the snake and the pony

OK, so update time. On October 30Th, 2010 i bought a 1997 Cobra Mustang...yeah, a Cobra! I always wanted a Cobra, but didn't think I would ever get one. But that all changed when i went to TPS Motorsports. I brought my '96 GT in to ask a few questions about getting my motor redone (perhaps a PI swap...that sort of thing). Long story short, they talked me out of it and said use that rebuild money to get a Cobra. So i started searching with no luck, Cobras just seemed out of my price range...until i got a reply from a Craigslist WTB 96-98 Cobra. One slightly rainy day, 5,500 cash fewer...Scott drove away with a 1997 Mustang SVT Cobra. The car needs a bit of work, but it is all there and is a great project. The car is ALL stock same for a pair of Flowmaster mufflers. The Cobra will need a new radiator core support and a new paint job, but for now i am just going through cleaning it up and doing maintenance items. Can't wait to post pics and get to drive it more. I will be getting a the brakes back together by next weekend...then it should be drivable. I have already put a lot of time into...too much to list with the time i have right now, will post a list soon, but it is worth it. So...Cobra in one bay, GT in the other...lovin' it!!!! Speaking of the GT, just bought new tires for it and got them mounted today...Hankook, very nice! so stay tuned!

...its been awhile......

So it really has been a long time since i have posted anything on this page. I have had a lot of ups and downs in my life as well as a few hiccups with the car in the past two months. Where to begin...well as this is a page for my car, and not some site for me to rant and complain about my day to day...we will just cut to the stang.

In November...think it was the 14, 15, and 16...I went back to Buttonwillow for another NASA Track day...which was a blast. But before that I had a few issues with the car. I bought a intake spacer from Stack Racing, which for the price is ok...but was sorta a pain in the rear to install do to the EGR Valve and tube are meant for the stock height of the plenum. While working on that i noticed that the coolant tank that sits above the radiator had a crack which in turn became a big leak. So I thought I was gonna have to scrap the Buttonwillow trip, but at the last second I was able to find a used one from a wrecked 97 GT. After getting back from the 'willow trip i installed a trick Aluminum coolant tank from Moroso, which is SWEET!

Next I installed a Corbeau 3-point retractable harness in Red with Yellow Belt pads. It looks and better yet feels great. I was supposed to get those parts before the 'willow trip...but they were back ordered...guess that is the way things go. After they were installed i took a ride on Hwy 1 from Morro Bay to Salinas...but along the way i ran into some trouble.

The belts really held me in great, way better and safer than the RCI ones i had...but that wasn't the problem. To keep things short, i came around a turn at night to find a good sized rock in my lane. I knew i couldn't stop in time and there was on-coming traffic in the other lane...so my only choice was to hit it. Anyone how knows HWY 1 will know there is no shoulder or brake down lane. I kept myself from slamming on the brakes, as this would lower the front end of the car down and risk damaging the oil pan. So i tried my best to center my car with the rock (the tranny and drive shaft are tucked up so i thought that would be my best shot. While I was extremely lucky that the rock didn't do ANY damage to the drivetrain whatsoever, but the exhaust took a good deal of beating. The rock hit the passenger cat of my BBK X-pipe then shot of the side of the car, but not before hitting the floorpan and the passenger rear wheel (small scrape on the inside). The X-pipe is damaged as the cat's internals broke apart which in turn gave the car a check engine light code (for a O2 sensor). The sensor is ok, but the X-pipe has to be ditched. SO i put the stock H-pipe back on...thank god I saved it!!!!

While I was under the car I thought I would replace the oil pressure sender unit. When installing the new one, the part that threads into the oil-filter adapter cracked and broke off. S*%#!!! So Now as the car sits alone and cold...waiting for a new oil-filter adapter, i sit here writing this. The part is ordered but will not get here til the second week of JAN. At the same time I decided to order a set of Mishimoto Blue upper and lower Silicone hose set. A week or two before the rock incident happened the heater core hose blew off again...well more like split in-two! To replace that I bought a race/hi-boost application section of blue silicone in hopes it will not happen (knocking on my wooden desk....).

To top that i have discovered a leak in the factory radiator so it will need replacing. I have that Mishimoto aluminum unit...but it has a leak, so it will need to be pressure tested and then repaired!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So stay tuned and give me a little support. Need to keep my spirits up.

Oh and to just make this even more boring and long, I am toying with the idea of buying a 2000-2004 Ford focus as my daily...yeah...and I will leave it at that.

