Project 8: My 18 V8 project

Finally jumped on the 2018 10 speed bandwagon! A little over a week ago I went from my V6 (great car!) to a new Lightning Blue 10 speed auto! The car in stock form is amazing but as with everything there is certainly room for improvement! Idea is to take my base model and essentially do everything I did to my 6 to make it as close to a premium with custom touches here and there. Plan is to follow a theme and maybe go with a Mach 1 theme (since Ford is insistent on destroying the name)

Performance
-Ford Performance Power Pack (when available)
-Mishimoto Induction Hose (when available)
-Custom double X pipe catback (non resonated x to magnaflow resonated x, Installed 2018)
-Drive Modes activation (Activated 2018)
-Maybe Boost/GT500 supercharger assembly (long time off)

Suspension
-BMR SP080 performance springs (Fall 18)
-BMR Cradle lockout (Planned 2018-2019)
-Steeda Billet Shock Mounts (Planned 2018-2019)
-Ford Performance Strut Tower and K Brace (Planned 2018-2019)

Exterior
-GT350 fenders (Planned 2019)
-Bullet upper and lower grille (Planned 2019)
-Coyote/Mach 1 fender badges (Planned 2019-2020)
-Pony projector mirror lights (Planned 2018)
-GT350 over the top stripes gloss white with satin black accent (Planned 2018)
-19x10 black with machined face rims (when I find ones I like...)
-Black GT Raised Blade Spoiler (Planned 2019)
-Ceramic coating of some kind (Planned 2018-2019)

Interior
-Illuminated sill plates (Planned 2018)
-Illuminated mycolor cup holder (Planned 2018)
-Leather wrapped center console (Planned 2019)
-LCD digital dash (Planned 2019)
-50th Anniversary Spun Aluminum dash trim (Planned 2018-2019)
-Sync 3 swap (Installed 2018)
-Leather Interior (Planned 2018)


As it sits currently!

Exhaust:

[ame]

Congrats! Looks sharp

Welcome onboard the 2018 bandwagon man:cheers:
Loved your cyclone build. Can't wait to see how you mod this blue beauty
I've done a few premium parts on my base to. Plan to use your wiring guide to activate the illuminated door sills. And drive modes if possible:hail:

Small mod but added aluminum pedal covers from premium models. Spacers should be here this week! The sync 3 swap is also progressing with a custom harness (should be finished today) and a bezel that should arrive this week. I still need the screen itself and a few other small bits. Within the next month I should have Sync 3 and drive modes!

Can't wait to see what you do to the car, Zack! Patiently waiting!

I wish I had a garage and half the skills you had. I love reading your posts.

zackmd1 said:

Small mod but added aluminum pedal covers from premium models. Spacers should be here this week! The sync 3 swap is also progressing with a custom harness (should be finished today) and a bezel that should arrive this week. I still need the screen itself and a few other small bits. Within the next month I should have Sync 3 and drive modes!

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I think your car is defective, it's missing a pedal :shrug:

DivineStrike said:

I think your car is defective, it's missing a pedal :shrug:

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Hey easy now! My car is faster then yours. addle:

Was considering manual this time around but that A10 won me over.

Amazing what a simple set of spacers can do to the look of the vehicle.

Slowly acquiring parts for a sync 3 swap. Hope to have that done within a month or so. Can’t stand the base radio. Plus the swap will allow me to access drive modes.

Well within the next week I should have a sync 3 system up and running. Also just ordered a set of quad tips to start my custom muffler delete. Total cost of my muffler delete should be around $100 vs the $350 MBRP currently wants for their muffler delete system. Overall plan is to do a muffler delete then do a resonator delete and replace it with either a tru x resonated x pipe or an H pipe with mid mounted magnapacks. I am leaning towards the H pipe setup right now but we shall see.

Curious to see how it turns out.

zackmd1 said:

Well within the next week I should have a sync 3 system up and running. Also just ordered a set of quad tips to start my custom muffler delete. Total cost of my muffler delete should be around $100 vs the $350 MBRP currently wants for their muffler delete system. Overall plan is to do a muffler delete then do a resonator delete and replace it with either a tru x resonated x pipe or an H pipe with mid mounted magnapacks. I am leaning towards the H pipe setup right now but we shall see.

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Ever consider using a muffler like this one in the stock resonator spot? I bet along with the rear delete it would sound like the bassani setup for coyotes.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynomax-17554-Ultra-Flo-Welded-X-Muffler-Dual-In-Out-3/111240026770?epid=192163944&hash=item19e66c1a92:g:mcMAAOSw8UZaFBrt
I've used one on my 13 3.7 with dumps it sounded really nice, and on my 07 4.6 f-150 w/dual 2.5" side exits. Just an idea since you're going a different route

Zack I'd consider some J pipes on your muffler delete, as well as some mini bullet resonators behind the resonator delete or ahead of the tips. Otherwise it'll be a not-so-great nor remotely refined tone. I know you've experimented plenty with exhaust on the V6, so not telling ya anything you don't know. Car looks great!

Rc18 said:

Ever consider using a muffler like this one in the stock resonator spot? I bet along with the rear delete it would sound like the bassani setup for coyotes.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dynomax-17554-Ultra-Flo-Welded-X-Muffler-Dual-In-Out-3/111240026770?epid=192163944&hash=item19e66c1a92:g:mcMAAOSw8UZaFBrt
I've used one on my 13 3.7 with dumps it sounded really nice, and on my 07 4.6 f-150 w/dual 2.5" side exits. Just an idea since you're going a different route

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I actually have the magnaflow version of that! Trying to decide between using that or using the magnaflow 10426 mufflers I have. I have quite a selection of used exhaust parts because of my V6 experiments!

BmacIL said:

Zack I'd consider some J pipes on your muffler delete, as well as some mini bullet resonators behind the resonator delete or ahead of the tips. Otherwise it'll be a not-so-great nor remotely refined tone. I know you've experimented plenty with exhaust on the V6, so not telling ya anything you don't know. Car looks great!

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Thanks for the heads up and comments! I should hesitate to say muffler delete since I will be adding resonators in the stock muffler location. I have a set of those dynomax race bullet resonators (small 6" resonators) that I will use. I am hoping that will cut down on a bit of the raspy tone that a straight muffler delete has. From there I just need to decide if I am going H pipe with magnaflow 10426 mufflers mounted just aft of the H or go with a magnaflow tru x resonated x pipe muffler in place of the resonator.

I seem to always be going back to custom exhaust setups because I just can't bring myself to pay these (IMO) outrageous prices for exhaust systems... I mean seriously... $700-1000 for an axleback? $1000+ for a catback? It is just exhaust pipe and a couple off the shelf mufflers that they are selling for $70-150 separately... ok rant over!

You know, I honestly felt the same about the prices when I got my GT, but after now having one of those $1000+ catbacks, completely get it. The engineering that goes into the sound (and lack of downsides like drone) sets them on a different level from custom jobs with universal parts. They also fit so well. The trick is to buy gently used. Mine can be had for $800-900, and since it's 304 stainless, it's a non issue.

BmacIL said:

You know, I honestly felt the same about the prices when I got my GT, but after now having one of those $1000+ catbacks, completely get it. The engineering that goes into the sound (and lack of downsides like drone) sets them on a different level from custom jobs with universal parts. They also fit so well. The trick is to buy gently used. Mine can be had for $800-900, and since it's 304 stainless, it's a non issue.

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I completely understand the R&D that goes behind these systems but it still seems high to me when you are using off the shelf mufflers... Now the 18s with active exhaust are a slightly different story since alot seem to be new or completely custom muffler designs specifically for the mustang.