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Grabber Lime 2020 GT Build Thread

Vlad Soare

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The steeda lower G track brace is the best thing I’ve done to mine, noticed an instant improvement in turn in
Did you go for the light version, or the four-point one?
Is there a price to pay in other areas for that turn-in improvement? I mean, did the car become more rigid and "crashy" on rough roads, or over speed bumps, or something like that?
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Regarding the strut tower brace, I guess you can't keep the engine cover, can you? Or maybe you can, but then you'd have to remove the brace every time you need to take the cover off, right?
 
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Did you go for the light version, or the four-point one?
Is there a price to pay in other areas for that turn-in improvement? I mean, did the car become more rigid and "crashy" on rough roads, or over speed bumps, or something like that?
2 point for me (on advice from Steeda). No negative effects :like:

Regarding the strut tower brace, I guess you can't keep the engine cover, can you? Or maybe you can, but then you'd have to remove the brace every time you need to take the cover off, right?
Fits fine (and I went for the non euro / non spacer option) :

1666692326594.jpeg


I can empty my catch can with it in place.

I believe you can take the cover off with the brace in place, but I wouldn’t for risk of marking something. If I was in a position where I needed to remove the cover to do a job on the engine, I’m guessing the job would probably be much easier with the brace gone anyway ?

WD :like:
 

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Did you go for the light version, or the four-point one?
Is there a price to pay in other areas for that turn-in improvement? I mean, did the car become more rigid and "crashy" on rough roads, or over speed bumps, or something like that?
I just had the two point, always tempted to try the K brace though.
I’ve noticed no ill effects, it’s very easy to fit and remove. When you look under and see the design it’s little wonder there’s flex, brace works for me :)
 
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It's back (on Friday) ... ! :sunglasses:

This post will mostly be made of posts from various other threads on the forum :like:

It started with a broken diff bolt and ended up with :
  • New diff cover (+ stainless hardware).
  • Steeda diff bushings.
  • 12.9 diff hardware.
  • Stainless diff bolt sleeves.
  • Steeda subframe dowels.
  • Steeda subframe support bushings (slightly modified, anodised red and stainless hardware).
  • J&M rear camber adjusters.
  • Ceramic metallic coated exhaust.
  • Steeda H pipe (slightly modified + heavy duty clamps).
  • All exhaust brackets repainted (+ stainless hardware).
Its nice to finally see the exhaust and diff etc without it being covered in the euro black crap ... :curse:

From this :

1669381723024.jpeg


To this :

1669381290781.jpeg


1669381312678.jpeg


1669381339948.jpeg


1669381356909.jpeg


My tech confirmed these were very tight and there was some talk on the forum that they wouldn't go in without marking them, but he managed it without a mark (and I have checked closely) :like:

1669392234910.jpeg


I think (know) my through holes and extended bolts helped :like:

Ref the fitment of the H pipe and Fords ongoing problem with chaffing the AE loom on the UK (drivers) side, here were my mods in an attempt to fix the problem :

A) Shorten the cut line.

B) Shorten the end of the H / X pipe where it mates to the original system.

C) Ensure everything is pushed fully home on reassembly.

Mine had loads of clearance when cold, but it must expand and move around a lot when hot and under torque.

Mine had just started to rub the heat tape :

1666564188873.jpeg


Repaired with a bit of sacrificial protection :

1666564241442.jpeg


Rough cut in the right place, then a bit of a reduction and a neatening :

1666564318623.jpeg


1666564509270.jpeg


1666564344446.jpeg


H pipe reduction

1666564398206.jpeg


1666564420873.jpeg


That should give approximately 15mm of extra clearance at the back end :like:

So here it is fitted after those two mods - not the easiest of things to capture on a photo … lol

1669489486746.jpeg


I believe this to be a much better option than the other method of relieving (i.e. cutting away or hammering out of the way) the frame in that area :shock:

Loads of clearance now and the wiring in that photo is very relaxed, it could easily be encouraged to be a little more forward if required.

Tailpipe fit is in my option is perfect, the cut angles fit with the flow of the rear valance perfectly :

1669489712744.jpeg


1669489763065.jpeg


1669489785197.jpeg


1669489805711.jpeg


i.e. I don’t think shortening the cut point and h pipe compromised the rear fit - and maybe even improved it … :like:

Although the standard pipes have some aesthetic weaknesses, the fit and how they flow with the valance is in my opinion very good and better than a lot of the aftermarket offerings, they just need to look a little 'cooler' - I've not totally given up on some form of tail trim just yet ...

With regards to the sound of the H, it’s the same but different if that makes sense lol ?

