1st Mods on 2020 GT500

[kilobravo]

HS, 16! Those are some EXPENSIVE CAPS!

 

[kilobravo]

How would actual paint on the aero hold up?

Short of sandblasting them, multiple coats of vinyl-specific primer, MAYBE Steve but I think in short order, the paint would begin to flake off.

 

[16Kobra]

HS, 16! Those are some EXPENSIVE CAPS!

yes they are but in my opinion, worth the money. But, thats me.

 

[kilobravo]

Happen to have a closeup of one of them on the motor? Man, they must be somethin'.

 

[16Kobra]

Happen to have a closeup of one of them on the motor? Man, they must be somethin'.

If you are talking to me, I dont but will take some tonight an post up in the morning

 

[kilobravo]

Yep, photo(s) of one or more of the high-dollar caps, please. :-)

 

[kilobravo]

This was the best I could get from the vendor's site: (they ARE cool, for sure and that reminds me, gotta get rid of that OEM main coolant tank.)

 

[Strokerswild]

A not so great shot of the caps I've got on my '15.....

The ones I had on my '07 GT500 were like the ones in KB's post above, but the lettering was GT500 specific. They're quality parts, which the price reflects.

 

[kilobravo]

Thanks, Dave and even from the poor shot on their site along with your better one, it's clear they're high quality.

However, unlike the versions you had for your '07, these appear to only say, "SHELBY" with no mention of "GT 500." Obviously, I'd prefer the extra type.

 

[marklboris]

Have done quite a few mods to the car this last week but only have time to post one right now. I have had several PM's about the front camera on my car and thought I would post some photos. I was delaying this because at the same time was testing a Tesla style radio and trying to get some of the bugs worked out which I did except for two. In the end, I returned to the stock radio set up.

Just wanted to say, I really liked how the Tesla 11 inch screen looked in the car. Really updated the dash. The HVAC controls worked perfectly and so did the bluetooth and all the steering wheel functions. The issue was there was, the only way to view the front camera was going through the menu system and I did not want that. I wanted the front camera to come on after I take it out of reverse for a pre determined amount of time and also wanted a physical button to push so I can activate it instantly at any time. The other issue was when using Apple CarPlay OR Android Auto, during a call, the people on the other end have not only a really bad echo but it is delayed. I talked with Phoenix Radio and we went back and forth trying different things and could never get it to work properly. I like the fact the Apple CarPlay was wireless and did not have to plug in my phone each time I got in the car and it connected in about 20 seconds. I just like all things to work properly and they almost did but not good enough for me. By the way, the stereo sounded very good. Less mid bass and cleaner high end but I can get that same sound by adjusting the stock B&O system. I am not going to get into the stereo upgrades yet as I have not completely decided what to do. Have too many other things going on.

Ok, so back to the front camera. I did not want to remove the front bumper cover just to install a camera. I knew I could figure out an easier way. I bought this camera: https://www.amazon.com/NATIKA-Backup-Camera-Waterproof-Reverse/dp/B07H852D49 and mounted it to a 1/8" piece of aluminum. I drilled a 1/2" hole up under that black bumper area so that when I mounted the aluminum plate, the nut that secures the camera to the plate would fit up in the hole. I then screwed the plate to the bumper. Sure it might look a bit better if I had removed the bumper cover and mounted it like it was supposed to be mounted but there are also issues with that. Say you want to change the camera out or you want to angle the camera differently. You could not do it unless you take the bumper cover off. This way I can easily change it out or change the angle.

As far as getting the wire from the camera to the inside, that was not hard at all. Shoved the wire into that hole I made and then made a hook at the end of a 3 foot piece of romex wire and from up above, when down through a hole in the side of the radiator opening and pulled the wire up. Ran it along the right fender by the fuse box, down below the battery and in the firewall with the power wire I ran for the sub amp. You have to take off the right front tire and remove part of the inner fender liner to easily get to all of this but it isn't hard at all.

