Ford Mustang 2013 GT Track Pack
Discussion
I had the opportunity to drive my in law's 2016 F150 again. This is the aluminum bodied f150. Superb truck, only let down by the small lifestyle size bed, yet it has a large crewcab. You can get an extended cab with the 8ft bed but they're pretty rare. I took a nap in it while my wife was getting her hair done. The seats are like arm chairs. I've never driven a vehicle before with auto high beams. I wish my mustang had them, which reminds me I need to adjust my headlights. This f150 has the same coyote motor as the mustang, but feels less aggressive, probably detuned somewhat. Lots of nifty storage.
Today I went to the Corvette muesum in Bowling Green, KY.
24 us mpg @ 70mph with ac on, thats around 30 uk mpg. Not bad for a petrol truck.I highly recommend any muscle car fans to visit here on holiday.
It was a very cool experience. If you like vettes you will love this place. You can taste Americana in the air. You can smell the victory. You can feel the freedom!
When buying a new vette you can specify to pick it up from the factory. The car will be prepped and put on display, which is why the c7s pictured here are barried off. Part of the package includes watching your vette being built in real time.
I watched smug owners pick up their new cars. The corvette muesum staff legally have to drive the vehicle outside, due to insurance purposes. The wives usually follow on foot behind.
In true American style everyone started clapping and cheering. A sense of euphoria rolled on in, the public seemed genuinely happy for the new owner as opposed to thinking "what a rich t
t."
Initially I felt akward at the collective cheer. Then I told myself, don't fight it, let it happen. I drank the vette kool aid and followed suit. America!
Today I went to the Corvette muesum in Bowling Green, KY.
24 us mpg @ 70mph with ac on, thats around 30 uk mpg. Not bad for a petrol truck.I highly recommend any muscle car fans to visit here on holiday.
It was a very cool experience. If you like vettes you will love this place. You can taste Americana in the air. You can smell the victory. You can feel the freedom!
When buying a new vette you can specify to pick it up from the factory. The car will be prepped and put on display, which is why the c7s pictured here are barried off. Part of the package includes watching your vette being built in real time.
I watched smug owners pick up their new cars. The corvette muesum staff legally have to drive the vehicle outside, due to insurance purposes. The wives usually follow on foot behind.
In true American style everyone started clapping and cheering. A sense of euphoria rolled on in, the public seemed genuinely happy for the new owner as opposed to thinking "what a rich t
t."Initially I felt akward at the collective cheer. Then I told myself, don't fight it, let it happen. I drank the vette kool aid and followed suit. America!
Edited by 5ohmustang on Sunday 11th September 02:37
Here is the Chevy Colorado with extended cab doors open and tailgate down.
It looks like this truck is sold as the Isuzu Yukon in the UK. Same underneath, but a much uglier body. The uk model is cheaper and you get the diesel as standard. However the U.S. version comes with way more features as standard, z51 package and baby duramax for 8k more. For 36k you can get a toyota tacoma trd pro which is nicer and depreciates like a Porsche 930.
Time to drive a real man's truck...
I went back to Bowling Green for the Corvette factory tour. Tickets must be booked 24hrs prior to the actual tour. I was running late and my GPS took me on the dead end road literally a street away from the correct road I needed to be on. I ended up getting back on the interstate, going the wrong way and had to double back 8 miles one way.
I floored the truck and had Corvette Valhalla in sight.
The parking lot for the Corvette factory is huge and there's a Chevy Volt charging station for employees which was cool.
The tour itself was about 2-3 hours and it is right on the assembly line. It was awesome. The American rawness of the blue collar hero was in full glory.
The staff will take you to each station and you will see the car being assembeled, to the car leaving the factory for delivery. I believe on the VIP tour, if you order a new Vette you can see it being built from scratch. It takes around a day and a half from start to finish for a full vette to be completed.
So at the time no Z06's were being produced, the 2017 z06 production won't begin for a few weeks. There were no signs (obviously) of any prototype zr1 that I spotted.
They were building stingrays and grand sports.
There is the NCM National Corvette Muesum Racetrack, right outside for track days and corvette experience days.
Unfortunately, strictly no cell phones are allowed inside the factory.
