The Wannabe Racer GT350

[rocsteady]

Genetics. I blame my father for my love of cars. I’ve had 17 vehicles since I started driving, back and forth between “fun” and more useable SUVs/Pickups, from a 1980 Firebird, through some Germans (4 of them) M3s, to a Scat Pack Charger, 2012 Ford Raptor, and now a ‘19 GT350.
It’s certainly not much in the way of a “build” as I am thrilled with the car as Ford rolled it out, fantastic, powerful, high-revving V8, superb suspension, big Brembos, and did I mention a pretty amazing suspension setup? Not to mention, to me, it looks great from every angle and sounds just plain angry all the time. But this will be a way for me to keep track of what I do with the car up to this point and going forward.
I was driving a 2021 Toyota Tundra pickup the last 18 months or so before this past Summer and not a lick of snow in our area. Decided that it was time to tip the scales back into the “fun” direction.
I was completely enthralled by the new, C8 Vette and that was going to be it. Right up until I heard one drive past me. Not exactly what a car that looks like that should sound like. It looks like a “10” in being special but the engine note hit me at about a 4. Then I priced one out and once I got enough goodies to make it like I wanted, I was pretty close to 6 figures. Yikes. With the sound of the 5.5 liter FPC V8 in the ZO6, that was another story entirely, but waaaay out of my price range.
So, having owned two different 2017 GT350s, both for a very short time, previously, I knew that’s what was going to be in my driveway again. A car that is special from top to bottom and front to back.

Week before the 4th of July, was driving back from Phila with my sons and their girlfriends, I told them to check out the used car lot that we were approaching as they always had something nice sitting out front. My younger son spotted this white 2019 sitting in front. It was the “white” in a “red, white, and blue” display out front. Went back the following week and traded in the Tundra on the 5,000 mile GT350.

Sponsored

 

[rocsteady]

The 5th of July, this year, and the GT350 comes to its new home:

I love the “swing.” I like the looks a lot more than the spoiler that was on the 2017s and it’s pretty darn effective as I understand it. The “Gurney Flap” came off for now as did the front tag bracket that some heathen had attached to the front bumper.

I like it but I’ve always felt the GT350s just have to have the stripes…

 

[rocsteady]

Started looking at some of the particulars like chassis number, the 2nd gen engine label was good to find, and engine builder:

Took about a zillion pictures every time I walked back to it. Was pleasantly surprised by the puddle light cobra early one morning.

 

[rocsteady]

Already had weather tech mats which I really like, but changed out the “label” for something more fitting:

Wasn’t too upset with the holes being drilled in the front fascia as I planned to fill ‘em and cover with stripes anyway:

As this is my daily driver, the Cup2 Michelins were not going to be the best for commuting. Had planned to do runflats initially but in my haste, I got a little off my plan. I ended up ordering some less extreme skins in the stock front and rear sizes. Didn’t exactly do my homework on them before ordering though (that’s foreshadowing for an issue later on):

 

[rocsteady]

Looked up the factory blue stripes and nearly choked when I added up the cost. Decided to go aftermarket and then cleverly ordered the wrong color. Figured I’d put ‘em on anyway, if nothing else it would be good practice and when I got the correct blue ones, I’d be less inclined to screw them up.

Went pretty well I think despite some silly alignment mistakes

I always liked the way the ”R” model had the red pinstripe so I added that to my order from stripe source. Now it looks like a GT350

Definitely like the stripe look and the red helped me like the odd colored stripes a bit better I think

 

[rocsteady]

Yep, needed the stripes for sure:

Now that I was much happier with the way it looked, although I don’t like this color blue compared to the darker, factory color, it was on to other areas. Like the FP/Airaid air filter if for no other reason than that it is blue:

I’m not sure, but it seems to have picked up about 100 hp with this “mod.” Ha, I wish. Even if it didn’t do a thing for performance, I like the way it looks. Also, due to previous experiences with the other GT350s, I added the ZL1 splitter savor washers. I was telling a friend that when you drive this car anywhere, you have to do two laps around the place before you park, to see how you’re going to get in and how you’re going to get out without dragging the front end. It’s like you’re “casin’ the joint” everywhere you go. :

