Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

I have a friend that would like to get into the S/SS world. I've been out of the loop for awhile so I figured I would ask. The NHRA classification guide shows a 83 Mustang with a 302 as a note "D" Manual trans only? Does that still matter in today's Stockers? Can he run an automatic? Thanks

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

stickshift only

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Thanks, figured so. Bummer.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Almost makes me want to build an 83' Mustang

well,
SOMEBODY had to say it

! !

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Why is requiring the only style of transmission a certain combination was available with "A Bummer"? I like that NHRA tries to at least keep some things legit. Not sure about 83, but you COULD get a 84 or 85 Mustang 5.0 engine with an automatic, but only with the CFI throttle body EFI version. All the carbed 82 thru 85 5.0 HO Mustang and Capri models were manual transmission only.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

I was the only person running that combo in stock from 1997 until 2015 with the 302 carb as far as I know. It is a stick only combo as are the 82-85 Mustang GT. It only came as a stick and is classified as such. If someone wants to run an auto find the combo that came from the factory as such.

I ran it in K for several years and then L, it fit better in L.

I will be the first to tell you with a bunch of money and the best parts it is only a .65 under combo in good weather. I should have listened to Alex Denysenko when he told me it is not a good combo, but I wanted to figure that out on my own. The 83-84 (same car) was lumped in with the 85 hydraulic roller motor and as that engine got hit with HP so did the 83-84. I wrote many letters explaining the cam lift difference along with the cam difference and only gained a slight reduction for the 83.

I guess I will make the statement, If a car is only produced as a stick only combo, it should remain that way in class racing.

Rory in my opinion is a wealth of knowledge on these cars and their specifics. You typed faster than I did!

Sean

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Not to get off topic, sorta, but weren't there some 94 Cobra automatics built and used at the 94 Indy 500 as pace cars and later sold to the public?

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Jay. Bill Dyer has run a couple 85 GT 302 Stick combos in stock and superstock. The GT is a stick only and is a good combo. He won the overall class national championship with one a few years ago. It will go a second under. It is easy on parts if built right. You might talk to Bill. He might sell a roller if you have a person stuck in automatic. I don’t think it is too hard to change years to find a combo that could be run.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Sort of....

3 automatic cars were converted by Roush to pace the Indy 500 so technically there was never an auto trans Cobra built by Ford Motor Co.

Just like there is no such thing as an auto trans GT500 ( 2007-2014)


1994 Indy 500 Pace Car Replica
The Ford Mustang turned 30 years old in 1994 and was met with corporate-sponsored enthusiasm. As a demonstration of this renewed enthusiasm, a trio of SVT Cobra convertibles served as pace cars for the 78th Indianapolis 500 race on May 29, 1994. The three cars were modified by Jack Roush at his shop in Allen Park, Michigan, for heavy-duty pacing on race day. The pace cars were installed with heavy-duty four-speed automatic transmissions, 15-gallon racing fuel cells, heavier rear springs (to accommodate the weight of television camera equipment), a Halon fire-extinguisher system, a rollbar with 50,000-watt strobe lights built in, and special lights in the rear spoiler. Parnelli Jones, a seven-time Indy 500 competitor who won the 1963 race, drove the official pace car at the event.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

^^ this

No automatic trans option in 1983 on the V-8 model.
I keep thinking you could get a 4bbl. 302 in a plain jane '83 Mustang ( non GT) as well but it was a manual trans only deal also.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Only because that will prevent him from being able to convert the car to a Stocker. And with so many other stupid pointless rules in Stock Eliminator what would it hurt? Did these engines ever come with roller rocker arms? How about Edelbrock aluminum heads?

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Hi Jim, the 85 is definitely a better combination. I am just trying to help him get into Stock as and be able to index as cheaply as possible. He has a 83 Bracket car that could easily be transformed but he won't run a stick. We'll figure something out. I'd like to get him into the 87 up. I used to know a thing or two about making those run pretty good.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

ouch ! Lol.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Tell him to grow a pair and run a stick or turn in his man card. So many sheep out there.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Call, Marty Buth have him build you 4 cylinder turbo, you run Auto transmission, will run farther under index than 302

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Ha! Not about growing a pair. It's not in the budget.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Welll, I am an engine builder so that would be awkward. lol. We actually talked about the 4 cyl combination but he is a V8 guy.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

If he is dead set on running an automatic, why not change the front nose piece on his 83 to a 85-86 and run as '86 EFI 302 factored @ 197 hp ?
The hood and interior is the same. Not sure about the tailights tho.