I bought this unit to get the camera to work with the OEM radio the way I wanted: https://naviks.com/i-24076613-2016-...dmi-video-interface.html?ref=category:1137501 Now, I am sure I will hear many say that here is no way they are spending that much to get a front camera to work. As of right now in talking to several manufactures, there is nothing that allows you to push a mapped button on a 2020 GT500 steering wheel to get the camera to display on the OEM display. The wheel buttons for the GT500 are mapped differently than the earlier Mustangs. You can easily add your own screen somewhere but I didn't want that look. The unit I got does way more than just add a front camera. It has an HDMI input so you can mirror your phone on the display, has a USB port in case you need more than two, has 4 composite video inputs to add side cameras as well as front and rear (does work with OEM rear camera). It also has a lot of controls and options. Two of them were exactly what I wanted. One, I can have the front camera come on after shifting out of reverse from 1-30 seconds (have mine set to 10) and two, I installed a dedicated physical button to activate the camera instantly. The button I installed is a momentary. A light push turns on the camera, another light push turns it off. Even thought Naviks says it can be mapped to a steering wheel button, at this time it cannot.

I mounted the momentary button just in front of the electric parking brake control. The photo showing the front camera view actually looks much better in person and is much higher quality than the OEM rear camera. You can see the parking lines in the photo and I have the red lines actually touching the front of the spoiler. The Yellow lines are 6 inches away and the blue lines are a foot away. This is how I wanted it. Even though in the photos it may look like the camera is easily visible, it really isn't. I am 5' 9" and I have to be 10 feet back from the car before I barely see the camera.

 

[Strokerswild]

Thanks, Dave and even from the poor shot on their site along with your better one, it's clear they're high quality.

However, unlike the versions you had for your '07, these appear to only say, "SHELBY" with no mention of "GT 500." Obviously, I'd prefer the extra type.

Yes, I believe the ones that said GT500 on them were discontinued quite a few years ago. Not sure why, I suppose demand wasn't there anymore. I'm fairly certain I bought them from Shelby, IIRC. Most of the engraving on them was blue (and some red depending on the cover), I don't seem to have a pic of the engine bay from my '07....

 

[16Kobra]

Thanks, Dave and even from the poor shot on their site along with your better one, it's clear they're high quality.

However, unlike the versions you had for your '07, these appear to only say, "SHELBY" with no mention of "GT 500." Obviously, I'd prefer the extra type.

I have the Shelby caps on my 2007 also and they are quality but they only say Shelby. The caps on my GT350 are similiar to the 500 caps but they also only say Shelby.

I could not find caps at the time that had Shelby GT350.

 

[kilobravo]

Thanks for the info on the caps, guys.

Mark: Every post blows me away! (and I want the lens you have on your SLR!) <smile> Man, that's a great shot and should be your avatar. <grin>

And OMG, that NAVIKS unit is to die for, dude..now, if only it was wireless. Too much bandwidth for Bluetooth I'm thinkin'. Still, to mirror the phone is WAY KEWELL! Movies WHENEVER.

Then, there's the coolest of all, the camera and the instant button! I thought the sub control was superb but this one tops even that. NICE JOB, (as always.)

I have an old buddy in Phoenix...40+ year ham radio fanatatic, who might be on your level. His "installs," regardless of the subject matter, are always, as he puts it, "sano." Yours most definitely are as well.

Impressive to say the least, Mark.

 

[2020GT500]

Have done quite a few mods to the car this last week but only have time to post one right now. I have had several PM's about the front camera on my car and thought I would post some photos. I was delaying this because at the same time was testing a Tesla style radio and trying to get some of the bugs worked out which I did except for two. In the end, I returned to the stock radio set up.

