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GT500 Throttle Body Install on a 2010 Mustang GT 4.6L 3V

jmartin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:24:00 GMT

I recently purchased my first brand new car, a 2010 Mustang GT. Of Course working around here you get the itch to start modifying the day you bring it home. I began with a set of our SVE wheels and tires in 18X9 and 18X10 With 255's up front and 275's out back. We also installed a set of Eibach Pro-Kit lower springs (#EIB-35101) to bring her down a little bit. Next on the list was a Mustang JLT 110MM cold air intake kit, (#JLT-CAIFMG10) this kit along with a tune from JLT made a huge performance difference, but we weren't done yet.

We came across Blow-By Racing's GT500 throttle body adapter plate for the 2005-10 Ford Mustang 4.6L 3V. Most people would say, why in the world would you want to use a GT500 Throttle body vs. another performance brand such as the BBK? Well the answer to this question is simple, the GT500 will plug directly in to the existing wiring harness without having to change out the throttle position sensor and the throttle body motor from your original throttle body, thus keeping everything original and making it easy to put back to stock form if need be. Both the TPS and the throttle body motor are included with the new GT500 throttle body right out of the box.

Mustang 2005-10 Gt500 Throttle Body And Adapter Plate For 4.6L 3V - $319.99

A stock 05-09 Mustang GT 4.6L throttle body has a 52MM opening, with the GT500 you are given huge twin 60MM openings that will show a significant increase in throttle response and power in your Mustang. The GT500 throttle body is originally machined to fit the 2007-09 Shelby GT500 (duh!) so we had to have all of the throttle bodies mounting holes machined in order to match correctly with the adapter plate and most important your 4.6L 3V intake manifold. Don't worry we have tested all the kits to ensure they are perfectly machined and will install on your Mustang with no issues!

To start off with this install, unhook your negative battery cable.

The next step is to remove your factory intake manifold cover (if equipped). There are two nuts that must be removed from the front of throttle body studs and a fuel line harness clip must be removed from the driver's side of the intake cover. Next lift the rear of the intake cover up and slide it forwards to clear the throttle body mounting studs.

Once you intake cover is removed, it is best to remove your air intake system rather it be stock or after market such as my JLT. This allows easy movement in your work area.

Now you can begin removing the stock throttle body from the intake manifold. There are two studs on the top (same studs you intake cover slid over) that have two 8MM nuts attached to them, remove these. On the lower portion of the throttle body there are two 10MM nuts, these nuts come off leaving the studs inside the intake manifold.

You will need to use a pair of pliers to remove the studs from the intake manifold.

Once this is done, you can begin to install the new GT500 throttle body with the supplied hardware in our kit. All you need for this is a simple allen wrench. The bolts slide through the supplied centering sleeves and bolt directly to the intake manifold. Install all 4 sleeves and spacers with equal pressure applied to all. This will sandwich the spacer in-between the throttle body and intake manifold.

You will notice that the throttle body sticks out just a little farther than your original due to the spacer's thickness.

Once the throttle body and spacer have been installed, you can now re-install your air intake. If you are using an aftermarket intake such as my JLT, you will need to stretch your coupler over the new throttle body. This can be a little bit of a struggle and some boots such as in the BBK CAI kit will need to be replaced with the supplied silicone coupler that is included in the kit. I was lucky and my JLT coupler stretched over just fine. Now just simply tighten the supplied band clamp down and your existing cold air kit hardware.

Now that your air intake is re-installed, make sure to plug in all of your sensors and put your negative battery cable back on.

Now you may be wondering why I didn't mention reinstalling your factory intake cover. Once your install the new throttle body and spacer, your intake cover will not have the same ability to mount on the front of the throttle body. The mounting studs for this were removed and also your throttle body sticks out a little over 1/2 inch more than factory. Now, if you would like to reinstall the intake cover, you can simply trim the front of it to remove the mounting tabs and the excess plastic with a dremel tool or something similar. I chose not to perform this due to my still being under factory warranty and wanting to be able to put back completely stock under the hood if I needed to in the future. So keep this in mind before you trim your intake cover as well.

