Enough power to auto cross?

[gt-351]

Hey guys. I just bought a 87 notch and was wondering if the 2.3 would be enough to auto cross with? I'm sure there is someone who has an idea about what it takes. I'm just looking to build a light car that handles well.

 

[Shinlee]

if you got a stick, then yea, you got the balls enough for it. Upgrade that suspension, and do as much bolt on's as ya can, cuz every little bit extra helps out, but ya need a stick to be able to have that slightly better low end to auto-x worth a damn. Oh yea, nice fat tires help too. Just don't go expecting to beat out corvettes though. I've ran my 92 on some courses with the texas A&M car club, at the old air force base, and where a corvette would pull a 62, I could pull a 70. BUT I have alot of suspension work, and my engine is as pumped as i can get it without dissecting it. When I get my 2.3t in, then I will do much better, but alot of Auto-x is the driver mod. Have fun

 

[Stinger]

AutoX doesn't require much power...just a good driver and good suspension. I could run within 1-1.5 seconds of 4.6L Cobras before I swapped the turbo engine in...and I had an Auto trans even. I just had alot of suspension mods.

 

[gt-351]

I have plans for lots of stiffing, a good set of springs , adj shocks, lower diff gears with a posi, Do you guys run coil overs? I don't know much about this at all..

 

[manny]

i have an 1987 mustang that i run in the SCCA and during the off season i do run a bit of autox.BTW the gears in the rear end are 4:10's and they help out alot. as you gain experience you should do well.

 

[stykthyn]

I have a vert, do you guys think it can compete or will it flex too much?

 

[4bangen]

with a vert, you need subframe conectors. I wouldn't hit a hard corner with out them. also a 6pnt cage wouldn't hurt. I'd also go with front and rear strut/shock tower braces.

 

[gt-351]

I already have some nice road race springs with adj shocks. I was thinking sfc, homade strut tower bars with adjustments so I can pre load the chassis. I also have removed all the sound deadner and added many more spot welds to the body. Cromemoly lca's ,good sway bars. Is there a big pay off for useing coil overs?

 

[Red_LX]

Payoff? Well they're lighter, and adjustable, that's why most people go to them. You have to have good c/c plates to run them though.

 

[manny]

also get rid of all of the soft rubber bushings in the front end and rear end.

 

[Anlushac11]

Best advice if you want to AutoCross is to go buy "Mustang Performance II: How To Make Your Mustang Handle"

Has a section specifically on autocrossing.

Depending on what mods you do you make get moved to a different class.

Automatics can run autocross as well, you just need to add a good tranny fluid cooler to deal with the heat. Good rear gears are a must too.

People have also found ways to "cheat" on suspension mods. Things like using stock LCA's and cleaning and welding in reinforcement plates underneath to box them and adding Suspension techniques polyurethane bushings.