The Mustang Project » Mustang Mod Must Haves http://www.stangproject.com So worth the gas! Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:07:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 AFCO heat exchanger install Shelby GT500 http://www.stangproject.com/2009/09/afco-heat-exchanger-install-shelby-gt500/ http://www.stangproject.com/2009/09/afco-heat-exchanger-install-shelby-gt500/#comments Sat, 26 Sep 2009 04:50:37 +0000 svtmatt http://www.stangproject.com/?p=189 Like many GT500 owners I started out with the FRPP intake and tune and slowly warmed up to the idea of something more potent, then I stumbled accross a  pulley/tune package  from  VMP Tuning that is specifically for the FRPP kit. The contains a 2.65″ pulley, 90mm idler, SCT Flash Tuner, 3 custom tunes from Justin, and I opted for his stellar pulley puller tool (save yourself the nightmare of the cheap pullers that you read so much about).  This kit is consistently putting down 550RWHP on average, pretty damn stout for a $700 investment.

Woah, not so fast, you have now introduced a new problem that needs to be addressed before becoming a YouTube hero.  As any Shelby GT500 owner already knows, the car suffers from heat soak due to extreme temperatures generated by the supercharger and that rather wimpy stock intercooler. You can drop 60HP+ pretty quick when the temps get up there, which is pretty easy in 90 degree temps.  Essentially, the temps climb and the computer kicks in and pulls timing from the motor to keep it from a meltdown, this in turn saps power noticeably.

So what do you think is going to happen when you swap a pulley from 3″ to 2.65″ and add 3-4psi?  You are going to take an already known issue and exacerbate it.  Solution?  Cooler plugs for one, NGK TR6 plugs gapped at .035 will run one range cooler than stock.  Second, an AFCO heat exchanger to replace the stocker.  I spent some time researching all the various Shelby Heat Exchangers on the market and stats all point to the Shelby dual fan HE and the AFCO as leading the pack. Steeda makes one, and I am usually a fan but in this case it is smaller and more expensive than the afco, huh?  The afco runs about $380 while the shelby fan cooled is around $750.  The AFCO is more than enough for my needs and, I got a sweet deal on a used one from a forum buddy.  Some quick data to back the decision:

Core Size
AFCO core is 9″ tall x 22.44″ wide x 2″ thick.
Stock is 6″ tall x 23″ wide x 1.25″ thick.

Height:
Stock 6″
AFCO 9″

Width: Stock 23″
AFCO 22.5″

Thickness: Stock 1.25″
AFCO 2.0″

Front Face Area
Stock 138 sq. in.
AFCO 202 sq. in. (50% increase)

Overall Surface Area:
Stock 690 sq. in.
AFCO 1616 sq. in. (135% increase)

While it is rather an easy install it is time consuming to get the front fascia off, see pics below.  After driving around in hot weather I can actually tell a difference, while it probably won’t solve your heatsoak issues on a long road race course, it will surely resolve your average street use heat soak.

You will need 1.5 Gallons of mixed 50/50 Motorcraft Premium Gold protection Engine Coolant with Bittering Agent VC-7-B, sold at all Ford dealerships $11.00/gal. The GT500 manual specs VC-7-A but the parts computer has been updated for 2009 showing VC-7-B as the official replacement for that part. Only difference is a bittering agent I believe was added. Any Dealership will carry this don’t screw around trying to find it at your local Autozone, PepBoys, etc.  And it is highly advised not going with some off the shelf product due to the possible chemical reactions within the GT500 cooling system and this foriegn coolant, not to mention the yellow keeps it looking factory.

]]> http://www.stangproject.com/2009/09/afco-heat-exchanger-install-shelby-gt500/feed/ 0 Number 2 Mustang Mod Must Have – Nitto 555R Drag Radials http://www.stangproject.com/2009/05/number-2-mustang-mod-must-have-nitto-555r-drag-radials/ http://www.stangproject.com/2009/05/number-2-mustang-mod-must-have-nitto-555r-drag-radials/#comments Thu, 21 May 2009 04:11:09 +0000 svtmatt http://www.stangproject.com/?p=176 If you are making 500HP+ you will no doubt notice a traction issue in mustangs. If they aren’t spinning they are hopping like a banshee.  I have wasted money on different suspension parts and even gimmicks like the kenny brown brace (designed to reduce wheel hop) with little results. One set of Nitto 555Rs and problem solved. If you have never driven with an oversized sticky nitto on regular roads you will be stunned at how much grip they have.  Where once you were spinning you are now stuck like glue and propelled forward with blurry vision.  Simply fantastic, I have had a set of these on both the Cobra and the GT500, go 305 or wider!

 

]]> http://www.stangproject.com/2009/05/number-2-mustang-mod-must-have-nitto-555r-drag-radials/feed/ 0 Number 1 Mustang Mod Must Have – Flowmaster Exhaust http://www.stangproject.com/2009/05/number-1-mustang-mod-must-have-flowmaster-exhaust/ http://www.stangproject.com/2009/05/number-1-mustang-mod-must-have-flowmaster-exhaust/#comments Thu, 21 May 2009 04:05:43 +0000 svtmatt http://www.stangproject.com/?p=173 I have had this same exhaust on the 2v 4.6 GT, 3v 4.6l GT, 4v 4.6 Cobra, and 4v 5.4L GT500 and they all sound wicked. I have tried other exhausts that cost more but nothing sounds better, period.  Gotta have the flows!!!

 

]]> http://www.stangproject.com/2009/05/number-1-mustang-mod-must-have-flowmaster-exhaust/feed/ 0 Flowmaster Exhaust and Shelby Trunk Letter Rearrangement http://www.stangproject.com/2009/05/gt500-flowmaster-exhaust-and-centered-shelby-trunk-letters/ http://www.stangproject.com/2009/05/gt500-flowmaster-exhaust-and-centered-shelby-trunk-letters/#comments Sun, 17 May 2009 17:49:59 +0000 svtmatt http://www.stangproject.com/?p=160 First addition centered shelby trunk letters- After seeing the supersnake, kr, and all the pre production models of shelby GT500s with the trunk emblems centered, I decided to follow suit.  I think ford just got cheap because it is much easier to deal with stripes if you don’t have emblems over them.  Slick install taking about 30 minutes being extremely careful to make them exact, the human eye is amazingly talented at detecting the slightest imperfection when it comes to letters.

Second addition was the Ford Racing (OEM part on shelby gt’s) brushed aluminum gas cap. I had one on my 04 cobra and really liked the look so I duped it. I know, it’s a fine line between pimping out a car and making it tacky, especially when it’s considered collectible.  I am doing my best not destroy an already perfect car by adding some small tasteful touches.

Third Addition – NITTO 555R Extreme Drag Radials. Since this car is not driven in the rain I decided to actually put down the power the car makes. One thing any GT500 owner or Car magazine tester will tell you, these cars have a major traction problem with the skinny stock 285 wide Goodyears. They just spin or wheel hop all over in first and into second resulting in crap 0-60 numbers. Anywhere from 4.3 to 4.7 says all the magazines, hell I put a set of 305 wide Nittos on and hit 3.9 from a standstill!  Beware that these tires have a major hydroplane issue in heavy rain at freeway speeds, take it from me leave the car home those days.

Fourth Addition – Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust.  The Ford Racing exhaust kit was very cool looking and sounded great but it was no match for the flows. Flows are louder, meaner, and just sound bad ass on a mustang. I will never stray again Flowmaster, sorry. I skipped them this time because they don’t officially have a model for the GT500, on the v6 and GT. The GT is essentially the exact same muffler so I bought them and they worked spectacular.

Below are some photos.

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