Frame Rigidity

dmaxstang

New Member

Jul 29, 2005

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dallas

Aug 5, 2006

#1

• Aug 5, 2006

• #1

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

New Member

Dec 11, 2002

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Aug 5, 2006

#2

• Aug 5, 2006

• #2

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

5 Year Member

Nov 10, 2005

483

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clinton twp, MI

Aug 5, 2006

#3

• Aug 5, 2006

• #3

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

 

N

NorthwestGT

New Member

Jan 11, 2006

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Pasco, WA

Aug 5, 2006

#4

• Aug 5, 2006

• #4

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

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Oct 25, 2005

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Caerphilly, Wales, UK

Aug 9, 2006

#5

• Aug 9, 2006

• #5

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

it doe snot

Founding Member

Jan 26, 1999

10,633

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the people's republic of massachusetts

Aug 9, 2006

#6

• Aug 9, 2006

• #6

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

start with the upper hole, and if more traction is

May 1, 2005

3,015

1

79

7200 feet

Aug 9, 2006

#7

• Aug 9, 2006

• #7

they did that by adding additional welds to the unibody.

 

Mike97gt

it doe snot

Founding Member

Jan 26, 1999

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the people's republic of massachusetts

Aug 9, 2006

#8

• Aug 9, 2006

• #8

bigcat said:

they did that by adding additional welds to the unibody.

Click to expand...

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

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Dec 11, 2002

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Aug 9, 2006

#9

• Aug 9, 2006

• #9

bigcat said:

they did that by adding additional welds to the unibody.

Click to expand...

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

start with the upper hole, and if more traction is

May 1, 2005

3,015

1

79

7200 feet

Aug 9, 2006

#10

• Aug 9, 2006

• #10

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

it doe snot

Founding Member

Jan 26, 1999

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the people's republic of massachusetts

Aug 9, 2006

#11

• Aug 9, 2006

• #11

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.

 

O

official_style

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Apr 18, 2005

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Aug 10, 2006

#12

• Aug 10, 2006

• #12

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