Upper control arms

Nixon1 · 02-16-2003, 10:33 AM

I want to turn my car into a bracket dragster, not a road race/Auto-X car...now I was told by my mechanic that it has adjustable upper control arms, and that these are for road racing and generally are no good for the strip. The car has already been partially set up for road racing...the shocks are extremely stiff all around...I have a terrible time hooking up ANYWHERE through first gear because I don't get any rear-end sink at all... So first off, should I ditch the adjustable UCA's...and second, what kind of shocks would you all recommend? I'm sick of these things...If I press myself down on the car and push as hard as I can, I can barely make it sink. Car is stock ride-height, in case anyone wanted to know, and it's gonna stay that way. Thanks!

BLACK85GT · 02-16-2003, 10:37 AM

I was always under the impression that adjustable uppers let you adjust the pinion angle so as to get a better launch? I dont see why they would hinder anything except they might be a pain to adjust.

mike72678 · 02-16-2003, 11:44 AM

your mechanic is backwards , the adjustable uppers are specifically designed for drag racing which is why you can adjust the driveshaft pinion angle with them . They will also help you fine tune your suspension if you lower your car .

RageForces · 02-17-2003, 11:28 PM

Adj control arms are very good for drag racing you can, like was said ealyer, setup the pinion angle. From what i have read if you set the car right you can pickup all most a second.

Bob · 02-18-2003, 08:54 PM

Absolutely keep them on. The adjustable uppers are great for a car that sees both street, and drag strip duty. You can set your pinion angle a lttle steeper for the track and a better hook, and then reduce it back to stock for street driving. Or if your like me, somewhere in between for the street.....'cause ya never know.

Nixon1 · 02-18-2003, 10:01 PM

I would very much like to adjust this even for normal driving...that thing was a pain to get to hook up at any more than maybe 1/3 throttle, even with the 245 ZR's in the back and the heavy bogging up to 3500-4000 rpms it had...I'm gonna hate to see how bad it'll be once it's running good again.

sn95gt19 · 02-19-2003, 01:12 AM

to add to the question...........

to adjust the pinion angle, is it something that you just have to play with to get right? or is there a certain setting that you should go by?

84LX89GT · 02-19-2003, 02:10 AM

The stock pinion angle specification is 2* pinion down, a good street/strip angle is about 4*, i've heard for drag race cars up to 8* depending on how much power is applied.

I bought Steeda adjustable uppers and granatelli height/length adjustable lowers, so hopefully i'll be able to testify soon how it works (car is all apart right now....just doing some welding

)

Nixon1 · 02-19-2003, 07:35 AM

Next question, I thought the control arms were in the front of the car....if they are, then how can this help the rear?

ultraflo · 02-20-2003, 07:21 PM

You have A-arms in the front.... and then, upper and lower rear control arms, well, in the rear.

Nixon1 · 02-20-2003, 09:05 PM

Ahh alright..well then in that case..where the hell are they back there?

By the way...got the car back today. It hauls serious balls...runs beautiful too. I haven't put the pedal all the way to the floor yet...I'm afraid to. 1/2 pedal is just fine for a brisk jog away from any cars near me...

02-16-2003, 10:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
Nixon1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 432	Upper control arms I want to turn my car into a bracket dragster, not a road race/Auto-X car...now I was told by my mechanic that it has adjustable upper control arms, and that these are for road racing and generally are no good for the strip. The car has already been partially set up for road racing...the shocks are extremely stiff all around...I have a terrible time hooking up ANYWHERE through first gear because I don't get any rear-end sink at all... So first off, should I ditch the adjustable UCA's...and second, what kind of shocks would you all recommend? I'm sick of these things...If I press myself down on the car and push as hard as I can, I can barely make it sink. Car is stock ride-height, in case anyone wanted to know, and it's gonna stay that way. Thanks! __________________ '91 Mustang GT 5.0 AOD Daily Driver Current stats: NEW 302 short block, E-303 cam (@.050, 220/220, .498/.498, 110 degrees), 1.6 roller rockers, Performer RPM heads (aluminum, 1.9/1.6, 60cc chambers), Cobra intake, Granatelli 75mm MAF, Billet AFPR, Equal-Length Shorty Headers, Off-Road X Pipe, Flowmasters, 4.10 POSI 13.73 at 103.8, ~2.2 60'

02-16-2003, 10:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
BLACK85GT Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Tampa,FLORIDA Posts: 340	I was always under the impression that adjustable uppers let you adjust the pinion angle so as to get a better launch? I dont see why they would hinder anything except they might be a pain to adjust. __________________ 5.0, Holley heads, 1.7 Scorp Rockers, Stealth intake, Holley 600 carb, Holley Mech. Fuel pump, MSD 6Digital, MSD distributor, Hotchkis upper/lower rear control arms, FMS B Springs, 3:73 (8.8) rear. Production # 9,377