My Top Twenty Favorite Mustangs

After reading a poll from one of my favorite Mustang magazines about "the twenty best Mustangs of all time", it really made me think: "Best? What is Best???". So in my mind I thought, what are my top twenty Mustangs, but not of 'all time', instead which ones I would love to own...and of course...modify. So here they are...oh and in no particular order.

1). 1998 Saleen S351 Coupe (Chrome Yellow with Matching Yellow Wheels)
2). 1997 SVT Cobra Coupe (Pacific Green with Saddle Leather)
3). 2003 SVT Cobra Coupe (Black with Black leather/Parchment Suede)
4). 1995 Mustang GTS (Crystal White with Opal Gray Cloth)
5). 2003 Roush Stage 3 Coupe (Dark Shadow Gray with Black Leather)
6). 1995 SVT Cobra R (Crystal White with Saddle Cloth)
7). 1996 Mustang GT Convertible (Deep Violet with Black Cloth)
8). 1989 Mustang GT (Black with Titanium Lower Accent, Bright Red Cloth)
9). 1985 Mustang GT (Silver Metallic with Tan Cloth)
10). 2000 SVT Cobra R (Performance Red with Black Cloth)
11). 1996 Saleen S281 (Black with Black Leather)
12). 1998 Steeda Cobra Q (Bright Atlantic Blue with Black Leather)
13). 2001 Bullitt Mustang GT (Dark Hyland Green with Dark Charcoal Leather)
14). 1999 SVT Cobra Coupe (Crystal White with Parchment Leather)
15). 1986 Mustang SVO Comp (Black with Dark Charcoal Leather)
16). 1991 Mustang LX 5.0 Coupe (Bright Red with Black Cloth)
17). 2003 Mustang Mach 1 Auto (Black with Dark Charcoal Leather)
18). 2000 Saleen S281 SC Coupe (Laser Red with Dark Charcoal Cloth)
19). 1997 Roush Stage 3 Coupe (Moonlight Blue with Opal Gray Leather)
20). 1994 SVT Cobra Coupe (Black with Saddle Cloth)

So hope you enjoyed 'my list'. Let me know what 'your list' is. Drop me an email and tell me what stangs would be in your stable.

"I are stupid!"

It has been said that "stupid people do stupid things". Well "I are sTuPiD"...so it kinda works out, lol.

Ok so I am coming back from Gilroy, heading towards Hollister when i pass by the little airport. I glance over and see a WWII era plane just sitting there. So i make a "very quick...ok...stupid" u-turn and park next to the fence. I Jump out of my car, cross three lanes of traffic before being hit, and start snapping some pics of this Mustang next to my Mustang. Now i don't know that much about planes but i think the plane might a WWII era P-51 Mustang. It was so pretty. Every opening between cars I ran out into the middle of the road (please mom if you are reading this, I am sorry...i shouldn't be playing in the middle of the street), to snap a few more pics. Hope you enjoy the 'stangs. (Just wish my car was cleaner, but that's how life works i guess).

The stang is caged!!!

Ok, so after many, many hours of fighting with the roll cage, its in. I came out victoriously, and with most of my blood left too. The cage looks awesome, but it does because of the many hours of extra work i put into it. I knew from the get-go that i wanted to retain my factory interior panels. The instructions say only a bit of trimming is needed, well that is the biggest understatement EVER! I don't know how many times i had the cage in and out of my car to make adjustments. But in the end, i realize taking my time really made the difference. When i first got the cage i wanted to paint it yellow, but was worried about it standing out too much and perhaps being a distraction. Instead of the yellow i went with gloss black, a very strong industrial coat (rattle can of course). The finish came out more semi-gloss, but i really like it. I wish i could think of all the details and modifications that went into this roll cage project, but it is one of those things you need to do or see to understand. Funny thing is, most people don't notice that the car has a cage (remember it is a four point, so no door bars, everything is behind the front seats. Between the factory black interior, 35% tinting, and the fact i painted the cage black...it just disappears. That is good in some cases, bad in others. Cops won't see it unless they really look, but unless you know mustangs pretty well, i think you wouldn't notice it. This project is not for the faint hearted, you have to cut interior panels, drill sixteen holes, remove undercoating, and have to retouch a lot of the flooring. But in my mind, it was worth it...the car really has 'that look' that cannot be described unless you have always wanted a race car. Next up is a set of harnesses. So stay tuned and i promise to put pics up when i get the car all cleaned up and the other seat in.

