I dropped by ProTree Performance in Hudson, NH a couple weekends ago. Turns out I did have the Watt's link aligned right, but they tightened up everything for me and added red Loctite. No more rattling. The rod ends are noisy at slow speeds over rippled, lumpy pavement but quiet otherwise. The arse end feels nice and locked-down. I like the roll center where it is - quicker turn in without feeling twitchy. When I get the rest of my suspension installed I will have the Watt's alignment adjusted along with the front end alignment.
One other thing they noticed was a lot of gear oil on the driver's side of the axle. At first they thought I had busted the axle tube out of the diff housing enough to make it seep from the bottom (something tells me my handling would be MUCH worse if that were the case). However, checking the forums it seems the breather tube likes to spit up oil during hard maneuvers. So I got the turkey baster (not my car, but same axle type):
This is an OEM bodge to fix the same problem in 05-10 S197s, as per a TSB. There's better solutions like using the Boss 302/GT500 diff. cover (which moves the breather tube to the top of the diff. housing), or an axle catch can, but I'm not looking to spend anything over 3 digits on the Mustang right now.
As featured in 5.0 Magazine:
http://shop.bobsautosports.com/Mustang-axle-reservoir-KR-style-axle-reservoir.htm
Slightly outside your budget at $130, but it looks like a solid solution...
The next "mod" is a decent outdoor cover so the pony can hibernate this winter, which is why I'm not looking at catch cans or anything else right now. I might pull the Mustang out on clear days, esp. if I can get the rest of the suspension sorted.
RexSeven wrote:
Slow leak up front was due to a screw in the tread. Got that repaired today. Thank FSM, because I don't want to drop another $450* to have one. motherberkeleying. tire. replaced.
Also replaced the awful front stock speakers with Pioneer TS-D6802R speakers. MUCH better! I know, they don't add eleventy-bajillion horsepower or pull 7g on the skidpad, but this is still my daily-driver and it's not like I'm turning my Mustang into a decibel dragster. I might replace the rear speakers too, and that's it.
*tire+mounting/balancing/etc.
Yeah, I'm shocked how terrible the stock stereo is........makes it worse that the truck had a NICE Rockford Fosgate system with a sub and all.
Mine got here last week. Only 4 weeks from ordering it to taking it home. Base GT with the Track Pack. No other options.
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z31maniac wrote:
Yeah, I'm shocked how terrible the stock stereo is........makes it worse that the truck had a NICE Rockford Fosgate system with a sub and all.
I've heard even the factory upgrade Shaker 500 and 1000 systems aren't that good. And if you want to upgrade the stock head unit, pay up sucka! The dash kits are anywhere from $400 to $600!
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_120995823/Ford-Mustang-Factory-Integration-Adapter.html?tp=3486
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_142FD1441B/Ford-Mustang-Dash-Adapter.html?tp=3486
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500KTXMTG8/Alpine-Perfect-FIT-for-Ford-Mustang.html?tp=3486
z31maniac wrote:
Mine got here last week. Only 4 weeks from ordering it to taking it home. Base GT with the Track Pack. No other options.
Very nice!
I think the stock stereo is pretty dang good, but I have a Shaker system.
♪♫Sliding through the snow
In a 305hp sleigh
Wheels spin as we go
Cursing all the way (f#$k f@$k f!*k F~%K!!1!)...♪♫
Driving home a summer tire-shod Mustang through a nor'easter last night was not fun. But it made it in once piece and so did I. Somehow.
I haven't done much with my Mustang over the winter yet, mainly because I've been plugging leaks that keep springing in my winter-beater Eclipse. Now that I have that done (for now...) I want to get back to work on the Mustang for this upcoming season.
Right now I have a Fays2 Watt's Link and JLT catch can installed, no other mods. I also have a set of Koni Sport struts/shocks I have yet to install. I can buy one of the following right now: suspension or exhaust
I've been eyeing a set of Steeda Ultralite Springs and Maximum Motorsports caster/camber plates like Sky_Render has on his car. The camber plates are required with the amount of drop these springs have because the front gains excessive negative camber without them.
http://www.americanmuscle.com/steeda-2005-ultralite-springs.html
http://www.americanmuscle.com/mm-caster-camber-plates-2011.html
However, the V-6 is quiet. Too quiet. There are a lot of axlebacks and catbacks out there for the V-6 but many of them sound too harsh to me, or make the Mustang sound like a 350Z/370Z. I like the Stainless Works chambered catback. It has a nice, smooth, almost Euro-sounding tone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM2ZUlJq_WE&fmt=18
http://www.lmperformance.com/70155/87.html
So, which one would the GRM brain trust get first? I'm also open to alternative suggestions for any of the above. Please post videos if you have a different exhaust suggestion.
Whatever I install, I plan to have the Mustang dyno'ed for a baseline, and if I get an exhaust, I'll do a before-and-after.
I'm at the age where I hate loud exhausts, and most Mustang aftermarket systems seem too loud to me. I'd go for handling every time.
Quick update: The Mustang keeps on gobbling up the highway miles without complaint as my daily-driver. I have Koni Yellow struts, Maximum Motorsports camber/caster plates, and Steeda Ultralite springs that I have yet to install. However, I am also transferring to another position within my company, which comes with a nice pay increase and retention bonus. So I'm getting an exhaust soon too!
In the meantime, I've replaced the slightly uncomfortable shift knob with a cue-ball style one. The blue doesn't quite match the Deep Impact Blue paint, but it brightens up the interior a little and feels nicer than the stock piece.
