moosestang

The 15 inch racing rims they were using probably cost $1,000 all by themselves. They were also using an aftermarket driveshaft which was chromoly and would be atleast $1k. The front tires alone shaved 66lbs off the front end.

05gtdriver

Yes, I agree, dedicated wheels are very expensive....but there are alternatives......I guess I should list extactly what I am pretty sure will get someone(under ideal conditions) in the 12's. An S197 in the right hands, in ideal conditions should run a 13.3-13.4 straight up with nothing added, nothing removed. 4.30 gears and Drag radials should have that same car/conditions very, very close to 12s, a 12.999 is still a 12. The gears and D Rs should each net 0.2 seconds, so about 0.4 seconds off overall(again in ideal settings). These mods should cost under $1000.00(of course using stock wheels, MM&FF initially used 17X8 Bullitts with M&H drag tires and ran a 13.19, in the article MM&FF admitted a 4.10 or 4.30 gear set would cut a least 2/10ths hmmm...13.19-0.2= 12.99, Volia!).
This is what I'm referring to.

classj

Agreed.

These cars can run hard when dialed in right.

When you consider that these cars can do mid 12's with a little work and set up for the track, thats amazing. I cannot think of any car that responds that well to modifications.

But I think once you want to go faster than that, your cost rises exponentially.

Timmay!!!

IMO even though its a bit overweight I think ford did listen to the rodders and aftermarket on the S197. It so far seems mod friendly and the 3-link suspension seems tailored to drag racing off the showroom floor even though it is a little too soft. Tuning is the main issue that is new to the muscle car crowd but it does the car well. The heads and cams stand up to racing pretty well with little modification, and I can't think of any of the big guys whose needed an aftermarket intake manifold. Even turbo kits tend to maintain stock headers. While I still have my wish list of thing ford would have done that list is fairly short and overall they raised the bar. Maybe the S197 is a little too refined for the hardcore enthusiast it def has been a good platform so far with weight being the only main issue with the car. But hell, the terminator isn't light either.

4.6HighPerformance

i have a cai, full exhaust, 3.90 gears, underdrive puleys, and a good dyno tune, with auto tranny, and i pull 12.83 @ 106.43 on drag radials....

LarryS

12.907 @ 104.87 mph, 60' 1.959.

Stock gear,torque converter, mufflers, exhaust manifolds and tires. I do have C&L Race intake, SCT tuning, Granatelli radiator support, PH aluminum driveshaft, Addco rear anti-sway bar, control valve delete platesand MRT catted H pipe.

vsop

look in my sig.. I hit a 12.85 while missing my 4th grear shift with stock gears. I run 109-110 mph all night long. My issue was spinning in 2nd gear with the stock 18" rubber. I have 17" takeoff rims I'm putting DR's on. I also have a full bmr suspension (front k member and A-arms plus race rear UCA, LCA's & Panhard) being installed in a couple weeks.

I'll be looking for low 12's on the DR's.

mac10chap

yep, my best time was 12.5 and some change @ 112MPH and my mods are as follows:

SCT2 w/ dyno'd custom tune, Steeda Intake, Steeda Underdrive Pulleys, JBA Long-Tube Headers, JBA Off-Road H-Pipe, JBA Evolution Exhaust, Ford Racing 3.73 Gears, Ford Racing FR500 18" Rims, BFGoodrich g-force t/a KDW 275/35/18 tires, Eibach Pro-Kit Springs, Steeda Motor Mounts

i imagine if i use some drags, I would be in the low 12's easy

blueherd02gt

In April I ran a
12.9 @ 105.2 mph, 60' 1.99
Bringing back the dead!
On sloppy stock suspension and DR's with a few other mods and 3.55 stock gears

rmays06

Sorry to dig such an old one up guys but this is great stuff. Its shocking to see how fast these cars go with only a LIL mods.