I recently bought a '77 Ghia with a bad 2.3 for cheap, 35 bux, its in surprisingly good shape for that price to. I have a 2.3T/T-5 combo from a '88 turbocoupe that I will be putting in the car. Primary functions of the car will be auto-crossing and some drag racing, basically just cheap grassroots racin'.

1) How much will the car weigh (approx.) if remove the bumpers, gut the interior and run a single racing seat and loose the heater core? Keep in mind that the 2.3T weighs about what a 302 does.

2) How can I identify an '8 rear? I want to run an '8 rear for obvious reasons, my 'stang is a MPG model so I know it has tall gear but am not sure of its size.

3) What are the best cars to get beefier suspension pieces off of, sway bars and coils? V8 'stang IIs?
Pinto wagons?

4) Anyone know of a source or website about suspension tuning for racing using factory parts? Maybe a member of this board has some auto-x experience with a 'stang II.

1) How much will the car weigh (approx.)

ABOUT 2500-2800LBS

2) How can I identify an '8 rear?

AN 8" REAR HAS A REMOVEABLE CARRIER THAT COMES OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE DIFF. FROM THE BACK IT LOOKS SMOOTH WITH NO BOLTS OR TIPICAL DIFF COVER. LOOKS LIKE A 9" FORD?! (BAD EXPLANATION). SEE MY "EXHAUSTING THE II" PICTURES (MY CAR HAS AN 8") CHECK THE DIFF FOR AN AXLE TAG FOR THE GEAR RATIO (IT'S SURPISING HOW MANY OF THEM LIVED THIS LONG)
IF YOUR CAR HAS AN 8" REMOVE THE BRAKE DRUMS REMOVE 8 BACKING PLATE BOLTS PULL THE AXLES, REMOVE THE CARIER AND DIVIDE THE NUMBER OF TEETH ON THE CROWN BY THE NUMBER OF TEETH ON THE PINNION=GEAR RATIO (CROWN IS THE BIG ONE, PINNION THE SMALLER ONE). THIS SOUNDS HARD BUT TAKES LITTLE TIME AND EFFORT, GOOD TIME TO CHANGE THE GEAR LUBE.

3) What are the best cars to get beefier suspension pieces off of, sway bars and coils? V8 'stang IIs?
Pinto wagons?

SOME II'S HAD A SUSPENSION HANDELING PACKAGE THAT USED A HUGE FRONT STABILIZER BAR. I LIFTED MINE OUT OF A COBRA II V8, IN THE BONE YARD. FOR MY CAR I USED V8 A/C SPRINGS UP FRONT AND CUSTOM REAR LEAFS OUT BACK. MY II HAS KYB GR2'S AND ENERGY POLY BUSHINGS EVERWHERE, IT HANDELS GOOD. MOST HOT RODS USE MUSTANG II FRONT ENDS, PICK UP A STREET RODDER MAG FOR TONS OF FRONT END MOD IDEAS!

4) Anyone know of a source or website about suspension tuning for racing using factory parts? Maybe a member of this board has some auto-x experience with a 'stang II.

AUTO CROSSING IS IN THE PLAN STAY TUNED!