My 2008 Mustang GT: Broken Pony R.I.P. 4/16/2011

[Chris B.]

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I started out with a different 2008 Mustang GT. It was a silver GT Premium with a light grey and charcoal leather interior. The options were the polished aluminum bullitt wheels, 3.55 rear end gears, and Sirrius radio. Unfortunately, it met an early demise during an ice storm on I-78 in NJ. It took out an exit sign and continued over the concrete base that held up the metal pole for the sign, damaging the under side of the car. I walked away with hardly a scratch. The intital repair estimate was $19,000 and that didn't include anything they would find after reapirs were started.



So after the insurance company took 2 or 3 weeks to declare it totaled... Like there was any doubt it was totaled? I got more money from the insurance company than I paid for the car, so I bought another '08 GT with more options. This is what I ended up with.


Its a 2008 Mustang GT premium with almost every option except for factory Nav, Shaker 1000 watt subwoofers, and Auto Transmission. I didn't like the factory nav, didn't need the extra bass, and prefer the 5 speed manual over the 5 speed auto.

[WRX_JB]

Looking forward to some mods

[Chris B.]

This morning, I took the car to get dynoed at Performance Specalties, Inc. in Pottstown. The car is 100% stock and running on 87 octane 10% ethanol gasoline from Giant grocery store. It laid down 279.9 HP and 295.5 lb-ft of torque. The next run was 279.5 HP and a similar torque number too. I guess that ither the Mustang has the lowest drivetrain loss of any car I've seen or Ford uses some rather strong horses when doing their horsepower ratings. Its rated at 300 HP at the flywheel. So that would be about 7% drivetrain loss? It makes me think its udner rated. I wonder what it would have done without the 10% ethanol in the gasoline?


Please excuse the poor quality fo the printout, their inkjet printer needs to be cleaned.

My previous silver '08 GT put down 275 HP on a Mustang dyno at PSI motorsports, so the power levels don't seem to be unusual.

[05OCsrt-4]

usually its a 10% loss, so your power is about right there where it should be

[Chris B.]

Its now time to start adding some power. I already have theSteeda cold air intake with cabron fiber elbow, but its not installed yet. I want to take it to the track stock to see how I do.

I also ordered a set of Kooks long tube headers with H pipe and high flow cats. I got a great deal on them in a group buy on a S197 mustang forum. In one dyno comparison test of headers for the 2005-2009 Mustangs they had the most power gains from 4000-6000 RPM and the highest average torque gains from 3500-6000 RPM. Only one header beat them by 2 HP at 6000+ RPM and that was a 1-3/4" dimaeter header. However the 1-3/4" primary header produced less power below 6000 RPM.

My Front Koni yellows are on back order. I installed the rears Konis yellows along with the MGW shifter. The rear Konis are set to full soft until I get the fronts.

I also plan to add adjustable sway bars and springs. I'll probably get the Steeda Sport springs. The race springs seem a bit harsh for a daily driver.

I've done one track day in the car so far and after eight 30 minutes sessions of lapping NJMP's Lightning track, I think I need some brake upgrades. I flushed out the stock fluid and replaced it with Motul 600. I plan to add some brake cooling ducts and get better brake pads for track use. I'm looking at Hawk DTC-60 pads ad ATE rotors now.

I'll be getting a set of wheels and tires for track and autoX use too.

[DsmRob]

Very nice, there are a couple guys at work that have the 3v mustang and they respond very well to mods. It dosen't take a lot to make then run 12's.

[Chris B.]

If Quantum Motorsports sales department ever answers their phone or returns my call, I'll be ordering their track brake cooling kit.





Also, i'll be ordering their Air Inlet Adapters this week. The air inlets can fit behind the stock lower grill. I'll use black bolts to mount the ducts int he lower grill so that they don't stand out.



I'm amazed that Quantum Motorsports doesn't have an online ordering system.

I plan to have the cooling ducts installed for my next track day at NJ Motorsports Park in August.

In addition to the brake cooling ducts, I bought a set of Speed Bleeders so that I can bleed my brakes quickly when needed. I used them on several other cars with good results.

[TalonTsi97]

It's a shame you crashed the silver stang but i really like the new one. Curious though, why aren't you running 93 octane in it?
I'm looking forward to seeing what else you do to it. I'm surprised with all of the progress and mods you already posted. When you plan on getting to the drag strip? Your going to run stock before adding all the mods rite?

[240sxDann]

Just moving to 93 octane will give you more power, they sense knock and pull timing accordingly. I hope you have a tuner for that intake and those long tubes as well, because you WILL throw a code for the front o2 sensors with the long tubes, and lean bank 1 and lean bank 2 codes with that intake. Check out www.americanmuscle.com I work for them doing the custom tuning for the SCT tuners. If you have any questions or anything, feel free to ask or to call work, many knowledgeable people there.

[Chris B.]

Originally Posted by TalonTsi97

It's a shame you crashed the silver stang but i really like the new one. Curious though, why aren't you running 93 octane in it?

