NEARLY 2 YEARS WAITING: New Mustang GT PP is finally mine!

[Gibbo]

No correction required and good for them to have a tasty motor on their pages too.

Yes this was just a valet, not a correction!

But I never told them what car I was bringing, but somehow they knew I had a Mustang, I thought I'd kept it low key.

Kevin (the detailer) did say the finish was one of the better ones he'd seen and it had no need for correction and there was no contaminants in the paint.

The £60 quote was also based on using Autograph wax, but unfortunately for them they only had the more expensive Legacy wax which belonged to the owner Mark, so they agreed to use that instead, win for me!

The Reaper drying towel is excellent by the way, makes drying the car easy and very quick!

 

[Gibbo]

I have no intentions on going this far, but it still impresses me that a car with this much performance is still his daily driver which he drives too and from the track and work everyday.

Forget the 1/4 mile time, I am more impressed by the 1/8 mile time, I mean only 5.8s at 122mph, that car has to be doing 0-100mph in sub 5s and that is totally insane for a RWD car and one still running stock transmission and the engine is relatively standard also.

Incredible results!

I won't be building mine for drag racing, but just impresses me how fast these cars are with a blower attached.

 

[Gibbo]

The sun came out, photos were taken!

 

[Gibbo]

Car looks epic. It really does. 2 questions, would it look better without the slightly clumsy 5.0 badge on the side? Also do the wheels look a tad small for the arches or is it just me?

I like the 5.0 badges so they are staying.
Rear wheels look spot on, front crying for spacers.

When I change wheels if I go 20" the reason will purely be due to tyre availability.

 

[Gibbo]

How much has all these mods affected your insurance ?

MW

My original quote was around £325.

With all modifications declared and car value increased to 39k new premium was a little over £400.

So about £100.

I am insured with Direct Line, best quote I could get with modifications, everywhere else was £500-£600.

 

[Gibbo]

Gibbo did directline require you to add the mods after via the phone? Can't find anywhere to add them when quoting online.

Quote for unmodified with them is now my lowest at £291

I just did it on the phone with them.

Complete suspension overhaul, dampers, springs, roll bars, spacers etc.
Interior modifications, wheel, knob etc.
Exterior modifications, decals
Catback exhaust system.

 

[Gibbo]

Gibbo, do you think there's any chance Ford will release some of their other models in RHD in the UK? I would love an F250

Doubtful the trucks seem import only, get in touch with Bill Shepherd, they could maybe import you one.

Would an F250 even fit on the roads there? I'm pretty sure some of the ones I see here would be way too wide.

F-150 Raptors would be good to have in the UK.

Seriously what a silly question, if continental lorries fit on our roads, hummers, limousines then of course an F250 would also fit, might stuggle on a country lane for passing but you'd just ensure you plan your journeys, but of course it would fit, but I don't see why anyone would want an F250/F350 in the UK, plenty of other commercial options available. If you just want an American truck get an F150 or Dodge Ram with the giant V8 engine in for giggles and enjoy single digit mpg's.

you can get them imported (Raptors) but theyre pricey! but i agree they should definitely bring them here! a Raptor and Mustang would be my perfect car combo!

The Raptor is a true muscle truck, you can get those things from Ford with some insane power levels, the fright on peoples faces when a truck destroys them from a set of traffic lights, PRICELESS!

 

[Gibbo]

My mods will probably just be exhaust, induction and some small exterior mods.

I'll drop you an email once I get the car, it still hasn't sunk in yet that I'm getting one lol

MW

Here is the Milltek system, will be available March, sounds nice, proven 12BHP gain and if you join up on M6G they are doing a forum member introductory offer.

Sounds good, I like the low tone, not so sure on the tone in upper RPM but its a good sounding setup with proven gains.

 

[Gibbo]

Not sure on that milltek sound. Can't quite put my finger on exactly why, but doesn't sound right.