Here is the finished product without the engine cover installed, and a little more dirt under the hood than usual.

Now some people have stated that you need a custom tune in order to change the throttle body on your 2005-10 Mustang GT. Well I was also curious of this matter and once I installed the new GT500 throttle body I let the car idle for several minutes to see if the check engine light would come on. To my surprise it never did. I have now been driving the car daily for almost a month and have still not seen the check engine light. I think that pretty well says that no tune is needed for our GT500 TB kit. Please be aware that if your car is heavily modified chances are you probably already have a custom tune and it may need some adjustment to use this new throttle body setup.

In conclusion this is a great kit for the money and the performance gains are like nothing I would have ever expected from a throttle body swap. If you're looking for a great mod that will give you awesome throttle response, performance and an overall easy installation our GT500 Throttle body Kit is the way to go.

All I Can Say is Wow!

redfiresvt — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:41:00 GMT

When Carroll told me about the Mustang he was restoring I had no idea just how steep the hill was that he had to climb. This '89 GT convertible had weeds growing up thru the dash and interior but obviously Carroll was up to the task of restoring this beauty. He completely striped the car, pulled the carpet, door panels, dash, seats, and cleaned every inch of the interior. Fortunately there was no rust anywhere to be found so with a solid frame to work with he knew it could be brought back from the dead. With the body passing the test the next step was to see if the engine was on life support or just waiting to be woken up. According to Carroll the car was last started in 2003 so a new fuel system was in order as well as new electrical parts. Then came the compression test and all cylinders came back in good shape so the foundation for the project was great.

2011 Mustang GT 5.0 Upgraded with RAM Force 9.5" Street Dual Disc Clutch Kit

scott s — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:23:00 GMT

Well, we're finally back in business.

My factory clutch started acting up just a few weeks ago. The factory clutch starting releasing very close to the floor, making gear changes very difficult.

I took the car in to my local Ford dealer, who proceeded to remove the clutch for inspection.

The results were startling. Somehow, three of the pressure plate bolts wiggled themselves loose, causing the pressure plate to sit unevenly, preventing proper disengagement of the clutch. As a result, the dowel pins that locate the pressure plate to the coyote's flywheel sheared off.

The factory clutch and pressure plate appeared to be in good condition. The technician could have simply replaced the dowel pins and bolts, but I decided to step it up.

I don't want to log any more walking miles because of problems with the factory clutch. Although the factory clutch is adequate for daily usage and thousands of miles of smooth service, I drive my car harder than most, and I don't want to lose sleep wondering if the factory clutch is up to the task of my "spirited" driving. I opted to have a newly released RAM dual disk clutch, pressure plate, and aluminum flywheel installed.

RAM's 9.5" street dual disk offers the performance and durability of aggressive single-disc setups without sacrificing driveability. RAM's dual disc uses 2 clutch disks to increase clamping force, instead of aggressive materials. Aggressive single disc setups typically cause an abrupt and choppy release, making daily driveability less than satisfying. The dual disc from RAM is said to hold as well as the most aggressive of single disk clutches, without the chatter.

Special attention is payed to the clutch assembly's total weight. At about 37 pounds, road racers will benefit from about a 5 pound weight reduction over the stock clutch and flywheel. This reduced weight will allow quicker revving for improved power on corner exits. That 37 pound weight, though, maintains the needed overall weight in the clutch assembly to maintain inertia and improve low-rpm driveability.

RAM's street dual disc is a direct bolt in. Complete instructions are included to retrofit the dual-disc to your car using your factory hydraulic release system. There's no need for expensive, adjustable throw out bearings to install RAM's dual setup.

The aluminum flywheel that's included with the street dual disc is a work of art. The SFI approve flywheel is manufactured in-house at RAM to exacting standards. Friction surfaces are precision ground for flatness, zero runout, and surface finish for friction material compatibility.

The RAM street dual disc includes an sfi-approved aluminum flywheel, dual clutch disks, strap-driven floater plate, pressure plate, and all necessary hardware.