The stock computer is tuned for 87 octane. Of the 2005-2009 Mustang GT's only the Bullit models will advance timing with higher octane gasoline with the stock programming. The Bullits are programmed for 91 octane gasoline and come with the Ford Racing Performance Parts cold air intake stock. The Bullit models will change the timing back to stock if you use 87 octane gasoline. Running 93 octane will cost me more money and not give me any more power. I tried running 89 octane for a few tanks to see if it would increase the gas mileage, but it actually went down.

Some of the aftermarket tuners offer 91 and 93 octane programs that can be flashed into the stock computer. I saw a dyno of one of the tuner's 93 octane street tune give a gain of 13-15 HP on the dyno. They also offer 93 and 94 octane race tunes. The Cold air intake I have fromthe silver car comes with a 91 octane tune for the intake.

Originally Posted by TalonTsi97

I'm looking forward to seeing what else you do to it. I'm surprised with all of the progress and mods you already posted. When you plan on getting to the drag strip? Your going to run stock before adding all the mods rite?

I might go this weekend. I was planning to go last week to Island Dragway on Friday, but it rained. I want to run it stock once or twice before I modify it.

[Chris B.]

Originally Posted by 240sxDann

Just moving to 93 octane will give you more power, they sense knock and pull timing accordingly.

I haven't done any tuning for the S197's, but I use to do a lot with the Zetec powered cars. The way it was explained to be by a tuner before was that the stock programming for the GT and Bullitt is different in the maxium allowed spark. The non Bullitt models don't allow for as much spark, so they won't gain much power if any from higher than 87 octane gasoline when stock.

Originally Posted by 240sxDann

I hope you have a tuner for that intake and those long tubes as well, because you WILL throw a code for the front o2 sensors with the long tubes, and lean bank 1 and lean bank 2 codes with that intake.

I have an X2 and Steeda sent me their tune for the CAI. I guess I'm lucky that both the silver car and the red car have the same PCM code. I was wondering about a tune for the Kooks headers with cats because there are a lot of people who never throw any error codes with them and they didn't get any additional programming for them. One of the tuners I talked with said that I would only need a tune for the long tubes if I were to get error codes, but not everyone gets them.

Originally Posted by 240sxDann

Check out www.americanmuscle.com I work for them doing the custom tuning for the SCT tuners. If you have any questions or anything, feel free to ask or to call work, many knowledgeable people there.

I bought some J&M Rear Lower Control Arms from them recently. That's another part I have to install.

[240sxDann]

Sounds like your set to go then! I haven't had a ton of customers with the kooks so that is possible you may not throw a code I guess. It just depends how far back they move the sensors. Either way, good luck with it! It looks good, I like that color combo.

[Chris B.]

I installed a set of Hawk HP+ brake pads over the weekend and bled the brakes again to get ready for the track day that was on Monday. The Motul 600 racing brake fluid and the HP+ pads helped a lot with reducing brake fade when comapred to the stock brake pads and stock brake fluid.

Unfortunately, the HP+ pads also produce a lot of brake dust. The wheels are polished aluminum with grey centers to the spokes. They almost look like they have gunmetal finish to them after 100-150 miles on the track. During regular street driving, I also notice a lot more brake dust, but its probably worth it for the better braking.



I also picked up a set us used factory 18" fanblade wheels with metallic silver paint in the center of the spokes. They are similar to my stock wheels, but my stock wheels have dark argent grey metallic paint in the center of the spokes.



I'll be putting a set of race tires on the spare set of wheels. My stock 400 treadwear all season mud and snow rated tires leave a lot to be desired when it comes to autoX and track use.

[Chris B.]

I went to Island Dragway on Sunday. I dind't get many runs in because I arrived a bit late and people kept breaking their cars on the track and many clean ups were required. Now that I have a baseline run, I'll start to modify the car. I was car 6937. Some newer Mustang owners have been able to get 1.8-1.9 second 60' times on the stock tires. It took a few runs for me to get them down to the 2.0-2.1 second range.

[boostedfury]

damn nice times for a stock car!! gluck with the build man!

[Mach1]

Not as nice as the S/R was.......

[Scapegoat]

nice dude, hopefully i'll be seeing better numbers with the 2010 then since its supposed to be putting out a few more ponies

[Ciotti]

Nice build so far man, at our South Jersey autocrosses the F Stock class (where your car currently falls) has a bunch of good competition and our next event is on the 27th if you're interested http://www.tristatetuners.com/forum/...ad.php?t=86288

[Chris B.]

Originally Posted by Mach1

Not as nice as the S/R was.......

I'm doing it backwards. The S/R had probably over 1,000 miles put on it from 1/4 mile passes and the Mustang already has several hundred miles of road course laps on it. I had a shoe box full of timeslips from the S/R that I found when moving a couple years ago. Most of them were so old and faded that I coudln't read them any more.

I really should have taken the S/R to track days and put some miles on it that way. At least the S/R did a few autoX events a year, so the handling didn't always go unused.

[Chris B.]

Originally Posted by Scapegoat

nice dude, hopefully i'll be seeing better numbers with the 2010 then since its supposed to be putting out a few more ponies

I saw 1/4 times on one forum of a 2010 track pack car running low 13's but I don't remember what the conditions where.