Mods part 3

Shifter: The stock shifter in a Mustang just doesn't cut it. That 2-3 shift can be a real pain, even in daily driving. Before I bought aftermarket shifter i thought i would see if there could be any improvements made to the stock shifter. I installed the Steeda bushing kit. Easy install and very cheap. It did improve the firmness of the shifts, but still a long throw and continued to have problems with the 2-3 shift. So i bought a Steeda Tri-Ax short shifter. The installation was straight forward and easy enough to say anyone with some free time and a few basic tools can do it. The shifter has this spring deal that really helps that 2-3 shift, kinda like it is guiding you to that gear, not the other way around. The shifter let me use the stock knobs, never had problems with that. It has two height positions, i drove for a long time with the shifter arm in the top position but one day thought i should try the lower one. It does lower the shifter arm and does require a bit more leverage, but i enjoyed it enough to keep it that way. I have had that shifter for three years and the only real problems I have had was the bolt kept coming loose, so i put a lil bit of lock-tight, cured the problem. Someday i would like to switch to the MGW shifter to see what all the hype is about.

Clutch: this modification was required due to a coolant leak i had that had. Coolant leaked down the back of motor and rusted out throw-out bearing. I bought the Ford Racing King Cobra clutch because i had one in my 1983 GT and loved it. At the same time i replaced the worn-out stock plastic quadrant with a Steeda double hook aluminum quadrant along with the Steeda cable and firewall adjuster. Everything is great with the cable and quadrant, but i still am having problems with the adjuster. The set screw used to lock the adjuster in the desired position has stripped out, so i went to OSH and bought a new set screw that was not only stronger but was a bit longer so it is easier to adjust. I also did this mod on my 1983 GT but never had any problems with any of those pices.

Brakes: My rotors where a little worn out so i decided to not have them turned, but instead I replaced all four rotors. I went with PowerSlot Slotted rotors. They are coated so they don't rust, help get rid of brake gasses and heat. I wish the company would have upgraded the rear disc ti vented disc, but other wise happy with them. I put the Hawk HPS street pads and J&M ss braided front brake lines to further improve the braking capibility. All these parts i was able to install myself, but when it came time to bleed the brakes I just couldn't get the air out, so i had my local Ford service tech do it. While i had everything apart I painted the calipers yellow. This is what started the Black and Yellow theme on my car. I was at a autocross and saw a Porsche 996 911 GT3 in black with the optional brake upgrade. Porsche paints the calipers yellow, which really caught my eye. The cailper paint is super easy to use and really stands out.

Mods: Part 2

Engine bay with LiveWires, K&N cold air intake.
New improved design intake on left, factory manifold on right

MAC tailpipes

MAC Catback just installed

Before I begin i would like to say that my car is daily driven. It isn't a race car, nor is it a show car. I do however take it to races at the local autocross and have entered it in a show before. The point is the mods done to the car are made to improve the car overall. I know this car won't win at the 'strip or best of show, but i love it!

Engine

• K&N Cold Air Intake Kit: I bought the K&N due to a few factors. One being that it is a proven design. Two, i didn't want a flashy chrome cold air intake (not really a big chrome fan). And last main reason being that i wanted the tubing to be plastic instead of aluminum for cooler intake charge. The kit was really simple, all the instructions are provided with the kit and only basic hand tools are needed to install the setup. I didn't have to flash the computer or anything like that, nor did it give me any check engine lights or idle problems. One thing I wish to improve upon this kit is perhaps a better heat shield. Doesn't do a whole lot to seal off air filter. I have plans on making my own heat shield with some sort of heat guard material on the outside of the shield. My only other complaint is that the filter is difficult to remove when it comes time to clean it. Other than that i love it, sounds great and sure it gave the car a lil pep

• Intake Manifold: When i got the car it had a coolant leak. Turns out to be a common problem for this year of Mustang. The plastic lower intake manifold has a coolant passage at the very front of the manifold. Problem is that the plastic is prone to cracking at that area. To solve that problem I installed a "improved design" intake manifold with a aluminum coolant passage. Otherwise the manifold is like the stock piece. That was the first mod to the car and haven't had a problem with the manifold since. While I had the manifold off i installed a 180 thermostat to aide cooling.



• Plug wires: When it came time to replace the plugs and wires on the car i chose to brighten up the engine compartment with a set of Performance distributors "LiveWires". They are great looking. I was very hard to find yellow plug wires for my car so that is the reason why i chose that brand. Everything has been great with them. Think they are a 8.5mm or 9mm but with a Yellow jacketing material on them so almost all plug wire dividers don't work with them, so use the Performance distributors ones.






