Project Hidalgo: Lorne 2016 DIB Build

[cgreen5150]

Looking good Lorne! How do you like the exhaust and shifter? Are wheels in your future?

Sponsored

 

[Lorne34]

Very cool and subtle!!!

Thanks Brandon! I watched the AM Video where Chip Foose kind of walked through the design and what he was trying to achieve. His biggest thing is matching the lines and making it look like it came from the factory... I think this should have been the stock spoiler, really balances out the car.

 

[Lorne34]

Looking good Lorne! How do you like the exhaust and shifter? Are wheels in your future?

Thanks Chris!....Ha Ha..... funny you should ask..... I had issues with both the shifter and the exhaust... will be typing up a synopsis shortly..... Stay tuned!! As far as wheels go, I would absolutely love to replace them sooner than later, but I have exceeded my 2017 budget for mods and it will have to wait a bit....The stock rims are "ok" but this car really screams for more agressive wheels and better quality tires than the Perelli's

 

[Lorne34]

Mod update: Shortly after installing the first round of mods I took the car to Chicago Auto Pro's in Glenview and had XPel Paint Protection film applied to the front fascia, door edges, and trunk threshold. I also had the Modesta Cermaic Coating applied. They did a great job...I am pretty happy with both applications.. definitely makes it so much easier to wash and detail the car...I had asked them to take some photos, but they were never sent to me and I was so excited to pick it up that I never took any photos myself...:doh:... I did have one photo taken in a parking lot right after the application....I have to take it back down in June to have some adjustments made as I had xpel put on the door edges and it is wearing through at the pointed body line on the drivers door...going to have it removed and modesta recoated on the edges.... I am also going to look at window tinting as well while I am there...

 

[Lorne34]

UPDATE: I feel I have gotten such a great education into the "art of modding" and also the mechanical ins and outs of the S550...But I have had some "challenges" along the way... My experience has been at times like the song "every rose has it's thorn"..... at the beginning of the song you hear a big "SIGH"....
I guess I will start out with the Barton Shifter. I decided to Trans mount the shifter to provide the most stability and it seemed to be what "bill from CJ" and everyone else was recommending. I found it to be very stiff and more NVH than I cared to experience when shifting at high speeds. I contacted Dave from Barton after the install and he actually said he recommends sticking to the body mount for the best experience. I took it back in and had the trans mount brace removed and had it body mounted. Took less than 20 minutes to do. I also was debating whether to remove 2 of the 4 tension springs to loosen things up a bit, but decided to leave all 4 in and just see if it breaks in properly. So far so good. The only complaint I have it that I still experience a bit of resistance from 1st to 2nd gear when cold or higher rpm.. I know the lateral plate inside the shifter is adjusted properly... I may try the BG Sycnhro Shift II fluid swap to see if that smooths things out..
I am VERY GLAD that I swapped out the stock shifter despite the few issues. There is a positive engagement at each gear with no feeling of "click, Click" when going from 2nd to 3rd. Shifts are firm and exact. It took a while to get used to it, but I am really enjoying the shifting experience with the upgrade....

 

[Lorne34]

Other comments on the modifications:
1. Eibach Pro Kit lowering springs- very comfortable ride, but not floaty like the stock springs... feels more planted.. and the appearance/stance is night and day
2. Steeda Vertical links and sub frame alignment- still experiencing some wheel hop but no where near as much.... after inspecting the stock links, it was worth it just to have the "warm, fuzzy feeling"
3. Steeda clutch spring- for anyone who hasn't done this.. you need to do it asap... major difference in clutch feel and engagement point.. took me a bit to get used to it as it felt heavier wthout the "assist" but quickly adapted... was almost embarrased at times driving it before with stock spring... felt like I was learning how to drive stick for the first time.
4. Clutch pedal extender- great mod!... feels like I am not hugging the dash now.. can actuallly sit back a bit.. wife appreciated it as well.
5. sound tube delete- didn't really notice a difference in sound... at least not as much as I thought it would be.. defintely can hear more exhaust note though.
6. Exhaust- will save this for the next post....

 

[cgreen5150]

opcorn:

Other comments on the modifications:
1. Eibach Pro Kit lowering springs- very comfortable ride, but not floaty like the stock springs... feels more planted.. and the appearance/stance is night and day
2. Steeda Vertical links and sub frame alignment- still experiencing some wheel hop but no where near as much.... after inspecting the stock links, it was worth it just to have the "warm, fuzzy feeling"
3. Steeda clutch spring- for anyone who hasn't done this.. you need to do it asap... major difference in clutch feel and engagement point.. took me a bit to get used to it as it felt heavier wthout the "assist" but quickly adapted... was almost embarrased at times driving it before with stock spring... felt like I was learning how to drive stick for the first time.
4. Clutch pedal extender- great mod!... feels like I am not hugging the dash now.. can actuallly sit back a bit.. wife appreciated it as well.
5. sound tube delete- didn't really notice a difference in sound... at least not as much as I thought it would be.. defintely can hear more exhaust note though.
6. Exhaust- will save this for the next post....

