[WhiteSSP]

I figured I'd go ahead and make a thread on here kind of mapping my progress on the mods I'm doing/have done to my mustang.

Well, in December of 2006 I decided that I was tired of making payments on my 2005 Dodge SRT4 that I purchased brand new and I wanted to just remove that burden. After some looking around and going through my head with what I wanted to buy next, I decided to get back into another foxbody mustang, since my first vehicle was a foxbody and the memories I made with that will never be forgotten.

I then picked up my 1989 Mustang GT. It looked to be in decent shape, the price was right, and it was mostly stock.



After about 6 months of driving it around like that and with alot of extra cash flow from not having a car payment, I picked up another daily driver and decided to have some fun with the mustang.

Off went the Cobra R hood and on went a stocker that I got with the car. Off went the stock 4 lug and front disc/rear drum setup and on went a 5 lug 13" front Cobra and 10" rear GT disc setup complimented by a Willwood prop valve, a 93 Cobra brake booster and Master cylinder. Since I added a lug, I also had to change wheels, so I added some 18x8.5 ET25 BBS RK's with 255/40/18 Azenis on all 4 corners. Along with the brake job, I added some Bilstein shocks all around, and some FRPP "C" Springs.



Shortly thereafter, I put on my LX Taillights to replace the stock GT "cheesegraters", and then took the plunge and went to my first ever autocross: the event that would change the way I look at cars forever.





Well, after my first autocross I was hooked on actually DRIVING the car. Drag racing paled in comparison to the thrill I got just in the parking lot grand prix, little did I know even that thrill would be tame compared to that of being out on track.

I did a few more autocrosses in 2007 and had a blast every time. The car also re-became my daily driver after my $600 1993 escort finally kicked the bucket after a year of solid reliability. Early in 2008 i signed up for my first HPDE at the end of March. In preparation, the car got some Hawk HP+ pads, a set of FRPP HD rear upper control arm bushings and brand new upper control arms, a pair of UMI Lower control arms, and some Steeda X2 balljoints in the stock front control arms.

The weekend started off great. Friday the weather was good, albeit a little on the hot side. I met Pzawl and Ed, as well as Stringer and Colin that weekend. The sun was shining bright without a cloud in the sky. I was excited about my first event and couldnt wait for the next morning. And when I woke up, the weather was setting the mood for my weekend as I noticed it had rained. ALOT. I decided to go ahead and go with it, since I'd already paid for the event and it was a bit of money for me.





Unfortunately, the weekend did not go without its fair share of problems. The main one being how I was going to get it home after its...um...remodeling:







I apexed 5a PERFECT and set up 6 great for 6a and the little left before the straight, and right after turn 6, I started to throttle down in 3rd gear. I was going wide open through 6a and the little left, and apparently either I hit a wet spot, hit the curbing/gator, dunno, but the ass end came around and I was wide open in third, I oversteered to see if I could correct but it came around wayyy to fast and I knew that I was along for the ride at that point, so I stuck both feet in and prayed that I didnt hit the guardrail.

Well as you can see that prayer went unanswered. I hit it with the front passenger side of the bumper first (as you can see by the missing chunk of bumper cover AND bumper, and my front NO TURNS plate is missing as well and thats apparently still at the track with the rest of the ####), and then that spun me even harder and I thwacked the rear bumper and cracked a taillight and put a nice scuff int he rear bumper cover.

The tally after the damage was two bent framerails in front of the shock towers, a trashed front bumper, front bumper support, radiator, hood, headlights, and both front fenders, as well as a scuffed rear bumper and a taillight lense. I called my dad up who went to his work and got a trailer and drove from Norfolk to Alton, VA and back and pretty much ruined his Sunday afternoon/night. Luckily, he got out most of his frustration on the first 3.5 hours driving out there and I was able to sleep instead of get yelled at for the 3.5 hour ride back

The following week I took the car to a frame shop to have it looked at to see if the car could be salvaged or if I needed to buy another shell to start swapping everything over to. Turns out it was, so I got the framerails straightened for dirt cheap, bought a Griffin 31"x19"x2.5" 2 core aluminum radiator to replace my busted stocker, and got a pair of fenders, a hood, and a front bumper also for dirt cheap. I re-used my old cheesegrater taillights that I took off earlier in my ownership, and decided to not mess with the bumper until I had the money for a new one. Since the car was down, I also decided to go ahead and put on the 2003 Cobra front control arms that I had purchased before the HPDE but was unable to install thanks to their 1.25" extra track per side and my lack of fender flares. Knowing about that lack, I also decided to invest in some Tiger Racing carbon/fiberglass fender flares to give me some room to play with in the future as well as right now.