Gotta say I think my Corsa sounds far better, more American and rather aggressive:

COLD START

GENTLE CRUISE, LIGHT THROTTLE, 3000RPM

GENTLE CRUISE BY, LIGHT THROTTLE 2500RPM

HALF THROTTLE UPTO 4000RPM

Gotta say I get your point, the Corsa has a far deeper tone than the Milltek and is also louder and bear in mind this is only upto 4000rpm and no more than 30-40% throttle.


I will get a video done, with better equipment with some wide open throttle upto 7000rpm in coming weeks as the tone over 4500rpm is incredible.

 

[Gibbo]

I'm still tempted by the Corsa Extreme, I want people hear me coming

MW

I think the Xtreme is only marginally louder though at the cruising speeds I was doing, the Xtreme wakes up a lot more at full throttle and higher rpm but also becomes very raspy.

 

[Gibbo]

Hi there


So last night I drove home with both windows fully open, yes in the freezing dry cold but I was just enjoying listening to that incredible sound track of V8 and Corsa exhaust. But then I kept hearing a squeak/creak, I got closer home where roads are rather bumpy/uneven with a wall in close proximity and my car was sounding like an old banger, creaking like crazy over minor road imperfections, not even holes or bumps. This was my feeling !!!!
Luckily I had booked in at local garage the following morning to re-check all bolts after the damper/spring install just to check all was tight.

So this morning I drove to the garage with both windows fully down to listen for this noise, really upsetting to hear my brand new car creaking/squeaking like an old banger over any kind of rough road surface, ripple, bump or hole (Windows closed the noise was not audible).

Anyway I was able to 100% pinpoint it as coming from the rear and more from UK passenger (left) side rather than right side though there did also seem to be some squeak/creaks from right side as well. Applying brakes or hand brake had no impact on the noise, so it was definetely a moving suspension component and most likely a bush.

So I arrived at the garage and ask them to listen as I drove on and off their ramp, thankfully it made the noise every time, they said this is 100% a bush and not from the damper and spring install they did last week.

At this point I was pretty much 100% certain it was the BMR Delrin/Spherical vertical links, I thought it might be these and as such I put my stock items in the trunk (boot in UK).

So the first thing we did, jack car up, let it down fast and low and behold the creak noise happened. I told the garage to undo the bolt on the lower vertical link, the delrin bush. We did this on left side, noise gone but a slight nose from right side, did it on the other side and noise completely gone.

So we removed the BMR vertical links and were rather shocked at what we saw:

This vertical link has being on the car for no more than 500 miles and about 2-3 weeks, yet it is already dry in areas and is coming apart. It is 100% the reason for the creaking/squeaking noise.

The spherical bearings at the top of the BMR link are absolutely fine, no noise and no signs of wear.

I hope Kelly from BMR can sort me out with some spherical bearings for my BMR vertical links as I was sold these as being NVH free and well they clearly are not.

This won't just effect BMR either, it is simply a case of Delrin bushes on the vertical links are a very bad idea on a car daily driven in all conditions, they will make noise and they will fail judging by how they are coming apart so young into their life.

BMR make great kit and Kelly has being superb so hoping he can sort me out a spherical bush for my link and my advice to anyone else buying vertical links DO MAKE SURE THEY ARE SPHERICAL AT BOTH ENDS.

Those who have delrin vertical links, drive around on rough roads with both your windows fully down, see if your car sounds like an old creaking boat.


P.S. With the stock links installed the car is now completely silent both inside and outside.

 

[Gibbo]

Lol, well that doesn't look too good! 500 miles?!

Yes that is all, the delrin bush as pushed the lube out, so dry bush on metal, that will be the creaking noise and even worse the bush is coming apart at the edges.

Emailed the manufacturer making them aware and asking if they will kindly send me a spherical bush to put in its place, fingers crossed they comply.

For now I am running the stock Ford items, car is silent again.

 

[Gibbo]

Wow, that exhaust note is fantastic (your Corsa one not the Milltek).

