2008 Stage 3 ROUSH - Rebirth...

[BruceH]

Good luck as in hope it works out?

Do you not recommend breather setup?

I don't mean anything bad. It was just a closing statement.

 

[AutoXRacer]

Thanks for the compliment guys...

Regarding the build and how much I have spent which is now closer if not pasted the $50K mark as I keep having to buy parts... I am not sure if this build was worth it.
The only time I am truly happy is when I got WOT in 2nd, shifting into 3rd, and then 4th (if there is enough road left lol) but other than that, the car is harsh. I really miss the smoothness and comfort of a stock car. I think the 2013 GT500 would have been the perfect ticket. Especially since rumors have it that Ford is not building a GT500 in 2014. From what I read, a GT350 will be replacing the GT500. More power than a GT but much less than a GT500.

This leads me to believe the 2013 GT500 will become a collectors item...at least go up in value if it is truly the last high power Mustang Ford makes.


Not sure if I mentioned it earlier in the thread... But after the tuning was all sorted out and yielded the 600rwhp and 580 rwtq, the car felt weak compared to the previous tune with higher boost (640HP/620TQ). I was really disappointed and frustrated at the same time.

But Lito came to the rescue once again. Calculating gear ratios and such, he figured that with my new transmission being the wide ratio version plus my stock 3.55 gears, I was super over-driving the car!!

I never thought about it as with the original tuning and higher boost, the car was insane!! Its not that much less power number-wise, but felt extremely different.

Anyway, Lito suggested 4.10s, minimum of 3.73s.

I got 4.10s installed and the car became a freakin animal!!! As the driver you are holding on for dear life!! As soon as you WOT, the scenery turns into a blur as if it was a scene from Star Trek warp drive!! You feel your shoulders being pulled back into the seat!!! I have only felt this as a passenger in my life.

But...a couple of months after the gear swap (car was parked for 1 month due to broken sway bar mount) I have noticed the car is making a noise. A noise similar to noisy tires that whirl at highway speeds. Its not my tires as they have always been quiet. I am wondering if its gear whine!!?? Why would it should up after a couple of months and not as soon as I drove away from the shop?

I was also swapping out wheels/tires yesterday and I think I may have more issues.
As the rear end was in the air, on my driver side wheel/tire, if I push and pull at the 6 o'clock position, I can hear a slight clunk and the wheel has a slight play in it. No play nor sound at any other positions (12, 3, or 9). The passenger side is also solid.

I am wondering if my rear-end needs a rebuild...sigh
What bothers me is I ask the shop if we should replace all the bearings and seals as I did not want to tear back into it after new gears were put it.

So more to come on that...

I am also dealing with an oil consumption issue which is posted in another thread:
http://s197forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=103481


So I just heard Race Wars in on the 13th...
I am hoping this rear-end driver side wheel play is not a big issue as I want to race!!
Plus I also have a track day on the 18th!!! This will be the first time the car is really put to the test in handling.

 

[BruceH]

Is it a decel whine? Was a crush sleeve used for the gear install? Sometimes a crush sleeve will continue to crush over time and this will cause decel noise. The solution is to use a solid spacer.

There are other things that could be causing it too. I'm just listing an issue I've had in the past.

 

[AutoXRacer]

No, not at decel. Only does it when the drivetrain is loaded...even the slightest load induce the sound.
Sounds exactly like noisy tires.

 

[808muscle]

Could it be a wheel bearing? What differential are you running?


When you say the ride is "harsh", is this in reference to all the suspension work ie new k member etc...that stiffen it up? Or do you mean the drivetrain?

 

[AutoXRacer]

Could it be a wheel bearing? What differential are you running?


When you say the ride is "harsh", is this in reference to all the suspension work ie new k member etc...that stiffen it up? Or do you mean the drivetrain?

Not sure... I told the shop that swapped the gears if they should just rebuild the whole rear axle since it has 64K miles. They said no because it was good; that these axles go a long way. But I would have hoped they would check...