From inside the car it’s a bit louder (in a good way), but quiet mode seems little different (which is also good). Defo a few more pops and burbles on the overrun. Rev matching sounds wicked when driving enthusiastically on the blips that take the rpm up to 5k+, it kind of makes the engine sound more responsive / more free revving (I know it not, it just sounds that way) :like:

From outside the car (all judged by my daughter who was in her room doing homework), it louder and smoother if that makes sense ? She said I thought you were home, then it got a bit louder, then some more, then I got home … lol

Cold starts are ‘really’ nice, although defo not the best option for getting a true representation (standard iPhone X microphone and whatever spears you are listening on) :




I’ve not found any drone at any rpm in track mode - I've not bothered checking the other modes yet.

Way more noticeable on larger more open wheels, but one of the reasons I went red (viewed through a standard PP1 wheel :

IMG_7770.jpg


IMG_7777.jpg


I am very pleased with all these mods and the service from my local Ford dealer (driven by an excellent tech) has been absolutely outstanding. They have been very accommodating with regards to the warranty repair and then the mods that I threw at them to fit during the rebuild :sunglasses:

I know its took a while to get the broken part :

1669581475522.jpeg


But that's not my dealers fault. My tech took receipt of the keys from me, took it straight into the workshop and its lived up in the air until he dropped it the day before I collected it. It sat inside the workshop and he drove it out to me when I turned up to collect :sunglasses:

I'm not going to talk about the individual mods, but if you have a specific question just ask - I'm pretty much going to mirror the majority opinion of them on here i.e. defo worth doing and I wish I would have done them sooner ! :like:

Alignment next (although its good from Ford - for a standard setup) and then I will bolt on the IRS braces.

WD :like:
 

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fast306stang

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It's back (on Friday) ... ! :sunglasses:

This post will mostly be made of posts from various other threads on the forum :like:

It started with a broken diff bolt and ended up with :
  • New diff cover (+ stainless hardware).
  • Steeda diff bushings.
  • 12.9 diff hardware.
  • Stainless diff bolt sleeves.
  • Steeda subframe dowels.
  • Steeda subframe support bushings (slightly modified, anodised red and stainless hardware).
  • J&M rear camber adjusters.
  • Ceramic metallic coated exhaust.
  • Steeda H pipe (slightly modified + heavy duty clamps).
  • All exhaust brackets repainted (+ stainless hardware).
Its nice to finally see the exhaust and diff etc without it being covered in the euro black crap ... :curse:

From this :

1669381723024.jpeg


To this :

1669381290781.jpeg


1669381312678.jpeg


1669381339948.jpeg


1669381356909.jpeg


My tech confirmed these were very tight and there was some talk on the forum that they wouldn't go in without marking them, but he managed it without a mark (and I have checked closely) :like:

1669392234910.jpeg


I think (know) my through holes and extended bolts helped :like:

Ref the fitment of the H pipe and Fords ongoing problem with chaffing the AE loom on the UK (drivers) side, here were my mods in an attempt to fix the problem :

A) Shorten the cut line.

B) Shorten the end of the H / X pipe where it mates to the original system.

C) Ensure everything is pushed fully home on reassembly.

Mine had loads of clearance when cold, but it must expand and move around a lot when hot and under torque.

Mine had just started to rub the heat tape :

1666564188873.jpeg


Repaired with a bit of sacrificial protection :

1666564241442.jpeg


Rough cut in the right place, then a bit of a reduction and a neatening :

1666564318623.jpeg


1666564509270.jpeg


1666564344446.jpeg


H pipe reduction

1666564398206.jpeg


1666564420873.jpeg


That should give approximately 15mm of extra clearance at the back end :like:

So here it is fitted after those two mods - not the easiest of things to capture on a photo … lol

1669489486746.jpeg


I believe this to be a much better option than the other method of relieving (i.e. cutting away or hammering out of the way) the frame in that area :shock:

Loads of clearance now and the wiring in that photo is very relaxed, it could easily be encouraged to be a little more forward if required.

Tailpipe fit is in my option is perfect, the cut angles fit with the flow of the rear valance perfectly :

1669489712744.jpeg


1669489763065.jpeg


1669489785197.jpeg


1669489805711.jpeg


i.e. I don’t think shortening the cut point and h pipe compromised the rear fit - and maybe even improved it … :like:

Although the standard pipes have some aesthetic weaknesses, the fit and how they flow with the valance is in my opinion very good and better than a lot of the aftermarket offerings, they just need to look a little 'cooler' - I've not totally given up on some form of tail trim just yet ...

With regards to the sound of the H, it’s the same but different if that makes sense lol ?