 

[rocsteady]

I had JLT do red/white/blue valve/coil covers previously but decided I’d simplify it a little and do my own this time around. I already had the covers that I’d replaced with the JLT ones so it was just a matter of spending bout 900 hours taping, cutting, then painting, repainting, and clear coating a set

I also added a JLT oil seperator on the passenger side

Another pic after I added a set of FP hood props as I would be the one to knock the factory hood prop rod aside and probably damage the hood on my noggin at some point no doubt.

 

[rocsteady]

Discovered the “portrait” setting on my phone this weekend, so more gratuitous pics were taken for no particular reason

 

[rocsteady]

Always a big Ken Block fan and the original ”Hoonicorn” (highly modified, AWD, 1965 Mustang pictured below) with it’s naturally aspirated, Roush-Yates built 410 cubic inch stroker, making 845 hp, was about the coolest thing ever. When Block passed, I added a little tribute to the Shelby. Also got some “43” vinyl numbers for what I hope to be a few track days in 2024:

And then the FP windshield banner as I still had an eye toward the car being my “race car” and this looked so good on the factory Fords

 

[rocsteady]

I have been hitting a lot of car shows and “cars n coffee” meetups and the Shelby always gets some attention.

 

[rocsteady]

Some big additions lately. The “titanium“ look Hoonigan “H” valve stem caps, name and flag decal, and with a nod to another member @Muligan who has so much more interesting stuff going on, I added the Terlingua “crest” to the Shelby’s fenders

 

[rocsteady]

Oh, nearly forgot another big addition. Little vinyl strip for the steering wheel. The stitching is too intricate for me to replace it with real leather as I had done previously on a 2012 Raptor. Looks okay, we’ll see how it lasts.

And a spare:

 

[rocsteady]

So on the horizon was actually doing something substantial to prepare for some track time. I want to eventually go to a square (305s all around) setup for the track so ordered four 19x11 wheels. Wanted something other than black and these wheels from MMR sure qualify.

Still waiting on one more tire pressure sensor but I have front spacers and extended studs from Optimum Performance already waiting in storage alongside the previously mentioned Cup2 tires.

Front tow hook from FP and Vorshlag front brake cooling deflectors, again inspired by @Muligan are inbound. Also waiting on some low profile jacking rails from Steeda. After those, a rear tow hook and I think I’ll be set. Certainly not looking for ultimate lap times as more serious mods usually lend to “race car problems” of which I don’t need any at all, thank you.

 

[rocsteady]

Oh and if you’ve read through this and aren’t bored to tears yet, I’d mentioned about a blunder with ordering what I intended to be all year round street tires, the Michelins. Well, high performance summer means just that and I failed to notice about how they do not like the cold at all. So after a cloud of obscenities had cleared from the rocsteady house, I ordered a set of Toyos; ALL SEASON Toyos. Moron. So maybe the Pilot Super Sports become an inclement weather track tire now that they have about 5000 miles on them? We’ll see.

 

[MAGS1]

So on the horizon was actually doing something substantial to prepare for some track time. I want to eventually go do a square setup for the track so ordered four 19x11.5 wheels. Wanted something other than black and these wheels from MMR sure qualify.

Still waiting on one more tire pressure sensor but I have front spacers and extended studs from Optimum Performance already waiting in storage alongside the previously mentioned Cup2 tires.

Front tow hook from FP and Vorshlag front brake cooling deflectors, again inspired by @Muligan are inbound. Also waiting on some low profile jacking rails from Steeda. After those, a rear tow hook and I think I’ll be set. Certainly not looking for ultimate lap times as more serious mods usually lend to “race car problems” of which I don’t need any at all, thank you.

I dig the red wheels on white cars. Should also pull the red pinstripes out a little more. Beautiful car!

Sponsored