At $949.99, the 2011 Mustang 5.0L Ram Force 9.5" street Dual Disc Clutch kit isn't cheap, but, when compared to custom single disc clutches with comparable holding power, the dual disc's price point is in line, and it offers driveability unsurpassed by conventional single-disc performance clutches.

I've only driven the car for about 50 miles since the clutch install, but I already notice a firmer, more positive pedal feel and the clutch releases higher, allowing quicker shifts. The RAM releases slightly quicker than the factory clutch, requiring a slightly different feel, but it's certainly a comfortable and smooth clutch, considering it's holding capability.

2011 Mustang 5.0L Ram Force 9.5" Dual Disc Clutch Kit - $949.99

Ford Racing 2011 5.0L Mustang GT Supercharger Kits on the way!

jmac — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:29:00 GMT

Found on www.mustangsdaily.com news blog.

Ford Racing officially announces new supercharger system for the 2011 Mustang 5.0 with up to 624 horsepower!

Ford Racing has announced today the availability of a new, 2.3L twin-screw supercharger for the 2011 Mustang. When mated to the all-new 5.0L 4V TiVCT V8 engine, this 50-state-legal powertrain, can produce 624 hp SAE @ 6900 rpm and 536 lb-ft SAE @ 4700 rpm. This is the first Twin-screw unit available to consumers.

The new supercharger is Ford Racing’s first power upgrade component for the new 5.0 engine. It was developed by Ford Racing engineers, in close collaboration with Ford Motor Company’s powertrain engineers, Team Mustang, and select Tier 1 suppliers. The supercharger is being seen for the first time Saturday at the annual Woodward Dream Cruise in Ford’s Mustang Alley display.

“Superchargers are the ultimate in power upgrades for Mustang enthusiasts,” says George Goddu, Ford Racing Performance Group Manager. “However, calibration for a modern V8 engine, especially one with twin-independent variable cam timing, is incredibly complex. Production calibration for the 5.0 engine took 19 months. And we had that knowledge base to work from.

“In fact we had the whole engineering background of the engine right from initial concept,” Goddu added. “Without that extensive knowledge, calibration for a supercharger would be a long, difficult, hit-or-miss operation. It would be almost impossible to do optimum calibration, that results in great power, along with drivability and durability.”

“After more than 100 hours of accelerated durability testing, the entire Ford Racing package performed flawlessly” reports Dev Saberwal, Ford Racing’s lead calibration engineer, “Ford Racing performance parts are subjected to extensive testing to ensure optimum performance across a broad range of conditions.”

This supercharger comes as a complete package, and it’s available in three levels: a 525 hp kit with a 12/12 warranty; a 624 hp kit and a tuner kit for racing and extreme enthusiasts. Each of these impressive kits gives 2011 Mustang owners the opportunity to boost the performance of their cars to new levels.

Ford Racing Performance Parts offers a large selection of performance products from complete race cars to injectors. For Mustang enthusiasts Ford Racing’s catalog of performance upgrades offers a range of enhancements for the 2011 Mustang as well as a wide range of power, chassis-system and appearance upgrades for 2010, 2005-2009 and earlier Mustangs.

The Ford Racing Supercharger 525hp Kit (M-6066-MGT525D) includes:

2.3L twin-screw supercharger assembly
Intake manifold
Complete air-to-liquid intercooler system
- Drive belt
- 47 lb./hr., high-impedance fuel injectors (M-9593-LU47)
- Ford Racing ProCal tool with performance calibration
- 12 month /12,000 mile warranty (when installed by a Ford or Lincoln dealer)
- Produces 525 SAE hp @ 6400 rpm and 470 SAE lb.-ft. @ 4200 rpm, at approximately 7 psi of boost with 93 octane fuel
- MSRP $7,199.00 (black) and $7,799.00 (polished chrome)

The Ford Racing Supercharger 624hp Kit (M-6066-MGT624D) includes:

