My '05 Mustang

[DM&TAlec]

Since this section is dead, I figured I'd try to liven it up. (And a chance to photo whore :D)

This is my 2005 Mustang 4.0 currently
http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/alec231236/IMG00008-20100903-0829.jpg

How it looked stock (removed the door guards, window protectors, rocker panel decal etc)
http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/alec231236/6771_115305415344_524235344_2252966.jpg
http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/alec231236/6771_115306370344_524235344_2252968_7013931_n.jpg

As far as mods go:

JLT Cold Air Intake
American Muscle/Bamachips 93 Octane race tune
GT500 Strut Tower Brace
GT500 rear spoiler
Painted rocker panels
GT/CS rear bumper
Custom true dual H-pipe catback exhaust
18" California Special wheels with BFG T-Force tires
Pioneer Head Unit w/iPod hookup
Lloyd's Mustang floormats
Rear blackout panel
30 percent tint (thanks to 215 Motoring)
8" shorty antenna
GT front bumper
Eleanor front grille
GT front & rear sway bars with polyurethane bushings
Red painted calipers
Brake conversion (went from 11.5" to 12.4" rotors)
Hawk High Performance street brake pads
Sequentials
06 Saleen 8.8 rear with CF max grip diff and 3.73s
Built 5R55S trans
2300 Stall Torque Converter
Louvers
2011 leathers

Off the top of my head I think that's it



It's come a long way from how I bought it about year ago. Hasn't given me any real problems either (knock on wood). Had trouble starting the battery twice and had to replace the right rear caliper but overall, I'm very happy. And I still have lots of plans for it. Thinking either a V8 swap, turbo or supercharger down the road, just have to chip away at it

[Ciotti]

Lookin good man, big improvement over stock it's amazing what a difference wheels and some little stuff can make. With less weight up front it must turn in nice, you should come out to one of my autocrosses, we usually have at least 5 but as many as 10 Mustangs at our events and with autocross horsepower means very little so you'd be able to hang with the v8's once you get your driving dialed in :)

http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1817217#post1817217

http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103108

[DM&TAlec]

Lookin good man, big improvement over stock it's amazing what a difference wheels and some little stuff can make. With less weight up front it must turn in nice, you should come out to one of my autocrosses, we usually have at least 5 but as many as 10 Mustangs at our events and with autocross horsepower means very little so you'd be able to hang with the v8's once you get your driving dialed in :)

http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1817217#post1817217

http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103108

Thanks, and yeah the handling is ok, not bad but nothing to brag about. I still have a lot to do in that department, been kinda neglecting it compared to other areas. I'll have to come out sometime with some of the guys from our car club (Delco Muscle & Tuners). Lots of Mustangs and other nice stuff

[Ciotti]

Do shocks and struts first when you're ready to sharpen up the suspension, Bilstein's or Koni Yellow single adjustables are the best bang for your buck, most of the other ones out there are complete garbage.

[qbcsvt]

Man I didnt know thats how ugly they look stock and what you can do with them almost instantly.

Great Job, I love the black out rear!

- amyn

[jpalamar]

I like them in white and with the lip spoiler.

[DM&TAlec]

I like them in white and with the lip spoiler.

Yeah I like the color, don't see a whole lot of them which I like. There were a few around with that stock look so that had to change. And that's one of the next things to go on, once I get the new grille and front bumper on

Man I didnt know thats how ugly they look stock and what you can do with them almost instantly.

Great Job, I love the black out rear!

- amyn

I think looks-wise they have a lot of potential stock form, there's just a few things I don't understand why Ford chose to go with. The wheels, the fishing pole antenna etc

But thanks for the compliment :) I'm thinking of going with a better quality blackout panel, like the honeycomb one, but that's low on the priority list.


Do shocks and struts first when you're ready to sharpen up the suspension, Bilstein's or Koni Yellow single adjustables are the best bang for your buck, most of the other ones out there are complete garbage.

Yeah I've heard Koni Yellows are the top of the line, I just need to save up my mod-money, they're not cheap. I was thinking of doing a adjustable rear sway from Strano and some lowering springs too

[DM&TAlec]

Got the new front & grille on. Just need the fogs (which I'll hopefully order this week), the wiring harness, light switch and the chin spoiler. Then it's back to performance mods... Also got a great deal on a set of sway bars with poly bushings, great improvement
http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/alec231236/IMG00040-20100918-1614.jpg

[sirpedromiranda]

nice!!

