Spring rates for Auot-Xing and open track

[CornerCarver]

What springs are you guys using in your SVO's for racing? I've been talking with a buddy who is pretty heavy into SCCA racing (he's got a 95 Cobra with 1050lbs on the front, forget the rears spring rate, Koni's, bracing, etc. etc.) and we were talking about what a good spring rate for my SVO would be. He's the reason I bought a '99 Cobra for autocrossing, we had a nice rivalry.

I recently installed new Koni's (all six) and new brakes. I've got some Hawk slotted rotors showing up today for the rear (if they look good, I'll put the same on the front). I'll also be putting new bushings thru out the car, boxing the upper and lower control arms, adding a strut tower brace, rear shock tower brace, full length subframes, 4pt roll bar, and some sticky tires. I need to get a set of springs that will really keep a good balance to the car. He mentioned athe FMS "C" springs, ~660lbs for the fronts and ~260lbs for the rear if I remember correctly. Will the FMS's fit the SVO's spring perches? I want to say that all Fox bodies are the same. He had them on his '95 and it really helped the car even with the 5.0 over them. I thought this would make them pretty stiff for the little 2.3 but still have some compliance.

What spring rates do you guys use and what are the pros and cons. BTW, this will primarily be a track car. The A/C is gone and I'm well into bumping up the horsepower.

[svobud]

ya might try reading the thread under Product Reviews (Aftermarket Springs). For what you're wanting - I would suggest the Eibach Pros over the Motorsport C springs.

I've had great success with my 85 SVO 9L over the past few years. It has a very min of modifcations. I first started autocrossing with my first SVO back in 89' - but kept having problems with loss of traction at the moment of full boost - due to the higher hp levels (engine was moded). I would always do better if I turned by boost down and try for a clean run.

Back to the MS spring....

the C springs will fit the SVO with no modifcation needed for the installation.

Problem is...I just don't like them - they don't suit my driving style. They are WAY too stiff for my preference. They work good for people who charge a gate and 'sling' through a transition...and they seem to work good for people who had heavy nose cars (V8s and such). But, I've noticed - if you try to put too much spring underneath a SVO - they push/slide the front end on a hard turn.

I've always kept a bit more finese about my driving style - therefore I use the softer Eibach Sport spring with a stiff strut/shock setting on my Red Konis on a stickey tire usually puts in the winning time. It allows the tire to fully 'set'. I've actually beat people in my class who were on a race tire - while I was on a radial street tire (140treadwear). It's all in the driver more than it's the car.

But - I don't have any aftermarket body bracing (ie: subframes, chassis cage, strut/shock tower brace, or boxed control arms).

I have a Cobra as well...has more goodies than I care to list - but I enjoy competing with my SVO more. Guess it's cause I don't have wrestle it through the course like I do with the 347ci beast. Again - I guess what I'm trying to saying in the long winded, straying off course reply - find what is going to work with your driving style.

[CornerCarver]

Thanks bud! I plan on running a wider tire up front to help alleviate any possible pushing problem. I've got a similar driving style, I try to be as smooth as possible whereas my buddy was the slam it, jam it and whip it type. I was always just a couple ticks behind him and I was on street tires. He also found out how the rear wants to come around when he went to the 1050's up front on his '95. Ya gotta have some dive, just not too much.

Good write up on the springs as well.

[Warren Rhen]

I'm going to be taking out a set of Eibach pro's very shortly if your interested in buying them. They are too stiff for the street, at least for me. I'm going to replace them with Eibach sports. BTW does anybody know the part # for the sport kit for SVO's

[svobud]

BTW does anybody know the part # for the sport kit for SVO's

I don't know the number - but it's generic for all 79-93 Mustang applications.

[gbeaird]

CornerCarver,

The bigger fronts may help the understeer some. That is something I wanted to try on our 86, but never did. I think I got it balanced well with tire pressures and driving style. The car will understeer badly if you are late on a turn or go in too hot. I find that turning in early (aim at the corner cone, if you hit it, you are going too slow) and using just a little squeeze on the brake before you get the car set in full cornering mode will really make it rotate well. It takes a little practice to master, but once you do, it is almost like lifting in a corner in a FWD car. :-)

Gene Beaird
86 2R SVO
G Stock
Pearland, Texas

[8T6 SVO]

eibach springs

I was looking in a Eibach brochure this weekend at Sacramento Mustang (They had a good car show - but no SVO's)and I found part numbers for the Pro's but nothing for the Sports. Have they discontinued the Sports?

[svobud]

I don't think so....it's called the Sportline: part# 4.1035. They only show the Sports for V8 (non convertible) applications.

[Speeder]

I was told to run 1,000# fronts, which seemed pretty extreme to me so I ordered some made to 750# (you can buy them custom wound for about the same price). I can't remember what the stock rears are but I added 100# to them. Anyway the set up was pretty good for the track. With the old springs my car looked funny entering corners. It would list to the outside front so far that it looked like it was lifting a rear leg to pee. Still, in hindsight, he was probably right to suggest 1000# fronts. If you go too stiff though your car hops over bumps and gets very twitchy in the corners, faster if you can handle it. By the way, if you go much stiffer than stock, your red Konis won’t be adequate, the yellows are better matched.