2.3L twin-screw supercharger assembly
- Intake manifold
- Complete air-to-liquid intercooler system
- Drive belt
- 47 lb./hr., high-impedance fuel injectors (M-9593-LU47)
- Ford Racing ProCal tool with performance calibration
- Produces 624 SAE hp @ 6900 rpm and 536 SAE lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm, at approximately 9 psi of boost with 93 octane fuel
- MSRP $7,499.00 (black) and $8,099.00 (polished chrome)

The Ford Racing Supercharger Tuner Kit (M-6066-MGT23TD) includes:

2.3L twin-screw supercharger assembly
Intake manifold
Complete air-to-liquid intercooler system
Drive belt
47 lb./hr., high-impedance fuel injectors (M-9593-LU47)
MSRP $6,499.00 (black) and $7,099.00 (polished chrome)

2005-2011 Mustang RTR Wheels "Ready to Rock"

edavis — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:25:00 GMT

Well the wait is over, Latemodel Restoration Supply is now offering the new Mustang RTR wheel also known as the Ready to Rock Mustang wheel. These wheels look really great on 2005-09 Mustang V6 and Mustang GT as well as 2010-2011 Mustang V6 and Mustang GT! The awesome wheel also clears the Brembo Brake rotors for your 2007-2011 Mustang SVT Cobra Shelby GT500! This LRS wheel and tire combo features RTR wheels and Nitto 555 tires!

Here are the specs on the RTR Mustang wheel

-19x9.5" in size.

- 33mm Offset

- 6.5" Backspacing

- Cast Aluminum Powdercoated in Matte Charcoal

- "RTR" Center Caps included

Our RTR Mustang wheel and tire kit for your 2005-11 Mustang GT, V6, or GT500 includes (4) RTR Mustang wheels powdercoated Matte charcoal, Along with (4) 275/35/19 Nitto NT555's Mounted and Balanced ready to rock!

We will get some pictures of them mounted up on a 2011 Mustang as soon as possible.

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/RTR-198360001

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/WTK-198360001

Tax Break for Texas!

btaylor — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:30:00 GMT

Since Latemodel Restoration Supply is located in central Texas, we always hear from our customers about how great our service is, and how fast our shipping is to the Lone Star State! Shipping is to Texas is next-day in most cases! This blog, however, is not about shipping. This time, it's about taxes. Everyone feels that they are Taxed Enough Already, and unfortunately our Texas customers incur the extra burden of state sales tax on their purchases from us.

Every fall, the state of Texas has a Tax Free Weekend where purchases of school supplies and clothing all across the state are not charged sales tax. Now, obviously, wheel and tire packages or headlights are not school supplies, but students may need those for safety just as well as a sporty new backpack, right? So in honor of the Texas Tax Free Weekend, LRS will be offering a discount to offset the tax if you live in Texas. This LRS "Tax Break" will run from August 19-September 6th.

Texans, Enjoy your "Tax Break" by shopping on latemodelrestoration.com! Just add this "part" to your cart!

Details: We have to charge tax to all Texas residents, it's the law. So, Texas customers that purchase during the promotional period WILL see a charge for sales tax on their invoice. We'll be offsetting the sales tax by applying an LRS discount to the pre-tax parts and shipping total. This LRS discount will be equivalent to the tax that would have been charged on the un-discounted order total. The purchase, for all practical purposes, is "Tax Free".

1987-1993 Mustang Ignition Lock Cylinder Installation

j.johnston — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:33:00 GMT

Installing a 1987-1993 Mustang ignition lock cylinder is easy...99% of the time. If you can get the key in the ignition all you have to do is push the pin located on the underside of the cylinder, turn the key to the accessory position and slide the lock cylinder out. Here is a picture of the pin that needs to be depressed.

My situation was different of course. The pins inside had fallen while in the lock position and would not allow me to insert the key far enough to turn the ignition. Here is how to get the ignition cylinder lock out when you can't get your key in. It may look difficult but if I can do it you can too just take your time and be careful.

The tools needed: Phillip's head screwdriver, 8mm socket, 1/4 " drill bit, a punch or chisel, hammer, needle nose pliers, and a drill.

The first thing to do is disconnect the battery. Mine is located in the trunk by way of our relocation kit .

