Handling....what's handling??

04torktech · Jun 27, 2011

I recently went on a trip to California and was lucky enough to drive the infamous Glendora Mountain Road (GMR) in my friends AWD twin turbo 3000GT. If you are not familiar with GMR it is basically like a mountainous racetrack. I am assuming it is some sort of gift from the racing gods for people who enjoy squeeling tires and pulling seriously dangerous amounts of g's around turns. What I am getting at is I would like my supercharged 04' GT to do more than just go fast in a straight line. For around 1000-1200 bucks what are you all thinking for mods? I will most likely be doing the work myself and currently my only handling modification is Eibach springs. I am open to all suggestions... weight reduction, tire/wheel combos, sub-frame connectors, panhard bars, watts link... what do you think?

Who has a successful (and relatively cheap) set up and how much did it help?

txredgt · Jun 27, 2011

So only springs and no shocks/struts or caster camber plates? Subframes will make the car feel much better and solid. How many miles on the car? How old are all of the bushings as well?

joshjwc9 · Jun 27, 2011

So, $1200 huh? Here's how I'd do it.

MM CC Plates= $190.
Prothane Rack Bushings=$10.
Steeda Sports or H&R Super Sport Springs=Roughly $200.
MM Extreme Duty Adjustable Rear LCA's. $400.
Subframes=$150 installed.

Then your choice of keeping your Eibach's or purchasing these then going with Tokico's blues or Illumina's. I like having adjusability myself so I run the DSpec's. But those will put you out of your price range of $1200.

04torktech · Jun 27, 2011

@txredgt yea only springs they were on the car when I bought it. That was roughly 20,000 miles ago and there is currently 85k on the clock. I am assuming it has the stock bushings in it.

@joshjwc9 Thanks alot that was definitely very helpful. It sounds like that would definitely tighten up the handling. I feel like my stock steering rack has a lot of slop in it. How is yours? It would be nice to have a better turning ratio.

txredgt · Jun 27, 2011

joshjwc9 said:
So, $1200 huh? Here's how I'd do it.

MM CC Plates= $190.
Prothane Rack Bushings=$10.
Steeda Sports or H&R Super Sport Springs=Roughly $200.
MM Extreme Duty Adjustable Rear LCA's. $400.
Subframes=$150 installed.
Then your choice of keeping your Eibach's or purchasing these then going with Tokico's blues or Illumina's. I like having adjusability myself so I run the DSpec's. But those will put you out of your price range of $1200.

Where in the world did you find subframes for 150 for the parts and install? I should have gone there. Subframes alone (Maximum at least) are 150 by themselves.

Other than that the list looks pretty good. I might try to keep your existing springs if you can to save some money there and then change them if you don't like them after that. Some other mods for basically a circle track but road course like you are wanting is better brakes and lighter wheels too.. Those mods shouldn't be overlooked if you are serious about it.

darkside03gt · Jun 27, 2011

Here you go. 1999-04 Mustang GT Starter Box [SBX-6] : Maximum Motorsports, the Latemodel Mustang Performance Suspension Leader!. add some subframe connectors and you will be set for a while. Later on add a fays2 watts link of a MM panhard bar and you will wonder why you didnt do these mods sooner.

Moon · Jun 28, 2011

darkside03gt said:
Here you go. 1999-04 Mustang GT Starter Box [SBX-6] : Maximum Motorsports, the Latemodel Mustang Performance Suspension Leader!. add some subframe connectors and you will be set for a while. Later on add a fays2 watts link of a MM panhard bar and you will wonder why you didnt do these mods sooner.

Bilsteins are a bit much, no? He'll notice a big difference with any addition, so a set of Tokiko blues would be more than adequate.

darkside03gt · Jun 28, 2011

I say do it right the first time. Bilstiens are where its at for handling and I have seen those tokicos go soft after only a year of de service. Not the best choice imop.

jegg · Jun 28, 2011

I have the Max. Motorsports 3 link in the rear.

with your budget this is what I would do...
Adjustable LCA

Caster/Camber Plates

Bilsteins HD Shocks/Struts

and some subframe connectors.

and just use the current springs you have now...

all of the above will give you a good foundation for future upgrades...