After I got the car back buttoned up, I got a set of H&R Super Race springs for free from a friend of mine, and it made a WORLD of difference in the transition of the car. Amazing what twice the spring rate will do for you haha. Anyway, here are the most recent shots of the car, back in action where it belongs:





Car also just received a 130 amp Alternator, new battery, and new starter solenoid.

Next on the list of modifications are set of subframe connectors, aluminum steering rack bushings, and a possible carburated conversion.

[Chris951]

Are on OT? I saw that car on there like a year ago

[WhiteSSP]

I am. I havent been on there in a while though.

[Chris951]

Oh ok. I knew it looked familiar. I remember your thread about the whole build. Nice car man.

[flattusmaximus78]

Are u on svtperformance? I swear I've seen this car over there.

[WhiteSSP]

lol, I am on that as well. My car is posted all over the place haha.

[flattusmaximus78]

Sad story, but a good one. Movie worthy lol. I thought my wheel fallign off was a good thread but you got me me beat.

[black5.0]

That was Crazy man do you still have the cobra hood.

[Speedstang302]

idk if you've done these yet? but have you thought about caster camber plates? and also maybe a strut tower brace...also maybe a thicker sway bars...just keep at that suspension..nice work..

[WhiteSSP]

Originally Posted by black5.0 That was Crazy man do you still have the cobra hood.

Nope, sold that a month or two after I got the car.

Originally Posted by Speedstang302 idk if you've done these yet? but have you thought about caster camber plates? and also maybe a strut tower brace...also maybe a thicker sway bars...just keep at that suspension..nice work..

Caster Camber plates are on the car, but I do not have a STB or aftermarket swaybars yet. I still need to get subframe connectors, and then I'm going to be saving up for a roll bar and some harnesses.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by WhiteSSP I still need to get subframe connectors, and then I'm going to be saving up for a roll bar and some harnesses.

If the rear is stock other that control arms i think you should consider adding a panhard bar or watts link while doing the subframes. Ive been told that would make world of a difference for drive ability.

I love those BBS wheels. Did they fit without rubbing in front with stock control arms?

[BlackedOut04GT]

I want to get a foxbody mustang so that i can race to. Well, to only race with i should say. I had $3k drifting oops and that almost cost me my job. Thank god I still have my motorcycle but being on a bike for 35mins in the fall with rain and high winds on the high way in New England for 5 weeks sucks.

[black5.0]

Are u going to put those fender flares on the back too.

[notfastenuff]

That car looks sweet put it back together

[WhiteSSP]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox If the rear is stock other that control arms i think you should consider adding a panhard bar or watts link while doing the subframes. Ive been told that would make world of a difference for drive ability. I love those BBS wheels. Did they fit without rubbing in front with stock control arms?

Yeah the rear suspension is stock, I'd love to do a PHB at the same time but I dont have the money for now, and there are other things that need attention before that.

Yes, the BBS's fit just fine with the stock control arms. With the 03 Cobra arms, I wasnt able to get them under the front fenders with any less than 5 (five) degrees of negative camber. And trust me, I even took a pair of tin snips and a sledgehammer to the fenders, and it just would not work. If you look closely in some of my pictures of me on the track, you can see how damaged the fender lips were. I tried to roll them an hour before an autocross haha.

Originally Posted by black5.0 Are u going to put those fender flares on the back too.

Eventually. For right now, I dont need it. I can fit 275's comfortably all around on some farely low offset wheels. When I eventually have a full griggs or MM suspension and a built motor in the car, then I'll probably look at getting some 11 or 12" wide wheels all around with 315's or 335's at all 4 corners. Of course, that is depending on if I make this car an American Iron car or not.

[WhiteSSP]

Nothing major, but I bought a few goodies for the car yesterday.

Maximum Motorsports Full Length Subframe Connectors
Maximum Motorsports aluminum steering rack bushings
Maximum Motorsports swaybar endlinks for lowered cars
Maximum Motorsports swaybar bushings
Motul 600 Brake Fluid

Next up on the list is a rebuilt transmission, and a Maximum motorsports Panhard Bar, Torque Arm, and adjustable rear swaybar.

[mxnate116]

im lovin the car.

you might want to consider aluminum trans cross member bushings(if you dont have them) they dont make a huge difference but they stiffen up the chassis slightly and i actually noticed that shifting felt a little more solid. but that could just be my mind thinking that

[WhiteSSP]

Went to a buddies shop yesterday and got a couple of more free parts from his old C-prepared foxbody

Flaming River solid steering shaft
Maximum Motorsports K Member brace

I think I might be able to get this car back on track this year after all

[HMUSN]

You guys aren't required to tape off the lights while autocrossing?

[WhiteSSP]

Nope. I dont think I've ever seen anyone do that actually around here on any car.