Having never encountered this problem I drilled out the small pin in the picture using a 1/8" drill bit. This step seems unnecessary now but you learn as you go. You may be able to press this pin in once the next steps are completed.

Remove the column cover. There are two one on either side. My car is a 1993 and you can still get the upper column cover new the lower must be found used at this time

Next, remove the knee bolster cover there are three screws holding it in place remove these and pop it off

Remove the knee bolster, two screws one on each end at the top.

Disconnect the wire leading from the lock cylinder here.

Now the fun part take your 1/4" drill bit and drill down the center of the lock to a depth of 1 1/2" I marked the bit with tape to ensure i did not go further.

after drilling...

Take your hammer and chisel, give a few good whacks and it should pop out.

leaving this...

take your needle nose pliers, grab this piece in the center, turn it to the correct location and pull it out. I had to shake the steering back and forth a little but it popped right out. Now put in the new ignition lock cylinder in and reverse the process and your done....Oh after you vacuum up all the metal shavings.

Ford Racing F150 Lightning Lowering Kit

Lee — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:13:00 GMT

The Ford F150 Lightning already comes lowered from the factory, but I felt my Lightning needed to come down just a little bit more. Ford Racing offers a 1" drop kit to provide a mild drop that will give you better handling, better looks, and doesn't affect your ability to tow.

The M3000L Drop Kit consists of front coil springs and rear drop shackles to drop your 1999,2000,2001,2002,2003, and 2004 Lightning.

Here is how the stance looked before the drop kit.

Here are a couple of after shots.

To see all Ford Lightning lowering kits and more follow this link to see everything Latemodel Restoration Supply offers for these unique trucks!

F150 Lightning Parts at LRS

2011 Mustang GT 5.0 Clutch Problem

scott s — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:56:00 GMT

Well, we're down for the count. My 2011 Mustang GT 5.0's clutch is cashed after 1500 miles. I haven't been easy on it, to say the least. If you've been looking for new blogs on the car, they're coming, but I've got to get it back from the dealer first.

Others have experienced similar troubles. A few 2011 5.0 owners have seen their clutch pedal "sticking" to the floor at higher RPM's. Most have named the 5.0's revise clutch pedal assembly as the culprit. Mine is releasing on the floor, making it nearly impossible to get the car in gear. I can pump the clutch and it seems to improve, but it's not right.

I could figure it out myself, but, since the car is under warranty, I'm trusting in my local Ford dealer to fix it. I will let you know how it plays out.

For now, I'm stuck without my new car for a few days, but when I get it back, I'll report on the Steeda cold air kit I installed just before the clutch conundrum.

Stay tuned!

Win a FREE 2011 5.0L Crate Motor - NO PURCHASE REQUIRED!

btaylor — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 13:33:00 GMT

The 2011 crate motor contest sign up ended September 1st, 2010. The winner will be announced November 1st, 2010. Good luck!

Latemodel Restoration Supply had a simple idea, to give away a new 2011 5.0L Ford Racing crate motor based on entries into an existing Ford Racing promotion for a Crew T-Shirt. Although the Exclusive Ford Racing shirt was cool we thought it would be better to kick it up a notch and include a Ford Racing Motor as a way to promote Ford Racing and Latemodel Restoration Supply. Well, we have decided to not limit the contest to only the Ford Racing T-Shirt offer participants, but to to offer this awesome opportunity to everyone that can fill out a simple online form. Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell everyone in the Mustang community that Latemodel Restoration Supply is giving away newly released 2011 5.0L crate motor absolutely FREE, no questions asked!

Sign up for the 2011 Mustang 5.0 create engine here!!

Since there is no purchase required, YOU may be the one rolling in your new 5.0 (at least the motor, anyways) on us!

2011 Mustang Ford Racing 5.0L Crate Engine - #M6007M50 - $6,199.99

Here are the details:

Simply fill out the online form requesting basic contact information and you are entered! All names will be entered into a database, along with the people that submitted their Ford Racing T-shirt submissions, and ONE lucky winner will win a 2011 5.0L Crate Motor from Ford Racing.

