Monday, May 08, 2017 - 05:29 pm, by: Ben Lipman(Ben12a)
I haven't read Dave's link, but agree with the comment.
Regardless, car looks good. Dare i say a fraction too low at the rear.
I am curious: have you found anything in the handling to indicate why slamming them i to things whilst attempting to do a burnout seems so prevalent in the US?
Monday, May 08, 2017 - 06:56 pm, by: Andrew McKellar(Toymax)
Dave Rose wrote on Monday, May 08, 2017 - 10:15 am:
2 schools of thoughts
Agree Dave. And whilst I read the manual, I didn't say I complied with it. In fact the running in of this engine seems to be very in compliance with that article. I've just treated it like that for a few thousand km, not just the first 20 minutes.
Ben, I think that answers the first half of your comment. As for the last part, I do have a theory. There are numerous factors involved, namely:
1. IRS (they've not had that before) 2. Big HP (whilst it doesn't seem like much on paper, the Mustang is pretty potent when you step the throttle - it does have a tendency to step sideways when you jump on it) 3. USA, USA! 4. Wheel-hop 5. Over-correction
I think these are self-explanatory. I will say that due to all the chassis handling modifications I have done to mine, I think it probably behaves a bit better than most. That said, if you turn the traction control off, you have to be prepared to deal with the consequences. It will want to step sideways (which is easy enough to control if you are expecting it) and it will grip up before you know it and increase speed rapidly (which usually happens after it has pointed you sideways). Once you get to that point, you either control your way out of it or USA, USA!
Wednesday, May 10, 2017 - 06:43 pm, by: Andrew McKellar(Toymax)
Ben Lipman wrote on Monday, May 08, 2017 - 05:29 pm:
Dare i say a fraction too low at the rear.
Meant to answer this the other day too. Yep, it's too low in the rear, not helped by being overloaded with "necessary" holiday paraphernalia. When we get back from the trip it is going back in to be raised 20mm. This was unfortunately the result of not listening to the customer - but the customer will prevail in this case.
There's not much in the way of tyre rubbing (surprising given how wide the tyres are) but more of a concern with a $3500 stainless steel exhaust system getting bashed about, which has already happened on a couple of speed humps and even sections of the Great Ocean Road that are suffering from a bit of rutting.
Wednesday, May 31, 2017 - 07:44 pm, by: Andrew McKellar(Toymax)
Harrop Engineering have now dyno tuned the car, which allowed us to remove the restrictor from the cold air intake and allow the engine to breathe a bit better. End result is 297rwkw, which is not a bad gain over the standard Mustang (about 255rwkw). I will try to remember to scan the printout and post it up.
Meanwhile a couple more upgrades have been completed/installed:
New shifter CF radiator cover CF rear spoiler CF window louvres CF side scoops New wheels (same size as previous, just a different style) GT stripes (in a holographic vinyl that changes colour)
Wednesday, May 31, 2017 - 08:48 pm, by: Roland Elliott(Aussie2013)
All great work and looks fine, appreciate what you have put in to it, but this is my opinion and my mates opinion who also owns one, its just a Ford and the build quality is very poor, (no personal hurt or insult intended). as we both said while looking over it , in 5 years it will be just like a low budget china car, bits rattling off, wear on inside and outside componants, stress cracks, etc..
Wednesday, May 31, 2017 - 10:05 pm, by: Andrew McKellar(Toymax)
Roland Elliott wrote on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 - 08:48 pm:
its just a Ford and the build quality is very poor, (no personal hurt or insult intended).
No offence taken Roland, for I am not a Ford fan and I agree with yours and others comments about build quality, though I will say that Ford do not stand alone amongst car manufacturers when it comes to problems with their builds.
I think low budget china car is a bit harsh, but I see where you're coming from. That said, whilst I grew up a Holden fan (well, more of a P. Brock fan really), one thing I always liked from a very young age was Mustangs. Don't ask me why, because I don't know. I knew about their handling deficiencies, the fact that they are as common as Falcons or Commodores in the US and their propensity for falling apart over time. None of this bothered me enough to not want one.
