machinehead

Just like the subject says. If i wanted to buy a car and make a total drag car out of it which is the best to start with and why? Price is an issue.
I was thinking 1st gen because I can get one cheap, they are light, and come with a straight axle in the rear.

Barwick

1st gen would be my guess.. for same reasons.. first off they're LIGHT. 2nd off, yeah, a straight axle is easier for drag I'd imagine. 3rd reason, parts are a dime a dozen for them. 4th, um.. they're INCREDIBLY easy to work on in the engine bay.

peejay

If you're making a "total drag car" then it doesn't matter, you'll be making a tube frame. you then rivet on a body skin that looks somewhat like whatever gen you want.

i'd say '83-earlier 1st-gen. better rear suspension geometry than '84-85 models. IRS is a waste of time for serious drag racing unless you have some special interest in it - it simply cannot generate enough anti-squat. solid axles work incredibly well because the suspension geometry is normally tuned to use the torque reaction against the suspension pivots to drive the axle harder into the ground.

of course when you get serious you'll cut all that out and install your OWN 4-link, so again you could start with any generation since it'd be about the same amount of work to cut out the rear floor and "backhalf" it. the stock 1st-gen rear suspension isn't ideally suited for acceleration, in the name of cornering and braking.

gnx7

iTrader: (10)

1st gen would be a great candidate as already stated to about the 9 second range and after that I would probably get a 2nd gen since they have better aerodynamics and are only about 400lbs heavier. 400lbs is 40hp...... but if you are making big power anyway it isn't much. Stripped 2nd gens can get down to the 2100lb range and 1st gen even lighter.

If you are on a budget:
In the 1st gen car replace the rear axle with a narrowed 8.8" Ford with upgraded axles. Due to the light weight of the car that should be all you will need up to about 700hp..... as many Mustangs are running 9's with just this.

You may want to take a look at the forum on V8RX7.com if you want a streetcar that runs........ 9's on a mellow budget.

http://www.torquecentral.com/forumdi...php?forumid=11

V8 with NOS will be the cheapest way and wheels up launches with only a 26x10.5" tire won't be too tough. You don't need a fully tubbed car to go fast. 400hp in a 2600lb car will run low 11's, 500hp will run low 10's, and 600hp is needed for 9's. Lighter the weight and better aerodynamics..... easier it is and less power needed.

450hp V8 with 150hp NOS and you could have a daily driver that runs 9's!

GNX7

SPOautos

How fast of a drag car we talking here? 8, 9, 10, 11 seconds???

On thing to consider the in the 1st gen (especially the older ones) you'll need to replace the trans and rear end right off the bat, its my understanding that neither will hold hardly any power.....which is understandable since the cars only came with 100rwhp or so.

I say get a 79 and stick a ford 9" in it. Then save up for a aftermarket trans.

STEPHEN

fdracer

1st

peejay

They'll hold power... the question is, for how long?

if you're going to start replacing rearends then might as well start with an RX-3 or RX-2. Leaf spring suspensions are lots easier for rearend swapping, and they have some advantages for drag racing as well.

FC Drifter

1st gen all the way. light, straight axle rear, cheap. 3 good reasons right there. plus you can drop in a 13bt fairly easily and go damn fast. hmm wonder if a 20b fits?

peejay

anything fits

fdracer

yeah it fits, jesus padilla's already done it

rxrotary2_7

i would have to say an r100. i am getting rid of my rx2 before dumping more money into it. i am going to focus on my R100. i dont know what route to go though, i have a true shell (waiting for a tube frame) or a complete (i can kick around town for a little while) if not an r100, rx2, or rx3. my next choice would be a toyota starlet or a mazda GLC. but maybe thats just me.
if you want a 7 and only a 7. 2nd gen would be my choice. but like stated, a true drag car is just a tube frame with some skin on it. so its realy your call.

PhillyFabrication&Design

2nd gens will squeeze a 4 link under the rear without chopping out the whole floor and doing a full back half..The front and rear overhang is almost perfect..The engine setback is better than the 1st gen..Plus the 2nd gen will hold a tire a lot better than the smaller 1st gen..