Mods and Photos

From Pictures

The picture above is one of the first photos of the car that I took. When I purchased it, it already had the replica Bullitt wheels on it and Cobra hubs. I couldn't stand having Cobra hubs on a car that wasn't a Cobra, so I purchased a set up knock offs with the Mustang logo on Ebay.

From Pictures

The above photo is how the Mustang looks at the end of the 2008 season. It now has a little more than 10,000 miles on it.

 

Here I chronicle the mods I've made to the Mustang.

 

Steeda Cold Air Kit

The first mod I did was to put Flowmaster axle back mufflers. This improved the sound quite a bit. Then I put a Steeda cold air intake and a custom tune. I bought this as a package from American Muscle. It came with a SCT tuner and a standard tune that accounted for the mufflers, the cold air kit, and premium gas. Wow! What a difference! I like it, but it made me want more!

After the Whipple install, I sold this on Craig's list.

Steeda Cold Air Intake •  Date of photos: 04-Aug-2007  • 

GT 500 Spoiler

I don't like the spoiler that comes stock on the Mustang; it looks tacked on. I like the looks of the GT500 spoiler; it looks clean and functional, So I ordered the GT500 spoiler prepainted Torch Red from Atlanta Auto Accessories. I ordered it in December and installed it in the spring.

Over the winter, I also ordered the MGW power outlet plug (red, GT).

GT500 Spoiler  •  Date of photos: 18-May-2008 • 

Window Tinting

I thought about getting the windows tinted for some time. The clear glass doesn't quite present the look for which I was looking. I wanted the back and rear quarter glass black (like an SUV) and the door glass a little lighter. I had the work done by American Window Tinting in Brighton.

Window Tinting  •  Date of photos: 28-May-2008  • 

Whipple Supercharger

I researched superchargers during the winter of 2007-2008. The additional power and fun from the Steeda cold air kit just made me want more horsepower. I have a buddy who is a journeyman mechanic, and originally he was going to do the install with me assisting. After I decided that the Whipple was what I wanted, he let me know (just in time before I ordered the kit) that his schedule precluded him from doing the work. So I searched the internet for a local shop to do the install.

I went over to Mustang Racing Technologies (MRT) one Saturday just to check them out. I just walked in and said I wanted to learn about the operation and was looking for a shop to do some work on my Mustang. Scott Hoag, the owner, was really nice and showed me around the shop. Scott explained the mods he recommended, and gave me a price on the whole package. Scott also invited me to the MRT open house. I also checked out Livernois Motorsports, but they seemed too busy to pay me any attention (I don't think they thought I was serious about installing a supercharger).

When I went to the MRT open house, I had the Hurst shifter and the hood struts installed. MRT had some problems getting the Whipple, and let me know that the Rousch charger was readily available and would provide similar gains. However, I was set on the Whipple and waited until they could get one (and even paid a premium to get it). I had decided on a Ford Racing theme for the car. A few weeks later, on 22-Jun-2008, I had MRT install the Whipple, the MRT MaxFlow 304SS H-pipe (with hi-flow cats), adjustable panhard bar, and H&R Sport Springs. And let's not forget the MRT 2 1/4" black shift ball!

The Mustang had 7840 miles on it when I got it home.

Later, I added the 14-inch Fixed Black Antenna from American Muscle.

Whipple Supercharger  •  Date of photos: 22-Jun-2008  • 

FRD04-AUX CAN Bus Auxillary iPod Adapter

It took me over a year to get around to installing this iPod adapter. I've got the Shaker 1000 radio, and wanted to be able to listen to music or audio books without fooling around with CDs. This neat device is the solution. It's acutally two devices: the adapter which enables interfacing to the Ford CAN Bus audio system and the Uni Pod which provideds the iPod interface (including the capability to charge the iPod). The best deal I found for it was at Enfig Car Stereo. I found the Idiot’s Guide to the FRD04-AUX Adaptor by Joe Eiers an excellent step-by-step installation guide. It works great!

FRD04-AUX CAN Bus Auxillary iPod Adapter •   • 

Performance Brake Upgrade

When I was at Gingerman Raceway, I had a few difficulties.

As I was driving home eastbound on I94, the Mustang just quit running. It was fortunate that I decided to leave the track numbers on the Mustang's glass because several others who had been at the raceway spotted me along side of the road and stopped to help. First, it was my driving instructer. He wasn't able to do much, but hang out until Scott Hoag of MRT drove by with his race car and trailer. Scott was extremely nice to me as he drove his truck all the way to Plymouth, unloaded his car from the trailer, and returned to pick up mine. In the meantime, I called a towtruck and had the Mustang hauled over to a gas station.

Scott drove back to the gas station where I waited with the Mustang and we loaded it up into the trailer. My wife met us along US23, picked me up, and Scott took the Mustang back to the shop.

  

It turned out that I had ran out of gas! When MRT pulled the fuel pump, they found that the fuel gauge sending unit on the float had become entangled and the fuel gauge was registering a half tank even though it was empty. We surmised that while racing, the assembly became hung. MRT was careful to ensure that all was properly secured upon putting the fuel pump back.

The other problem I had was the brakes. I just wore out the stock rear brakes and ruined them while racing. We were a little surprised that it was the rear brakes that wore out, but since I've read that the Mustang Traction Control System can cause this if it's not turned off. I suspect that I neglected to turn of the TCS when I was out on the trac,. MRT installed Power Slot roters, Hawk HPS High Performance Street brake pads, and braided stainless stell brake hoses all the way around (including DOT 3/4 racing brake fluid). Now I am all set for next year!

Performance Brake Upgrade  •  July, 2008  •

Bullit Grille

I like a clean look. I was thinking for quite a while about how to paint the chrome Mustang black in the stock grille so it would be a bit more subtle. I even tried to remove it (and broke off one of the little plastic tits trying to get the little retainer clip off) and bought a replacement on Ebay. Then I saw the clean look of the Bullitt grill after viewing MRT's Bullitt Hotload at the 2008 Mustang Alley during the Woodward Dream Cruise. I bought the Bullitt Grille from Hubcaps Plusand put it on myself in the driveway.

  MRT Bullitt Hotload

 

Bullitt Grille  •  Date of photos: 31-Oct-2008  • 

Front Splitter

I like the looks of a front splitter (chin spoiler). In keeping with the clean look I like, the agressive chin spoiler from CDC and others just doesn't work for me. I really like the GT500 splitter. Since the car is lowered, the right chin spolier out front is important because I don't want it hanging too low or it's going to rub against the pavement. I've read in the various Mustang forums about how to adapt a GT500 splitter to a GT. I even bought one (they're cheap) from the Ford dealer and tried to modify it and fit it to the front bumper. I just didn't like the fit of it; it requires a bit of tweaking and it just doesn't go on their right. After looking around, I decided to go with the Legends front splitter. I purchased it from Mustangs Unlimited. I installed it myself, which was a little difficult because the car is so low. I stll have to drill some holes and put a few more bolts in it because I don't want it flying off when I'm driving at speed. Now I really have to be careful pulling into parking spaces so I don't smash it! This is the last mod of the season.

Front Splitter  •  Date of photos: 01-Nov-2008  • 

 

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