Offer applies to US 48 continental states only. Contest ends September 1, 2010. If you are submitting a Ford Racing T-Shirt Claim form, they must be received by Ford Racing by September 30, 2010. Offer is limited to one submission per household. Once ALL T-shirt forms are submitted and verified by Ford Racing, Latemodel Restoration Supply will add those to the database from the FREE online form and from all submissions, choose one lucky winner for the 2011 5.0L Crate motor. The winner will be announced November 1st. Those of you that have entered your submission for a T-shirt prior to this offer will also be entered in the drawing! The 2011 5.0L Crate motor will be delivered by January 31, 2011. Now, this is just the engine, you’ll have to do the rest of the work yourself! Engine does not include electronics, fuel system, transmission, car, well, you get the idea.

Good luck everyone!!

Those of you who purchased Ford Racing Performance Parts from us, totaling $295 or more, between the dates of Thursday, August 5th, 2010, and Friday, August 6th, 2010, please contact Brad Taylor at 254-296-6530.

2011 5.0L Mustang Vortech Supercharger nearing completion!

jmac — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:55:00 GMT

Vortech released a few pics yesterday of their new V-3 Si-Trim Supercharger for the already awesome 2011 Mustang GT 5.0L. Kit details, & more imoprtantly power #s, coming very soon!

All we know for now is that the kit uses the self-contained V-3 Si-trim head unit, features a charge air cooler, & the massive inlet pipe will accept either the stock airbox or a standard 4" necked conical filter.

The following info courtesy of Brian Ellis & the Vortech Superchargers Blog

2011 5.0L Mustang GT Supercharging Systems…NOW WITH PICS!!!

Posted on August 2, 2010 by Brian@Vortech

Vortech V-3 Si-Trim Supercharging System with Air-To-Air Charge Cooler. Commence drooling now…

More information to come. Stay tuned.

1999-2004 Ford Lightning OEM Style Replacement Leather & Suede Seat Upholstery - LRS EXCLUSIVE!

scott s — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:50:00 GMT

If you own a 1999-04 Ford SVT Lightning that gets driven, you're starting to see wear on your precious leather and suede upholstery. The two-tone gray and black leather and suede 60/40 seat is one of the options that makes your Lightning's interior unique and comfortable.

Until now! Lightning owners with worn-out, burned or stained factory seats had to resort to expensive interior shops or wrecking yards to replace their seat. Finally, there is an affordable, OEM quality replacement available from Latemodel Restoration Supply.

Latemodel Restoration Supply's replacement, leather and suede seat upholstery for the 1999-04 Ford Lightning is just like the original. The upholstery features the same leather insert pattern, suede trim, and embroidered SVT logo as the original. As an added bonus, our Lightning upholstery kits are available in both a factory-like grey suede/black leather scheme, and full black suede/black leather for a more custom interior option!

The upholstery is easy to replace. Factory-style fasteners attach the seat covers to your original seats and foam. There is no need for sewing or cutting, making replacement of your original upholstery practical for the do-it-yourselfer. Like all of our upholstery, the Lightning replacement seat upholstery is covered under a 2-year warranty. These kits include the seat covers and console material only, they do not include seat assemblies, foam, plastic trim, or seat brackets.

If you would like to purchase one of Latemodel Restoration Supply's 1999-04 Ford Lightning replacement seat upholstery kits, you can find them here:

1999-04 Ford Lightning Seat Upholstery Set - Grey/Black $629.99

1999-04 Ford Lightning Seat Upholstery Set - Black/Black $699.99

1999-2004 Ford Lightning Headlight Install

Lee — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:29:00 GMT

The '99 Lightning I just picked up was in major need of a restoration. New headlights are always a great way to brighten up the front end of a vehicle. I opted to go with the 2001-2004 style Lightning headlights and think it gives the truck a more updated look compared to the factory lights that were on the 1999 and 2000 model Lightnings.

Here's a quick before shot.

First you'll want to start off by popping the hood.