Just wanted to say, I really liked how the Tesla 11 inch screen looked in the car. Really updated the dash. The HVAC controls worked perfectly and so did the bluetooth and all the steering wheel functions. The issue was there was, the only way to view the front camera was going through the menu system and I did not want that. I wanted the front camera to come on after I take it out of reverse for a pre determined amount of time and also wanted a physical button to push so I can activate it instantly at any time. The other issue was when using Apple CarPlay OR Android Auto, during a call, the people on the other end have not only a really bad echo but it is delayed. I talked with Phoenix Radio and we went back and forth trying different things and could never get it to work properly. I like the fact the Apple CarPlay was wireless and did not have to plug in my phone each time I got in the car and it connected in about 20 seconds. I just like all things to work properly and they almost did but not good enough for me. By the way, the stereo sounded very good. Less mid bass and cleaner high end but I can get that same sound by adjusting the stock B&O system. I am not going to get into the stereo upgrades yet as I have not completely decided what to do. Have too many other things going on.

Ok, so back to the front camera. I did not want to remove the front bumper cover just to install a camera. I knew I could figure out an easier way. I bought this camera: https://www.amazon.com/NATIKA-Backup-Camera-Waterproof-Reverse/dp/B07H852D49 and mounted it to a 1/8" piece of aluminum. I drilled a 1/2" hole up under that black bumper area so that when I mounted the aluminum plate, the nut that secures the camera to the plate would fit up in the hole. I then screwed the plate to the bumper. Sure it might look a bit better if I had removed the bumper cover and mounted it like it was supposed to be mounted but there are also issues with that. Say you want to change the camera out or you want to angle the camera differently. You could not do it unless you take the bumper cover off. This way I can easily change it out or change the angle.

As far as getting the wire from the camera to the inside, that was not hard at all. Shoved the wire into that hole I made and then made a hook at the end of a 3 foot piece of romex wire and from up above, when down through a hole in the side of the radiator opening and pulled the wire up. Ran it along the right fender by the fuse box, down below the battery and in the firewall with the power wire I ran for the sub amp. You have to take off the right front tire and remove part of the inner fender liner to easily get to all of this but it isn't hard at all.

I bought this unit to get the camera to work with the OEM radio the way I wanted: https://naviks.com/i-24076613-2016-...dmi-video-interface.html?ref=category:1137501 Now, I am sure I will hear many say that here is no way they are spending that much to get a front camera to work. As of right now in talking to several manufactures, there is nothing that allows you to push a mapped button on a 2020 GT500 steering wheel to get the camera to display on the OEM display. The wheel buttons for the GT500 are mapped differently than the earlier Mustangs. You can easily add your own screen somewhere but I didn't want that look. The unit I got does way more than just add a front camera. It has an HDMI input so you can mirror your phone on the display, has a USB port in case you need more than two, has 4 composite video inputs to add side cameras as well as front and rear (does work with OEM rear camera). It also has a lot of controls and options. Two of them were exactly what I wanted. One, I can have the front camera come on after shifting out of reverse from 1-30 seconds (have mine set to 10) and two, I installed a dedicated physical button to activate the camera instantly. The button I installed is a momentary. A light push turns on the camera, another light push turns it off. Even thought Naviks says it can be mapped to a steering wheel button, at this time it cannot.

I mounted the momentary button just in front of the electric parking brake control. The photo showing the front camera view actually looks much better in person and is much higher quality than the OEM rear camera. You can see the parking lines in the photo and I have the red lines actually touching the front of the spoiler. The Yellow lines are 6 inches away and the blue lines are a foot away. This is how I wanted it. Even though in the photos it may look like the camera is easily visible, it really isn't. I am 5' 9" and I have to be 10 feet back from the car before I barely see the camera.

Unbelievable! I am speechless...WOW

 

[kilobravo]

Unbelievable is the perfect description, Andy.

This is hardly a "mod" but I stole the eye deer. <smile>

Yep, got a wrinkle in it because I was in a hurry, as usual, but it's NBD, I'm really just testing it for heat resistance. I put a layer of clear vinyl over the letters and if it holds up, I'll redo it.