[DM&TAlec]

nice!!

Why thank you sir!

[06slow6]

where did you get the gt/cs rear bumper? ebay? looks good on yours maybe ill put it on mine if the moneys right..
and i didnt know why they would put those ugly door things on there..

[DM&TAlec]

where did you get the gt/cs rear bumper? ebay? looks good on yours maybe ill put it on mine if the moneys right..
and i didnt know why they would put those ugly door things on there..

I got it on ebay as a painted takeoff. $275 shipped, couldn't pass it up. And yeah, those door guards are beyond me. They're not even in the right position to protect against dings, so they immediately came off.


Just got the fogs in (turn signals need to be tinted):
http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx119/alec231236/69131_457169435344_524235344_5584344_6563833_n.jpg

[TonyD.]

yessss

[DM&TAlec]

yessss

Now it's time to hook the TBird up :mrgreen:

[TonyD.]

it is that time

[DM&TAlec]

Have a 8.8 rear out of a '06 Saleen with 3.73 gears and a max grip t-lok coming in little over a week. Cannot wait. Major step towards possibly super/turbocharging or doing a engine swap

[TonyD.]

engine swap! engine swap! seriously, N/A is the way to go. im considering a DOHC swap in the near future. Mark VIII powered bird FTW

[DM&TAlec]

engine swap! engine swap! seriously, N/A is the way to go. im considering a DOHC swap in the near future. Mark VIII powered bird FTW

That's what I would lean towards, problem is, apparently (or from what I've read) all the electronics in these newer cars can cause some headaches. And the '05-'09 parts (engine in particular) are still pretty expensive compared to the older generations. I'd wait till they start to drop. I'd obviously love to find a 5.4L but they're pricey, even the '05-'09 4.6L's go for a few grand from what I've researched. I've also thought about trying to find a spare 4.0 since it would be an easy swap, have a cam and ported heads installed while it's out and then swap it in. That's low on my list though


And those Mark VIIs are pretty sweet. I've heard one around with exhaust and it's nasty. But as you said, drivetrain first

[SIracer07]

http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh409/SIracer07/7-28-10/IMG_0126.jpg
http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh409/SIracer07/7-28-10/IMG_0122.jpg
http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh409/SIracer07/7-28-10/IMG_0107.jpg
http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh409/SIracer07/7-28-10/IMG_0067.jpg
http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh409/SIracer07/7-28-10/IMG_0059.jpg
http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh409/SIracer07/7-28-10/IMG_0061.jpg
http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh409/SIracer07/7-28-10/IMG_0062.jpg
http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh409/SIracer07/Track/IMG_0219.jpg

http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh409/SIracer07/4-5-10/IMG_1196.jpg
http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh409/SIracer07/6-8-10/IMG_1203.jpg
http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh409/SIracer07/6-8-10/IMG_1205.jpg
http://i546.photobucket.com/albums/hh409/SIracer07/6-8-10/IMG_1207.jpg



Sorry, I think im a picture whore too...

lol Nice S197!

[DM&TAlec]

Thank you

I have to say, I'm generally not a fan of 'verts, but those are awesome. Both yours?

[SIracer07]

Mines the white one obviously but the yellow is my boys.

[DM&TAlec]

Oh nice. Looks great!

[TonyD.]

those cars put ours to shame...:-(

[DM&TAlec]

those cars put ours to shame...:-(

That just means we need to build ours up

[Ciotti]

Mines the white one obviously but the yellow is my boys.

Lookin good man, bring those XS's out to an autocross, they're the stickiest street tire available right now and they're FAST, I ran them in 285 width all season last year and RIPPED with them.

[SIracer07]

Lookin good man, bring those XS's out to an autocross, they're the stickiest street tire available right now and they're FAST, I ran them in 285 width all season last year and RIPPED with them.

yea i love them. my rears are 315 30 18

[DM&TAlec]

Few updates,

Picked up a 8.8 in rear out of a '06 Saleen this past weekend. Has a carbon fiber clutch pack, max grip diff and 3.73 gears. Got it for $225. Instead of paying to install gears and a t-lok in my 7.5 rear it's a no-brainer. Hopefully going in this weekend

Also tinted my front turn signals with some niteshade. The ugly Amber color really started to bother me and I'm very satisfied with the results. Gonna post up some new pics when I have the chance

[jpalamar]

Do you have to tune your car when you change the rear end? MPH will diff be off. And I would think it would through off a few other things as well.

