I am gonna lose my launch, if I read anything more on 1/4 mile drivers

 

Ya It looks like thats what I will be getting. I hope I get the same results as you do. Cant wait to get them and install them. Then hit the strip.

 

Not as beneficial for S197ers? Why? Already come with them from the factory? Chassis doesn't respond as well?

 

The S197 Chassis is VERY ridged right from Ford, so no need to do ANY support for it at all. Throwing a new "K" up front is about all that race cars do, beyond the mandatory roll-cage for open-track.

Jazzer

 

Why is it already so rigid? And they dont ever bother adding like LCA's or springs, or shocks/struts or anything? Wouldn't that still help them a lot at auto-x? What do you mean by "race" cars? Surely these guys that are serious about auto-x do more than drop in an aftermarket K.

 

If you don't midn the increased NVH of spherical bushings and you want a rear 4 link setup thats gonna hook something nasty check out www.teamzmotorsports.net. Look at the upper control arm kit with relocation, and the double adjustable lowers.

 

The frame is very ridged, due to how Ford designed it and probably made this way for two reasons. The first likely being crash test ratings and such, the second being just quality of build for a car that holds up over time.

Not sure if this is another question, but Ford is not gonna add things like upgraded LCA's, because it is too expensive and adds too much NVH to their cars. Even the GT500's have many "comfort" short-cuts to sell to the general public. Very few go out and race a production car, as most will buy/build a dedicated one that will perform MUCH better.

When I say "race cars", I am referring specifically to those cars that are dedicated to open-track (some exceptions, to be sure and mine falls in this case). These cars are required to have roll-bars, most of the time and would be a wise idea to do so anyway.

If someone is hardcore into AX or open-track, a new "K" is mostly beneficial for power-adders, weight loss, mechanical access and geomentry benefits. It is certainly stronger and can ONLY help to strengthen the structure, but the S197 does not see as many benefits of the earlier Stangs.

Jazzer

 

^^LOL!!! You're on a roll today Jazzer!


The UPR control arms work really well, and we're here to help you with online & over the phone tech support to make sure your car hooks as it should!


I read a tech article that said the S197 chassis is 1000 times stiffer than the Fox chassis in torsional rigidity. 1000 times. You have to remember that the Fox chassis design came from the '78 Fairmont. We're not talking about Formula1 technology here. LOL! Don't get me wrong, I love my Foxes, but the S197 chassis is lightyears ahead in its factory form. (thankfully there are plenty of mods that you can do to the Fox chassis, like the SFI 25.2 tubular chrome-moly chassis in my '89 LX! )


Yes, control arms, springs, shocks, and struts are all effective mods on the S197. We sell quite a bit of those at UPR Products.

 

Should I also buy new Bushings with the control arms? I would rather just use the stock ones if I can. Any Info about this would be great.

 

The control arms have all of the bushings except for the ones that are inserted into the axle housing. You're okay to use the factory axle bushings at moderate power levels, but I like to see those bushings upgraded to spherical bearings at around 5-600hp. Of course, the suspension will articulate more freely with the sphericals even at lower power levels, but people typically only upgrade the bushings when they NEED to, because of the slight increase in road feel.