New car plan...

[daren_woodall]

As I announced in my first post... I am awaiting a new Vapor GT. I deliberately ordered a car that is very plain externally and am planning the visual touches that will let it be tastefully distinctive and keeping the "retro" theme alive.

I have identified the initial cosmetic mods for the plan. At a high-level, suspension the get the stance right (but streetable), wheels/tires/, LeMans stripes and a chin spoiler. I would like to know if any on you have experience with the following parts:

Ford Racing's Handling Pack. This is the OEM setup for the Shelby GTs. How would you describe the ride quality of this kit, in daily driver terms?

Wheels: Adding to the retro look, I like the Magnum 500 look and desire a modern interpretation of this look. I've found about four sources for this style. The most appealing, and accurate are from Wheel Vintiques and are surprisingly expensive. http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+115+306630&D=306630 The second on the list are available from Late Model Restoration and very affordable. See here: http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/iwwida.pvx?;item?item_no=WTK-1007M5D%20%20%20%201&comp=LRS Here is a pic of them on the car: http://darenwoodall.com/mustang_pics/Blue_Mustang_BOSS_side.jpg Does anyone have experience with these wheels?

Stripes: I know this is a tired subject for most of you, and I have read many posts. However, I have a little different angle to this question... What is life really like with vinyl graphics. The thing that keeps coming to my mind is, "why did Ford elect to us vinyl on their Shelby models?". What are your real-world experiences with vinyl stripes? Are they too problematic to be worth it? Given that I also want Shelby style side stripes, I can imagine painting being a very expensive undertaking. Here is a similar color scheme I am after: http://darenwoodall.com/mustang_pics/112_0401_mustang_gal_26_wl.jpg

Chin Spoiler: Finally, I'm considering the CDC chin spoiler. Given this is a popular mod, I'm sure you have many experiences. I like the look, but am concerned with adding this to a "lowered" car. Am I likely to rip it off during my first outing?

Perhaps I should have posted all these separately, and if I don't get responses, I will break this out at a later time. For those of you that did read through all this, you feedback is very appreciated.

Thanks, Daren

 

[Snooze]

1: experiance with the wheels.. lol... Why ask a silly question? A rim is a rim unless you plan to race!

2: Chin spoiler, its subjectional to the area you live in... If your lowering the car with the FRPP setup, then that means 1" lower.. Already, i believe the front is 7-8" off the ground.. - the 3" for the spoiler and the 1" for the suspension..
Do you drive back-roads? Lots of pot-holes, or steep driveways?
My STI is 4" off the ground. it was like that for a good 4months before i took it off the road. I did hit a few things, and scrape the front lip here and there (every time i pulled out of my driveway too) But the lip was polyurethane, no dmg..
I was very concious about where i could take it, and How i would approach a steep drive way (from the sides)

2b: If the chin-spoiler is made of a flexible material (Polyurethane) as opposed to carbon fiber, or fiber glass.. You'll be fine.. If its painted, you'll have stress marks if it's ever bent. but if you leave it black, then you can scrape that thing dozens of times without problems. (Just don't get it caught on ****)

Vinyl - Can look good(from a distance). But here's my take on it..
You have a nice glossy black car.. and two semi-gloss strips that don't reflect as much light.. how f'in ugly! I know you can get different glosses, but you'll never have the deep-look that a clearcoat will give you.
Only bonus to vinyl, is you can remove it.. Which imho doesn't equate to much.
Paint.. a little more expensive, but hardly what you would expect.. 30minutes to tape the car off (Depending on the stripes design!) another 2hours to paint, and hour to clearcoat..
so 4-ish hours labour. + 150$ for paint...
for a full body strip, i would expect no more than 6-800.

edit: Not sure how the chin-spoiler is attached on mustangs,
But my STi, i drilled 12holes into the under-side of the bumper.. and used Push-tabs to secure it..

I once lost it on the track on a wet day (long story short - went into a turn braking, back end swung, and caught grip. shot into the inside curb at 70mph, took air and landed nose-first in grass......)

I will HAPPILY say, that i am so happy i didn't attach it to anything solid, or use a 3m tape to attach it from a visible location... that tape would have either held the broken lip in place, or ripped the paint off the bumper when it came off..

 

[daren_woodall]

In fear of sounding a bit "snippy", I'm looking for people with specific experience with this stuff. If I wanted speculation, I would rely on my own. I've been hot-rodding Mustangs since 1992. My experience is extensive with the various 5.0 models, but in my view, those models were not good platforms for much cosmetic mods so I never considered adding them.

1: experience with the wheels.. lol... Why ask a silly question? A rim is a rim unless you plan to race!