From inside the car it’s a bit louder (in a good way), but quiet mode seems little different (which is also good). Defo a few more pops and burbles on the overrun. Rev matching sounds wicked when driving enthusiastically on the blips that take the rpm up to 5k+, it kind of makes the engine sound more responsive / more free revving (I know it not, it just sounds that way) :like:

From outside the car (all judged by my daughter who was in her room doing homework), it louder and smoother if that makes sense ? She said I thought you were home, then it got a bit louder, then some more, then I got home … lol

Cold starts are ‘really’ nice, although defo not the best option for getting a true representation (standard iPhone X microphone and whatever spears you are listening on) :




I’ve not found any drone at any rpm in track mode - I've not bothered checking the other modes yet.

Way more noticeable on larger more open wheels, but one of the reasons I went red (viewed through a standard PP1 wheel :

IMG_7770.jpg


IMG_7777.jpg


I am very pleased with all these mods and the service from my local Ford dealer (driven by an excellent tech) has been absolutely outstanding. They have been very accommodating with regards to the warranty repair and then the mods that I threw at them to fit during the rebuild :sunglasses:

I know its took a while to get the broken part :

1669581475522.jpeg


But that's not my dealers fault. My tech took receipt of the keys from me, took it straight into the workshop and its lived up in the air until he dropped it the day before I collected it. It sat inside the workshop and he drove it out to me when I turned up to collect :sunglasses:

I'm not going to talk about the individual mods, but if you have a specific question just ask - I'm pretty much going to mirror the majority opinion of them on here i.e. defo worth doing and I wish I would have done them sooner ! :like:

Alignment next (although its good from Ford - for a standard setup) and then I will bolt on the IRS braces.

WD :like:
I wish we had quality techs here where I live. I can't really trust any of these people here to touch my car.
 
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I wish we had quality techs here where I live. I can't really trust any of these people here to touch my car.
Yeah I have to be honest, my tech has absolutely been the make or break for this incident - I cringe at what could have been given a different dealer and tech along with a different relationship with either of those parties ... :frown:

I know I have been 'very' lucky, I built a good relationship with my salesperson, which lead to a good relationship with the parts manager (I was buying bits even before my car arrived lol), which lead to a good relationship to the master tech ultimately resulting in a note going on my file that he was to be prioritised to work on my car (both my second service and the warranty work were arranged around his availability).

I have numerous examples of his approach to his work and the detail he puts in, but to highlight a few :
  • When he rang me to give me an update before he had some days off (a nice gesture in itself, but we were still waiting for the cover) we discussed the battery. The car was stripped and up in the air, he had purposely left it locked so it would go to sleep, but it had still been sat for a while. He had seen my CTEK connection and had his own CTEK in work, but didn't want to connect it as it would mean the car back down (rather than up and safe). When I mentioned I had an extension cable he asked me to bring it in before his hols, he dropped the car, put the extension cable down through the engine bay, taped it to the front subframe so it wouldn't get snagged, put the car back up high to keep it safe and then left it connected to his own CTEK.
  • He told me about the push pin that secures the diff temp sensor loom directly above the sensor. The new diff cover wasn't drilled as deep as the original so he asked if I wanted the push pin trimming a little shorter so it would sit flush. Without being under the car and closely inspecting the pin (to see it sits 2 to 3mm proud), I would never have known - I choose to leave it as is.
  • Fitting the Steeda and J&M bits which he had never done before (remember Mustangs are reasonably rare in the UK, use of these parts are even rarer and then fitting of them would normally end up with an enthusiast or specialist rather than a main dealer). He asked me to print him the instructions, when I mentioned CJ's videos he asked me for the links, he watched all the individual videos for the parts I had and then we had a bit of a laugh about the 'back on the road in no time' strapline ... :giggle:
  • After I dropped the exhaust back off (for which he had laid new cardboard out on the floor) he spotted the towels in my trunk and took those too so he didn't mark the coating up prior to fitment. After fitment there were two things he was eager to tell me about to make sure I was happy A) that the end of the ceramic coating on the mid pipe joint wasn't flush with the end of the H pipe clamps and had a short gap which he could have hidden, but he wanted to have the clamps dead central over the joints and B) he had rotated the clamps on the pipes a little to lift the clamp nuts higher then the other exhaust parts so they were protected. He wanted to tell me about these issues so I could confirm I was OK with his choices !
  • When I picked the car up he told me there was a box in the trunk with my towels and extension lead, the spare stainless bolts from the diff cover and exhaust mounts, the old exhaust and camber arm bolts in case I ever wanted to reuse them, all the printed instructions and even the zip lock bags I had sent the kit in with - just in case I wanted to reuse them.
The above should give you an insight into how he approaches his work, which I could best describe as 'outstanding' ... :sunglasses:

For anyone interested, here's a picture of the diff cover push pin location and the exhaust clamp orientation he was keen to tell me about (additional H pipe bracing and red Steeda front brace can be seen in the background) :

Diff Close Up.JPG


WD :like:
 

fast306stang

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The above should give you an insight into how he approaches his work, which I could best describe as 'outstanding' ... :sunglasses:
I'd say that's beyond outstanding. Amazing even. It's extremely rare when I see someone that matches my level of care and attention to detail, much less someone that goes above that. You're so lucky to have that kind of relationship with your tech!