• Cat Back Exhaust: It wasn't long before i noticed how quiet my car was. I am young stupid guy, and dammit i want my car loud, lol. But i didn't want it super loud because i don't need tickets. So I bought the MAC "True-fit" 2.5" cat back exhaust system. The kit said it was going to be powdercoated black, but when i got it, the tubing was bare metal. So i painted everything except the tailpipes high-temp black with a rattle can. I was really happy because it only took my dad and i to install it. We don't have a lift or anything fancy like that. I ran the car for a long time with the chrome 3" tips in place but after awhile grew tired of the chrome. So one day i removed the tailpipes and not only was i rewarded with the look i was after but gave the exhaust note a increased "bark".




• BBK X-pipe: My factory h-pipe had four cats and two resonators, plus it weight a lot. I decided to replace it with aftermarket piece, but wasn't sure if i wanted to go with a X-pipe or H-pipe. I played around on youtube, listening to cars similar to mine only with different mid-pipes. After much consideration i choose the X-pipe. I just loved that sound, and if you haven't heard it, stop reading this and go take a listen. At first i was going to get the Pipes X-pipe due to the lower price but some people warned me about the fitment issues with stock manifolds and aftermarket headers. SO in the end i chose the BBK X-pipe with cats (hey I live in CA, need to at least try to pass smog). The sound is amazing. But man did i struggle with getting the fitment together. I took my car to a local exhaust shop where they put the car on a lift and got all the issues taken care of. So if you do plan to do this mod, take into consideration that no matter what the kit says, there will be tweaking involved. But it is worth it and damn does it sound great. It isn't the cheapest mod, especially if you get one with cats (I mean some are going for close to $700, but the BBK was easier on the wallet).

Mods (the fun stuff!) part 1

Here is a run-down of the exterior and interior mods I have done to my 1996 Mustang GT: (if you have any questions on installing advise or want to see pics of before and after just leave me a message and I will help you out as best as i can)

BODY

• V6 rear bumper cover. (took off the stock GT rear bumper which has the "MUSTANG GT" script and replaced it with V6 cover that reads "MUSTANG". I found a used bumper from a Black '98 V6 that was in pretty good shape on craigslist for $75. I did this for two reasons: one being the original cover's clear coat had seen better days, and the other reason being I wanted the "Cobra" look, no hint of a GT. I later added the yellow bumper decal to accent the black/yellow theme. The decal costed only 20 from 50Resto. Both these items are easy to install and only required basic hand tools.)
  
• Rear spoiler removed. (Ever other Black GT in my area had a wing or spoiler and i didn't want my car to look like just another Black GT. So one day i got out my socket set and unbolted the rear wing. The result made the car look cleaner. Although the at some point of its life, the spoiler vibrated a bit loose which caused it to rub against the paint, causing a "ring around the spoiler mounts. To me it stood out too much, but i didn't have the money to repaint the trunk, so I bought a sheet of black decal material and cut out a shape to cover the areas where the spoiler was mounted. It came out really good and was a cheap fix, no body notices it.)

• Emblems. ( I went back and forth on what emblems I should get for my car. I knew that i didn't want my car to look like a GT anymore, so I spent the afternoon with a heat gun, a plastic putty knife and some Goo Be-Gone and took off all the emblems. The car looked mean, but i wanted something to cover the holes and give the car a bit more character. So going along with the "Cobra" look I chose to get the Cobra fender snakes. On americanmuscle.com i found that they not only had the cobra fender snake emblems but also a matching cobra grille emblem, so i bought the set. They look great and to most people the emblems when placed in the factory locations, fool them into thinking it is a Cobra. This is a very simple mod, the emblems only cost me $40.00 for all three. Great way to change your mustangs attitude.)

• Headlamps. (from the day i bought my car i new it needed new headlamps. Not only were they yellowed and faded, but they had a few small cracks i them. So a quick trip to americanmuscle.com rewarded with a easy cheap solution: aftermarket units. I ended up choosing the ultra clear headlamps with chrome backgrounds along with matching side markers. I really recommend buying the side markers at the same time as the headlamps because it really refreshes the look of the car. The installation was super hard, just have to be patient, and like many of its other products, americanmuscle.com has install instructions as well as how-to videos to help. Once they were on my car, i wondered how the previous owner lived with the stock headlamps. No more yellow hazy plastic, improved night vision, and modified look. I got mine for $150.00, trust me, 100% worth it)

• Decals. (I have changed decals more times than most people change air fresheners. As it stands right now, I have a local Ford dealership decal on the trunk alongside of a silver "SVT" decal. A yellow ford oval brightens the windshield and goes well with the yellow black theme. The twin yellow fender stripes idea came from the 1996 Corvette Grand Sport.