Thanks unfortunately the video is not showing the true sound, in person especially at idle it has a lovely dirty naughty sound to it as well, a bit like an older classic V8, basically sounds a bit uneven hehe.

 

[Gibbo]

Crikey, that's not good Gibbo

Hopefully they take care of you. Are they UK or USA based? Could be a while with stock parts if they have to ship from Murica!

USA, they are normally great guys to deal with, I think the thing is maybe in the USA delrin bush is fine for cars driven in nice dry warm climates. But here in the UK, cold, wet, salt can easily destroy a bush.

I am sure they will step up, but the stock items are doing a fine job, but more so in silence, will be interesting to see how the stock items feel on the car now as these were one of the first upgrades I made, so be interesting to see if I can tell any difference considering the car now has the differential bushing inserts, cradle lockout kit and uprated dampers/lower springs on it. Lets see as it is common knowledge the vertical links upgrades are more for safety/strength and only have a small impact on traction and axle tramp. But now I can truly find out.

 

[Gibbo]

Mud flaps from RPI arrived today (not fitted yet) but got the front 23mm spacers on which fit fine and the stock studs don't need anything taking off, checked by putting wet paint on the studs, fitting wheel, torquing up and then removing, no wet paint on back of inside wheel recesses.

As the fronts are the type of spacer with studs built in, meaning the spacer is bolts to the hub using the original studs and new nuts and the wheel bolts to the spacers new studs and original wheel nuts. A popular and safe design, though I do prefer the idea of the wheel just bolting directly to the hub with just a spacer inbetween with longer studs provided. I've contacted Eibach to see if they have a 20mm spacer for my car that uses this principle as currently their 20, 25 and 30mm offers are all the same type. So to be ultra safe I've bolted the spacer to the hub using 120lb/ft with blue loctite and have then bolted the wheels to spacers also using 120lb/ft.

I love the look and stance now, very aggressive with plenty of rake going on, front is sitting at 4.75" of the ground and rear is sitting over 6" off the ground.

 

[Gibbo]

Those bushes look like they were torqued up when the car was not at ride height ?

Yes they were torqued to 129lb/ft with the car on the deck.

The US manufacturer BMR have said the delrin is much harsher and as such the damage can also happen on the install as well, but agreed the noise is un-acceptable NVH and have agreed to send me some spherical lower bearing out for the vertical links, so great service.

 

[Gibbo]

http://www.hypermotive.com/cat-backs-7/

Gibbo mate, which one did you go for?

This one:
http://www.hypermotive.com/corsa-3-catback-exhaust-sport-with-polished-4-5-tips-15-mustang-gt/

 

[Gibbo]

Hi there

Installed the RPI Stealth splash guards on Friday evening, very easy to do on the front as uses the OEM trim locators.

At the top they give you a clip but this causes a panel gap between splash guard and body work. So I ditched this and went with some number plate velcro I had, though double sided 3M tape would be a better solution but I used what I had, though the result is excellent.

They truly are Stealth simply because they are completely un-noticable and they lined up perfectly, a great product that will keep the paintwork protected. Not installed the rears yet as it is the fronts which are most needed.

 

[Gibbo]

They look very nice

Thanks the splash guards have performed their task brilliantly, wet morning, arrive to work and normally the side decal would be dirty especially where Mustang is spelt, yet today still clean, infact whole side of the car is clean so they are prevent water spray going up side of car so in theory will prevent stones as well.

A great addition and infact even though they are quite stealth I prefer the look with them, better than see tyre in my opinion.

Though the rears are not required as the rear bumper curves in so very unlikely to get splashed or chipped I still think I shall fit the rear guards as well to see how they look as I think they actually improve the appearance.

 

[Gibbo]

Gibbo in my eyes it looks better with them on Put back on when You got time and we see.

I never took them off.

What I said is so far I have only fitted the fronts, will fit rears on a nice weekend when I do anti-roll bars as they are a wheel off job, whereas the fronts took like 5 minutes per side.