Frame Rigidity

[dmaxstang]

I hear alot about the stiffness of the new s197 versus anything from the past but am a little curious. How close is the rigidity of the s197 GT to the lets say 03-04 Cobra cars or the saleen models of the equivalent years??

 

[351CJ]

S197 is much more rigid than an 03- 04 Cobra. Basic unibody on the Cobras is the same as a regular SN-95. The 03-04 Cobra has some whimpy bolt on sub frame connectors that stiffen it a little but not in the same league as a A197.

 

[mustangmike6996]

i have heard a few people say that the stock s197 platform is equivelant to having a caged sn95 cobra. i still want to install a strut tower brac on mine though. i miss having one

 

[NorthwestGT]

Don't know about Cobras, but I did have to add subframe connectors (welded) in my '96 GT. It did have a strut tower brace and extra lower braces since it was a 'vert. After installing the subframes it was pretty tight.

But, my '05 'vert was significantly tighter than the '96 right out of the box. I did however add a strut tower brace from Strange Development. Hard to tell if it made much difference. I think it did.

 

[LV51FER]

I've also read the 05 is as stiff as a caged SN95. I have a strut brace and a BMR lower suspension brace but it's hard to detect a difference in the instant way my old Z28 became transformed. However, anything that might stop deflection can't hurt.

 

[Mike97gt]

the 07+ cars are even stiffer.. One of the improvements they made for 07 because of the GT500 is they stiffened the chasis on all mustangs for the 07 model year

 

[bigcat]

they did that by adding additional welds to the unibody.

 

[Mike97gt]

they did that by adding additional welds to the unibody.

yep... it's really not a big difference.. all the s197 cars are much stiffer than the sn95's

thats one of the reasons I am considering getting a new GT in the spring.. well the two big reasons is the 3v motor and the interior.. After driving the s197 cars my car feels OLD...

 

[351CJ]

they did that by adding additional welds to the unibody.

I thought I read that in addition to the extra welds, the metal in some of the unibody parts is thicker adding ~ 40 lb of weight to the 07 Stang.

 

[bigcat]

if that is the case, i have not read about it yet. i dont even remember where i read about the welds, so i cant go back and look.

 

[Mike97gt]

No he is right the metal is thicker in some areas and there is some extra welds... I remember reading about it in the gt500 new model training.

 

[official_style]

i am thinking of getting the steeda subframe connectors. anyone try them yet?