mustang rearend set up questions?, what is the best way to do it

[Larry T]

i know that their is alot of after market boltons etc,i just dont know what direction to go in to be able to run with out getting moved in to a class i have no buesness being in.

i have a 93 mustang with a full roll cage and that has all of the crossmembers beefed up includeing were the rearend struts are mounted to the body.i am wanting to use a 460 with a power glide and the 8.8 with a 3.73 gear for now.

wolf products makes mini tubs and a adjustable spring pirch.what size tire can i run with out having to do the tub?are coil overs allowed or do i have to use the oem spring location?

[IronMan]

I found in almost every set up racers are using in Mustangs ...... They usually end up with a 4.88 or 4.56 on the strip a 373 is great for the street......... Unless you plan on making a really fast GRUDGE car ........

[Larry T]

if i were to go with a 1.7 first gear would i use the 4.56 and if i were to use the 1.8 first gear i would use the 4.88?mmmm i guess that would depend on the amount of power and how well the rear end is set up?my goal is to have 500-650hp allmotor to the wheels with the 460.what size and brand of tires would i need to start with?

[IronMan]

I run a 460 with a powerglide "1.76" (460 bell housing) with a 514 gear in my 1992 Mustang - footbrake car......... Car weighs about 2860 without me in it. I changed the combo last season and went with a 9.1 piston with a 4500 stall. The motor runs on 93 octane. I shift about 5800 and the car will go high 6.60's - 1/8th mile on motor. Mine is tubbed with a 32/14.50/15 Goodyear. It hooks well and is consistant. I need to go to a 4.88 gear to get full potential ......... If that helps any.........

[Larry T]

thats interesting that you were able to use the 460 oem type bell houseing.everything that i have read its been said to use the ultra bell.i will need to do some work to get the bell houseing to work properlly around the headers,most likely?what tupe of headers are you useing?

[IronMan]

No, I use the "Ultrabell" I had Mr. Cook in Spartanburg build it for me at a "very resonable price"and I've had to work on the 460 headers because I moved the motor back 4" in the car to help with the weight distibution. When I first bought car the car was getting crazy on top end especially when I hit the brakes .... Due to all the weight up front ...... Many thought I was just slamming on the brakes really hard......... It's kinda a mess - But the combination is great .......... I used stock rods and crank spent about $1200.00 and raced all season - won Track Championship at Carolina ....... If you start turning it more than 5800 then the stock rods will become the weak link ........ Just my opinion ......

[Larry T]

Oooo yea willam cook has a good reputation even up here in asheville nc.i herd that he sold his buesness but still does work on transmissions from time to time.a friend at work said he has a nice boss 429 off to the side in his new shop.

glad you clarified things about the ultrabell.i am amasased at the after market swap items that are on the market today.back in the day we use to hunt our ass off in the junk yards looking for special items like the T10 top loader,motor mounts and crossmembers.

back 4" are you useing the tubelar k member with a front and back motor plate?i read the other day that the weight differance between the 460 and the 5.0 was around 250lbs,i dont know if that is correct or not?i assume your motor is still all iorn?do you have a rear sump or front sump oil pan?

[IronMan]

No tubular K member "yet"...... Still stock suspension on front, tubbed on back. I actually modified my own oil pan (rear sump), but there's certain older Ford Trucks you can get oil pans off of. Made our own front motor plate. I use the 429 heads .......... But yes, for the Mustang you can buy about anything you need now. I think there's a kit for the 460 swap (headers, oil pan, motor mounts... etc ... You can buy for like 800.00 from Summit or jeggs if you want to go that route........ I'm thinking it's about 200 pounds difference ........ When you decide on set up, give my sponsor Tim Timmerman a call. He owns T.R.C. Tim's Race Cars ..... He sales almost all popular brands of racing tires and can give you some "GREAT" advice on the tire to run. The problem with many racers is they change tire brands, before looking at their "set-ups" ........ Good Luck on your build. I was always a Chevy Man for many years ...... But I love my Mustang now!

[Larry T]

i had to buy a front k member for the mustang that i have.the guy i got the car from put a k member from a 88 thunderbird.well it didnt line up i have no clue what he was thinking at least i can still move the car around.thanks for the info.

[IronMan]

No problem, I also was told (by many) and Mr. Cook - that with the Mustang and the big block, you need to go with the 1.76 gears with a powerglide.............. Good Luck!