It really was a bad idea visiting Bowling Green. All I can think about are corvettes. My wife keeps going on about how much she wants a C3 Corvette. Early C3's are expensive since they're from the muscle car era like a 427. However the later c3's from the disco era (Dirk Diggler Boogie Nights had the orange C3) can be found pretty cheap. I missed a deal where one was sold for $3000. However the engines are gutless due to the smog and emission regulations (climate change lies) of the fear mongering 1970's.
It would involve an ls swap which I don't think would be that hard since the engine accessibility on corvettes is excellent. It's just the time and motivation needed to complete that undertaking, is not there. I need to get this mustang done and I've not even started on the performance side.
Having said that I purchased a white line adjustable panhard bar and a white line panhard mount for preparation when I lower the car with the Bilstein B12 Pro kit. When the Bilstein kit is fitted, it will throw the solid live rear axle out of adjustment. It will shift left or right. The factory panhard bar is non adjustable. This allows me to re center the axle, improves rigidity, traction and reduces wheel hop.
I also got the white line panhard support brace which should build on the rigitity, the stock item is pretty thin.
http://www.americanmuscle.com/enlargedviewer/34236...
http://www.americanmuscle.com/whiteline-panhard-su...
I got the whole setup for $180 including shipping via ebay, saving $110 from msrp.
A lot of mustangs have been lowered, however most people slap lowering springs on and call it a day. Worsening the handling for the "dropped look." I want this done right the first time.
It looks like this truck is sold as the Isuzu Yukon in the UK. Same underneath, but a much uglier body. The uk model is cheaper and you get the diesel as standard. However the U.S. version comes with way more features as standard, z51 package and baby duramax for 8k more. For 36k you can get a toyota tacoma trd pro which is nicer and depreciates like a Porsche 930.
Time to drive a real man's truck...
I went back to Bowling Green for the Corvette factory tour. Tickets must be booked 24hrs prior to the actual tour. I was running late and my GPS took me on the dead end road literally a street away from the correct road I needed to be on. I ended up getting back on the interstate, going the wrong way and had to double back 8 miles one way.
I floored the truck and had Corvette Valhalla in sight.
The parking lot for the Corvette factory is huge and there's a Chevy Volt charging station for employees which was cool.
The tour itself was about 2-3 hours and it is right on the assembly line. It was awesome. The American rawness of the blue collar hero was in full glory.
The staff will take you to each station and you will see the car being assembeled, to the car leaving the factory for delivery. I believe on the VIP tour, if you order a new Vette you can see it being built from scratch. It takes around a day and a half from start to finish for a full vette to be completed.
So at the time no Z06's were being produced, the 2017 z06 production won't begin for a few weeks. There were no signs (obviously) of any prototype zr1 that I spotted.
They were building stingrays and grand sports.
There is the NCM National Corvette Muesum Racetrack, right outside for track days and corvette experience days.
Unfortunately, strictly no cell phones are allowed inside the factory.
It really was a bad idea visiting Bowling Green. All I can think about are corvettes. My wife keeps going on about how much she wants a C3 Corvette. Early C3's are expensive since they're from the muscle car era like a 427. However the later c3's from the disco era (Dirk Diggler Boogie Nights had the orange C3) can be found pretty cheap. I missed a deal where one was sold for $3000. However the engines are gutless due to the smog and emission regulations (climate change lies) of the fear mongering 1970's.
It would involve an ls swap which I don't think would be that hard since the engine accessibility on corvettes is excellent. It's just the time and motivation needed to complete that undertaking, is not there. I need to get this mustang done and I've not even started on the performance side.
Having said that I purchased a white line adjustable panhard bar and a white line panhard mount for preparation when I lower the car with the Bilstein B12 Pro kit. When the Bilstein kit is fitted, it will throw the solid live rear axle out of adjustment. It will shift left or right. The factory panhard bar is non adjustable. This allows me to re center the axle, improves rigidity, traction and reduces wheel hop.
I also got the white line panhard support brace which should build on the rigitity, the stock item is pretty thin.
http://www.americanmuscle.com/enlargedviewer/34236...
http://www.americanmuscle.com/whiteline-panhard-su...
I got the whole setup for $180 including shipping via ebay, saving $110 from msrp.
