What did you do to your S550 Mustang today?!

[MAGS1]

Yep, but the main problem that's stranding folks is that as the temp falls, charging efficiency decreases until at a minimum temp, the battery won't charge AT ALL. So, if you drain the battery low enough and shut the car off, there's no way to warm it up to minimum charging temp. You're stuck until you can get the car inside and warmed up, or until Spring, whichever comes first.

Yep, some of that was reported as well. The bigger headlines were the wait times at charging stations and people needing to be towed to other charging locations. But it was mentioned that some cars became too cold to charge at all. 5,000lb paper weights at that point. No thanks, I’ll stick to my primitive, fossil fuel drinking machine instead

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[KingKona]

My son in his 2007 on his way home from work yesterday. No one was hurt and he doesn't think there is any true damage. He lives about 40 minutes from me and doesn't have a garage, so I don't know when we are going to be able to get under it and check it out. I told him he learned a very valuable lesson-> Mustangs SUCK in the snow. I told him to put 150-200lbs of sand bags or cinder blocks in the trunk.

No Mustangs do not suck in the snow.

No, weight in the back does not help. It will make oversteer worse, with that un-necessary weight creating a pendulum effect. If you lose control of the rear end, it stays lost with that additional weight. Mustangs are heavy cars, with plenty of weight over the rear wheels.

I've driven 2 S197GTs through Michigan winters, and 3 S550s through VA winters.

The key is tires. With my 2005 I got mud & snow tires, and it plowed through S.W. Michigan winters like a pro.

It's all about tires. 100% the tires.

And knowing how to drive in the snow. And your son has just discovered he doesn't.

ETA; And I'm not certain how you equate seeing your son's clear example of under-steering off the road due to a lack of front-end grip, with needing to put weight in the BACK of the car.

 

[lo-fi]

This thread reminds me of why I rarely buy northern or mid-western cars. Driving in snow is one thing but salted roads? Not even once. Have a 4x4 for that non-sense.

Besides I know you all aren't driving around with any appreciable accumulation, sports cars sit too low. Which means that your putting around in a few inches or after being plowed and salted, and again no thanks on that.

I agree on one thing, snow tires make or break almost every car/truck where snow and traction are concerned.

 

[vinny89gt]

No more fingerprints on the deck lid panel.

 

[MAGS1]

This thread reminds me of why I rarely buy northern or mid-western cars. Driving in snow is one thing but salted roads? Not even once. Have a 4x4 for that non-sense.

Besides I know you all aren't driving around with any appreciable accumulation, sports cars sit too low. Which means that your putting around in a few inches or after being plowed and salted, and again no thanks on that.

I agree on one thing, snow tires make or break almost every car/truck where snow and traction are concerned.

Drove mine in 4” of snow at the beginning of last week. Was an absolute blast. Mines got a bit of salt on it right now but it’s my daily. By the time it becomes a problem, I’ll probably be in an S650 or whatever gen comes after that. I’m eyeing another S550 with a bit more HP as a fun, nice weather car that will never see salt or snow

 

[RowdyRam]

My son in his 2007 on his way home from work yesterday. No one was hurt and he doesn't think there is any true damage. He lives about 40 minutes from me and doesn't have a garage, so I don't know when we are going to be able to get under it and check it out. I told him he learned a very valuable lesson-> Mustangs SUCK in the snow. I told him to put 150-200lbs of sand bags or cinder blocks in the trunk.

I'm glad to read that no one was hurt. That could have ended very differently.

 

[FrankRussel]

I took it to the car wash, then after that went on a race with it with my buddy.

 

[raptor17GT]

Driving it for the first time in 5 days. Also happens to be the first time since late Saturday night where we’re above 0F. Breaking out the shorts and t shirts tomorrow .

good choice of tunes too

 

[WD Pro]

The next piece of the long term front end project is done

As supplied by Santa (with my other car related Christmas presents) :

I wanted this piece as in order of priority :

• My front crash bar is corroding which is A) visible through the grill on the 2018 facelift and B) is highlighted by the light paint colour.
• Remove a bit of color / add a bit of blackness behind the grill.
• Save a little weight.