To get the headlight out there are two retaining clips that hold it on. You'll need to pull straight up to release them. Disconnect the headlight bulb and the headlight will come straight out.

Next to get the sidemarker out you will need to get a torx bit to remove the torx screw. Remove that screw and unplug the sidemarker bulb and the sidemarker will pop out.

The new sidemarker will include a threaded speed washer already installed that accepts the factory torx screw.

Installation is the reverse of removal. You'll have to set the adjusters similar to what your factory lights were at. Plug your bulbs back in and get the retaining clips back into position and your done! Stand back and take a look at your new headlights!

Keep checking back for more updates on the restoration of my 1999 Ford Lightning!

Ford Lightning. Hay Hauler or Corner Carver?

Karson — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:40:00 GMT

With the lighting resto line soon to be released, I thought it was fitting to blog my recent experience with these awesome trucks. First off, I am not a truck person. I have owned countless Mustangs, and various other sports cars but as an only vehicle, I just could not be satisfied with a truck. I want a toy of some kind in my garage at all times. Now that marriage and home ownership are part of my life, the honey do's and house related chores soon had me realizing I could no longer go without a truck. I decided I needed to do something when I found myself loading grass seed and mulch in the back of my mach 1 at the local nursery!

Scott Springer just so happened to have this 99 lightning for sale and I had been eyeballing it. It had some tasteful bolt on's that made it very quick from what I was told, and the stance it had and interior refinement had my attention, so I decided to take it for a test drive. Man was I impressed! This 4700lb brick feels as quick as my mid 12 second mach! The whine of the eaton blower and seeing that boost gauge jump to nearly 15lbs of boost had me hooked. Next thing I know, I am trading off my mach for this truck.

My initial impressions with the truck were quite surprising. With its suspension and brakes, its a blast to drive and handles super well for what it is. I caught myself forgetting I was driving a truck. The suede seats hold you in place and are so comfortable its like sitting on your couch at home. My wife, who thought I was nuts for getting a truck, soon fell in love with how comfortable it was and thought it was a great idea. For the next few weeks, I found myself looking forward to the drive to work and running errands and such, in a pickup truck!

When I bought this truck from Scott, several of us up here at LRS had already planned prior to make the trip to Hallett Raceway and do some road course racing and have a bit of a vacation. When I signed up for this, I had my mach 1 which was setup and ready to go fly around the track, but now I have this pickup. The initial thought of the trip now had me a bit nervous because the laws of physics just didn't compute with me and I couldn't see how this was going to be a positive experience for me.

After several previous lightning owners up here at LRS built my confidence up, I decided I was going to test this truck out and see just how practical it could be both for work and for play. Justin in research had recently bought his 2010 GT mustang, and he and I decided to trailer his car up there behind my lightning. The day before we left for Tulsa, we loaded up the car on the trailer, headed to the store for some supplies, and proceeded to load the bed of the truck full of our gear. I was surprised at how well its stance was holding all of the load. We caught alot of lookers with a red 2010 on the trailer decal'd and numbered up. The funny part was seeing the truck was decal'd and numbered up too!

Once we all met up at are designated meeting spot, we were off to Tulsa OK. I was anxious to see how the truck did since it's been modified and and also because this was nearly a 500 mile drive with lots of elevation changes and and up and down hill jaunts. Not only did it pull the load all the way there, it didn't even break a sweat! When we would hit a hill, It would stay in overdrive and the boost gauge would slowly creep to about 5psi or so, and pull us like a freight train right over the hill. Once over the hill, the stock brakes were more than adequate to bring the load to a screeching halt which surprised me since the trailer controller I had wasn't working and the trailer brakes were not functioning. I was more than impressed with my hay hauler at this point but this was just one step in my test!