[DM&TAlec]

Do you have to tune your car when you change the rear end? MPH will diff be off. And I would think it would through off a few other things as well.

MPHs will probably be slightly off, but I have a hand-held tuner that should be able to correct that. Other than that, the only other thing I'm worried about is the fate of the rear tires with the lsd :mrgreen:

[DM&TAlec]

Looks like the trans is now dying on me. YES
:roll:

[SIracer07]

does it have anythign to do with ur new rear end?

[DM&TAlec]

does it have anythign to do with ur new rear end?

Don't think so. We didn't get it installed, ran outta time. But later on I was driving and started to hear some grinding noises and assumed something came loose. I thought it was the sway bar but couldn't find anything out of the ordinary. Now first grinds, the OD light flashes and the car shifts really rough. :cry:

Tried de-tuning and unplugging the ABS sensors and that didn't work

[SIracer07]

oh its an auto... im not sure about auto transmissions. im sure someone on here can help u with that though

[DM&TAlec]

oh its an auto... im not sure about auto transmissions. im sure someone on here can help u with that though

Yeah, unfortunately. I've always wanted a 5 (or 6) speed, really badly, but not now.

[jpalamar]

Don't think so. We didn't get it installed, ran outta time. But later on I was driving and started to hear some grinding noises and assumed something came loose. I thought it was the sway bar but couldn't find anything out of the ordinary. Now first grinds, the OD light flashes and the car shifts really rough. :cry:

Tried de-tuning and unplugging the ABS sensors and that didn't work

You you started to install it but didn't finsih so you reinstalled teh stock stuff or didn't start the install because you just didn't have the time?

If you took anything apart and it isn't working now, chances are you didn't reinstall corrently.

Also courious, when was the last time you changed your fluid and filter? I know its a dumb question to ask, but you do know you are supposed to check the fluid while the car is running right(you would be amazed how many 'car people' didn't know that)?

[DM&TAlec]

You you started to install it but didn't finsih so you reinstalled teh stock stuff or didn't start the install because you just didn't have the time?

If you took anything apart and it isn't working now, chances are you didn't reinstall corrently.

Also courious, when was the last time you changed your fluid and filter? I know its a dumb question to ask, but you do know you are supposed to check the fluid while the car is running right(you would be amazed how many 'car people' didn't know that)?

We started the install and ran out of time/daylight so we had to put it back together. When this problem came up, I was 100% positive that something we took off was the problem. I double checked everything and came up with nothing.

Took it to a shop, and they said that the trans needs to be rebuilt. Said the fluid was clean though

Took it to my friend's shop for a 2nd opinion, and they think it's the speed sensor gone bad. Should know this week what's the problem

[jpalamar]

Did you ever get it fixed?

[06slow6]

that means its time for a built trans to take the extra power of a s/c or turbo

[OutToWinPAHC]

Time for a Tremec T45 or T56 swap :)

[devildog214]

Hey Tony D, i think i met you a couple weekends ago in philly, Holstein/Enterprise/BP Gas/Hog Island any of those locations ring a bell?

[Drazga]

i think ive seen the yellow saleen on rt206 this summer. i was in my black 03 cobra.

[DM&TAlec]

Update-

Haven't been driving the car for a few weeks now, and dropped it at my friend's shop last Sunday. Tried replacing several sensors and looks like the trans needs to be rebuilt or replaced.

Here's my dilemma. I've always wanted a 5 speed, and now would be the perfect time. Buuut, I was thinking. The trans for the 4.0 is the T-5, which isn't very strong. In the future I want to do something in terms of a V8/turbo/supercharger so the T-5 isn't a good idea. Plus it's not a great trans to begin with, noisy, weak etc.

Then there's the Tremec 3650 from the GT's which would be perfect, but I was running some of the prices in my head and determined it was out of the question. I'd need an adapter which is $700, clutch, shifter, 3650 trans, driveshaft, pedal assembly, flywheel, pressure plate etc etc. Too much money and work right now. Basically I don't want it bad enough to spend a ton of extra money on it

So... after talking to the dude at the shop, looks like I'm gonna have the auto 5R55S trans rebuilt. However, this time it's going to be stronger and can handle more power/tq

On the bright side, they're gonna install the 8.8 rear also and I should have the car back Wednesday. Fingers crossed all goes well