CC plates you mos def need those

Subframes are also a must in these cars...

As for the LCAs, you'll really feel a difference in how it launches and the rear feels noticeably more planted. Especially during turns.

trust me...once you start modding suspension....you'll want to do more....

ugh! I gotta go but will comment on my setup more when I get back...

everything above is just a tad over you budget but thats where I would start if I ever had to do it all over again.

40oz · Jun 28, 2011

To start with, how does the car handle as it sits? You are better off driving the car and changing the areas that you are unhappy with than simply buying parts willynilly.

Good tires, good brakes, and subframe connectors are all I'd do to start. Depending on mileage, perhaps Bilsteins. Yes they are more expensive, but that's because you can also buy a used set off ebay/forums and get them rebuilt. And they don't make your car harsh for everyday driving.

When you get down to it, being a better driver will have more of an impact than any part you can buy. No part is going to improve your ability to drive. Go to an autocross once in a while, do HP driving school or DE day at a local road course. Going fast will happen by itself if you do everything else well.

bigkeeko · Jun 29, 2011

I`m guessing that your friends car is a Mitsubishi? I`m in the UK and if its the car i`m thinking of (3000 GT- AWD and four wheel steer) then your Mustang will need need a ton of money threw at it to even compare.

FLSFCs and new suspension will improve your car no end but really the Fox chassis is beyond crap and is the limiting factor here. Where I live a stock 1.8 Ford Focus or 1.6 Civic would piss all over my Mustang on the roads we have so I`m not wasting the money.
Straight line is where its at for me with my car. If I wanted handling I`d have bought a Scooby, an evo or a Type R.

Deleted member 38176 · Jun 29, 2011

Wait a sec....you went for a ride in a your friends 4000lb 3000GT and thought it handled better than your mustang? Really?

REALLY???

40oz · Jun 29, 2011

bigkeeko said:
I`m guessing that your friends car is a Mitsubishi? I`m in the UK and if its the car i`m thinking of (3000 GT- AWD and four wheel steer) then your Mustang will need need a ton of money threw at it to even compare.

FLSFCs and new suspension will improve your car no end but really the Fox chassis is beyond crap and is the limiting factor here. Where I live a stock 1.8 Ford Focus or 1.6 Civic would piss all over my Mustang on the roads we have so I`m not wasting the money.
Straight line is where its at for me with my car. If I wanted handling I`d have bought a Scooby, an evo or a Type R.

With all due respect, you sir, cannot drive.

I've owned a modded Civic and it boggles the mind that anyone capable of breathing and walking could think a Civic handles better than a stock New Edge Mustang GT. The Mustang's corner speeds are higher, it accelerates much much quicker and stops much shorter. The Mustang body is a hell of a lot stiffer.

The reason people piss all over your Mustang is because you cannot drive it except in a straight line. The car was designed for curvy roads but you insist on pretending it's the car that can't handle the turns when it is you that only knows how to drive straight.

bigkeeko · Jun 29, 2011

40oz said:
With all due respect, you sir, cannot drive.

I didn`t quote the rest of the $hite you spewed out as I`m not only one but 3 levels above what you `think` you are.

I drive for a living. I have every license there is. Trucks , buses, plant the lot. I`ve competed in rally competitively as both navigator and driver and have spent a fortune over the years on 4wd and RWD cars just to have the privilege to enter. When was the last time you went ditch hooking or used a hydraulic handbrake?

Recently I`ve had an Accord Type R and a Civic Type R and a Mitusbishi Galant VR4. SN95s don`t handle anything like these , Mitsubishi Evos, Subarus or the likes and to say otherwise makes you look silly. A stock Ford Focus from 1999 has an excellent chassis and FAR superior to whats on an SN95. Where I live (clue), handling actually counts with our narrow winding undulating roads with awkward cambers and hairpin bends. I don`t need some jumped up bum on a forum telling me otherwise.