I've been following your thread for obvious reasons lol...your car is coming out amazing, so clean with tasteful and functional mods!
 
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Looks great. Might need to add some blue in there....😇

E8CB2E86-2A70-4F5F-BBA8-6A2492F1EBBF.jpeg


6B2498DF-66C5-44ED-BF7F-C99D4F79831C.jpeg
You know for sure those bits are coming ... :sunglasses:

The timing just didn't work out for me to do them this time around - too little notice and too many other things going on in my life / consuming money at the moment ... :frown:

My revised plan is to pick that MR kit up around this time next year :like: Someone on the forum posted that CJ's did a black Friday special at $899 so I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for something similar next year.

My next plans, in order of when I expect to do them are :
  • Alignment / bush clocking.
  • Bolt on the IRS braces on.
  • Fit the blank decklid.
  • Master cylinder clutch line.
  • Keep eyes open for rear diff casing so I can start the rebuild.
  • Keep eyes open for spare rear callipers so I can do a rebuild and coat them.
  • Get distracted by loads of other shit that will get prioritised before any of the above ... lol
WD :like:

Edit for some bad grammar.
 
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Not had chance to drive it much since the mods but for very good reason - we had a holiday, I got married and we had a honeymoon all rolled into one :sunglasses:

We had a Florida holiday (with 19 immediate family) and a Disney wedding, but whilst I was over there …

Now I've done a little editing, some more pictures from the day :

IMG_7860 - No Reg.jpg


IMG_7870 - No Reg.jpg


IMG_7861.jpg


IMG_7868.jpg


IMG_7869.jpg


IMG_7867.jpg


In general, the blue garage was mostly populated by Shelby & Ford Performance kit :

IMG_7880.jpg


For obvious reasons I have a bit of a soft spot for this one, loving the plate ...

IMG_7863.jpg


IMG_7865.jpg


Bit of a purple theme going on :

IMG_7864.jpg


Carried though to the Wipple 3.8 :

IMG_7882.jpg


I guess its running a bit of Boostane ...

IMG_7881.jpg


Shelby SE :

IMG_7874.jpg


IMG_7875.jpg


IMG_7876.jpg


Difficult to capture on film, but very obvious in the sunlight (zoom in) :

IMG_7877.jpg


IMG_7878.jpg


IMG_7913.jpg


IMG_7888.jpg


IMG_7887.jpg


IMG_7889.jpg


IMG_7886.jpg


IMG_7885.jpg


And slightly off the Ford topic but still worthy of a mention, the car that took my misses and our girls to our wedding :

IMG_7924.jpg


IMG_7921.jpg


As a period of time, I genuinely believe I've just had the best two weeks of my life :sunglasses:

And boom, now I'm back in work ... :facepalm: :giggle:

WD :like:
A little more info on this thread if anyone is interested :

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/i-guess-the-speed-limiter-wasnt-working-that-day.183399/

Note to myself : I’ve been spoiled, I now ‘need’ a GT500 or equivalent BHP … :facepalm: :giggle:

When we get the official photos I will post some up of that 1960 Catalina, it was gorgeous (1500+ hour full nut and bolt rebuild and 300+ trophies) :

1671869062793.jpeg


A nice gift from the owner :

1671871227358.jpeg


I only got the Catalina organised on the Saturday night before our marriage on Tuesday, following a visit to the local cruise ! Disney’s wedding team were floored when it burbled up to the wedding pavilion and I told them the story :sunglasses:

Not as much Mustang shopping time on this visit, but I still managed to bring home a few items :

1671869521070.jpeg


1671869480244.jpeg


Yes, the combination of PP1 wheels and OE brake pad dust has finally broke me … :giggle:

WD :like:
 

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Wow, that's a lot happening for sure! Many congratulations on your wedding, sounds like you planned the honeymoon very well ha.
I'll be looking forward to your review of the brake pads and what forced induction route you go. Best you save for some tyres as well!
 
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Never a truer word said in jest … :cwl:

Joking aside, Disney being Disney will actually do you any theme (with characters) that you want, but we didn’t want that and even if we did we couldn’t afford it - having a few characters turn up is about as expensive as the Cinderella coach … :surprised:

Our video landed this morning so I grabbed a couple of screenshots from my phone. My three ladies :

1671892902095.jpeg


1671892934152.jpeg


For those of you that know Disney, the ceremony was at the wedding pavilion (Grand Floridian), the reception was at Sea Breeze point (Disney’s Boardwalk) and for the evening desert party we had a private area for the fireworks at U.K. loch side (Epcot) :like:

WD :like:
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