Maryland Stang
Active Member
So you dont think a stock 5.0L could run a 12.2 if it were 900lbs lighter?!?!?!
What do stock 5.0L stangs run?
Maybe if it was going into a car that was 900 pounds lighter. The numbers I keep seeing for the 280Z is 2800+ for the base model and 2900+ for the 2+2.
The brutal truth about the stock 5.0 HO Mustang is about 99% of them would be lucky to run a mid-14 on a good day. And that's a number for the LX at 3200 pounds. The GTs heavier weight slows it down even more.
If you're seeing any stock Mustang running low 12s you're seeing
The mid to low 13 Mustangs were notches with weight savings like spare tire and sway bar removal and everthing else perfect and optimized. Those cars usually weighed around 3000 to 3100 pounds.
So if you use the common equation of .1 sec reduction in ET for every 100 pounds in weight reduced your looking at a max of mid to high 13s for an average driver. If you get everything perfect and drive it like you stole it you may break into the 12s.
Don't forget, you're not just going to be able to drop the engine and tranny in the car and go. The 280Z was never designed to have even 225 HP in it and will need to be beefed up in the sub frame department, rear suspension and rear end. All of that adds weight to the car. Before long you're looking at over 3,000 pounds.
If you want a nice lightweight car that will give you high 12 second ETs pretty reliably try a Mazda Miata instead. The parts for the conversion are readily available.