Your idea of what handles and mine are two totally different things.

I won`t get involved in some nonsense argument with someone on the internet who has had a `modded civic` or is ignorant or clearly misinformed. I can drive the car. What I`m saying is I can drive other cars faster.

I love my Mustang for what it is but great handling car it isnt.

LarsD · Jun 29, 2011

Tires also need to be a big concern. You won't notice you need them until you heat them up, then it becomes real apparent real quick if you have sub standard tires. As far as the us VS them argument, yes you can make a Fox chassis car handle well, but you are starting at a disadvantage with a Fox chassis car, that is just the truth of it. I have some MM parts on my hatch and it handles very well in comparison to my Cobra (SRA conversion), but in all honesty my WRX with mild suspension mods is a better handling car. Now is it a waste of time to try and improve your Mustang? That depends on you, personally I don't think it is ever a waste of time to improve a car, even if it is starting at a disadvantage.

SteedaGT9150 · Jun 29, 2011

bigkeeko said:
I didn`t quote the rest of the $hite you spewed out as I`m not only one but 3 levels above what you `think` you are.

I drive for a living. I have every license there is. Trucks , buses, plant the lot. I`ve competed in rally competitively as both navigator and driver and have spent a fortune over the years on 4wd and RWD cars just to have the privilege to enter. When was the last time you went ditch hooking or used a hydraulic handbrake?

Recently I`ve had an Accord Type R and a Civic Type R and a Mitusbishi Galant VR4. SN95s don`t handle anything like these , Mitsubishi Evos, Subarus or the likes and to say otherwise makes you look silly. A stock Ford Focus from 1999 has an excellent chassis and FAR superior to whats on an SN95. Where I live (clue), handling actually counts with our narrow winding undulating roads with awkward cambers and hairpin bends. I don`t need some jumped up bum on a forum telling me otherwise.

Your idea of what handles and mine are two totally different things.

I won`t get involved in some nonsense argument with someone on the internet who has had a `modded civic` or is ignorant or clearly misinformed. I can drive the car. What I`m saying is I can drive other cars faster.

I love my Mustang for what it is but great handling car it isnt.

SHAZAM!

jegg · Jun 29, 2011

Oh God ... Every car can be modified to handle better than the next. It just takes a bit more $$$ and ingenuity. Thats why there are aftermarket parts out there.

BUT....

A properly set up car is nothing without a good driver...

joshjwc9 · Jun 29, 2011

jegg said:
Oh God ... Every car can be modified to handle better than the next. It just takes a bit more $$$ and ingenuity. Thats why there are aftermarket parts out there.

BUT....

A properly set up car is nothing without a good driver...

^This.

Go watch some MM and Griggs videos at Infineon and Laguna Seca. They are whooping up on Porsche's and other big time Euro cars. And for a fraction less. But the Griggs guys are spending $30k to keep up with and tons of chassis tuning to keep up. Its all in the driver. It doesn't matter if you can drive a 18 wheeler or a F1 car in a video game. If you can drive your car better than the next one it doesn't matter.

And yes, txredgt, I paid $150 installed for my set of FLSFC's. I bought them from a shop that sells Steeda products so I got me a deal I couldn't refuse!

jegg · Jun 29, 2011

LarsD said:
I have some MM parts on my hatch and it handles very well in comparison to my Cobra (SRA conversion), but in all honesty my WRX with mild suspension mods is a better handling car.

You're comparing an AWD car to a RWD car. AWD cars handle way better ..period.

I'm not trying to argue or come off offensive... Just sayin'

LarsD · Jun 29, 2011

jegg said:
You're comparing an AWD car to a RWD car. AWD cars handle way better ..period.

I'm not trying to argue or come off offensive... Just sayin'

That and weight distro is vastly different between the two. I used it as a comparo since he is also comparing an AWD car to his car.

Handling....what's handling??

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