Mustang Face-Off!

Hey Mustang gods and demi-gods alike!

I have a question that no doubt one of you could answer, but first let me give a little background (helps add to the tension, no? :-)

Anyways, I have a newly rebuilt 1994 Mustang GT with a few custom options, none of it really for speed. The only thing I've added performance-wise is a fenderwell mounted cold air intake system. My father just purchased back my brother's 1989 Mustang LX 2.3L 5 speed and is planning to rebuild it as a vehicle for my mother. Well in a friendly little tussle, my mother and I challenged each other to a drag-race. She insists that her 5 speed manual 2.3L Inline Four cylinder can take down my 4 speed automatic 5.0L V8 in the first 10-15 feet (about the distance from one lamp post in a parking lot to another).

Her claim is that since hers weights less and sports a 5 speed manual, her take off will overwhelm my lumbering, heavy V8.

My claim is mine is obviously more than double the horsepower of hers and the transmission won't matter since the first 10-15 feet will just be 1st gear.

The race is set for some time next year (when my father finishes rejuvination) and we are racing for pink slips (although it's a mother-son sort of thing so I doubt either of us will hold each other up to it :-) )

So my question to you all is: Who will win in the first 10-15feet of a drag race between a 2.3L 89 Mustang LX 5 speed manual and 5.0L 94 Mustang GT 4 speed auto and why?

i would think the v8 gt would win has a hole bunch of more torque then the 4 banger.

your 5.0 will SPANK it ! i can't believe the rents even think it has a chance. My first car was an 86 LX 2.3 and every car i've had since then would spank it. (89 305 Camaro Auto, 91 305 Camaro 5spd, 00 civic and 2002 Mustang GT)

Dude, your going to lose to your mom. :D

You have a year and it's for slips? Sneak out in the middle of the night and have a buddy help install a 3000 stall converter and some wide BFG or M/T drag radials and launch holding the brake, you'll put a whole carlength on that 4-banger in 15 feet! LOL

Dude, your going to lose to your mom. :D

Dood! Shut up! Am not! :P

You have a year and it's for slips? Sneak out in the middle of the night and have a buddy help install a 3000 stall converter and some wide BFG or M/T drag radials and launch holding the brake, you'll put a whole carlength on that 4-banger in 15 feet! LOL

Well, I just bought new tires with new rims, they're Firestone Wide-Oval 17x8 - They're bigger and wider than my stock rims but they're also heavier. This is her claim. We've already established that it's no contest in a 0-60mph race ;) She claims since hers is lighter and 5 speed manual, she will get a better start (maybe 0-15mph range) - all skill aside.

Throw some gears in that car, don't want mommy to take you down do you?

Throw some gears in that car, don't want mommy to take you down do you?

Huh?

I'm not looking for modification information or anything like that. I just want to know if it's possible for a 2.3L 5 speed manual to beat a 5.0L 4 speed auto in the first 10-15 feet of a drag.

Huh?

I'm not looking for modification information or anything like that. I just want to know if it's possible for a 2.3L 5 speed manual to beat a 5.0L 4 speed auto in the first 10-15 feet of a drag.

NO . . the 2.3 is NOT going to beat you

NO . . the 2.3 is NOT going to beat you

Great! I thought so as well :)

But why do you say "no"? Why won't the lighter wieght and 5 speed manual presence not be enough to take out my much heavier mainstream 4 speed auto in the first few feet?

Why won't the lighter wieght and 5 speed manual presence not be enough to take out my much heavier mainstream 4 speed auto in the first few feet?

Because more than likely your mom is not going to launch her car at 4500rpms or so. If you want to beat her without a doubt then press the brake pedal as hard as you can, and give it some gas. Rev the motor as high as it will rev without spinning the tires while you are holding the brake. Then drop the brake and give it the fuel. Its called foot braking or stalling. It will give you a good jump off the line.

You'll beat your mom...........................unless daddy goes out and finds a 2.3 liter factory turbo on ebay or the junk yard. Things could get a little dicey then.

You'll beat your mom...........................unless daddy goes out and finds a 2.3 liter factory turbo on ebay or the junk yard. Things could get a little dicey then.

Nah, I here those 2.3L Turbo 4 bangers suffer from some serious turbo lag. If we're talking about the first 15 feet, there's no way she'll get the jump on me ;)

Well I had an 85 Thunderbird turbo coupe and Im pretty sure the set up is very similar to the turbo mustang. Now my car was an auto and there was lag, but it wasn't that bad. Had this car been a stick the lag would have been next to nothing.

So my point here is your mom is not who you have to worry about. Its the guy in the manual 2.3L turbo'd stang out on the street. I went to a club meet a couple of months ago and saw this very car and it was in mint condition. The way this thing ran, I never would have guessed it was a 2.3 liter.

Well I had an 85 Thunderbird turbo coupe and Im pretty sure the set up is very similar to the turbo mustang. Now my car was an auto and there was lag, but it wasn't that bad. Had this car been a stick the lag would have been next to nothing.

So my point here is your mom is not who you have to worry about. Its the guy in the manual 2.3L turbo'd stang out on the street. I went to a club meet a couple of months ago and saw this very car and it was in mint condition. The way this thing ran, I never would have guessed it was a 2.3 liter.

Yes, I know and it would probably take me down on the quarter mile becuase of the larger redline. On the intial take-off and the first 10 or so feet it won't take me out. 4 bangers, even the turbo charged ones generally have less torque then their power output where as a large V8 generates more torque than horsepower. Torque is what breaks the moment of inertia. I've seen the proof just browsing videos on the web of quarter mile races.

Oh eillob, I never got a chance to compliment you on your car. That color is harsh! :) Good form.

Yes, I know and it would probably take me down on the quarter mile becuase of the larger redline. On the intial take-off and the first 10 or so feet it won't take me out. 4 bangers, even the turbo charged ones generally have less torque then their power output where as a large V8 generates more torque than horsepower. Torque is what breaks the moment of inertia. I've seen the proof just browsing videos on the web of quarter mile races.

Yeah your right. Thanks for the compliment.:)

Bazil, THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL THAT CAR WOULD BEAT YOURS!!! Even if your Dad did put a 2.3turbo it still would not matter. Assuming the 2.3turbo was stock, remember the 84-85 SVO 2.3turbo was slower than the 5.0 back then and that is why they didn't sell that many SVO's because they were almost as much if not a little more than the GT. Yes your car is heavier and has an auto, DOES NOT MATTER!! What's the stock horse and torque ratings on a 89 2.3? Maybe 100hp and maybe 130tq? Just guessing. I had an 88 Escort with 1.9 and a 4spd stick, yes 4spd stick and it was rated at 88 horsepower, WHOOOHOOOO!!!! I'm not trying to be a jerk but why even bother with 10-15 feet? I know she thinks she could only get you off the line with the 4 banger and stick but when I had my 88 Escort there was no way in hell I would have even messed with anything on the street....well maybe except an old Geo Metro...they only had 3 cylinder engines. lol

i dont think his dad would put a turbo on her car just for a 10 foot race with her son... and it wouldent even spool