Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Those rules are kinda weak man. Layla will qualify on them and there is NOTHING stock about her engine. John's 460 84 TC will qualify. Saying the body has to look stock except the wheels describes at least 85% of cars. The REAL F.A.S.T. guys have to look stock under the hood as well. I'd be far more inclined to build a car like that, that people will actually think is stock. Open my hood (or start the engin, or look underneath, or inside) of my car and it's blatently obvious it's not stock.

It's not a "sleeper" with widened rear rims on 295's, pillar pod gauges, rollcages, giant open exhaust systems, custom tube suspension, and absolutely anything under the hood. It's simply "I haven't painted it yet". Even with the engine swap rule in effect (which kills the whole notion of the class period IMHO), at least make the interior stock, stock wheels with stock width tires, and a stock exit exhaust system. Under their rules I could put a 632ci BBF into a 86 TC with a 10" widened 10-holes with 295's in mini tubs, full rollcage, back half with ladder bars, Mustang II front end with fiberglass nose, lexan windows, and a 1000HP nitrous setup on top of a blower. As long as the wheels were stock height and I painted it a factory color.

Alan, That sounds like a good time.  Nice to see someone putting effort into getting people together with similar cars.  It is a bit far from me though, so don't count on me showing up.

How come the REAL FAST guys run 9's on 7" bias-ply's with leaf springs and no traction devices? The 295 rule is lame. It's not stock appearing with a 11" section width DR on the back. Make them run stock size radial tires in similar brands (Goodyear RS-A's for TC's for example). The suspension is still 100% wide open as well. I seriously went through the rules a dozen times and here's the car I would run:

1987 TC, buy an ex-Super Gas car, take off the wheelie bars and chute, remove the wing, put on a stock TC hood, run 295 DR's in the rear on widened snowflakes, with an aluminum headed 460 carbed using the hoodscoops for air, 200 shot, Powerglide with a trans brake, and call it done. It would run low 9's and look "stock" even though the nose is a fiberglass 1 -piece, the doors and trunk are CF,  it's been front and back halfed, and weighs less then 2800 Lbs.

Sorry, that doesn't sound fun or stock.

Have a limit on how much money can be put in the car for certain aspects of it? like a certain amount in the motor and drive train, suspension and brakes, just a thought. That way guys with more money won't be able have as much in so its somewhat equal across the board.

The man power to inspect for date codes, casting numbers and all that uptight stuff would be crazy.

Well, There is a way to contain the money spent on an engine. You could have a rule like dirt track cars where anyone can buy your engine after a race for $500.

Except they don't do that. Have you ever attended a FAST race? I know "musclecars" aren't your cup of tea, but you should really check it out. The rules are tight and loose at the same time. The cars really do look and sound dead stock. Absolutely NO casting #'s are checked. Clones are allowed. As long as the car with the VIN covered would ace a resto show except the #'s and driveshaft loop, they are safe. Aluminum heads and blocks are allowed (they DO file off the aftermarket names/#s), race shocks painted up like stockers, soft rate springs, etc. It would all fool anybody except a concours judge, and then even only if he checked #'s. THAT's exciting.

Seeing a bunch of ex-NHRA cars that wouldn't fool a 7 year old racing against RWD conversion Focus SVT's sounds like WFC with no stickers.

I say the FAST class WILL be allowing 79-93 cars very, very soon. Hemmings is running the class nowadays and the GN guys are itching to go after Dudek's HEMI. You know the 5.0 boys still want revenge on the GN's as well. Expect 427 SBC Z28 3rd Gens, 347 aluminum LX notch's, high-boost GNX's, and maybe even a certain Mustang GT Turbo too be invited as well. Read Hemming's Muscle Machines and you'll see what I'm talking about.

If you really want to get a bunch of guys together, simply pick a day that the track has a T-N-T and invite everybody and their dog. Not very many cars in here are still "stock appearing" and that's the way we like it.

Like I said, this is the first year for 73-78 cars. I expect 79-81's will be allowed next year, and then 82-84, and from there it will be a "25 year" rollover.

Might be helpful if you included the 5.0 cougars and turbo XR-7's as well...

Ford did not set up the base and LS Cougars for aggressive driving --- only the XR7's got that treatment, and even then it can be improved. You can still have an XR7-type suspension (or better) on whatever model Cat that you own.

Most non-XR7 1983-88 Cougars did not come with a rear sway bar. Those that did (the V8 models) had a pitifully small one. And the front bar, while thick, can be improved upon. To make handling much better, you can add (or change to) a thicker sway bars. In conjunction with the 15:1 steering rack, a thicker front sway bar (and larger rear bar) will absolutely plant your butt in the seat during aggressive cornering. You'll wonder how you ever drove without them. These bars will give your cornering the best bang for the buck and should be one of the first things you change in your front end.

For the front, the XR7/Turbo Coupe bar will work (any year, 1983-88). Or, you may use one from a 1987-93 Mustang 5.0 only, as they are the same part as the XR7/TC.

The steering racks used on stock 1983-88 Cougars (except the XR7's) have a constant 20:1 ratio, and that's why you have to constantly turn the steering wheel while driving. They are approximately 2 3/4 turns, lock to lock. If you do not like the numbing feel given from this rack or just want a better rack for more aggressive driving, then upgrading to a high-effort 14.7:1 (a.k.a. 15:1) rack is a must. In fact, it's probably the single biggest front-end improvement you can make (requiring just over 2 turns, lock to lock). You can find these racks in XR7's, 5.0 Mustangs and Turbo Coupes (NOTE: My 1987-88 information does not specify anything other than 15:1 racks for all models, but I know from experience that's wrong. LS models have 20:1).

A-ARMS FROM:  ARE THE SAME AS:
1983-86 Cougar/            Thunderbird 1979-93 Mustang (All)
1987-88 Cougar/            Thunderbird 1994-98 Mustang (All)

the 1987-88 XR7/Thunderbird Sport V8 springs, available through your Ford dealer or good parts stores, are probably for you. They have a revised rate over stock springs for better handling and give you a snappy ride without too much jounce. You can use these springs on all V8 cars from 1983-88. Ride is decent with great handling. They are the perfect blend of decent ride and decent performance for this chassis