Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » My 05 Mustang GT project 1 2 3

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  May 14, 2011 10:02 a.m. AutoXR Reader

  I grew tired of my 2000 Civic SiR and @ 33 it seemed like a bit of a hooligans car - it was lowered with a big exhaust...etc. So I basically decided to buy a new car one day, went out and did it and this is what I got.

  

  base base base - 2005 Mustang GT with 55,000 miles on it. 5spd, owned by (and yes it's true) a lady in her 50's. She was from Calgary Alberta and drove it across Canada to be with her Daughter and new grand daughter. It has all the service records right down to a receipt for every oil change.

  I paid $12,000 for it - it came wearing new snow tires and somewhere along the way it got a new windshield. It met my criteria - fast, cheap and not FWD. Being a GM guy @ heart I took a long look @ early 2000's camaro's - but they just don't do it for me.

  First thing I did was to swap the snows for Nitto NT555's - Discount tire direct supplied me with a set of 245-40-17's. Then I got a magnaflow cat back - Local speed shop had it in stock for 2 years after ordering it for someone who never paid - was $800 - got it for $350

  This all happened in the 1st week of ownership.

  Then I decided Stock was boring, and ran across Sam Strano.

  Coming back from the border yesterday there was only room for me

  

  What you see:

  SVT GT500 Wheels 18X9.5 Hankook RS2's - 285-35-18 Tokico D spec adjustable shocks and struts Steeda Sport springs Hawk HPS pads Goodridge Lines Strano Rear bar

  

  Got rid of the rear spoiler and blacked out the pony

  It took about 3 hrs to get everything but the brakes done and what a difference - the car is totally transformed. The motor works so well I don't wanna bother with tuners or intakes, it makes 300hp and runs off of 87. And here in the great state of Ontario gas is the equivalent of $6 a Gallon.

  Tomorrow is our first autocross of the season and it's raining :(

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  May 14, 2011 10:08 a.m. Grizz Reader

  AutoXR wrote: I grew tired of my 2000 Civic SiR and @ 33 it seemed like a bit of a hooligans car - so I bought a Mustang.

  I has to point out this

  That over, looks pretty good.

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  May 14, 2011 10:17 a.m. Ranger50 HalfDork

  Needs moar lower!

  Just hope you don't have a misfire anytime soon. Those two piece plugs suck ass.

  "Never trust an intelligent man with no money to play fair."

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  May 14, 2011 10:25 a.m. AutoXR Reader

  IF my 70 yr old father can still race (successfully) this, then I am allowed to have an old Ford -

  Another shot - so much better not in 4x4 mode and spoiler-less

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  May 14, 2011 10:53 a.m. Joshua Reader

  Looks great! I have driven an '05 GT and liked it quite a bit, just a little too big for me.

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  May 14, 2011 11:52 a.m. Maroon92 SuperDork

  I like the spoiler personally, but to each their own.

  I am jealous of your new toy though.

  XBL GamerTag: bcbrownell Racing is the process of turning money into noise.

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  May 14, 2011 8:02 p.m. Cotton Dork

  great looking car. 12k seems like a deal too!

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  May 15, 2011 7:54 a.m. ZOO SuperDork

  Needs a GRM sticker . . .

  I've driven this car -- Autoxr scored big time with it.

  Elise, Miata, M3, Locost in progress

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  May 15, 2011 11:42 a.m. lewbud Reader

  Nice job. I'd pick up the tuner anyways though. My SCT came with generic tunes for 87, 91 and 93. It will allow you more flexibility when you ultimately decide to do some engine mods, change the gearing, etc. It also doubles as a code scanner as well.

  Buddy-If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough. M. Andretti

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  May 15, 2011 8:33 p.m. ultraclyde Reader

  Seconded on the SCT Tuner. It really makes an unbelievable difference in the driving dynamics and throttle control. If I had to detune mine now, I'm pretty sure I'd sell it. It's a pickup truck without the tune. And it gets better mileage with the tune, no matter which octane you choose.

  Look into an adjustable front swaybar. It really lets you dial out the understeer that these are so prone to. I'm running one from BMR Fabrication and have been happy - it's lightweight and reasonably priced.

  These are great cars. I usually run in SCCA STX autocross and can be very competitive locally in the same car I drive every day. Much fun to be had.

  "It's hard to be a visionary in a world full of blind people." - JM

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  May 15, 2011 8:52 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

  Looks good. Personally, I'm also a fan of spoiler-delete Mustangs.

  Yes, we now have signatures.

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  May 15, 2011 9:06 p.m. Woody SuperDork

  I like spoiler delete on just about everything, although I currently own two spoilered cars.

