F stock or STX?

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:41 pm

OK F stockers, who’s going to STX next year? At the last meeting, Stephen mentioned something about moving up to STX. Are we all moving or staying stock one more year? I’ve decided to keep the current mustang since the price of the Bullitt keeps creeping up. Since I’ve been watching, they’ve gone up 2k! Parts are much cheaper for the Ford vs the BMW. You can get a new Ford race suspension package for 1200. That’s not bad for what the kit offers. I think for about 2500 altogether, you can install some basic go fast parts and have a fun car!!

Just curious….

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:09 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

I think for about 2500 altogether, you can install some basic go fast parts and have a fun car!!

Just curious….

And you won't have to buy R-comps.

Honestly, STX/U would be so much fun b/c you can mod to some degree and don't have to tote extra wheels around.

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:33 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

At the last meeting, Stephen mentioned something about moving up to STX.

Mike just mentioned to me that he might make that move at some point, no idea if it is next year or not.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:47 pm

Matt McGrain wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

I think for about 2500 altogether, you can install some basic go fast parts and have a fun car!!

Just curious….

And you won't have to buy R-comps.

Honestly, STX/U would be so much fun b/c you can mod to some degree and don't have to tote extra wheels around.

PRO-
It is VERY nice not changing tires at events.
It is VERY nice buying your AX tires for under $500 shipped (RE010R special)
It is VERY nice that if I play my cards right, I won't have to buy AX tires until 2011
It is nice to not worry about tire wear if a friend wants to co-drive at an event.

CON-
I'm not an alien, so I don't tickle the timer like I did even on crusty old V710's but I still don't think I quite have my car dialed in.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 5:20 pm

How is "forward bite" with the STX tires in a new Mustang? i.e. will you ever get to "really" floor it compared to R tires?

Dick (who remembers tons of wheelspin with R tires back in the early 90's even with an 88 5.0)

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:54 pm

Rodney, I like the idea of STX at some point. I was originally planning on 2010, but it looks more likely for me at this point that I'd be in FS again next year. Especially if more R1s pop up for 200$ again.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

I'm staying put. I've bought all of the hardware that I plan to buy for a while. Besides, I can't see screwing up a good daily driver/trip car, then going slower due to not having r-comps.

Ryan, Go price RE01Rs in the following sizes and report back:

275/40-17
Any 18" size between 245 and 295 mm

Unless you have a great source, you won't find them new for that much less than r-comps.

Always looking forward to being proven wrong,

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:02 pm

But Art... you aren't even slightly tempted by the ~25-30whp gain a CAI and tune will provide, not to mention the improved throttle response and fixed rev limiter?

:twisted:

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:47 pm

I wouldn't mind staying FS on more year and burn up these v700's I have. In 2011 a decision will have to be made on where to go. I'm holding off on shocks/struts right now for that reason. I REALLY like the kit that CJ pony parts offers (Part#: M2005FR3). Ford Racing sways, custom shocks, lowering springs, bushings and strut bar for 1200. No research yet, but looks to be a good deal. add 350 for an ECM update, 200 for CAI, 200 for mufflers and a few more bucks for near R-comps, and you've at the 2500 (more or less).

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:31 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

I wouldn't mind staying FS on more year and burn up these v700's I have. In 2011 a decision will have to be made on where to go. I'm holding off on shocks/struts right now for that reason. I REALLY like the kit that CJ pony parts offers (Part#: M2005FR3). Ford Racing sways, custom shocks, lowering springs, bushings and strut bar for 1200. No research yet, but looks to be a good deal. add 350 for an ECM update, 200 for CAI, 200 for mufflers and a few more bucks for near R-comps, and you've at the 2500 (more or less).

Ultimately I'll upgrade my shocks and STX is attractive as I'll be able to do it properly with camber plates. I don't want to spend money on a new setup to end up slotting those as well.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:45 pm

Arthur McDonald wrote:

I'm staying put. I've bought all of the hardware that I plan to buy for a while. Besides, I can't see screwing up a good daily driver/trip car, then going slower due to not having r-comps.

Reminds me of a famous quote on another message board:

"The idea (behind STU) is to take a really nice expensive street car, make it uncomfortable and barely streetable, then not let it run DOT R's, so it'll go slower than the stock version of the same car."

:lol:

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Michael Westerfield wrote:

But Art... you aren't even slightly tempted by the ~25-30whp gain a CAI and tune will provide, not to mention the improved throttle response and fixed rev limiter?

