of the car, but I'd agree with the sentiment.
It (obviously) didn't feel like a brand-new car, but it still felt composed.
Tired shocks, squishy suspension, brakes of unknown origin. We’ve all been there.
It’s like riding a snake. Will it turn? Will it brake? Will it put down power?
Maybe, maybe not. It’s like a box of chocolates.
This past weekend, I finally got to drive our Mustang project in anger. I have run other Mustangs, but up until now, I have just putted around on the streets in this one.
Initial impressions after the first turn: The chassis definitely feels tired–all of it–but driving a worn-out car can still tell you a lot about the bones. Do the basics work and function as they should–or are there major underlying problems to address?
This reminded me of those first laps in my old EG-chassis Civic Si. It pitched, it leaned, it struggled to put down power. It was an exercise in why good shocks matter.
But there was something there to nurture, to tune for competition. And looking back, that Civic remains one of my favorite autocross cars: alive, responsive, eager to change directions–perhaps, as I sometimes found, too eager. It might not have been the ringer chassis for the class, but it represented a good effort that didn’t simply follow the heard.
Likewise, the Mustang feels all there, even in used-car-lot condition. Prep for this debut event? We freshened the fluids–oil, transmission, brakes–while fitting new rear wheel bearings because they were howling fierce. We installed rear bump stops since none were present.
[Our brake fluid resembled Dr. Pepper. Time to get to work.]
The rear brakes were nearly metal on metal, so we slipped in some inexpensive parts store replacements. The goal, basically, was to make it safe and prevent any further damage.
While the Mustang needs a while to take a set–gotta wait for those front all-season Continentals to find some traction–once it does, it carves nicely and predictably. You can place it with the throttle. It never felt nervous or evil.
Our SCCA Club Spec Mustang rules dictate the parts that we can install, but they’ll cover our needs: Koni shocks, Eibach springs, camber plates. We have to run a spec Goodyear tire, but I hear they’re predictable. Adding some limited-slip action back to the diff will also help.
The brakes, surprisingly, felt confident. Halfway into a few turns, I kicked myself for getting on them too early. Could I have shaved a few tenths with some aggressiveness? Probably. Again, real pads, as allowed by the rules, will help.
Power? Enough for the chassis. Plus, in theory, everyone in the class will make the same.
About halfway through a big left-hand sweeper on my third run, it hit me: Yeah, this is going to be a good race car.
I know I wasn't very close to the limits of the car, but I'd agree with the sentiment.
It (obviously) didn't feel like a brand-new car, but it still felt composed.
I love that you did this.
My tuner friend and I are always at odds. My approach has always been make it run then see how awful it truly is versus and his approach of meticulously measuring everything and replacing everything that isn't perfect.
The first autocross with our Mustang revealed the brakes sucked, the diff slipped, the clutch slipped and the front springs were all wrong.
I've fixed all of those issues and we went from 4 seconds of the lead car to 1.5 seconds back. Once we change the gearing and add chassis braces the car will be competitive.
Can't wait to see how your fixes improve the car.
In reply to Tom1200 :
Me too. I'm eager to get behind the wheel once we've installed all the Club Spec upgrades.
Tom's best time with the Mustang (on horrible tires) was 39.3 as compared to my D Street time of 37.0 on Falkens. I'd wager that the tires cost him at least 2 seconds, so that bodes well for it's future competitiveness.
"Tired shocks, squishy suspension...." By the time David got behind the wheel in the last heat, everyone else on the GRM staff already had their way with it...probably the busiest car on course Saturday!
jstein77 said:Tom's best time with the Mustang (on horrible tires) was 39.3 as compared to my D Street time of 37.0 on Falkens. I'd wager that the tires cost him at least 2 seconds, so that bodes well for it's future competitiveness.
Jerry in Melbourne
And that time was on the Mustang's 17th run of the day! Pretty good sign for durability, too.
I normally take this approach but mine started out lowered a bit too far, other than that I could have made a base line run.
Ok, looking back I should have just sent it. I can confirm that the Spec S197 kit will do wonders, it's more or less what I have going on now suspension wise, just more power.
In reply to akylekoz :
I've basically done a Spec S197 on my Foxbody because the concept makes so much sense.
In reply to Tom Suddard :
Yeah. My fifth and final run was my fastest. I know I was being too cautious at first.
It's autocross--just gotta drive it like it's someone else's car. Which is a shame since it's ours.
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