Silver Bullet Build

[Cruizer]

Spent some time Sunday detailing the wife's Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. It's 5 years old and the plastic didn't look bad but wanted to try Car Guy's Plastic Restorer. The plastic looks new again. It was faded more than I would have ever thought. I'm also liking this Turtle Wax Hybrid. Anyone have a reasonable suggestion for tire dressing?

The rear marker lights arrived. They seem really well made. Ford barely left enough wire to get them in and out. I felt like I was pulling the wires to tight just to get the hooks in.

I'm now debating internally if I want to do some charcoal rally stripes that I think could tie in with the wheels. I just don't know yet.

And just because my car likes attention. Always looking like, take a picture of me.

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[Cruizer]

Finally had a chance to do the brake calipers. I knew they would be bright but don't want to use spray paint. This epoxy hardened like steel so I hope it lasts and protects longer than spray paint ever could.

I went with the SR Performance strut tower brace and installed that the other day. I have a couple details before the car show in a couple weeks. I plan on having a good time and meeting some other car enthusiasts in my area.

 

[Cruizer]

Stuffed two 12" Kicker subs in the trunk with 800w Harmony amp. Was an Amazon package. Didn't really know what to expect from the amp as it's small is size. It pushes the subs just fine. It was a tight fit to say the least.

 

[TonyNJ]

Just a few more details to catch up.

Blacked out Pony badge

Airaid Intake:

TurboSmart BOV:

JLT Catch Can:

Just a few of my favorite pics so far.

Chin splitter time.

 

[Cruizer]

Chin spoiler is on my list. But, they just discontinued the rear spoiler and front bumper trim I wanted from Foose MMD. Not sure what happened there.

Been a busy winter. Car ended up at the dealership for a timing chain cover leak. Leave it to 2 Ford dealerships to screw up the brakes doing a recall. Apparently the dealer that did the timing chain cover did a recall on the brakes. Then had hardly any brakes and the pedal was hissing. Took it to my local dealership, they misdiagnosed and replaced the brake booster, then realized the first dealer screwed up the brake recall. For 3 weeks out of January I had no Mustang. Not sure why all the Ford dealerships' shops suck in my area.

I had to replace the pony marker lights in the rear. They melted. So unfortunate as they looked great when I put them on. I'll post pics of the new ones later.

I have BMR Performance lowering springs waiting to get put on. Hoping to do that tomorrow.

I have the infamous low idle issue now. It's erratic and can not pin point cold start, weather, or filing the gas tank. So, looks like I'll look at my plugs, check for any vacuum leaks (thinking dealership workmanship), and probably replace the LPFS knowing it's history.

I'm also ordering a COBB V3. I'm looking forward to that.

 

[Cruizer]

I'm stuck waiting on a better spring compressor to finish the front. I did get the rear springs in. Went better than I expected reading some horror stories.

The tool I bought it similar to what you can rent at auto parts stores. The difference is this one had the adjustment bolt on the end away from the strut plat and threads the middle hook. So the adjustment bolt doesn't touch the strut brace.

As mentioned before, here are my new rear marker lights. Still disappointed the pony ones melted.

 

[Cruizer]

The spring compressor showed up today and I finished the BMR springs. Now I know why everyone was taking their struts and springs in to be changed. But this tool is nice and I'm sure I'll use them again. For $60 I'm happy I can change springs on difficult struts now. I'll post some picks when it's settle and the weather is nicer. But here's a picture of the spring compressor tool.

 

[NGOT8R]

I've been sitting on the exhaust most the week. I was hoping the jacking rails would show up. No luck on that.

The intent was to jack up the car tonight and change the oil. Do the exhaust tomorrow. Finished that and thought, let's take the exhaust out, it's only four bolts. Pulled it out and decided to lay the parts out. Then decided to get my eleven year old daughter because she wanted to help. Let's go, we're putting it in tonight.

I will say I'm a little disappointed by Roush on fitment. Not that it didn't fit in my car. Because it fought itself going together. It would have fought itself even if I'd put it together on the ground. I recommend adding rubber mallet to the list of tools required.

The sound is great. It just sounds mean. I now need to let someone drive my car so I can hear it at least once.

Car looks good! I know what you mean about the exhaust fighting with you on install. I recently installed Steeda’s version of rhe Roush axle back and had issues too. What should have been super simple, took lots of finess to get the tips aligned perfectly too.

 

[BabyDoc1012]

Car looks great!

 

[Cruizer]

Car looks good! I know what you mean about the exhaust fighting with you on instsll. I recently installed Steeda’s version of rhe Roush axle back and had issues too. What should have been super simple, took lots of finess to get the tips aligned perfectly too.

I think I'm about to bust the back of the exhaust loose, lift the elbows with my floor jacks to raise it while I re-tighten. I have a little sag now after about a year. I might have made it worse dropping the rear subframe to put in the rear springs.

I'm super excited my tuner should arrive tomorrow.

 

[br_an]

David, the Silver Bullet is looking great!

Car looks good! I know what you mean about the exhaust fighting with you on instsll. I recently installed Steeda’s version of rhe Roush axle back and had issues too. What should have been super simple, took lots of finess to get the tips aligned perfectly too.

I had an issue with fitting the pipe ends (on a Roush catback) together after I took the exhaust off. The clamps and the heat cycles warp/pinch the ends in a way that made it hard to assemble during the reinstall. A pipe expander made it so much easier to install the second time. I highly recommend getting one of these if you think you'll be removing and reinstalling part of your exhaust.

pipe expander

 

[NGOT8R]

I think I'm about to bust the back of the exhaust loose, lift the elbows with my floor jacks to raise it while I re-tighten. I have a little sag now after about a year. I might have made it worse dropping the rear subframe to put in the rear springs.

I'm super excited my tuner should arrive tomorrow.

Did you upgrade your clamps? I upgraded mine because the ones Steeda supplied with my x-pipe were thin and flimsy. Most of the sagging issues are probably caused by subpar clamps where the x or h-pipe connects to exhaust pipes. I did torque my axle back clamps to 65 ft-lbs too because the torque spec. listed in the instructions (I believe 55 ft-lbs) wasn’t enough and the elbow and tips would move. I knew that could be an issue down the road, so I addressed that on the initial install.

 

[Cruizer]

Did you upgrade your clamps? I upgraded mine because the ones Steeda supplied with my x-pipe were thin and flimsy. Most of the sagging issues are probably caused by subpar clamps where the x or h-pipe connects to exhaust pipes. I did torque my axle back clamps to 65 ft-lbs too because the torque spec. listed in the instructions (I believe 55 ft-lbs) wasn’t enough and the elbow and tips would move. I knew that could be an issue down the road, so I addressed that on the initial install.

The Roush clamps were pretty thick. I've heard they settle some anyways. But I'm sure pulling it down last weekend made it worse.

 

[NGOT8R]

The Roush clamps were pretty thick. I've heard they settle some anyways. But I'm sure pulling it down last weekend made it worse.

Stay with it, I know you’ll make it right.

 

[Cruizer]

So a before and after the BMR Performance Lowering Springs. This was the day after. I'm hoping the front settles a little more. I feel like it nearly has any rake. Hard to tell in my uneven gravel driveway, lol. I hear it can take 500 to 1,000 miles for the front to settle. I was expecting to have more rake with the front supposed to drop 1.2" and the rear only 1/2". I feel like the front dropped maybe 1/2". I should have measure before.

Before:

After:

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