INTERIOR

• Seats (I love these seats! They are PROCAR by Scat Elite seats in black cloth which i found used online for about $200.00 Much more supportive than the factory seats plus gives the interior "that race look". I had another set from APEX but found them to be too stiff and uncomfortable. Before buying seats, really do your research and ask around on local mustang forums. Remember that's where you will be spending the most time, so don't skimp out on seats and buy some cheap seat covers.
  
• Rear Seat Delete: (Anyone who has or had a mustang, have ever ride in the back seat knows it is just about pointless. Even as a kid i remember rinding in the back of my dad's '85 gt and it being too tight. So i knew down the line i wanted that back seat out. For awhile i drove around with just the back seat removed and called it that. but after awhile i knew that wasn't going to cut it, so i did some researching online a found a site called yellowmustangregistry.com. Through them i found a company called Shrader Performance who had a really nice rear seat delete kit. Although it was a bit pricey at $200.00, but it was worth it, not only does it fill the void with a stylish replacement, but also serves as a storage area for all your car cleaning products. To complete the look i removed the rear seat belts with took some time and required removing interior panels, but total weight savings was around 40lbs!
  
• Ford Racing FR500 steering wheel: For about $240 i bought this 'wheel at American Muscle and i have been very happy. My original wheel was a bit worn out and after driving a friends mustang who had installed one, i wanted one. The installation wasn't too difficult as long as you have a good shop many and a decent steering wheel puller. Don't forget to disconnect the battery so the air bags don't go off! I love the feel of the wheel in my hands, more soft and easier to grip. Plus it looks great!

• Roush Interior Trim Kit: (found this online for under $50. It is a quick and simple install. Better than a decal or sticker because it is plastic and molds to the lines of the interior, attached with 3M tape and it was good to go! I bought mine in the silver carbon fiber trim to lighten the interior a bit. Came with a piece for the instrument cluster bezel, center HAVC trim with matching shifter bezel trim, and although i chose not to use them two small pieces for the door cups)

• Shifter Knob: This is actually my fourth shifter knob, and until something else catches my eye that is cheap and looks good think i will stay with it. First i had the stock knob which i painted the shifter pattern insert yellow, then i had a Hurst knock-off white shifter ball but the threads stripped out. Then i bought a knob from a wrecked 2003 Mach 1 which was great except it got too hot, so to replace that bought a PRO 5.0 black shifter ball. Never gets too hot, looks great as it is a semi-gloss back, and fits my big hands well. Take some time when looking for a knob and if possible ask friends to try theirs out for a quick test.

First Blog

Hello everyone. This site is dedicated to all the Mustang lover's out there. Ever since I was young I was a Mustang nut. My dad bought a 1985 Mustang GT after it was about a year old and since day one with that car i have been in love. There are pictures of me hugging that car, washing it and pretending to drive it when i was little. Fast forward to the summer of 2000. My father gave me the keys to (after backing out of our shop with the driver's door open, catching it on the shop opening and bending the door back). It didn't matter to me, it was still the same car i have always loved. My friend Robert and I would drive it around my back yard (without a driver's door of course), strapping a mic to the rear bumper and then playing the recorded tunes of the carbureted 302cid 5.0L V8, over and over again! But the car sat while i was in high school due to an electrical issue. Shortly after my High school Senior year, i found a 1983 Mustang GT on craigslist for $1,200. The car had some damage to the rear, but it was a lot of fun. I was my project car in my college body shop until i ran across a 1996 Mustang GT listed on a bay area craigslist ad. I bought the '96 GT the same day for $4,800. It was love at first sight. Even though i loved the 83-86 body style i was really fond of the SN-95 body shape. I remember having a poster on my bedroom wall back in late 90's of Muscle Mustangs and Fast Ford test of the "all new Mustang for 1996". It was my dream car, and all i could think of while i was driving home for the first time in my '96 is how i know owned my dream car! The poster car was a early production '96 GT in Black hardtop with Black cloth and a auto trans. I bought mine with the 5speed for the fun of rowing through the gears. Its been over three years since i bought the car, and its only gotten better with time. I will never grow old with this car because i could be having the worse day, but all i have to hop in the car and turn over the 4.6L V8 and go for a cruise...and all is Zen. Thank you for taking a look at my site. I will be posted all the mods I have done to my car along with pics, reviews of products i have bought and future mods I have planned. So stay tuned!