Or....run as 1984 302 /auto CFI efi combo factored @ 195 hp ?

If he wants to run a carbed, automatic 302 Fox body then he's just sol

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

taillights are identical...the hood is not. 83 has a scoop the 84-86 are flat

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Thought about the 86 combo but if he is going to run EFI he might as well convert to 87 up like I used to run. Much better engine. I can't imagine the 84 CFI would even be close to usable, would it?
We were talking and he does happen to have a 88 T Bird..........

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

True.
Only the 83 GT had a scoop.
The other V-8 Mustangs in '83 got a flat hood ( GL, GLX, etc. )

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Years ago I wanted to do the 83 T-Bird 302 CFI deal but it is factored way to high.
The CFI has 2 injectors. Not a problem, just run a couple of 100 ponders.

The problem is the tiny 2 blade throttle body. I never measured but it looks smaller than a 350 cfm carb

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Since it seems this guy "has" to have a V8 and automatic, the obvious thing to do is to convert the nose piece and taillights, and run the car as a 79 302 2 barrel combo. Since NHRA gave the 302 2 barrels a drastic HP reduction a few years ago, there have been more and more showing up, often near the top of the qualifying sheets. The 82 only 302 2 barrel "High Output" Mustang/Capri combo looks pretty good too (Bigger cam and carb), but you have to run "That Scary" manual transmission with that package!
As for the 88 TBird, not sure if the engine combo is much different, but there is a 86 TBird 302 in Div. 7 that has been running for several years .

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Not to get too far off topic, but I believe the 84 Turbo GT also had the hood scoop

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Rory, it's not that he "has" to have a automatic. I never said anything about the manual trans being "scary"? The price to get into a decent manual trans setup is just too much for him right now compared to using a C4. Wouldn't you rather see some new people coming into Class racing than not just because he can't afford a stick? Believe me, he would love to row the gears. So would I. But in my case, I can't currently swing upwards of 10k for a stick and good clutch for my SS/AS car so it's going to be a automatic. For now.

As for the 2 bbl 302, sounds interesting. The 87 Tbird uses the same 302 HO as the 87-93 Mustangs according to NHRA specs. I'm very familiar with that combination in a Mustang. Even have some parts leftover. just trying to give him the best options available to hopefully get him into a Stocker.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Yes, the CFI didn't look very good to me.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Does anyone run a 87-88 Tbird with the 302? Haven't come across anyone.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

I have never seen where one has entered into a NHRA race. Probably for a good reason.
Same combo as the Mustang but with more frontal area of the car to push wind.
A foot longer in length as well and takes up more space in the trailer.
Seems the 87-93 Mustang would be a better choice. I don't see where the T-Bird would have an advantage.

The big disadvantage to the Fox T-Bird is racing suspension parts are harder to find ( upper and lower rear control arms are different than a Mustang)
I ended up taking Mustang parts and cutting them up and lengthen them to fit.
It's just more economical to build a Fox Mustang especially since the used parts market is flooded with parts

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

I didn't realize the control arms are longer, interesting. Probably is no advantage to the Tbird but it is different. I ran a Fox Mustang in Stock for years and did well with it but it would be kinda cool to see a Tbird. He has one that already has a lot of stuff done to it chassis wise that would still be Stock legal so we'll see. And I have some engine parts left over I can cut him a deal on. I just want to see him get into something in Stock and I know we can easily make this index so he can get his feet wet.

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Is NHRA allowing the use of aftermarket tubular style rear control arms now or did you modify the stock Mustang arms?

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Yeah, You can use tubular upper and lower rear control arms. The upper can be adjustable but not the lowers.






Bret Velde
2003 SS/??

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Southsides stretched 3/8 inch ( IIRC)
Plus I did not want the rear end jacked up in the back so I lowered the spring perches.
As posted above, the lowers have to be fixed length

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...ef&oe=5C1D9AE9


https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...4d&oe=5C173A86

This is what happens when you use 79-98 Mustang lowers on a 83-88 T-Bird/Cougar.
It moves the rear end forward and looks horrible... not to mention makes the factory wheelbase barely legal (if legal at all) in Stock

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...10&oe=5C283F8D

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Cool beans. When I ran Stock I boxed the lower arms and made my own upper adjustable arms. Just wanted to make sure nothing had changed. Thanks guys!

Re: Manual trans only in 83 Mustang?
 

Wow! That did look bad! I sure appreciate all the information.