  The delete, she's not so easy.

  I lift things up and put them down.

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  May 15, 2011 10:00 p.m. Dav New Reader

  Woody wrote: I like spoiler delete on just about everything, although I currently own two spoilered cars. The delete, she's not so easy.

  Unless the said two cars are a Superbird and a Charger Daytona, I say yank 'em... .

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  May 15, 2011 10:59 p.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

  In reply to AutoXR:

  what'cha gonna do with the stock rims? i'm looking for a set for my Mazda6....

  if you're gonna be a bear.... be a grizzly bear!

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  May 16, 2011 10:32 a.m. ultraclyde Reader

  I was originally going for the delete, but since the car I found had every other option I wanted besides the delete, I took it. I actually swapped the stocker for a Steeda Streetwing, which I really like.

  Call me crazy, but I can actually tell a slight improvement in stability over 75mph with the Steeda wing over the stock. I never really expected it to be useful, I just liked the look. It really surprised me.

  "It's hard to be a visionary in a world full of blind people." - JM

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  May 16, 2011 12:14 p.m. ReverendDexter SuperDork

  Tuner also gets rid of the throttle averaging those things have that kill blipping the throttle.

  --There is no turd more polished than the Ford Mustang--

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  May 16, 2011 12:24 p.m. ultraclyde Reader

  SIGNIFICANT thing right there. Heel/toe is nearly impossible on a non-tuned car.

  "It's hard to be a visionary in a world full of blind people." - JM

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  May 16, 2011 1:40 p.m. AutoXR Reader

  I will look closer @ a tuner - I can def tell the throttle response is crap - I thought my 2002 Mini was bad - but you're right this seems worse. It's odd, occasionally it seems to be ok - othertimes not so much.

  When I talked to Sam strano (9 time Nat's winner) he said the rear bar was the biggest difference after the dampers.

  Next autocross is on the 31st - then Zoomiata's track day @ shannonville the next day. Excited to try the new setup

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  May 16, 2011 2:58 p.m. dj06482 Reader

  Love the project - looking forward to the updates.

  '97 328is | '05 Odyssey | '06 RAV4 | '06 Dodge RAM 1500 QC

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  May 16, 2011 11:00 p.m. Will HalfDork

  Where do you run? Come play in ESP, we could use some participation at tour events. Only two of us at Dixie, only four of us at Atlanta.

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  May 17, 2011 12:01 a.m. gamby SuperDork

  AutoXR wrote: I grew tired of my 2000 Civic SiR and @ 33 it seemed like a bit of a hooligans car

  <--39 y/o hooligan w/ 99 Si

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  May 17, 2011 11:05 a.m. Autolex HalfDork

  Will wrote: Where do you run? Come play in ESP, we could use some participation at tour events. Only two of us at Dixie, only four of us at Atlanta.

  I believe he said somewhere in canada... it'd be a long commute...

  If it's not breaking, what fun is it?

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  May 17, 2011 11:26 a.m. ultraclyde Reader

  Hey Will - I have run with Dixie a couple times at Spence and once at SGMP, but I always run STX. You guys in ESP are FAAASSSTTTT!!!!

  "It's hard to be a visionary in a world full of blind people." - JM

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  May 17, 2011 12:20 p.m. Maroon92 SuperDork

  If you want to see Fast ESP cars, go to Detroit Region.

  XBL GamerTag: bcbrownell Racing is the process of turning money into noise.

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  June 8, 2011 10:26 p.m. AutoXR Reader

  an update.

  Took the car to it's first autocross a week ago and Won my class by 2 secs. Still learning to drive the car, but it's shocking how well it works. I have autocrossed a 964 RS america that was setup , C4 vette (well setup) and a 997S and this car is on par with any of them

  The day after the autocross I went to a lapping day. The car is predictable, you can drive it like an absolute maniac and it forgives you. I had numerous people come up and say how impressed they were. I started out in the intermediate class and wasn't passed all day, managed to run down some seriously fast drivers in fast cars. The highlight was staying 2 feet off the bumper of an 02 M3 driven by a 1 lap of america winner - I was fortunate to hae a very talented driver coaching me - he told me after that I was his hero for running down expensive cars (haha)
  

  I had a great session with a GT500 - he would walk me in the straights but 1/4 way through the infield I was all over him, I got over excited and spun.

  Yesterday night was our "open" autocross - we use a short part of the track that I had done lapping on. FTD was by the driver who had coached me . he turned 66 secs flat in ZooMiata's Elise.. I managed to man handle the mustang to a 68.1 and 4th fastest overall. This was my first even running Sam strano's rear bar...what a difference.

  never been so happy with a car, best 12 grand I ever spent

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