02-18-2003, 08:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bob "Old School Gearhead" Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Peru, Illinois Posts: 617	Absolutely keep them on. The adjustable uppers are great for a car that sees both street, and drag strip duty. You can set your pinion angle a lttle steeper for the track and a better hook, and then reduce it back to stock for street driving. Or if your like me, somewhere in between for the street.....'cause ya never know. __________________ 1985 Mustang GT '85 GT "Red302" 12.96@107.1 N/A ... Sprayin' for the 11's 2003 Torch Red Mach1 '68 Fastback ...331 Stroker "Restomod"

02-18-2003, 10:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Nixon1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 432	I would very much like to adjust this even for normal driving...that thing was a pain to get to hook up at any more than maybe 1/3 throttle, even with the 245 ZR's in the back and the heavy bogging up to 3500-4000 rpms it had...I'm gonna hate to see how bad it'll be once it's running good again. __________________ '91 Mustang GT 5.0 AOD Daily Driver Current stats: NEW 302 short block, E-303 cam (@.050, 220/220, .498/.498, 110 degrees), 1.6 roller rockers, Performer RPM heads (aluminum, 1.9/1.6, 60cc chambers), Cobra intake, Granatelli 75mm MAF, Billet AFPR, Equal-Length Shorty Headers, Off-Road X Pipe, Flowmasters, 4.10 POSI 13.73 at 103.8, ~2.2 60'

02-19-2003, 01:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
sn95gt19 motors done......woohooo Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 799	to add to the question........... to adjust the pinion angle, is it something that you just have to play with to get right? or is there a certain setting that you should go by? __________________ 95gt lazer red (98 cobra clone) Rice Haters Club Member #116

02-16-2003, 11:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
mike72678 MW Link Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: rochester , ny Posts: 79	your mechanic is backwards , the adjustable uppers are specifically designed for drag racing which is why you can adjust the driveshaft pinion angle with them . They will also help you fine tune your suspension if you lower your car .

02-17-2003, 11:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
RageForces Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: S.C Posts: 28	Adj control arms are very good for drag racing you can, like was said ealyer, setup the pinion angle. From what i have read if you set the car right you can pickup all most a second.

02-19-2003, 02:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
84LX89GT Money Waster Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,933	The stock pinion angle specification is 2* pinion down, a good street/strip angle is about 4, i've heard for drag race cars up to 8 depending on how much power is applied. I bought Steeda adjustable uppers and granatelli height/length adjustable lowers, so hopefully i'll be able to testify soon how it works (car is all apart right now....just doing some welding ) __________________ 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300-R 1980 Ford Thunderbird - 255 V8 ported heads, 5.0L ported stock headers, O.R. H-pipe and Flowmaster 2-chambers, dual roller timing chain hi-po Mack Truck hood emblem 1985 Mustang GT 5.0L T5, F-303, GT40p, headers, off-road h, flowmasters, MSD stuff, etc. Sold 02/06/04 1989 Mustang GT ET: 13.304@102.29 mph (5-24-03) Sold - 1998 Mustang Cobra coupe, 1/4 mile - street tires: 13.843@103.41 (bone stock)

02-19-2003, 07:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
Nixon1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 432	Next question, I thought the control arms were in the front of the car....if they are, then how can this help the rear? __________________ '91 Mustang GT 5.0 AOD Daily Driver Current stats: NEW 302 short block, E-303 cam (@.050, 220/220, .498/.498, 110 degrees), 1.6 roller rockers, Performer RPM heads (aluminum, 1.9/1.6, 60cc chambers), Cobra intake, Granatelli 75mm MAF, Billet AFPR, Equal-Length Shorty Headers, Off-Road X Pipe, Flowmasters, 4.10 POSI 13.73 at 103.8, ~2.2 60'

02-20-2003, 07:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
ultraflo NX dealer-man Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Peoria, Illinois Posts: 978	You have A-arms in the front.... and then, upper and lower rear control arms, well, in the rear. __________________ RLS Racing! 93 LX 9.20 @ 147mph 03 Mach 1 12.39 @ 116mph

02-20-2003, 09:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
Nixon1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 432	Ahh alright..well then in that case..where the hell are they back there? By the way...got the car back today. It hauls serious balls...runs beautiful too. I haven't put the pedal all the way to the floor yet...I'm afraid to. 1/2 pedal is just fine for a brisk jog away from any cars near me... __________________ '91 Mustang GT 5.0 AOD Daily Driver Current stats: NEW 302 short block, E-303 cam (@.050, 220/220, .498/.498, 110 degrees), 1.6 roller rockers, Performer RPM heads (aluminum, 1.9/1.6, 60cc chambers), Cobra intake, Granatelli 75mm MAF, Billet AFPR, Equal-Length Shorty Headers, Off-Road X Pipe, Flowmasters, 4.10 POSI 13.73 at 103.8, ~2.2 60'

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