Horde5.0
Well-Known Member
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- #1
I have been slowly accumulating some parts over the last few months and finally decided to execute my clever plan to install them all at once. I did this at a leisurely pace over the course a hot summer Saturday but you could probably do it a few hours if you were to set your mind to it.
I installed:
BMR jacking rails
BMR rear sway bar
CJP H-pipe
Barton Short Shifter
I started by using a new set of 56" Race Ramps. These are great. They don't slip on my floor and the longer ramp makes for a more controlled ascent.
Once the rear was on the ramps I installed a pair of BMR jacking rails. I was able to do this with jacking up the front end but there wasn't much room to see what I was doing in the front. If you are lowered this may not work.
With the rails installed I put the car up on stands and removed the exhaust. With the exhaust out I installed the BMR rear sway. This was by far the simplest sway bar install I have ever done. I would be easy under normal conditions, with the exhaust out you could probably do it blindfolded.
Next the Barton Short Shifter. This was a long process and one worth going slow on. Removing the old shifter was by far the hardest part of this. Having the exhaust out meant that I could see a lot more and that the transmission could come down a little further so it was a bit easier to get to some of the bolts. Also, I didn't have to remove the transmission mount bracket as they recommend in the video. The video instructions are made by a guy using a lift so its a bit easier for him than it was for me since I was doing it on my back with the car on jack stands. Still, it wasn't that bad and the instructions were very good.
Next the H-pipe. Its not complicated, just measure twice and cut once.
Results:
Race Ramps - Love em. big improvement over the Rhino Ramps I had been using
BMR jacking rails - excellent. They are really well made and they fit perfectly. Just using them the one time, they made lifting the car and placing jack stands a simple job. They are going to pay off every time I need to get under the car. I wish I had been able to get something like this for my old VW before I rolled one of the pinch welds over.
BMR rear sway bar - Nothing earth shattering, its a sway bar. The rear end seems flatter in the curves so working as intended. The bar and the hardware are well made and fitted up perfectly. Big fan of BMR so far.
Barton Short Shifter - Wow. Precision is the word here. The shifts are direct and...well, precise. General shifting is much improved, down shifting in particular has a much better feel. I'd say the shorter throw improves overall drive-ability of this car and would recommend a short shift of some kind for anyone. The fit and finish on this whole Barton assembly is impressive and fit without any trouble. I went with the 20% reduction and am happy with it. Out of the box the shifter is pretty stiff and it takes some effort to move it but it is supposed to lighten up a bit over time. I may end up adjusting it a bit if it doesn't get easy enough for my taste. Barton is pretty serious about insulating the shifter so there has been no noticeable increase in noise or vibration. My shift knob and pull up reverse lockout work like they did on the stocker. It has turned out to be well worth the "more money than I thought I should spend on a short shifter".
CJP H-Pipe - Yup. Just what I wanted. Little more loud and a lot more deep down rumble. I don't want to wake the neighbors or set off car alarms, I just want the car to sound like a V8 and now it does.
All in all, a very satisfying day of modding with what all turned out to be quality parts. There is so much room under the Mustang that this stuff is surprisingly easy. I am used to working on compact German cars like VWs or BMWs and doing any of this kind work on those is about banging your knuckles up while trying to figure how much of the car you have to take apart to get to that thing you need to get to. Now I am wondering if changing out the struts and springs on the Mustang might not be a whole lot easier than what I am used to.
I installed:
BMR jacking rails
BMR rear sway bar
CJP H-pipe
Barton Short Shifter
I started by using a new set of 56" Race Ramps. These are great. They don't slip on my floor and the longer ramp makes for a more controlled ascent.
Once the rear was on the ramps I installed a pair of BMR jacking rails. I was able to do this with jacking up the front end but there wasn't much room to see what I was doing in the front. If you are lowered this may not work.
With the rails installed I put the car up on stands and removed the exhaust. With the exhaust out I installed the BMR rear sway. This was by far the simplest sway bar install I have ever done. I would be easy under normal conditions, with the exhaust out you could probably do it blindfolded.
Next the Barton Short Shifter. This was a long process and one worth going slow on. Removing the old shifter was by far the hardest part of this. Having the exhaust out meant that I could see a lot more and that the transmission could come down a little further so it was a bit easier to get to some of the bolts. Also, I didn't have to remove the transmission mount bracket as they recommend in the video. The video instructions are made by a guy using a lift so its a bit easier for him than it was for me since I was doing it on my back with the car on jack stands. Still, it wasn't that bad and the instructions were very good.
Next the H-pipe. Its not complicated, just measure twice and cut once.
Results:
Race Ramps - Love em. big improvement over the Rhino Ramps I had been using
BMR jacking rails - excellent. They are really well made and they fit perfectly. Just using them the one time, they made lifting the car and placing jack stands a simple job. They are going to pay off every time I need to get under the car. I wish I had been able to get something like this for my old VW before I rolled one of the pinch welds over.
BMR rear sway bar - Nothing earth shattering, its a sway bar. The rear end seems flatter in the curves so working as intended. The bar and the hardware are well made and fitted up perfectly. Big fan of BMR so far.
Barton Short Shifter - Wow. Precision is the word here. The shifts are direct and...well, precise. General shifting is much improved, down shifting in particular has a much better feel. I'd say the shorter throw improves overall drive-ability of this car and would recommend a short shift of some kind for anyone. The fit and finish on this whole Barton assembly is impressive and fit without any trouble. I went with the 20% reduction and am happy with it. Out of the box the shifter is pretty stiff and it takes some effort to move it but it is supposed to lighten up a bit over time. I may end up adjusting it a bit if it doesn't get easy enough for my taste. Barton is pretty serious about insulating the shifter so there has been no noticeable increase in noise or vibration. My shift knob and pull up reverse lockout work like they did on the stocker. It has turned out to be well worth the "more money than I thought I should spend on a short shifter".
CJP H-Pipe - Yup. Just what I wanted. Little more loud and a lot more deep down rumble. I don't want to wake the neighbors or set off car alarms, I just want the car to sound like a V8 and now it does.
All in all, a very satisfying day of modding with what all turned out to be quality parts. There is so much room under the Mustang that this stuff is surprisingly easy. I am used to working on compact German cars like VWs or BMWs and doing any of this kind work on those is about banging your knuckles up while trying to figure how much of the car you have to take apart to get to that thing you need to get to. Now I am wondering if changing out the struts and springs on the Mustang might not be a whole lot easier than what I am used to.
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