Can we talk about this? - Lateral-g Forums

chetly · #1 08-09-2014, 11:44 AM

This is the brain child of Mike Maier and Craig Johnson. It's currently in pre production testing on Mike Maier's 66 coupe. Lower control arms are approx 3+ inches longer, uppers are 1 inch longer, roll centers are the same as current design, spring rate and role bars are softer car is almost twice as flat while cornering. Spindle is shortened allowing for a 315 to be run up front with a flared fender. It also allows for either a coyote motor or the Roush Yates motor to fit between the shock towers. That's about all I know, when I see Mike later today, I'll tell him about this thread and he can chime in with what he wants to add and answer anymore questions.

Oh yeah, this suspension was not on the car when we had the car out at the OUSCI event at Laguna Seca. We have been testing the car at a couple of events and its looking promising. At the latest auto-x (Larry Park Memorial). Mike went out and was faster than Mary Pozzi's fastest lap on his first lap. Overall, got her by almost a second.

craig510 · #2 08-09-2014, 04:03 PM

Chetly summed it up pretty well. The installation is similar to a Mustang II but with much better geometry. It uses slugs or spacers at all of the pickup points to allow for roll center and anti-dive geometry. The setup with zero slugs is great for the street and will work well for most drivers and conditions, however, if you want to tinker or the track/tire requires a different setup you can raise or lower the roll center, tweak the camber gain or add anti-dive.

The new shock towers add a huge amount of space in the engine bay and still maintains the structure of the unibody.
LS and tall deck Windsor motors will also fit but header selection has yet to be determined.

David Pozzi · #3 08-09-2014, 04:53 PM

Mike ran in CP, so I think he ran slicks, not 200 treadwear of CAM.
He was even faster on Sunday though.

chetly · #4 08-09-2014, 05:49 PM

Mike ran franks car in CP and his car for fun runs later on the Falkens.

Mike Maier · #5 08-09-2014, 10:19 PM

Craig and I apparently had too much time on our hands. The main goal was to make the car easier all around. Set up, Tuning, and most of all driver confidence. Oh yea.. Bigger motors too. The car has been hacked on with all kinds of special ideas that might not have been so special. So we thought we would give a new special idea a chance. This one isn't so bad if I may. The biggest thing I think is the confidence entering the turns. You can hammer the entrance with a ton less pucker factor. We are currently fitting it to a couple of cars sorting things out. It definitely is promising and even in it's early stages I'll say others are going to have a good time trying to get close to the performance of this set up. Just saying...

DBasher · #6 08-10-2014, 01:23 AM

Rad!

More pictures and video if you have them! Craig are you running something similar on your falcon? And is this something that would be available to be adapted to other cars...say like a 65 comet?

Dan

chetly · #7 08-10-2014, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBasher

Rad!

More pictures and video if you have them! Craig are you running something similar on your falcon? And is this something that would be available to be adapted to other cars...say like a 65 comet?

Dan

I wouldn't see why not. Mustang, Fairlane, Falcon, Comet, Cougar, Maverick all have similar enough suspension design where this could be adapted.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet. Spark plug replacement. What normally took 1.5+ hours on the 66 coupe can now be done in your average 30 minutes. Gained something around 6-7 inches overall width between the shock towers.

67redrocket · #8 07-17-2016, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Maier

Craig and I apparently had too much time on our hands. The main goal was to make the car easier all around. Set up, Tuning, and most of all driver confidence. Oh yea.. Bigger motors too. The car has been hacked on with all kinds of special ideas that might not have been so special. So we thought we would give a new special idea a chance. This one isn't so bad if I may. The biggest thing I think is the confidence entering the turns. You can hammer the entrance with a ton less pucker factor. We are currently fitting it to a couple of cars sorting things out. It definitely is promising and even in it's early stages I'll say others are going to have a good time trying to get close to the performance of this set up. Just saying...

You got nice have done a bunch of nice parts for the Mustang. Will this front suspension be for sale in the near future? Would love to see this and how it works.

craig510 · #9 07-18-2016, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67redrocket

You got nice have done a bunch of nice parts for the Mustang. Will this front suspension be for sale in the near future? Would love to see this and how it works.

The system is for sale, so far all the installs have been done at the shop as we are still working on some fine tuning to get the fitment perfect. Call up the shop and talk to Vince or Mike and they can get you a quote. 925-443-6300

-Craig

chetly · #10 08-10-2014, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig510

The new shock towers add a huge amount of space in the engine bay and still maintains the structure of the unibody.
LS and tall deck Windsor motors will also fit but header selection has yet to be determined.

No, no, no!!! No putting LS motors in Mustangs, or any other Ford...