Let me get more specific with my questions:
- How is the fit (in person). Offsets appear good? Not sticking beyond the fenders right?
- What about the machining quality? Rough edges in the openings?
- These wheels have painted inserts. Is the painted inserts clean-edged and of sufficient quality? The original Magnums were mat finished while these appear gloss. Does anyone find that bothersome?
- Has anyone had any difficulties balancing them?
- The is package deal comes with Sumitomo HTRZ II tires. I'm a BFG guy. Anyone have EXPERIENCE with this model tire?

Vinyl - Paint.. a little more expensive, but hardly what you would expect.. 30minutes to tape the car off (Depending on the stripes design!) another 2hours to paint, and hour to clearcoat..
so 4-ish hours labour. + 150$ for paint...
for a full body strip, i would expect no more than 6-800.

This is considerably less then what others have posted. I fully intend to get a quote, but before I can decide, I would like to hear vinyl experiences from others that have actually done it or own Shelby's.

I have seen many brand new Shelby GTs and GT-500s, with the full gamut of color combos, on the showrooms during my shopping experience. I'm generally fine with the appearance and like everything, willing to make reasonable compromises. I have never owned a car with vinyl graphics (except maybe the OEM pin stripe on my '94 GT. Therefore, my question is with durability. What is life like with these large slabs of vinyl? What happens to them after a few dozen washes? Are they fragile enough that accidental fingernail contact during washing would leave a mark? What if car wax gets on them? What happens after a year or so of exposure to sunlight? Again, I would like to hear from those who HAVE them, and has had them for a year or more.

My prior '92 GT was lowered, on a budget, using BBK linear rate springs and Monroe GPs. The ride was harsh for a daily driver. My current ride, the '94 GT has Ebach Pro-Kit progressive rates with Tokico Lumina adjustables. The ride is very livable.

How would owners rate the FRPP Handling pack for daily life?

I enjoyed the anecdote about your getting off the track in slippery conditions. I too have experienced the same with my '94, with tire-wall rubs marks on the bumper to prove it, but, I'd like to know what others have experienced with the CDC chin spoiler on a S197 Mustang on a every-day street setting.

Sorry again if I sound gruff, but your dismissal of my wheels question rubbed me wrong (or maybe it was cause I had to do my taxes today).

Thanks, Daren

 

[08cali]

Any chance you can test drive a shelby GT? That will tell you all you need to know about the suspension.

 

[daren_woodall]

Any chance you can test drive a shelby GT? That will tell you all you need to know about the suspension.

Good suggestion, and I considered it in the past, however, I have yet to see one on the lot. They are always inside the showroom building, at least the dealerships near me. I didn't feel it was appropriate to ask them to move it out of the building, not when I wasn't considering to purchase it.

Daren

 

[kooldawg6]

I have the CDC chin spoiler and lowered 1.6" in the front / 1.25" in the rear and that leaves me with just under 5" of clearance measured in the very center. I have scraped it numerous times, but since it is not painted you can't even tell by looking at it. Reach and feel the underside, that's a whole different story, but I try my best to go slow anywhere it looks like it might hit and it's been fine.

My vinyl rocker stripes are Genuine Ford that I ordered from graphic-express. I waxed them and they shine nearly as much as the paint at certain angles. My next graphics venture(years from now)will be painted for sure. Only reasons I went vinyl was it was cheaper, took less than two hours to do and I wasn't sure how I'd like the end result.

 

[daren_woodall]

I have the CDC chin spoiler and lowered 1.6" in the front / 1.25" in the rear and that leaves me with just under 5" of clearance measured in the very center. I have scraped it numerous times, but since it is not painted you can't even tell by looking at it. Reach and feel the underside, that's a whole different story, but I try my best to go slow anywhere it looks like it might hit and it's been fine.

Thanks for the feedback on this. I'll certainly keep this in mind.

After searched around for other options this morning, I may lean away from the CDC in favor of a "slimmer" design. I've seen a few alternatives that may suit my tastes and give an inch or two more clearance.

My vinyl rocker stripes are Genuine Ford that I ordered from graphic-express. I waxed them and they shine nearly as much as the paint at certain angles. My next graphics venture(years from now)will be painted for sure. Only reasons I went vinyl was it was cheaper, took less than two hours to do and I wasn't sure how I'd like the end result.

Based on your picture, you added the side stripes only, correct?

I'm still very much wrestling with this topic. I'm sure it will boil down to a cost factor. As you and others have said, vinyl isn't perminent so,... worst case I'd only be out a few hundred bucks and some hassle.

I'm still interested in some other's experiences.

Thanks again, Daren

 

[Hoboattacker]

If you take vinyl off the wrong way, you are looking at clear coating your hood, your front bumper, your roof, your trunk, your spoiler, and your back bumper. That alone is very costly.

Most wheels have the same offset if they are 18's or if they are 20's. You'll probably bitch at me for not having specific experience with the wheels you are looking at, but most 18's have similar offsets. I have 18x9's up front with a +30mm offset and 18x10's out back with a +40mm offset. They JUST tuck into the fenders and don't stick out.