I have a 2013 Mustang GT auto that I've recently started modding. I currently have JLT race Cold air intake, Bama 93 Race Tune, and MBRP catback exhaust. I also run 2013 gt500 wheels with 285/35r19 MT Street Comp tires on all 4 corners. Took my car to the 1/8 mile track last night and here is my best time slip.



My 60 ft time seems really bad for upgraded tires and the mods I have. I've played around with different launch techniques and haven't found anything to help yet. Does anyone have any launch secrets for these automatics? Or am I just gonna have to start upgrading suspension and possibly buy a circle D Torque Converted? I know slicks would be the easiest route, but if I stay with the street comps, I will be able to compete in true street class. My times over all seem to be higher than what I see online, but temps were in the 80s with 90%+ humidity last night. More concerned about traction issues. Feels like I'm chirping 2nd and 3rd also. Input greatly appreciated. This is my first post on this site.

 

Got some good speed just need a bit more traction.

 

Suspension all stock? If so, boxed or tubular LCAs will help with traction. If you plan to lower it, do the LCA relocation brackets too, along with adjustable panhard bar.

 

Yes suspension is all stock. I had planned on doing suspension work very similar to what you mentioned, but I find it hard to believe that it's going to be able to make a huge difference for a 2.15 60 ft. Maybe it will though. I've heard the rca's alone work wonders on these cars. What is the sweet spot for launching these 6r80 auto cars?

 

You have two choices really: Push through it with more power or put a converter in the trans to get you more launch rpm. If you aren't spinning tire, you certainly don't need more suspension.

I push past the soft launch due to the too-tight converter with nitrous. 1.7 60 is the best I've managed, 11.48 at 120.64 on a 100 shot.

A converter is a way better idea but, is obviously expensive if you can't install it yourself.

If I had a converter, I think I could hit a 10 sec 1/4 or close to it on the same shot. Converters are easily worth 1/2 sec or more on these cars.

 

You can cut 1.9 60s with an auto, stock suspension and mediocre tires.
I cut low 1.9s with my 295s invos when I was stock before my SC install. It all depends on track prep, but if its decent you should be able to rev up to 1k at launch from there. If you don't get any tire spin, increase the rpm's. If all your tires are doing is spinning, then you'll need to feather the throttle.

 

Also, what gears do you have for your final drive?3.73 or higher numeric ratios help.

 

Thought for auto's, 3.73 gears doesn't do much.

 

A '13 GT auto comes with 3.15 rear gears.

 

Gears won't get you much help. You need more launch rpm and you can't get that with the stock converter.

 

Thanks for the help. I just placed a parts order. I bought the Pypes LT Headers and Off road shorty X pipe to finish off my exhaust. I upgraded my suspension also. Ford Racing P springs, Koni Yellow Shocks and struts, BMR LCA's and brackets, UCA and bracket, and Double adjustable pan hard bar. Exhaust will be installed Friday. Suspension Monday. I'm gonna run that setup and see if I need to get a torque converter also. Anybody think that the suspension and added exhaust will help 60 ft times significantly?

 

Not alot. It's not crippled by the rear suspension the way a stick car is. The auto is pretty much point and shoot and the launch rpm is too low to produce much axle wrap or wheelspin. The extra power is more in the upper ranges now too, so, it won't help a ton down low. You need a torque booster, like nitrous or a PD blower to help 60 the stock converter.

Get a sticky tire, as you'll need it sooner or later.

 

Will the torque converter help me after I get supercharged? Eventually I'm going to get Paxton kit from beefcake racing. Just don't want to drop $1500 into a torque converter if it's not going to benefit me in the end. Nitrous just doesn't appeal to me so that's out of the question. Sticky tired will be bought very soon, but I'm trying to snag a deal on Craigslist or something similar. Some people have said that slicks aren't ideal for an auto. They say that radials are better. I just don't want to get something that's not gonna be able to hold the future power im going to be pushing. End goal is the Paxton kit running about 8 psi putting out roughly 620-650 to the wheels. This is my daily driver, and I'm not trting to destroy stock internals. So the question is, but the circle d 4c converter and run it; or keep saving for the Paxton kit ($7k). I have the cash now to buy the circle d converter and get it installed with racing slicks. If I were to buy slicks and not get the converter, I'm gonna be saving for a really long time before I can get the beefcake kit. That's why I'm leaning towards torque converter

 

Depends on the stall you pick but, with a centri you should be ok with the converter as well, as long as you put enough tire under the car.

Your converter/slicks plan is worth a good full second + without changing anything else.

 

Sounds good. I think I'm gonna call and order my torque converter tomorrow. After reading a lot of reviews and forums, many people say that is their favorite mod. Headers and off road x pipe Friday, new suspension Monday, and torque converter/ slicks sometime in the near future. Would like to run my car with slicks one night at the track before torque converter to get a good before and after time. I'm at 8.5 1/8 mile now on street tires. Any guesses for after all exhaust, suspension, TC, and slicks?

 

One more question, do you think the TC will actually help my 60 ft times with the MT street comp 285/35r19s I'm running? Seems like if it launches quicker, I might just spin more.

 

If you want a much better 60' time, you're going to need a real tire. I'm sure those tires are great for the street, but they're not anywhere close to what a drag radial can do
http://www.americanmuscle.com/drag-comp-tires-1112.html

 

You can find people selling drag radials and wheels all the time for pretty cheap, check your area. Just swap the rear wheels for when you go to the track

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/pts/5699904120.html
http://flint.craigslist.org/wto/5701253467.html
http://scranton.craigslist.org/wto/5677452722.html