The textured powder coat on this item was actually pretty good (way better than the grey on the IRS braces and the black on the front 2 point brace), but it was being stripped anyway as I didn't want to simply cable tie the front wiring loom onto it.

The front loom secures to the standard crash bar with four clips, so I used that spacing and drilled some holes (assisted by my eldest daughter) :

The holes will have stainless threaded inserts added :

It then went off for fresh powder, but I interrupted the process after the acid bath so we (with my daughter assisting) could do some brazing :

After dressing up the braze :

Smoothing all the sharp edges (to help the new powder flow and avoid thin edges) :

We also drilled a 20mm hole in the back to get debris out of it, so it can be hung from the hole for processing, and so I can easily shoot some cavity wax in there before fitting :

I'm not sure yet if I should let the hole vent (it's protected once fitted) or if I should plug it after adding the wax ?

Ref my comment above about this being the best powder coat I have had on any of my Steeda's parts - well it's still a little lacking a little with regards to surface prep ...

There is just the occasional track mark from where the grinder / sander has been run up and down it :

Ready for aqua blasting and coating :

Back from the powdercoaters :

As it will be fitted, with stainless hardware (left over from the rear diff cover) - loom dimension / P clip size courtesy of @Biggsy :

I actually owe a real big thank you, and a favour (or two) to @Biggsy from across the pond

After I provided some high quality (not … ) hand sketches, Warren provided some missing dimensions that I requested, then using them and the Steeda crash bar, I came up with this paper design :

Folded template :

Plan view of the target bolt locations :

Brace in position (ignore the perspective and strange shadows) :

Then with the paper template in position, the outermost / rearmost mounting target sits right in the middle of the adjustment slot :

As does the innermost / forward most target :

I’ve slotted the mount holes so I can allow for a little tolerance with :

• Bolt hole centres of the radar box mount.
• Vertical alignment / rotation (relative to the floor) of the new bracket.
• Rotation (relative to the axles)

Rotation relative to the horizon is adjusted by the standard radar box mount.

So I’m hoping I can consider this side of the crash bar mount finished, and I can now move onto the towing eye mount.

The towing eye mount (if I bother with it at all … ?) should be an easier / quicker design - if I can find someone with a euro / M1 with a bumper cover off the car ...

WD

 

[LOL WUT]

New wheels got delivered!

 

[Crayon]

Was out and about stumbled upon my first car meet of 2024.

 

[RowdyRam]

Had some initial *ahem* quality issues taken care of at a dealership about 30 miles away, had them do first oil change as well.

They did a great job and surprisingly didn't fight me on anything. Car was purchased brand new, now has 3400 miles on it. Paint was flaking away from under the spoiler, and there were these ugly foam blocks sticking out from under the tailights, and foam sticking out from under the top of the decklid. My first American car and the build quality has definitely not disappointed

Guess they just pump these cars out and hope the customer doesn't notice the issues, and if they do pay the dealers to fix em.

I'm hoping my dealer does the same for me. I have this flaking issue on BOTH ends of my spoiler on the trunk lid.

 

[glene]

began experimenting with different color fender hashmarks on my carbonized gray GT, big worm has sent me several swatches to test out, this is a set of gloss silver hashes… I like to look, but I’m also going to experiment with matte or gloss anthracite, black and red, and then different pinstripes available… The guys at big worm are really excellent. They will suppy you diff swatches completely for free.

 

[_zOmbIE_]

Driving it for the first time in 5 days. Also happens to be the first time since late Saturday night where we’re above 0F. Breaking out the shorts and t shirts tomorrow .

Hard to drive slow with that song on

 

[MAGS1]

Hard to drive slow with that song on

Got that right!

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