opcorn:opcorn:

 

[Lorne34]

UPDATE: Exhaust issues; I had the Borla S type catback installed (not the Ford Peformance model). At first It appeared to be alot louder than I expected, but thought it would eventually settle in. After a week or so I noticed that there was a droning/resonance during highway driving in 6th gear (2k) and a lot of in cabin noise---raspiness when under throttle above 3k.. I call it the "Chewbaca riding shotgun" experience.... It's a note that I just do not like. If you are on any type of an incline even with cruise control on the cabin noise just does not settle down and tends to wear on me. I created a separate thread on the forum looking for input.
http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80267
I did notice an issue with one of the mufflers/hangers that was creating quite a bit of resonance...
Borla has been very understanding and even shipped me an entire new unit. After installing the replacement system the sound was better, but still not acceptable.
One option would be to put the borla resonator on which basically turns it into the "touring" model... but I have heard mixed reviews regarding the drone, sound and whether it would give me the results I am looking for.
I did some research and decided to install dynamat in the trunk in an attempt to "take the edge off" The spare tire well is just bare metal with the only sound dampening being the lightly carpeted cover with a small amount of white foam on the underneath...The results of the dynamat were limited. I noticed a small amount of reduction in the upper band, but the lower frequencies from the borla exhaust were now more noticeable. After speaking the a technician with Dyanamat Corp they suggested I combine the dynamat with their dynapad product thinking it would take care of some of the low frequency sounds.... I decided to purchase some dynapad for the trunk area and am trying to figure out how to install it effectively. You can't really lay it underneath the cover due to the thickness, as the cover will not lay flat. I even thought about adhering it to the underside of the cover panel, but they do not recommend it hanging....The best option appears to be putting the dynapad over the top of the cover and then installing a Llyods trunk mat over the top of it.....
I am also considering going to the Corsa Sport Catback which from everything I hear is quiet on the highway with no drone and would achieve the results I am looking for.. my hesitation intially was that the Corsa was not the "classic muscle car sound" but at this point I am over that and just want a better interior cabin experience. I still want to hear the exhaust, but the ability to tone it down when driving 6 hours on a long distance road trip really appeals to me. I actually met up with another 6g forum member down near Milwaukee (thanks Kyle!) and got to ride in his Black S550 with the Corsa Sport Exhaust. He had just switched to Corsa from the Magnaflow.
Here are some picutures of the dyanamat project. I decided to remove all the insulated covering in the trunk and do the spare tire well, the side wheel wells, under the subwoofer, and the small shelf up to the back seats....My son came over on my birthday to help with the install.

 

[Lorne34]

More Dynamat pics and a photo of me with my son after the project is completed.... An extra set of hands is really helpful....It was a good birthday!....I look awfully small next him.. hope I am not shrinking as I age......

 

[Jetboy]

Looks good man!

 

[Lorne34]

Looks good man!

Thanks Dave! I appreciate it....Just sent you a PM.. will work on meeting up in the next couple of weeks.

 

[BmacIL]

Did the dynamat work? I wouldn't expect it to. Good luck!

 

[Lorne34]

Did the dynamat work? I wouldn't expect it to. Good luck!

Thanks.....The Dynamat alone did not take care of the problem... It's been quite an education in sound proofing a vehicle. Dyna-corp basically makes several products:
1. Dynamat Extreme- used primarily for removing resonance from metal, vibrations, etc.. It also comes in a superlite version that is thinner still and lighter, but only 70% as effective.
2. Dynaliner- this is a thin foam used primarily for heat insulation and adheres over the top of dynamat.. the shop I am working with actually purchased and installed this at first, but when I did some more research I realized this was not the right product and took it out to put in the dynamat
3. Dynapad- sound deadening foam with mass load vinyl that is used to block out certain frequencies (road/tire noise/exhaust, etc..)
That is what I purchased now but I am not going to install until my Lloyd's mat arrives so that I can use the mat as a template for cutting. I am also going to see how everything fits in the back as far as thickness and functionality with the dynapad and the lloyds mat before I cut up the dynapad....
I was going to purchase the Lloyds trunk mat anyway as I don't like the low pile, cheap felt material adhered to the surface panel in the trunk.. who knows maybe the trunk mat by itself with provide some sound deadening...
Seems like a lot of fuss... I am convinced the Borla is just not the exhaust for me...
I am leaning toward the Corsa Sport as my answer to resolve this...

 

[BmacIL]

It will and I think you'll grow to love the sound. It's very aggressive and musical.

 

[Lorne34]

It will and I think you'll grow to love the sound. It's very aggressive and musical.

thanks again.... are you involved in any of the local or regional mustang club in your area? I almost went to the MCA event in Joliet last year at the Autobahn club but it was reallly bad/rainy weather and decided to pass....

Sponsored