Howitzer
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2016
- Threads
- 12
- Messages
- 279
- Reaction score
- 283
- Location
- NC
- Website
- flickr.com
- First Name
- Howie
- Vehicle(s)
- 2015 Mustang GT, 2000 Mercedes C280
- Thread starter
- #1
So...here we are. Nearly 8 years since I've had this car, I guess now is a good a time as any to finally make a build thread.
2015 Mustang GT Base
Street/Track - more track than street these days
Modifications
Suspension:
BMR SP083 handling springs
FRPP track shocks/struts,
MMR Camber plates
Steeda front lateral control arms
Steeda IRS braces
Steeda IRS alignment dowels
BMR rear adjustable toe links
BMR rear vertical links
lower k brace (PP1 car part)
strut tower and cowl brace (PP1 car part)
Powertrain:
2021 ported intake manifold with IMRC lockouts
18+ injen air intake with restrictor cutout for 120mm MAF
JLT oil separator (driver and passenger side)
Texas Speed longtube headers with GESI G-Sport UHO cats
MBRP Street catback w/ H pipe - full 3" from headers
MGW shifter w/ flatstick handle
Exedy Mach 500 clutch
3.55 Torsen differential and driveshaft from 2021 donor car
Whiteline diff bushing inserts KDT-934 w/ upgraded BMR hardware
Dyno tuned by Luis Ortiz
Auto-Blip module (for mostly rev-match downshifts)
Brakes/Wheels+
Front Brembo brakes from PP car
Vorshlag air deflectors
PP Belly pan with brake ducts
Brake Pads - Carbotech XP12 front / XP10 Rear (track)
Ford Racing Performance front Hubs w/ ARP Extended Studs
Monster Open Lugs - Black Chrome
MRR M350 Wheels 19x10 square (street - 285/35/19)
LMR SVE 350R wheels 19x11 ET50 square (track - 305/30/19)
25mm APEX front slip on spacers (track)
Interior:
Android 10.2" radio
Premium dash trim and light-up door sills
JBL 609C Speakers
Revesol Flat Bottom Steering Wheel - Matte Carbon, leather, silver stitch
Exterior:
Cutout OEM upper grill with black diamond mesh
OEM lower grill from premium car with black diamond mesh behind openings
Trackspec Side Vents
MMD Rear Spoiler - Matte black
PP front lip spoiler
How it started (2015)
How it's going (as of 2022):
A little history...
The year is 2015 and I was in process of getting rid of all my motorcycles (I had 4 of them - track, street, dirt, and another track bike I had been working on) due to a bad street accident about a year prior...getting T-boned by a truck is not fun and I'm probably lucky to be alive. This was not a first street accident, and I figured I may not be around to see what the outcome of a 3rd incident would be. I had ridden for about 8 years prior to any accidents...that last year of riding was just not my year.
I had never been very interested in mustangs...but the S550 was intriguing to me since they finally had an independent rear suspension. I was ready to get back in a RWD vehicle and I wanted something decently fast to kind of make up for getting rid of my bikes.
I found a great deal at a local dealer - they only had 1 used 2015 mustang GT and it was this triple yellow base model. They also had a 2014 GT track pack. Test drove them both...and chose the 2015. I knew mustangs had a vast aftermarket so anything I wanted changed, I figured I could do it myself.
Purchased it lightly used for a little over 26k with 4k miles on it. It was traded cuz the guy that had it before realized he didn't want a manual transmission. Score for me.
After driving it for nearly a year, I realized the suspension and tires were...inadequate we'll say. I still find it comical they equipped these with 235 width all season tires. Could never get traction when I needed it, and behavior was unpredictable - really a combination I don't want. So the first things I did was get a set of 19x10 MRR M350 wheels from this very forum, BMR handling springs and ford racing track shocks/struts. Man...those changes alone made a HUGE difference.
Several years into owning the car...it started to become more frustrating to drive than not and was a love/hate relationship for a little while...I kept thinking about getting something different. I just found myself not being able to drive the car the way I really wanted. Out on public roads, there's just no way to really push the car in any sane manner...It's hard to realize and explain but I experienced the difference when I first started tracking motorcycles.
So...I started thinking about getting back into track days but with a car...almost still got rid of the car in favor of a Fiesta ST to keep running costs down a bit and to get a car that could be more manageable...but...I'm glad I've kept the mustang. It's a great, reliable platform to work with. It still puts a smile on my face every time I do get to really drive it. I started tracking the car end of 2021...aaaand...I've went mod crazy the past year and a half to really make the car perform its best and to behave the way I want. I'll probably make a few posts here to highlight some of these changes.