A lot of mustangs have been lowered, however most people slap lowering springs on and call it a day. Worsening the handling for the "dropped look." I want this done right the first time.
Edited by 5ohmustang on Wednesday 14th September 07:38
Home, home again.
I like to be here when I can.
When I come home cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire.
Far away across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spells.
I am home again from the Mojave in California. It was around 45c plus gear took it to around 50c.
The desert does funny things to a person, a whole lot of reflecting on life goes on. It would have been a good time for Jim Morrison to appear.
Once I get some rest in a comfy bed, next up will be the installation of the Whiteline Support Bar and adjustable panhard bar. I might as well fit it now and save some time when the struts and shocks go on. I will have to readjust again it when the mustang is lowered, but adjustment takes a minute once the rear end is jacked up.
I nearly purchased a set of Eibach multipro R1 coilovers and maximum motorsports caster camber plates for a cheap price but the spring rates were far too high. Eibach ers motorsport springs are available with a better rate of 225/250lbs but I can wait longer.
First I must feast and get this M.R.E. crap out.
Kapiteinlangzaam I salute you!
I like to be here when I can.
When I come home cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire.
Far away across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spells.
I am home again from the Mojave in California. It was around 45c plus gear took it to around 50c.
The desert does funny things to a person, a whole lot of reflecting on life goes on. It would have been a good time for Jim Morrison to appear.
Once I get some rest in a comfy bed, next up will be the installation of the Whiteline Support Bar and adjustable panhard bar. I might as well fit it now and save some time when the struts and shocks go on. I will have to readjust again it when the mustang is lowered, but adjustment takes a minute once the rear end is jacked up.
I nearly purchased a set of Eibach multipro R1 coilovers and maximum motorsports caster camber plates for a cheap price but the spring rates were far too high. Eibach ers motorsport springs are available with a better rate of 225/250lbs but I can wait longer.
First I must feast and get this M.R.E. crap out.
Kapiteinlangzaam I salute you!
I swapped out the dim incandescent trunk bulb to a Diode Dynamics led bulb. It's much brighter than before. It cost around $5.
Next I jacked up the car and installed the white line panhard support bar and the adjustable panhard bar. Both items are much much heavy duty than the factory originals.
I had to tape 550 cord guts to a socket on both rear fenders. Then measure the distance from the top center of the tire to the lip. The axle had kicked out 1/4 inch to the drivers side. I unscrewed the two locknuts on the bar and brought the axle back to center, thread locked the lock nut and all is good.
I have not had the chance to properly test the mustang to see if there is a noticeable difference. Regardless it's required for lowering when that comes in the future.
Next I jacked up the car and installed the white line panhard support bar and the adjustable panhard bar. Both items are much much heavy duty than the factory originals.
I had to tape 550 cord guts to a socket on both rear fenders. Then measure the distance from the top center of the tire to the lip. The axle had kicked out 1/4 inch to the drivers side. I unscrewed the two locknuts on the bar and brought the axle back to center, thread locked the lock nut and all is good.
I have not had the chance to properly test the mustang to see if there is a noticeable difference. Regardless it's required for lowering when that comes in the future.
I spotted another Buick Grand National, this one was mint with t tops.
There's something very magical about a Grand National.
Worth a watch, Black Air, the Buick Grand National documentary.
http://youtu.be/X2MrvWPByAA
There's something very magical about a Grand National.
Worth a watch, Black Air, the Buick Grand National documentary.
http://youtu.be/X2MrvWPByAA
With the thought of switching to the lightest and widest wheel possible at the best value for money, I've been looking at Forgestar f14s.
Rotary forged flow formed and made in the USA, this 19x11 weighs 25lbs. They are really wide and is the maximum width allowed under regular mustang arches.
Anything wider will require a wide body kit which don't look right.
These will take 315 tire profile which will help it put the power down once it's supercharged.
Just tried the one for now, as I can get single wheels very cheap every so often.
Rotary forged flow formed and made in the USA, this 19x11 weighs 25lbs. They are really wide and is the maximum width allowed under regular mustang arches.
Anything wider will require a wide body kit which don't look right.
These will take 315 tire profile which will help it put the power down once it's supercharged.
Just tried the one for now, as I can get single wheels very cheap every so often.
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