I'm pretty sure mine won't fall apart in 5 years, but if it does I won't stress too much, because it'll have been 5 years of driving the most fun road car I've ever owned. And 5 years of hanging out with like-minded individuals who are also unsure why they like Mustangs enough to buy one, they just wanted it.
Ben Lipman Goo Roo SA Soarer TT manual, plus TT track car, plus a spare shell
Thursday, June 01, 2017 - 06:06 pm, by: Ben Lipman(Ben12a)
40 kw is nothing to turn your nose up at. I would have thought the days of allowing an engine to breathe better resulting in massive HP gains were long gone. Clearly not.
Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - 07:55 pm, by: Andrew McKellar(Toymax)
Ben Lipman wrote on Thursday, June 01, 2017 - 06:06 pm:
40 kw is nothing to turn your nose up at.
I know. I'm not real upset by it, that's for sure. Definitely don't need to spend $20k on a supercharger.
We had a "driver training" event at a top secret location that I'm not allowed to reveal, which I can't publish the video of either. Makes it hard to describe how awesome it was. But I'll try...
We got to legally put the car through its paces and were encouraged to do some "spirited driving". I was happy to oblige and, as it turns out, so was the wife. I didn't even know that she knew where the traction control switch was, let alone that she had the ability to tear up the asphalt. But tear it up she did, even collecting an award for best launch of the day (which she repeated over and over).
Overall assessment: the extra 65hp is handy, especially for powering out of the corners (of which there were 29); the car was voted best handling car and best sounding car by the officials and the punters respectively; it was flat through the corners and braked incredibly efficiently; and it was really, really fun to drive.
John Bowe had a peddle around in our car and was impressed with how well it handled.
I'm pretty happy with the results of all that, for I have been aiming for a car that handles and brakes well, which is far more fun (and important to me) than just pointing and shooting.
That said, it goes in this week for a new differential, moving to a Torsen diff with a slightly different ratio (from 3.55:1 to 3.73:1). Yes, that means the car will accelerate better...
Peter Nitschke Junk Filterer South Australia UZZ30 UZZ31
Monday, September 18, 2017 - 08:25 pm, by: Andrew McKellar(Toymax)
Peter Nitschke wrote on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 - 05:28 pm:
Wow! I parked next to one at Bunnies a couple of weeks ago, same colour, looked really good in the sunlight.
Yeah it looks better in real life. Photos just don't seem to capture it properly hey.
Ben Lipman wrote on Monday, May 08, 2017 - 05:29 pm:
I am curious: have you found anything in the handling to indicate why slamming them i to things whilst attempting to do a burnout seems so prevalent in the US?
Seems it is not just in the US anymore...
Ben Lipman Goo Roo SA Soarer TT manual, plus TT track car, plus a spare shell
Sunday, July 15, 2018 - 02:28 pm, by: Andrew McKellar(Toymax)
Been a little while since I updated this thread. Since last time (nearly a year ago!) we have new Anderson Composites bonnet with Shelby bonnet pins, new Anderson Composites GT500 front end, Mestengo Performance Components carbon fibre engine cover, new Anderson Composites carbon fibre boot lid panel and new Mestengo Performance Components carbon fibre tail light bezels - all items courtesy of Mestengo Performance Components.
Oh, and new registration plates (long story that) and new Michelin tyres, as the old tyres seem to have done one too many track days...
And somehow we made it onto the over of a Mustang club magazine too.
And don't worry, I know it's still not a Soarer. But someone I know is travelling to Adelaide on Monday to pick one up...
Sunday, July 15, 2018 - 06:33 pm, by: Blake Gloyn(Blakenz)
it's a stunning car, thanks for the updates. a couple of questions. What is the factory wheel offset on the mustang? How do the rear scoops attach in front of the wheel?