2015 Mustang GT Base
Street/Track - more track than street these days
Modifications
Suspension:
BMR SP083 handling springs
FRPP track shocks/struts,
MMR Camber plates
Steeda front lateral control arms
Steeda IRS braces
Steeda IRS alignment dowels
BMR rear adjustable toe links
BMR rear vertical links
lower k brace (PP1 car part)
strut tower and cowl brace (PP1 car part)
Powertrain:
2021 ported intake manifold with IMRC lockouts
18+ injen air intake with restrictor cutout for 120mm MAF
JLT oil separator (driver and passenger side)
Texas Speed longtube headers with GESI G-Sport UHO cats
MBRP Street catback w/ H pipe - full 3" from headers
MGW shifter w/ flatstick handle
Exedy Mach 500 clutch
3.55 Torsen differential and driveshaft from 2021 donor car
Whiteline diff bushing inserts KDT-934 w/ upgraded BMR hardware
Dyno tuned by Luis Ortiz
Auto-Blip module (for mostly rev-match downshifts)
Brakes/Wheels+
Front Brembo brakes from PP car
Vorshlag air deflectors
PP Belly pan with brake ducts
Brake Pads - Carbotech XP12 front / XP10 Rear (track)
Ford Racing Performance front Hubs w/ ARP Extended Studs
Monster Open Lugs - Black Chrome
MRR M350 Wheels 19x10 square (street - 285/35/19)
LMR SVE 350R wheels 19x11 ET50 square (track - 305/30/19)
25mm APEX front slip on spacers (track)
Interior:
Android 10.2" radio
Premium dash trim and light-up door sills
JBL 609C Speakers
Revesol Flat Bottom Steering Wheel - Matte Carbon, leather, silver stitch
Exterior:
Cutout OEM upper grill with black diamond mesh
OEM lower grill from premium car with black diamond mesh behind openings
Trackspec Side Vents
MMD Rear Spoiler - Matte black
PP front lip spoiler
How it started (2015)
How it's going (as of 2022):
A little history...
The year is 2015 and I was in process of getting rid of all my motorcycles (I had 4 of them - track, street, dirt, and another track bike I had been working on) due to a bad street accident about a year prior...getting T-boned by a truck is not fun and I'm probably lucky to be alive. This was not a first street accident, and I figured I may not be around to see what the outcome of a 3rd incident would be. I had ridden for about 8 years prior to any accidents...that last year of riding was just not my year.
I had never been very interested in mustangs...but the S550 was intriguing to me since they finally had an independent rear suspension. I was ready to get back in a RWD vehicle and I wanted something decently fast to kind of make up for getting rid of my bikes.
I found a great deal at a local dealer - they only had 1 used 2015 mustang GT and it was this triple yellow base model. They also had a 2014 GT track pack. Test drove them both...and chose the 2015. I knew mustangs had a vast aftermarket so anything I wanted changed, I figured I could do it myself.
Purchased it lightly used for a little over 26k with 4k miles on it. It was traded cuz the guy that had it before realized he didn't want a manual transmission. Score for me.
After driving it for nearly a year, I realized the suspension and tires were...inadequate we'll say. I still find it comical they equipped these with 235 width all season tires. Could never get traction when I needed it, and behavior was unpredictable - really a combination I don't want. So the first things I did was get a set of 19x10 MRR M350 wheels from this very forum, BMR handling springs and ford racing track shocks/struts. Man...those changes alone made a HUGE difference.
Several years into owning the car...it started to become more frustrating to drive than not and was a love/hate relationship for a little while...I kept thinking about getting something different. I just found myself not being able to drive the car the way I really wanted. Out on public roads, there's just no way to really push the car in any sane manner...It's hard to realize and explain but I experienced the difference when I first started tracking motorcycles.
So...I started thinking about getting back into track days but with a car...almost still got rid of the car in favor of a Fiesta ST to keep running costs down a bit and to get a car that could be more manageable...but...I'm glad I've kept the mustang. It's a great, reliable platform to work with. It still puts a smile on my face every time I do get to really drive it. I started tracking the car end of 2021...aaaand...I've went mod crazy the past year and a half to really make the car perform its best and to behave the way I want. I'll probably make a few posts here to highlight some of these changes.
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