I am still running the 8.8". The plan is to someday upgrade to a 9".

 

[Rangersfan]

Hey Gerald, I think we talked a few times when I worked for Steeda. When you say "harsh ride" is it in comparison to the way it used to be? Keep in mind you have some more race-style suspension parts on board now, so you'd have to expect a little more NVH than before. That's the trade off to get all that power to hook better, and it sounds like you have more now lol

 

[AutoXRacer]

Hey Gerald, I think we talked a few times when I worked for Steeda. When you say "harsh ride" is it in comparison to the way it used to be? Keep in mind you have some more race-style suspension parts on board now, so you'd have to expect a little more NVH than before. That's the trade off to get all that power to hook better, and it sounds like you have more now lol

Yes, I guess I should have expected that... lol
It feels more like a gokart harsh. The thing that bugs me the most are all the rattles and thumps driving over un-smooth (is that even a word? lol) roads.
Like I said, everything is tight and torqued to specs. Makes it sound like its an old clunker. LOL Drivetrain is the worst culprit...that T-56 magnum is real noisy!!!

We'll find out later this month how all these suspension upgrades work out.
I'll be at Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA for their NW Mustangs track day.
Although my tires will leave a lot to be desired.

I'll be using/finishing off, my old autocross tires, Kumho MXs, which used to be the top tire in the day. These are roughly two years old...maybe going on 3. I have not used them in over 2 years. I have been driving on them all weekend; need to rotate the front tires to the rear so I can scrub them in. lol
Its so much easier with all this power now.

All I have to say though is I got used to drag radials so quickly!!
I can't believe the difference in traction!!

Boy I wish you could run drag radials on the road course... lol

 

[topbliss]

wow what a thread.. AutoX, you are a GOD... Love what you did so far... Congrats...

BTW- 2014 GT500's are made..

 

[AutoXRacer]

BTW- 2014 GT500's are made..

Maybe its for 2015...whenever the new model/generation comes out. lol

 

[muztangman93]

I remember when my car was 400 rwhp I thought it was quick. a week later felt slow. Then went for 500 rwhp. Again after a week felt slow. Just finished my stuff up earlier this year as well 680 rwhp and after about a week feels slow again. I think its the nature of the beast. We just get used to it. I know my car is fast I cant use 1st or 2nd on the street cause it spins. If I had it to do over again I probably would have left mine at 500 and went for a gt500 in a year or two. I get to test mine out 12 hour drive to mustang week hope it makes it.

 

[BruceH]

I remember when my car was 400 rwhp I thought it was quick. a week later felt slow. Then went for 500 rwhp. Again after a week felt slow. Just finished my stuff up earlier this year as well 680 rwhp and after about a week feels slow again. I think its the nature of the beast. We just get used to it. I know my car is fast I cant use 1st or 2nd on the street cause it spins. If I had it to do over again I probably would have left mine at 500 and went for a gt500 in a year or two. I get to test mine out 12 hour drive to mustang week hope it makes it.

That seems to be the general opinion. 500-550 is just about perfect for a street car imo. Especially if you have traction. We get caught up in chasing numbers and feed off of each other on the forums.

 

[AutoXRacer]

That seems to be the general opinion. 500-550 is just about perfect for a street car imo. Especially if you have traction. We get caught up in chasing numbers and feed off of each other on the forums.

You guys are absolutely right when running street tires. But since running drag radials on the street, I can lay on the throttle a lot more aggressively!! Oh man are the first 4 gears a rush!! I mean crazy roller-coaster like rush!!

Problem is there is no where to open her up except for a couple of desolate short roads that let you row from 2-3rd... sigh

I love my current power level, I do have to agree its a little over-board for a daily driver...but man those few WOT are just exhilarating!!