Love the stick.
Any issues out of the gearbox?
I know the MT82 transmissions had their problems in the past, and some people don't like the shift action, but I've yet to encounter any issues. IMHO it shifts nice and smooth. It's certainly better than any other manual I've owned. Maybe Ford tweaked something between the 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 models? I know the factory fill changed mid-2012 from 75W-90 to Ford's dual-clutch transmission fluid.
The new shift knob and retainer are only slightly heavier than the stock shift knob, so it's not like it's placing a lot of strain on the shifter.
EDIT: I was able to weigh the new shift knob and boot retainer:
Shift knob: 120g (.26lb)
Retainer: 40g (0.09lb)
I don't know how heavy the stock knob is but the new one feels slightly heavier. It's hollow so if you wanted to you could fill it in with more weight for a heavier knob.
Quick update: I have scheduled a dyno session at Granite State Dyno (formerly Pro-Tree) next Thursday. Aside from the oil catch can the engine and drivetrain are stock. Dyno don't lie, let's see what this Pony's packin'.
RexSeven wrote:
Quick update: I have scheduled a dyno session at Granite State Dyno (formerly Pro-Tree) next Thursday. Aside from the oil catch can the engine and drivetrain are stock. Dyno don't lie, let's see what this Pony's packin'.
How many miles on it now and did you ever change the rear gear?
This should be fun. We should start a pole, what kind of dyno? Assuming a Dynojet I call dibs on 265hp 250lb/ft
Rear gear is still the factory 3.31 and it will stay that way for now. My next mods after the suspension install and dyno runs will be sway bars, stainless steel brake lines, and a mid-muffler exhaust. The Mustang has about 17.5k on the odometer.
As for what kind of dyno, Granite State has two: a DynoJet 424 Linx AWD and a DynoJet 224X 2WD.
Today was productive. The new suspension is now installed and it looks and rides nice! It's actually not much different from stock comfort-wise, but body motion is even more controlled now. I haven't had a chance to really flog the Mustang around some corners yet, unfortunately.
Here it is strapped to the DynoJet 224X at Granite State Dyno.
And the results (drumroll please...)
250rwhp/231ft lb. Not bad for a stock V-6. She might have made a little more if the stupid speed limiter hadn't kicked in. It only read 240hp on the first 4th gear pull, which forced the dyno tech to make two third gear pulls and it still interfered a little at the end. Still, I'm pleased to hear from the tech that its a little more than what a stock 3V 4.6L V-8 can make. There was a tuned 2005-2009 GT at the shop that was making 285rwhp with an intake/exhaust/tuning. It wouldn't take much to meet those numbers.
More photos of the day and a scan of the dyno chart and my alignment settings when I get a chance.
RexSeven wrote:
One other thing they noticed was a lot of gear oil on the driver's side of the axle. At first they thought I had busted the axle tube out of the diff housing enough to make it seep from the bottom (something tells me my handling would be MUCH worse if that were the case). However, checking the forums it seems the breather tube likes to spit up oil during hard maneuvers. So I got the turkey baster (not my car, but same axle type):
I still have never "fixed" this issue. I got reports of dropping at TWS from sighters as I pulled off the front straight at speed going counter clockwise. If you load the car while turning left it pushes oil out.
I love that feature.
RexSeven wrote:
250rwhp/231ft lb. Not bad for a stock V-6. She might have made a little more if the stupid speed limiter hadn't kicked in. It only read 240hp on the first 4th gear pull, which forced the dyno tech to make two third gear pulls and it still interfered a little at the end. Still, I'm pleased to hear from the tech that its a little more than what a stock 3V 4.6L V-8 can make. There was a tuned 2005-2009 GT at the shop that was making 285rwhp with an intake/exhaust/tuning. It wouldn't take much to meet those numbers.
I made 275.6 hp and 306.6 lb/ft in my '06 GT stock. So not bad numbers! As some stated in places, your biggest difference is the amount of torque you put out.
One of the dyno techs said that if the speed limiter hadn't killed the fun in the 4th gear pull, I might have seen 255rwhp or even 260rwhp.
As for the suspension, I'm much happier with it now. The waterbed feeling is gone, the 4x4 ride height is gone, and it's just as comfortable as stock on full soft settings.
Jeez, 8 months since I updated this thread! The Mustang has been plugging along just fine, in spite of the nasty winter we've had. No new mods have been installed since the suspension work. However, I'm hankering for more power...
These BBK shorty headers will do. I just hope it stops snowing long enough for me to install them once they arrive.
RexSeven wrote:
250rwhp/231ft lb. Not bad for a stock V-6. She might have made a little more if the stupid speed limiter hadn't kicked in. It only read 240hp on the first 4th gear pull, which forced the dyno tech to make two third gear pulls and it still interfered a little at the end. Still, I'm pleased to hear from the tech that its a little more than what a stock 3V 4.6L V-8 can make.
Looks at the 06 GT in my garage that gets much worse gas mileage and "le sigh".
In reply to wearymicrobe:
Your GT probably has loads more low-end torque than my V-6, even if horsepower ratings are similar. That's part of the reason I went for short-tube headers instead of long-tube headers. I'm leaving some power on the table but shorties should help with low- and mid-range torque as well as give me a nice horsepower bump all around. That and they're cheaper than LTs and won't require me to get a new X- or H-pipe.
Well look at what arrived yesterday.
Headers are a PITA on these cars. Let me know how that goes!
