What did you do to your Mach 1 today

[WD Pro]

Ordered a Grade A takeoff GT350/R strut brace to match my Ford Performance sill plates. I would have gotten the kit from Ford, but I wanted the plaque that came factory on the 350/R. To buy that version new, it’s roughly $1,500 from Ford and $1,000 from other vendors. No thanks. When you can get the same brace with a different plaque from Ford Performance for $300 or so. I paid $250 for my takeoff.

Style you can buy from Ford Performance:

Style I wanted:

Is it not an age related (rather than source of the brace) thing ?

Or maybe even a 'what have we got in stock today' thing ? (likely with Ford ... lol)

I think the plate with more text on it was possibly earlier on, and it was defo on some of the early cars that the press got hold of :

That's from a 'first drive' article in 2015 :

https://www.motortrend.com/features/1510-first-drive-2016-shelby-gt350-and-gt350r-mustangs

I don't know if the brace would have even been available as an accessory from FP at that point in time (2015 / 2016) ?

There are other online images with R's with the 'text' plaque e.g. :

I have the version with the extra text :

WD

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[Mach 307]

Is it not an age related (rather than source of the brace) thing ?

Or maybe even a 'what have we got in stock today' thing ? (likely with Ford ... lol)

I think the plate with more text on it was possibly earlier on, and it was defo on some of the early cars that the press got hold of :

That's from a 'first drive' article in 2015 :

https://www.motortrend.com/features/1510-first-drive-2016-shelby-gt350-and-gt350r-mustangs

I don't know if the brace would have even been available as an accessory from FP at that point in time (2015 / 2016) ?

There are other online images with R's with the 'text' plaque e.g. :

I have the version with the extra text :

WD

Yes you’re absolutely right WD. The one you have appears on GT350R/Track Packs in what seems 2016. There’s actually a different brace for 2015, it’s the steel stamped kind from the PP1. 2017-2020 has the “Ford Performance” plaque on the brace. Honestly, I got cold feet this morning about a used part, even grade A. So I’m considering no brace or getting the one you have now

 

[WD Pro]

Yes you’re absolutely right WD. The one you have appears on GT350R/Track Packs in what seems 2016. There’s actually a different brace for 2015, it’s the steel stamped kind from the PP1. 2017-2020 has the “Ford Performance” plaque on the brace. Honestly, I got cold feet this morning about a used part, even grade A. So I’m considering no brace or getting the one you have now

I wouldn’t let the second hand thing bother you - just go on the condition.

Mine was second hand but I wasn’t bothered - I needed to take the grinder to it so it would fit a RHD, and just accepted that it was going for fresh powder coat afterwards anyway (hence the colour change).

The plaques are interchangeable so could be swapped later.

The rivits drill out easily, and the hole is a perfect size for a thread - you could either re rivit, or tap them. If you look close, you can see my plaque is held on by polished stainless button heads

WD

 

[Mach 307]

I wouldn’t let the second hand thing bother you - just go on the condition.

Mine was second hand but I wasn’t bothered - I needed to take the grinder to it so it would fit a RHD, and just accepted that it was going for fresh powder coat afterwards anyway (hence the colour change).

The plaques are interchangeable so could be swapped later.

The rivits drill out easily, and the hole is a perfect size for a thread - you could either re rivit, or tap them. If you look close, you can see my plaque is held on by polished stainless button heads

WD

Fair enough, I guess more so not used, but in an accident rather. Car was smacked pretty hard too, the rear was destroyed. Made me nervous the brace could have hidden damage, but I’m an overthinker like that lol. Guess someday I could change the plaques. The reason I’m getting the brace to begin with is because I’m doing the Ford Performance sill plates, and without the brace saying Ford Performance as well it throws me through a bit of a loop, lol. Either has to be both Mach 1 or both Ford Performance.

 

[Gen 6 Mach1]

Installed S550 fire extinguisher holder ordered off eBay , and ordered a chrome extinguisher, but when I got the extinguisher, there was a BIG problem . Like house size ,can't return so now the kitchen has a big extinguisher .
I have an extra one red (oh well) I wanted chrome but another $150 for a 2.5 lb , I'll go with red for now . The mount attaches to the front 2 seat mount bolts , the covers I trimmed just a little bit off with a razor blade, to clear the mount bracket . Torx T55 for the bolts , whole set at HF for 14.99

When I researched the sizes , It did mention that some bolts were T55P plus , I'm wondering if the seat trac bolts were , the T55 felt loose, so I doubled up a piece of aluminum foil and used to remove and tighten. Wanted to disclose the last paragraph...

Edit update 4-6-26 , Changed out the red Fire Extinguisher ( it's been the garage unit for 5 years ) I decided to get a marine unit .

 

[skinnyb]

Day 1 of Ponies in the Smokies was a success. The Mustangs gave the Dragon Photographers a workout yesterday I got a few obligatory pics. This one was my favorite, caught me and my boy in the background...

 

[Lucky13Cat]

Back to summers

 

[The Spider House]

Back to summers

That colour is just beautiful

 

[Mach 307]

Seems these cars are increasing in value. KBB January 14th 2026 high was $54,066 for my loaded 2022 with 3,384 miles. It’s now $58,559 as of today with same miles.

 

[Mikepol2]

It's spring... nobody buys these in January.

 

[skinnyb]

Multiple runs on the Tail of the Dragon this week during Ponies in the Smokies. Filled up the tank EVERY day , that got expensive QUICK, but overall has been a fantastic week

 

[NHMach1]

Changed the oil, filled her with E85, took her for a drive and cleaned her all up! Love our Mach 1!

 

[Mach 307]

Happy Easter guys!

 

[skinnyb]

Went out for a little Easter drive today. A little cloudy gloomy but was still a great day

 

[Mach 307]

Removed several “dealer add on” stickers. The pictures I have of them are ones I had the dealer send me back when I bought the car last summer, I didn’t take any before I started because I was rather eager to start. First up was the Spireon sticker in the door jam for the Spireon tracker that came on the car that I removed day 1 and tossed into the bin.

This one came off very easily with 0 residue whatsoever.

Next to tackle were the 9 Tricor “theft protection” stickers. There was one on the apron which is shown, one on the hood, one on the driver side door, one on the fuel door, one on the trunk lid, one inside the trunk, one on the passenger side door, and two in the passenger door jam.

These ones actually came off extremely easy as well. I was worried they’d be the type of sticker that disintegrates into a million pieces on purpose as a “security measure”, but this was not the case.

They did though, leave behind some sticky residue. I gave them a pass or two with 20% IPA and a microfiber which had no effect. So I decided today to pickup some Goo Gone Automotive, which is a low stress natural citrus based cleaner designed to be safe for car exterior and interiors. It worked perfectly, and I got all the residue off. Followed by a wetless wash pass, dry microfiber buff, then another wetless wash pass and finally a dry microfiber buff. To finish things off, I made a point to clean the rubber seals specifically near where I was working with the wetless wash sprayed onto a microfiber, then a dry wipe.

Didn’t realize how much of an eyesore they all were til they were gone!

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