The only reason I drive my car is because I hope I will come across a short desolate patch of road that will allow me to do a quick WOT or the traffic light with a merge lane that ends across the intersection, hoping a Corvette, Ferrari, Viper, Camaro, Import, whatever is next to me...pathetic huh...? lol

BTW, what size drag radials do you have in that avatar Bruce? Are those the ones you are currently running?

 

[BruceH]

275/60/15. Before switching to these I ran 305/45/18 for drag radials. I really like the 15 inch tires for normal driving. The tires are inexpensive too, less than $300 for a set shipped.

I'll bet that a NT-05 would work pretty well for you in straight line and corners.

 

[muztangman93]

Well Ive honestly never felt what my car can do because I don't have a set of tires to try it out with. 2nd it starts spinning about 4500 rpms then with this wot box if I no lift shift it goes crazy shifting into 3rd. Id love to see what 1st gear feels like. I might fall in love again with it.

 

[AutoXRacer]

Well Ive honestly never felt what my car can do because I don't have a set of tires to try it out with. 2nd it starts spinning about 4500 rpms then with this wot box if I no lift shift it goes crazy shifting into 3rd. Id love to see what 1st gear feels like. I might fall in love again with it.

Forget about first gear... I can only WOT maybe in 3rd gear... lol

 

[AutoXRacer]

I may have some good news regarding another option for upgraded alternator!!!

I ordered a set of coils from Performance Distributors which are known for their DUI systems. Anyway, I contacted them and they said they can custom build a 240 amp alternator for our cars!! 120 amps at idle!!!

I am still investigating if this will be a bolt-on affair or if its a custom fab setup.
Pricing would be around $500 though...

Here is their current offerings:
http://www.performancedistributors.com/alternators-mramp.htm

If its more reliable and stable than the PA Performance, it may be worth it!!!

More to come!!

Does anyone know what is the minimum voltage our car need to perform nominally?
Right now, at full load, my voltage drops to 13.5 or so...thats reading at the battery which the voltage is slightly higher at the alternator output; typically 0.5 volts difference.

 

[SoCalGT]

crazy project! my hats off too you though looks killer

 

[AutoXRacer]

Went to Race Wars this weekend. Its a 1/4 mile drag race on an runway, not timed, and poor traction due to the asphalt. Lots of fun though to just run the car and race friends.

Anyway, I haven't gone to a true drag strip and timed the car yet.
But this weekend, I supposedly (owner stated) that his car is a 10.89 second are and I beat him by 3 car lengths.

He got me out of the hole...but I quickly reeled him in and passed him by 3 car lengths.

I am a little surprised this (my) car is this fast. I am now wondering if this was truly a 10.89 second car.

I also raced a supposedly 11 second 69 Camaro... We launched together, he started pulling slightly-I have horrible 1-2 gear traction-and then as soon as the tires hooked, it was a blur...left him down the track.

One of the races I lost was to a supercharged Z06 Corvette, although, the only reason I lost was because I had a horrible launch. He got me out of the hole, but then I caught up to him and stayed right by his rear tire. I felt like I was slowly pulling on him.

So I have to really go to a real drag strip to see what this car has in her...

Overall I am very happy!!! I was picked to participate in the Race Wars shoot out...only 8 fastest cars were hand picked.
I have never been part of an elite club. I have always been the one drooling of the fast and cool cars. Never thought people would see me in that position.

Build update:

Still having issues with front sway bar end links. The Shelby race links I bought and installed, one of them is clunking. Sigh
So I ordered a set of 2011-2013 end links. They have been redesigned since the 2005-2009 versions.

So I will give those a try... Hopefully my front end clunk will finally be resolved.

 

[Got Trq]

I just read your whole thread and I love it! I hope to do something similar with my Saleen one day. Good luck with your front end clunk! Maybe contact Team Z and see if they can recommend anything, they are an awesome company, have great customer service, and their products are top notch. If you don't want to call them you can email them and they will get back with you in about a day if they aren't horribly busy.