:twisted:

Those are all nice for street driving (ignoring 25 cents/gallon more for premium fuel), but for autocross:

Another 25-30 rwhp - at 6200 rpm? How much do you get at 3500 or 4500? How does the torque curve look? I'm sure there's a scenario where more power would help, but not nearly as much as better shock damping or stickier tires.

Throttle response - I haven't noticed a problem. Now it's really annoying on the street, when you're coasting long enough for the computer to cut off fuel (about 2 secs), then try to blip the throttle for a downshift. Unless you give it a BIG blip, you don't get anything. Once the throttle is open (and the computer holds it open for a couple of secs after you let off the throttle), it seems to take additional inputs readily. I think it's just a matter of our courses this year being pretty open, but not all that fast: I've only made one shift per run this year. From 1st to 2nd.

Fixed rev limiter - when Sam Strano told me about the "slap you down 500 rpm for being a bad boy" limiter on the GTs, I about cried. I ended up ordering a slightly taller tire than he runs, just to add 2 mph as the top of 2nd gear. Anyway, I haven't hit the dreaded rev limiter yet, through I have run into the traction control a few times due to wheel spin exiting turns. I keep forgetting to turn traction control off.

Other early season worries:

TPMS - My A/X wheels don't have sensors. The light hasn't come on yet.

Dire warnings in the owner's manual and shop manual about frying the car's lighting system if trailer light wiring was spliced in - I had Raleigh hitch install the hitch and wiring, just so that it wouldn't be my fault. The car's lights are doing fine, but I lost the running lights circuit to the trailer at Danville. (Since I have 2 trailers and the 5.0 is wired too, I was able to narrow it down to "something in the new Mustang") Raleigh Hitch replaced the pigtail for free last week.

My wish is that the current FS crowd stays in FS, that we prep our cars to the limit of the stock class rules, and let the battle rage.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 7:22 am

Arthur McDonald wrote:

I'm staying put. I've bought all of the hardware that I plan to buy for a while. Besides, I can't see screwing up a good daily driver/trip car, then going slower due to not having r-comps.

Ryan, Go price RE01Rs in the following sizes and report back:

275/40-17
Any 18" size between 245 and 295 mm

Unless you have a great source, you won't find them new for that much less than r-comps.

Always looking forward to being proven wrong,

I clearly stated I got my tires for a steal. STX fits me right now but R comps are just too fun, I will be back on them.

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 8:08 am

Arthur McDonald wrote:

Throttle response - I haven't noticed a problem. Now it's really annoying on the street, when you're coasting long enough for the computer to cut off fuel (about 2 secs), then try to blip the throttle for a downshift. Unless you give it a BIG blip, you don't get anything. Once the throttle is open (and the computer holds it open for a couple of secs after you let off the throttle), it seems to take additional inputs readily.

Art, what's up with this design? Is that the actual way they have programmed it, or is there some issue with your car? I'm just thinking about the fuel-cut-off introduced back in the early 80's with the introduction of Bosch Motronic (and on all Bosch systems since then). It's cuts off fuel flow instantly on a closed throttle, and if you coast down, it won't resume fuel delivery until ~1200rpm or so. However, if you touch the throttle it responds instantly (with no discernible lag...none) to the input. You never know that feature is there.

Did Ford somehow screw things up? If so, I'm guessing very strongly that it's a band-aid measure to the emissions road test cycle similar to how many modern auto-tranny cars have throttle delays programmed in to scape through such testing...the main reason I got my wife to switch back to manual tranny cars for her daily driver a number of years back.

Chuck

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Thu Jul 16, 2009 8:17 am

Arthur McDonald wrote:

Dire warnings in the owner's manual and shop manual about frying the car's lighting system if trailer light wiring was spliced in - I had Raleigh hitch install the hitch and wiring, just so that it wouldn't be my fault. The car's lights are doing fine, but I lost the running lights circuit to the trailer at Danville. (Since I have 2 trailers and the 5.0 is wired too, I was able to narrow it down to "something in the new Mustang") Raleigh Hitch replaced the pigtail for free last week.

My wish is that the current FS crowd stays in FS, that we prep our cars to the limit of the stock class rules, and let the battle rage.

Dire warnings? Guess I should have looked at the manual before I installed mine. Where exactly did Raleigh Hitch tie into the wiring? I'd like to back check mine. I'd also like to take ride in you car to feel the shocks. Is there much difference between the stock shocks and the Koni's you're running? Are they easy to adjust? I'll get up you this weekend for some help and directions. Thanks Art....

THSCC Forums

F stock or STX?

Who is online