phunk's Whipple GT

[Chargedguard5.0]

Are You running on the street with advance track off? From a dig I always keep it on. If I take it off I will spin just as bad as you do.

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[phunk]

I toggle it all day depending on what I'm doing... Ya it won't spin much with it on but using the ecu to reduce power isn't my idea of solving traction problems. I don't expect it to hook from a dig on the street but if I could at least have 3rd gear and maybe just some of second I would be happy

 

[phunk]

Look at that tire though, how could that not be a huge problem... All that rubber is just loose and peels right off.

Trust me guys this is not my first semi powerful street car, I have been doing this a long time and put together countless cars. The problem isn't my expectations...

 

[Chargedguard5.0]

The tire is fucked but even with new tires you are not going to hook. I've owned 7 mustangs and they have always had issues with hooking on the street and the s550 is no different. Hell with advance track off I would spin half way through third when my car was stock.

 

[phunk]

The day I installed these tires, my car dead hooked second and pulled very strong in first. It had every bit the power back then that it has now. That tells me it's obtainable. There is a way to get this car to hook up this relatively modest power and hopefully I find it before I throw in the towel with the car. I have driven several cars that make my mustangs power level look pretty cute, and they could put it down way better. My car is only "impressive" as far as bolt-on stock engines go and even then it's only modest if you've been around the block. This is a mid 10 second car with a good pass... It's just not that crazy yet to be accepting of the problems I'm having.

 

[Reds197]

Does the car squat less with the stock springs? You might have lost some weight transfer. The tires actually look normal. That's what soft rubber tires look like after some good burnouts.

 

[phunk]

I've only ever run stock springs in the rear minus about 15 minutes last night when I tried the sportlines in back and immediately took them out. I imagine the stock springs are softer than the sportlines.

I've never had the entire tread surface of my drag radials on other cars do this. I can't imagine loose pieces of rubber between the tire and road doing me any good. Again, when the tires were brand new with clean tread they hooked up better than my expectations and I was really excited about it

 

[DarkSubRosa]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this whole thread so far. The traction woes bother me to think about. Makes me not even want FI if it's pointless unless you're doing nearly triple digits.

 

[Chargedguard5.0]

Any updates?

 

[phunk]

Any updates?

Last week I got the car aligned. I took it to a shop I used to use... they are quite a drive for me but they are no BS. The lift is flush and the sensors dont scrape up the wheels. Its called Thalmann's Alignment in Northbrook Illinois. I think someone even mentioned it here in this thread before. I used to work a few blocks from there and have had them do my Nissan stuff before.

The front I have all stock suspension except the Sportline springs. The front came out to -1.7L/-1.9R camber, zero toe L/R.

The rear came out to -0.9L/-1.2R camber, and 1/16" toe in on left and 1/16" toe out on right. I thought that was a little odd but the car drives straight and pulls straight.

The rear steering effects are minimal now, hardly noticeable. I think the new Ford Racing toe link bearings for the rear spindles will eliminate whats left of it probably.

The car drives noticeable smoother with the 3.55 versus the old 3.73. The rear suspension feels nice and planted and really doesnt feel any rougher at all even with all the added parts.

As for the differential noise with all the new bushings... there is some very very minimal whine at speed. I have to turn the stereo off to hear it at all. The only noticeable noise is the ring and pinion backlash clunk when putting the car in gear. Its the same noise that everyone always complains about on here... except now it is transmitted throughout the car differently. It doesnt really bother me but I am sure guys who should have bought a Cadillac would be driven nuts over it.

Traction seems to have improved a little bit now. Either that or the bald NT05R have reached a difference layer of compound that is stickier maybe. Hard to know. I have a brand new set of NT05R sitting on my door step arrived today... got them for $510 or so which is nearly $200 less than I paid last time.

I want to install them and go to the track, but I also think maybe I should send my ECU to Whipple for the latest update. Based on never hearing back from them after all the buildup, I assume they just gave up on their long tube header tune. So I might as well let it go and just get the latest regular tune they have and keep limiting my use of the vehicle since it runs so lean on top. I have been working on my Nissan a lot and dont feel like building a new fuel system for the Mustang right now, so I cant get a custom tune from Lund yet.

 

[phunk]

So a week after the alignment, my car is hooking up like a monster now.

Either the new alignment has caused the tread to stop peeling, or the fact that the tires are entirely bald now has caused it to stop. Whatever it is, all those loose peels are rubber are no longer on my tread surface and the car is a MONSTER.

I just put 700 miles on the car in 3 days because I cant get enough of flooring it everywhere. Right now, this car is performing like the beast it should be, and I am having the time of my life with it.

Since it had been dead hooking 2nd gear all night long, last night I decided to see what it will do in first gear (normally a waste of time even thinking about it). Sitting at some stoplight on some real decent asphalt (not even concrete), light goes green so I just sit there (3am) and put the gas to the floor... LC holding at 3300 I drop the clutch swift but soft. The car grabs, slips a tiny bit (the perfect amount really), then just dead hooks from 5000 to 7500, I slam it into second gear and couldnt believe it.

I have never felt what first gear can really feel like in one of my cars (never go all the way with serious slicks etc), and let me tell ya it feels GOOOOOD.

If the problem was just the factory alignment, and my next set of NT05R are able to hook this well for their entire lifespan, I will put it in my will that I am to be buried in this car. In 4-6 weeks when I am well into some mileage on my next set of tires... if it still hooks like this, its time to get some serious engine parts on order for my winter project.

 

[Jmeo]

Very glad to hear you are finally at peace with your car [emoji111]

I'll be tuned in for more updates.

 

[phunk]

Thanks and ya I was getting pretty fed up with my traction issues. Rolling burnouts are fun for showing off but when you are side by side with another powerful car there is nothing more frustrating than having to try and manipulate them to start from 60-80mph lol.

I am really crossing my fingers it stays this way now and isnt just some last hurrah these tires do when they go bald.

Now if just I could get a tune I am totally happy with, I would be out of complaints.

 

[esacteksab]

With your new found love for he car, does the 370z take a back seat again and do we get to see E85?!

 

[phunk]

370z is still front seat because I am in the middle of some insanely cool stuff with it... But the mustang doesn't need any major down time anyway. Trying to set a date with some friends to get to the track.

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