planning ahead...clueless on suspension
 

Hey

So Ive got an 02 auto GT and Im definitely putting some new suspension on it sometime this winter (Im completely stock as far as suspension goes)

As for mods, Ive got full exhaust, CAI, TB, plenum, typhoon intake, 4.10s and will soon have my heads ported by Anderson Ford Motorsport with some comp cam 270s installed and a 3400 stall speed.

This car is not a DD (although I drive it just about every day in the summer b/c it kicks ass) and I was looking for some suspension that would significantly improve handling and track times yet would not be too rididculous to drive on the street. Im lookin to spend around $1500-$2000 including install (although any basic bolt on type installation I can handle myself).
Any suggestions/thoughs??? Thanks

The FRPP handling pack is great. Makes a world of difference and can be for $500. Add a set of rear lower control arms from MM and that should round you out good. This should all probably also be a fairly easy for you to install yourself.

A Maximum Motorsports Starter Box is in your price range. You get everything you need for a basic drop, although if you don't like some of the pieces that come with it you may be better off putting together your own suspension package. It just depends on what you want really, if you don't want a big drop the FRPP package like what Bassman said is a good value. But lower control arms is something you do need to get to help get all that power to the ground.

Do you want a street/strip car or street/road race car?

I was goin more for street/strip

go for strip/road race. IRS FTW

Not quite.

That's ok. Maybe if Ford engineered it w/ a priority on strength rather than weight I may agree w/ you then. However, since that isn't the case, I'll stick to my solid axle since it can handle just as good (if set-up right), weights less, cheaper to fix, and hands down wins in a straight line.

Your gonna be hard pressed to find a spring setup that handles well and gives better 60' times. However lots of people get good 60' times from bullitt springs and steeda springs and you can still get better handling and lowers the car. Other then those 2 the rest will hurt your 60' even more. Its one of the main reasons I went with bullitt springs on my car as its a street/strip car. Those springs and some nice adj. shocks/struts will make the car 60' pretty good. I like strange shocks/struts for that setup and they are cheaper then alot of others which is nice too.

although a good low drop looks nice, Im really searching for more performance than I am looks. I dont want any springs that are gunna be slowin me down. If I were to go with steeda or bullit which springs would give me the best combo of lowering and speed cause theres a lot to choose from (the lower the better, but like I said....its not that big of a deal for me).

And would subframe connectors be applicable for someone like me or is that more beneficial for cars pumpin out more power? Thanks guys

Bullitt springs are one of the best street/Daily Driver/strip springs out there. The rear springs are not much stiff then stock so weight transfer is still very good and they do lower the car around 1" if you pull the bottom rubber isolator out. Other then those any other springs that lower the car will hurt your 60' times even more.

Subframe connectors are good on any car and will help keep it striaght and stiff which also helps the 60' at the track. If you do not care about being lower, but want the car to still handle decently you might want to just either go bullitt springs or stay with stock ones and then get a set of lower rear control arms and adjustable shocks. That setup will make the car hook better and you can stiffen the shocks back up for daily drving fun.

For the price of the Bullitt/Mach 1 springs (which is part of the FRPP Handling Pack), you can't beat them. Had Eibach Pro-Kit springs on before and the difference was amazing. Though the Eibach springs gave me an extra 3/4" drop, the springs were softer than the Bullitt/Mach 1 springs. Combine that w/ the Bullitt/Mach 1 shocks, struts, and sway bars (all in the pack), the handling improved tremendously and now I don't have to be so careful entering driveways.

Why not get a coil over set up? Wouldnt that be the best of both? Seems you could fine tune them for the street and strip....

Just my 2 cents worth anyway.....

With coil overs to get a good 60' you would have to get a spring that would not make for a good handling car, plus it costs a ton more money. You can get a decent strip/street setup a few ways but coilovers are just to much money if you ask me. I got my springs used for $50 shipped. Then just remove the front sway bar when you go to the track and add lower control arms and adjustable shocks/struts like the cheaper strange units and you have a good setup for street or strip.