5.0 Mustang Help/Advice

I have a little spending cash and im looking for some upgrade on the mustang. Currently it has i/h/e 4:10 ring& pinion. It NEEDS new tires but ive been thinking about switching to new wheels all together. Im not sure what size tire would get best traction because with the 4:10’s I feel like I have none at all. I thought about a new manifold, cam or heads but Im not sure what would be best for my money. Ballpark around $1500 to spend for now… But it needs at least two new tires.

I would get yourself some traction before anything else. If you’re going to get some new tires get something that works for you.

Is the car your DD?
If it is, get some good street tires that will last you a year at least.

If not, get something really sticky.

I’d suggest setting up the suspension. If you don’t hook up your not going to go anywhere.

Then I would cam/manifold the car.

  1. Tires
  2. Control arms
  3. Subframe connectors
  4. SAVE $$$ for a heads and cam swap!!! With stock heads I wouldn’t touch anything on the engine, concentrate on traction and then save up to do it all at once.

Look into the AFR/FTI combo. You can pick up a set of 165cc heads and have FTI spec out a custom cam and have the power to see high 11’s/low 12’s with nothing more than a bolt on 302. I’ve seen it done twice with some cars belonging to good friends of mine. 12.1 @ 115 out of a fox GT, 11.7 @ 119 out of a more aggressively set up LX hatch.

I wasnt sure if it was a better idea to keep the 16’s or to switch to a 15 inch rim… Regardless im not sure what tire sizes would be best. The car is not my DD, but if I ever have to drive it somewhere I dont want my tread to be gone from driving 65mph for 20 minutes or anything…

Keeping it now? If so, good choice and good luck with it!

16’s are fine, there are many size out there just look on discount tire or tire rack. I would get some 275 or wider if possible on the rear and a 245 or wider on the front. I’m not sure what your rims will handle due to not knowing the width.

16s are fine, you’ll have plenty of sidewall depending upon the tire you choose.

stock motored cars can run into the high 12’s with a little suspension work. Work on that before bothering with the drivetrain. It’s generally cheaper as well.
Weld the tq boxes; weld in subframe connectors; lower control arms; struts/shocks & springs; sticky tires; 4.10s; strut tower bar. Bout $700 - $1k

Spend the last $500 on an exhaust.

I already have full subframe connectors and a full exhaust system… I dont really care for my exhaust setup but id rather work with keeping my wheels from spinning to actually get some power down… BTW the rims are 16x8. Thanks guys

Is 275/70/16 too big or would that be a good rear tire size?

thats a good size, my friend runs that size in Mickey Thompson drag radials and cuts good short times with a bolt on/ cam fox and runs 13.0

IIRC the largest tire you can fit under a GT body is 275/70/15, and have it just be a straight bolt-in affair.

So, ya.

Are you kidding!? A 275/60 is a TALL tire…I think you’re referring to the 275 width, which you’d ideally need a 9" wide wheel to get a good fit and proper contact patch.

yeah, i need to read better… i was reffering to the 275 width. Im kinda out of it today, toothache is killing me and they have me on painkillers lol… going to the dentist in an hour :ohnoes:

eh… i ran a 275/70/15 on turbines.

I needed a 30" tire so as to not rev out @ the traps.

www.f-body.org/gears

Something tells me the OP does not need a 30" tire when a 26" tire is stock.

A properly set up suspension should have a difficult time breaking a good set of tires loose (at his power level). With my car (305rwhp) I have to work hard to break my 245/45/17’s free. A good set of upper and lower control arms, along with a 245 width 26" tall tire, on top of the subframe connectorswould be a great starting point.

oh, you’re absolutely right. sorry.

I was just referencing “what fits”

:redface:

All good:)

What the hell kindof gearing did you have to need a 30" tire?! How fast were you going through the traps? Either you’re going quite fast, or running stock gearing going through the traps in 3rd!

this was a couple summers ago in the nyspeed whore mustang.

WC T5, 4.10s, bolt ons w/powerheads e7s & a 150 shot… stock rev limiter.

315’s!!! The only way to go

I don’t think it would fit well on a 8" rim would it?

3794R P295/50R16 28X11.50R16 33 R2 8.0-10.0 9.5 12.1 10.8 27.7 87

http://www.mickeythompsontires.com/strip.php?item=ETStreetRadial

P255/50R16