Once we arrived after surviving a torrential downpour, we unloaded and setup everything, got some rest and set out the following morning for some road course fun. When I set out for my first session, I was a bit soft with it at first since I wasn't sure what it was capable of. Again, this physics thing was playing mind games with me! I was afraid of the rear end coming out from behind me since its a truck and theoretically, that is the lightest part of the truck. Boy was I wrong! Not only did it stick like glue thanks to the Nitto555 tires we sell, It actually plowed a bit if you pushed it too hard. It was extremely predictable and very stable given the fact its a truck with a high center of gravity. After a few laps The truck and I were getting along quite well and I was yet again, very surprised. I caught quite a bit of attention racing a truck among mustangs, and many gt500's were on the track as well and I was able to catch up to and could have passed a few of them in certain areas of the track. The relatively stock ones were not pulling on me at all in the straights. Heres some pictures of the fun:

After the event was over, and the dust had settled, we packed up and headed back home. The drive home went just as smoothly as the trip going up there did. It seems like everything I threw at this truck it laughed and performed it flawlessly. I am really impressed with Ford and SVT for the homework and effort they put into these trucks and am excited we are going to be tailoring to the restoration and maintenance of these vehicles. Its definitely one of those vehicles where you can have your cake and eat it too.

2011 Mustang GT 5.0 Flowmaster Hushpower Axle-Back Exhaust Install

scott s — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:57:00 GMT

Back when the 1987-93 5.0 Mustangs were ruling the streets, if you weren't running Flowmasters, you weren't cool. 2 chamber "Flows" with an offroad h-pipe or x-pipe produced the sound that inspired 5.0 owners and put fear in hearts of those driving an anemic TPI Camaro.

It's only fitting that Flowmaster offer axle-back kits for the new 2011 5.0.

I had the rare opportunity to install one of the first Flowmaster axlebacks on my 2011 GT 5.0. In addition to the legendary American Thunder axleback system for the 2011 5.0, Flowmaster offers the Hushpower axleback system. The Hushpower is a lightweight, compact muffler that offers a deep, rich tone with minimal interior noise and drone (you know, that 2000rpm drone that's was a complaint in past Flowmaster systems). The exterior sound is mellow and muscular. Missing is the pickup-truck pop apparent in so many aftermarket mufflers.

Installation is a snap. Fit is OEM quality, and no cutting or welding of your factory exhaust system is required. In addition to the sound and power produced by the Hushpower system, is the added benefit of reduced weight. The factory axle back weighs in at 42 pounds. The Hushpower mufflers weigh only 24 pounds. That's an astonishing 18 pound weight savings!

4" stainless rolled tips with the Flowmaster logo round out the great looking and sounding system.

Follow along as I install the 2011 Mustang GT Hushpower axleback on my 5.0, and check out the video. This is simply the best-sounding system for the 2011 Mustang that I've heard to date. For you V6 owners, Flowmaster offers the force 2 axle back for the 2011 Mustang 3.7 V6 as well. For about $400, and a few minutes of your time, you can get the signature Flowmaster sound for your new Mustang. The Camaro and Challenger guys won't love you for it!

Installing an axle back on a 2011 Mustang GT is a breeze. There is a ball and socket connector at the front, secured by one clamp with a 13mm bolt. The muffler hangs by three steel rod hangers in insulated mounts.

I found that releasing the hanger from the rear insulated mount, and removing the clamp from the ball and socket flange allowed me to slide the muffler forward and off of its front hangers.

The Flowmaster axleback re-uses the front clamp for the ball-and-socket connection. The clamp is secured to the factory axle back by a thin metal strap that has to be cut off. We used a cut off wheel to cut the strap and remove the clamp.

Re-installation of the axle back simply consists of sliding the two front hangers in their mounts, re-connecting the ball and socket flange, then sliding the rear hanger in its insulator.

The final installation step is to have a buddy center the tip in the rear valance while you tighten the clamp for the ball and socket connector.

When you're done, your Flowmaster hushpower axleback should look and sound like this:

If you would like a set for your 2011 you can find them here.

2011 Mustang Gt 5.0L Flowmaster American Thunder Axle-Back Exhaust System - $374.99

2011 Mustang Gt 5.0L Flowmaster Hushpower Axle-Back Exhaust System - $434.99

2011 Mustang 3.7L V6 Flowmaster Force 2 Axle-Back Exhaust System - $449.99