2015 GT Premium build

[Mach01]

Just finished reading the copperhead build. Wow. I'm new to this forum unfortunately. Wish I'd seen this before, but I've made some progress anyway.

Started with:
2015 Mustang GT Premium
Black on Black
MT-82 6 speed manual
20" Foundary wheels w 265 35 ZR 20 Pirelli P Zero summer tires
3:55 lim slip
Nav
Back up assist

Initial rough plans were:
Tint
Sub/amp
Improve handling beyond PP
Upgrade exhaust

I'll post more this evening.

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[Mach01]

Summary of mods

Well, I'd like to show them here, but for some reason, I'm struggling - on the tablet, Mac and PC. Probably jpegs are too large but not sure. Anyway, here's the deal:

First mods:
- Tint 5% rear 3, 35% sides, 70% front. 90% satisfied with work.
- Magnaflow competition with X pipe. This is a CB custom made by West Coast Mufflers in Citrus Heights, CA. Recommended. Now running H pipe since this past weekend. Still undecided. They cut out the X and replaced with H and I can go back to the other eventually. I think the sound is clearly more aggressive with the H. Not sure about performance yet.
- Rockford Fosgate Punch amp and 12" sub/box in trunk. Work was done poorly. The installer moved a grommet to the side to run power cable to battery. I wouldn't have noticed but for a strut bolt that fell down under the battery box. Reluctantly allowed them to fix it.

Second round mods:
Steeda:
- Jacking rails
- Progressive springs
- Sway bars
- Sway bar billet mounts
- Whiteline trans insert
- Shifter mount
- Strut tower brace
- Extreme G K brace
- Rear IRS support braces
- IRS Alignment inserts (PITA)

My sons and I did the work, but for the alignment. My initial reaction was something along the lines of holy crap this car is incredible. My more thoughtful and studied reaction is something along the lines of holy crap this car is really incredible.

There were a lot of learning experiences in this effort. Number 1, I hadn't worked on a car in years. I was hurting. Getting used to it now. Number 2, or more like number 1 learning experience was the jack wouldn't fit under the car as I was getting started. Funny start I thought. I ended up using a combo of a trunk mount jack and my floor jack. Eventually picked up the low profile 3 ton jack from Harbor Freight. (Works great.) Also, the Dewalt 20V impact driver is pretty incredible. Sent it back to try the Makita. The 18V Makita wasn't close even with the 5A battery. Sent it back and re-ordered the Dewalt. Not an air impact but good enough!

Third round mods
(Sons and me)
Steeda:
- Vertical links (total PITA)
- Rear adjustable toe links

First alignment had partial success (i.e., front) and at the same time added:
- Continental DWR06 All Season (same size). Keeping Pirellis for summer

Second alignment (local Ford Dealer) was in spec but dealer recommended caster camber plates to address slight drift. Not sure what's involved in an alignment, but the Strut to Spindle bolts have been loosening up on me. I'm going to replace them again asap.

Fourth round mods:
(Again sons and my work)
- Figured may as well add shocks/struts to better match springs, picked up Ford Performance set from CJ Pony. Good move.
- Maximum Motorsports caster camber plates. Nice.
- Dealer paid again to align car. Once again, strut to spindle bolts were loose following alignment.
:ford:

So I'll be ordering the bolts again from CJ. Ford indicates these, strut tower bolts, rear shock bolts, are one time use.
:headbonk:

Warranty work: Clutch failed around 2600 miles, dealer replaced

Fifth round mods
Steeda:
Clutch fluid line
(bleeding was a PITA - there is a video describing using a mityvac on the master cylinder that worked for me, took me 8 cycles)

What's next?
MGW shifter on way. Plan to do it myself. I think that will be about it for awhile.

The car is great.

 

[David@Steeda]

Quite the build!

 

[Mach01]

Quite the build!

Thanks David. I'm extremely pleased with all we've done with Steeda. Exceptional service, components, engineering, instructions. All outstanding.

 

[Mach01]

MGW shifter received.

 

[Mach01]

When I brought car home..

Here is the first day home...
(Used free software called FastStone Photo Resizer so I could finally upload.)

 

[Mach01]

Tint added

Rear with tint..

 

[Mach01]

Lowered

At this point, the K brace, subframe support braces, springs and sway bars were installed:

 

[Mach01]

Some shots from down under

Rear

 

[Mach01]

Vertical links and adj toe links being installed

It was nearly 1 a.m. before we finished this one.

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