GTP Cool Wall: 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429

  • Thread starter Thread starter White & Nerdy
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1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429

  • Total voters
    123
  • Poll closed .
Slash
I've been around solid axled cars all my life and have been around new cars with IRS and I have to say the solid axle cars had a much better ride quality to them except for maybe something that's brand spanking new. I was impressed the first time I rode in a solid axle classic Mustang. I almost couldn't tell.
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Personal observation doesn't really work though, especially since you or I probably haven't been around enough cars to sufficiently say. When looking at it from an engineering perspective, independent suspension will be better for NVH than a solid rear axle, it's why just about every car uses them now days. The only reason trucks still have solid axles is because they are stronger and can tolerate additional weight better.

Someone with an actual engineering background can probably explain it better and with better evidence than I can, I'm going based on what I know from the industry.
 
Joey D
Personal observation doesn't really work though, especially since you or I probably haven't been around enough cars to sufficiently say. When looking at it from an engineering perspective, independent suspension will be better for NVH than a solid rear axle, it's why just about every car uses them now days. The only reason trucks still have solid axles is because they are stronger and can tolerate additional weight better.

Someone with an actual engineering background can probably explain it better and with better evidence than I can, I'm going based on what I know from the industry.
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This all pretty much true too 👍

But back then IRS really wasn't much of a thing in American cars yet, so it's understandable.
 
Slash
I've been around solid axled cars all my life and have been around new cars with IRS and I have to say the solid axle cars had a much better ride quality to them except for maybe something that's brand spanking new. I was impressed the first time I rode in a solid axle classic Mustang. I almost couldn't tell.
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IRS > SLA for ride quality from an engineering and physics standpoint. Less unsprung mass and allowing the tires to react independently to bumps is always better for ride.

It probably feels better to you because older cars are lighter and have much softer suspension. Worn out dampers can also make a ride feel "better."
 
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Yep, older cars are lighter, and probably will continue to be. After all, why bother shrinking the car or removing features for better fuel economy when you can just downsize the engine again :rolleyes:
 
Zenith
IRS > SLA for ride quality from an engineering and physics standpoint. Less unsprung mass and allowing the tires to react independently to bumps is always better for ride.

It probably feels better to you because older cars are lighter and have much softer suspension. Worn out dampers can also make a ride feel "better."
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Ride comfort is such a big "it depends" that you could supply a nursing home with all its needs in adult diapers for the forseeable future based on the discussion. :D

In terms of performance, double wishbone is perhaps unmatched at the highest levels, but the "depends" part creeps in when you're talking about things that aren't dedicated racecars on slicks. I see no problem with a track-oriented Mustang with a live axle... or a Caterham with a live axle. To each their own, I guess. As for lightness:

White & Nerdy
Yep, older cars are lighter, and probably will continue to be. After all, why bother shrinking the car or removing features for better fuel economy when you can just downsize the engine again :rolleyes:
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While I agree mostly with this sentiment, I'd like to point out that Mitsubishi has launched the Mirage, which is under 2,000 pounds (lighter than the previous Colt, as well as the last Mirage sold in the US, which was externally bigger but much more cramped inside), still worth five stars on the NCAP crash assessment, and holds five people in perfect comfort. (more so than the porky Fiesta).

You people aren't buying a whole lot of them.

If you want to know why automakers don't sell small cars, you know who to blame. :lol:
 
Tornado
Maybe a thread about one of the heaviest, largest Mustangs ever made (even though it was made 35 years ago) isn't the best place to take a stand for how modern cars are too heavy and large.
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And taking a stand on engine downsizing is odd when we're in a thread about the Mustang. The same car where the base model V6 is about as powerful as the GT from 8-10 years ago. Doesn't sound like engine downsizing to me when I can go buy a 300 horsepower Mustang for less money than a base model Camry.
 
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Noob616
And taking a stand on engine downsizing is odd when we're in a thread about the Mustang with the largest displacement engine ever installed in one. The same car where the base model V6 is about as powerful as the GT from 8-10 years ago. Doesn't sound like engine downsizing to me when I can go buy a 300 horsepower Mustang for less money than a base model Camry.
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Fixed. Altough big blocks freaking rule, specially this one. It has to be maybe the second coolest big block ever produced by Ford.
 
Cano
Fixed. Altough big blocks freaking rule, specially this one. It has to be maybe the second coolest big block ever produced by Ford.
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The only one I can think of that tops it is the 427 SOHC.


Both which are Hemi's. :D
 
Slash
The only one I can think of that tops it is the 427 SOHC.


Both which are Hemi's. :D
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Right on the money, dude.

In Detroit's (iirc) underground street racing world there's been a Boss 429 Mustang with a SOHC engine swapped in (yeah, I know) that makes 750 hp or so running around for decades. The thing was built in the late 70s/early 80s (iirc) and has remained basically unchanged ever since. It's one of the most unique Mustangs around because it touches both ends of the Ford unobtanium spectrum. The guy's name nickname was Pop's or Bob or something like that, but he passed away about ten years ago. The car is still around, though. Some Candy Apple Red color, magnesium Torque Thrusts in front and black steel wheels out back. Really damned cool.
 
750hp out of a 427 Cammer means that motor don't got a lot of work done to it :scared: Stupid easy to crank out ridiculous numbers out of any big block for that matter.


Speaking of underground stuff, I've been told that somewhere in the US there is a Boss 9 swapped Jaguar E type O_O
 
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As far as I know, the late 70s-80s Detroit underground racing scene were dominated by a Hemi Challenger and a Mustang II that had a 505 cubic in Roush built BBF. That Challenger was 3-1 against it IIRC. The late 80s were ruled by Mike Moran and his Pinto that ran 8s at the time. As for the Boss- I have to rate this as a Cool. I'd give it a SZ, but the reality is that most of the remaining 429 cars are garage queens that don't see any serious street use.
 
AnthonyD1993
Mustang II that had a 505 cubic in Roush built BBF.
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In the early 80s the 505 inch motor got twin turbos too. After that it was history. This is the car you are referring to.

RoushDrivingSD1977.jpg

hrdp_1009_04_o%2Bhot_rods_past_feature_cover_cars%2B1975_ford_mustang_ii.jpg
hrdp_1009_05_o%2Bhot_rods_past_feature_cover_cars%2B505_inch_roush_engine.jpg
AprilSDdrive26.jpg
hrdp_1009_03_o%2Bhot_rods_past_feature_cover_cars%2B1975_ford_mustang_ii.jpg



And the Moran's Pinto

hrdp_0410_03_z%2B1979_ford_pinto%2Bfront_view.jpg
 
I'll post a pic of Moran's old pinto as it is today (from a couple years ago) on the Muscle Cars thread. The Mustang II was all motor when it owned Detroit (per Steve Lisk, the man who built and raced the Challenger).
 
Yeah it was only ran as an all motor car for like 2 years before it got TT'd. I think it had a 466 to start and then a 505
 
Garage-queen, rich old white guy status makes me want to vote uncool. But I just can't. I like these cars, and I can't help it. Gotta go with cool. In Grabber Blue, I'd have a hard time not going for SZ.

Boss 302 would be even better, utterly SZ in my book.
 
I came back for Azure Flare's awesome depiction of Slash, but also to vote a solid cool. I don't know a ton about Mustangs but I pretty much like all first gen models, and some of every generation since except the new Mustang 6. Not sure what that's about.
 

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