Hack said:
The change in alignment is for the front camber. I normally run rather aggresive camber for road course use. I would perfer camber be as close to zero as possible on the front for maximum contact patch in a straight line.
This can be a misconception in the right hands, here. First off, negative camber will aid a flatter contact patch when keeping in mind that the car will NEED to squat a bit, thus increasing camber... Enough to make that difference, at least. It does help to test and tune with camber, IMO. Get the hook on clean pavement and study the patches until there is minimal outter edge difference (in regards to the shade of the rubber embedded in the pavenment for those who I've lost with my explanation).
Also, someone mentioned that toe wouldn't change. Yes, toe WILL change. Quite a bit. Whenever the camber tweaks, it'll, in return, alter toe and vice versa. This should be a lesson taught to you by road racer SHOsters...
Personally, I will be swapping the rear springs specifically to go drag racing. With practice (and lack of rust) it can be done very quickly. I do a prep day before any session of racing anyway, so this would not be a big deal.
This is my point! My prep session consists of whatever my street prepped taurus can do out on any other street, let alone a track! We're obviously doing something wrong when WHEELIE BARS are discussed regarding a car that doesn't make enough peak torque on 18# of boost to compete with nearly ANY 18# boosted GTPs, and as Mikey said, we share many suspension traits.
I know talk is cheap and trying to convince even a few of you requires getting flamed (not all the time, but it's been proven to be the way of a stubborn enthusiast) but look at the big picture here: cars that out weigh us in the most bizzare ways are out performing us for an unexplainable reason, which really does have an explanation that many choose not to inquire about.
If someone was more serious about going drag racing, they could do as Mike has suggested and build the car specifically for it. That way, you would not have to be concerned with swapping the springs.
Again, even 240FW-TQ isn't some gut wrenching number. Especially when the power band consists of high, long #'s across the band. Ever watch a SHO launch? Looks like a Ford Ranger trying to drag a mobile home down the highway! I almost expect exhaust tips to be worn out on some rubber track!
First off, SHOs seem to always get this stupid spring treatment. Eibachs and Intrax both do this... The front sees far less of a drop than the back. It seems to put to play the rules of a RWD car in most cases, which generally mean the lower the front, the more you take from the rear wheels. Watch a Fox stang try to get somewhere with coil overs that ride it .25" from the ground. Not enough transfer to the back. Well our SHOs, ladies and gents, do the opposite of this and recieve the opposing treatment, unless you're crazy and enjoy reverse clutch-dumps....
The lightweight wheels and tires are for the back by the way, as I am limited in sizes on the front. I suppose I could swap brakes every time I go to the dragstrip. Nah. That is even more than I am willing to do.
This is why I like the idea of weighing down the front brakes w/ 13" PBRs.... Call me crazy, but I honestly believe the SHO has too little to pork up the front end of the car and too much to even it out. Again, don't misunderstand me, this IS great, but not for a FWD MTX or even a ATX w/ 240ft-lbs!
So those metal coil helpers sound like a good idea, but also make it out to be more or less a band aid rather than a set of true drag springs for the SHO.. You know, the kind that will lower the front MORE than the *** end and accomplish a SLIGHTLY higher spring rate to keep the ride at least streetable and at the ease of not having to rip them out everytime you want to drive to work.. or on the highway. Please don't mention any spring cutting. I'm not in for the looks of a "SLAMMED" SHO... I'm just trying to help the poor ******* keep it's teeth in the pavement and off my wheel wells and rocker panels!
