2000 GT: Just cleaning it up

[Mustang5L5]

Better pic. The trunk is really the biggest area now to address. Those are chips, so a full repaint is needed. The spoiler has some clear damage as well.

I’m trying to source a part-out for a black 01+ trunk. Waiting for rain to subside to hit the local wrecking yard

I do have an 01+ spoiler in black. Debating plugging the holes and drilling to mount the 01+ spoiler. Nothing to lose considering the trunk needs a repaint anyway. I’d rather just look for a 01+ trunk via a local part-out.

Not looking for a show car, but a decent 20-foot driver.

I just am not a fan of 99/00 spoilers.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Parts pile.

For future reference Ford Racing M-5300-G springs are Eibach 3530.140 springs

Gearing up to replace the front control arms. Not looking forward to this due to a few reasons. One is stock oem Long spring, and the other is the steering rack needs to be unbolted and shifted up to remove the front LCA bolt. A lot of wrenching.

Wedge it comes time to put the springs back in, ideally I want to put the stock OE spring in for now. With stock 69k mile struts, I’m worried about it riding like a dump truck.

I have the Bullitt springs as an option as well as the eibachs. I still can’t decide which to run.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Probably going to work on replacing my front control arms next week. Either the Mach springs or the eibachs are going in.


Prelim ride height numbers. Keep in mind my tires sizes are staggered. 255/45/17 rear and 235/45/17 front. So 1” difference in OD (lowering the front 1/2”)

Fender gap is:

28.25” rear
27.75” front

Total 4x4 mode

 

[Noobz347]

 

[KRUISR]

You just need to convert it to this ...

 

[General karthief]

You just need to convert it to this ...

no he don't

 

[Mustang5L5]

It really is high. Holy hell ford what were you thinking

 

[Noobz347]

I think it's just something you don't really notice until you've seen it squatted down. Then it just itches your brain.

 

[Shuttleman83]

Don't worry about the 4x4 if you weigh a decent amount your body being in it will push the springs down a bit. Pile a car load of people into it for a drop!

 

[Mustang5L5]

Pulled the rear panels out for a little paint todaY. Used about 3/4 of the can for the new guage cluster trim and these panels. Wish I had a pic of how sunfaded they were but the dye worked well

Also took the opportunity to clean the rear seat again with that Mold Armor spray. That stuff is really effective! Seat looks much better!

Now, you can see the contrast between the door and the rear panel. It’s not that the door is darker, but that’s just all grime and stuff that I couldn’t clean. That door was much worse.

But now you know what I need to do here? Pull the door panel, hit it with the mold armor stuff and then give it a fresh spray!

Recovering the front seats is a winter projext

 

[Mustang5L5]

Also, I’ve decided to go ahead and drill to mount the 01-04 spoiler on my trunk. This trunk is bad enoigh that it needs to be replaced or have major body work to repair those multiple deep chips. Since the trunk is fugly anyway, what’s a few extra holes.

I ordered up some plugs, and will give the top of the trunk a compound first to try and remove the old spoiler witness mark

Not installed yet. Kids were bugging me all day so I need John Wick-like focus for this.

 

[Noobz347]

For the slow folks (like me) that don't recall WTF we are comparing it to.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Yeah...not a huge fan of that wing.

I really miss my '03 GT so I prefer the body lines of the 01-04 GT better. I have the 01+ wing and hood scoop. Working on tracking down the side scoops.

 

[Noobz347]

Your wing is the better of the two IMO.

When you look at the two, the factory wing just doesn't look right anymore and yours looks factory.


Random thought: Consider making spacers for the new wing. It look pretty good sitting up where it's at.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Rear shocks weee dirty. Tried cleaning them up but they were also blown. So I replaced them

 

[Mustang5L5]

Also decided it was time to clean these up.

Much cleaner now

However, after some bedding in, they aren’t wowing me. Car stops, but I feel like too much leg effort is needed. I drove my fox with the same brakes (up front at least) and it put me through the windshield on the first stomp on the brakes. I’m starting to wonder if the issue is elsewhere. Bad pump or hydro booster? Thing is, I’m not seeing any obvious signs they are bad…

 

[Mustang5L5]

I need to get some front end work done on this. All sorts of crustyness.

Ball joint still has grease. I’ll be staying off the highway in the meantime.

Need to get bilstiens front struts and C/C plates and then I can tear this all apart.

Inner a-arm bushings also bad. I suspect this is not an oem a-arms. I discovered the two front brake hoses were replaced in 2014. I replaced them again.

 

[Noobz347]

Now I'm starting to think that once you get this thing [Right}, you should sell it and do it all over again.


I dunno what SNs are going for but one that's been completely gone through would interest me. And I'm not even in the market.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I’m looking forward to getting it sorted and then just driving it. Nothing but fluid changes I hope.

At some point I likely will sell it. It will probably be to upgrade to something else. It’s at 68k miles now. I figure 80-90k I might move on.

Terminator convertible maybe?? I’m digging this convertible thing a lot. More than I thought.

 

[TIGGER]

However, after some bedding in, they aren’t wowing me. Car stops, but I feel like too much leg effort is needed. I drove my fox with the same brakes (up front at least) and it put me through the windshield on the first stomp on the brakes. I’m starting to wonder if the issue is elsewhere. Bad pump or hydro booster? Thing is, I’m not seeing any obvious signs they are bad…

It sounds to me like you have issues somewhere else? I have put PBR calipers on all my 96's that I have owned and have always been very happy with the way the cars stop after compared to the stock single piston calipers. The only issue I have had with the PBR calipers is that the pistons tend to stick when the fluid gets dirty.

Unfortunately, I do not know enough about the ABS system and the Hydroboost to be of any help but I am sure you will figure it out