For many builders, a SEMA car is all about the bling. Shiny things grab your attentionyou’re drawn to the kind of over-the-top awesomeness that you just can’t seem to take your eyes off. But sometimes what’s hiding beneath the surface can be equally as impressive.
This month we look at another stage of the initial build of our AMSOIL Mustang GT SEMA project--namely suspension, brakes, wheels, and tires.
When the car rolled out of the spray booth at Visual FX, it had an entirely new super-aggressive persona. The stripe package coupled with the realistic blue-fire graphics set our AMSOIL GT apart from the crowd, at SEMA or otherwise. It flat-out looked mean, but it was missing two major elementsthe right wheels and tires, and the perfect stance. Fortunately for us, this was easily remedied.
When our AMSOIL Mustang GT...
When our AMSOIL Mustang GT rolled out of the paint booth at Visual FX Custom Paint and Graphics, the aggressive paintwork looked amazing. But the GT’s rolling stock and stock stance just didn’t work with the stripe-and-flame package.
Our AMSOIL Mustang was based around a drag-race-themed ’11 Mustang GT. With the Ford Racing supercharger and Kook’s exhaust, the Four-Valve 5.0- liter was making 539 rwhp, so it was easy to match the suspension components to our power production. We also knew we would expand the output in the future, so we made sure the new components would work well with our current power level, as well as with higher horsepower levels.
The suspension upgrades started with coilover struts from Strange Engineering. These double-adjustable units for the S197 Mustang bolt right into the stock location with no modifications to the spindles or strut tower. The weight of the body now rests on 2.5-inch, 14-inch-long coils with a spring rate of 200 lb/in. This setup allows us to not only fine-tune the dampening characteristics for optimum track performance, but we can also fine-tune the ride height for the perfect look and suspension travel.
The Strange coilovers do not have provisions for the sway bar to re-attach, so we simply removed it. This also helped shave a few pounds off the nose and will certainly help the Mustang transfer weight on launch. With the coilovers in place, we shifted our attention to the binders.
Strange Engineering sent us...
Strange Engineering sent us a set of its double-adjustable coilover struts for the S197 Mustang.
Strange Engineering also sent a set of its Pro Race steel front brakes. These non-vented slotted rotors are not designed for street use, but it gave us the super-aggressive race look we wanted. Should we decide to hit the street, we’ll likely switch to a different set of front brakes. To finish off the front, we turned to Weld racing for its Magnum Drag 2.0 one-piece front wheels. The hoops measure in at 15x3.5-inches, and the black and silver-anodized finished adds a sinister look to the Kona Blue exterior. We wrapped the Magnum fronts in Moroso DS-2 rubber, which are intended for on-track use only.
Once the front was buttoned up, we shifted our attention to the rear. The first pieces to go were the stock lower control arms. Blow-By Racing sent us a set of its billet lower control arms for the S197 Mustang. These solid lowers are clear-anodized with polyurethane bushings on both sides (spherical bushings are also available on one or both sides).
With stance being an important part of the project, the stock rear springs were the next to go. BMR Fabrication was tapped for a set of its rear lowering springs for the ’05-and-up Mustang. These 130-lb/in specific-rate springs lower the rear of the car 1.5 inches, which will complement the lowered front suspension. BMR also sent us one of its adjustable Panhard rods and the brace to go with it. This gave us the ability to center the rearend housing under the car once it’s been lowered, as the stock Panhard bar would push the rear to one side.
These struts gave us the ability...
These struts gave us the ability to fine-tune the suspension when we head out on track, but we can also adjust the ride height to achieve the perfect stance.
We finished off the rear with Weld Racing’s Magnum III rear wheels. The 15x10-inch wheels were accented with functional black-anodized bead-locks to hold the rear hides in place during hard launches. These serve a purpose and looked great at the show. The wheels were then wrapped in Nitto NT555R rubber, which measure 325/50R15.
In order to fit the 15-inch wheels, the swaybar mounts had to be cut off for clearance. With the brackets cut off, the hoops bolted right up. The massive meats filled the wheelwells perfectly and looked super-aggressive under our AMSOIL Mustang GT.
With the initial build phases complete, there is only one thing left to dotrack-test it! Check back next month as we cut loose on the 1,320 with our AMSOIL Mustang GT.
Sometimes what’s hiding beneath the surface can be equally as impressive.
The Mustang’s stock upper...
The Mustang’s stock upper strut mount is designed to work with the wider factory spring. We wanted something designed to work with the narrower coilover springs.
Being that we are switching...
Being that we are switching to coilovers, we tapped Steeda Autosports for a set of its heavy-duty strut mounts for the S197 Mustang.
The heavy-duty design allows...
The heavy-duty design allows for camber adjustments, and the rubber strut mount is replaced with a steel sleeve with polyurethane bushings.
Stange Engineering also sent...
Stange Engineering also sent us a set of its Pro Race steel front brakes. The four-piston calipers clamp down on a non-vented slotted rotor. Although these brakes are not designed for street use, they work perfectly on the dragstrip. In total, we shed about 35 pounds from the nose.
To finish our AMSOIL GT build...
To finish our AMSOIL GT build in time for SEMA, we had to borrow parts from other projects, which is not unusual when doing a build under a deadline. In the case of our brake lines, we borrowed the Aerospace Components lines from Repeat Offender, our True Street project car.
We finished off the front...
We finished off the front suspension with a set of Magnum Drag 2.0 one-piece front wheels from Weld Racing. We wrapped these lightweight wheels in Moroso DS-2 rubber for optimal on-track performance.
The combination provides a...
The combination provides a huge weight reduction and reduced rolling resistance, not to mention the amazing look.
The rear suspension was next...
The rear suspension was next on our to-do list.
We reused the stock brakes...
We reused the stock brakes in the rear, but little else remained stock when we were finished.
The stock lower control arms...
The stock lower control arms were the next pieces to go. They were swapped for links from Blow-By Racing (BBR). BBR’s billet lower control arms feature polyurethane bushing on both the body and rearend sides, but are available with spherical bushings on one, or both ends, depending on the application.
The stance in the rear is...
The stance in the rear is just as important as the front. To drop the ride height, we turned to BMR Fabrication for a set of its S197 rear lowering springs. The coils drop the rear 1.5-inches and offer a specific spring rate of 130 lb/in.
BMR also sent us its adjustable...
BMR also sent us its adjustable Panhard rod and brace, which made squaring the rear end under the car quick and easy.
In preparation for the 15-inch...
In preparation for the 15-inch wheels that were soon to come on the rear, we had to cut the sway bar mounts to make room.
With the mounts out of the...
With the mounts out of the way, 15-inch wheels bolt right on.
Weld Racing sent us a set...
Weld Racing sent us a set of its Magnum III rear wheels. The hoops check in at 15x10-inches, and we had Weld add a black-anodized bead lock, which will hold the rear meats in place during hard launches, and they look great, too.
Traction will come from Nitto...
Traction will come from Nitto Tires, specifically NT555Rs for the rear. These drag radials measure a whopping 325/50R15, and fill the wheelwell perfectly. The sticky rubber will give us all the traction we need once we get to the track.
With the suspension, brakes,...
With the suspension, brakes, wheels, and tires on the car, our AMSOIL GT’s appearance has been raised to a whole new level. The stance is super-aggressive and complements the paintwork perfectly.
With the initial build complete,...
With the initial build complete, you can rest assured we will be throwing a lot of cutting edge parts at our 2011 5.0-liter. Check back next month as we head to the strip for the first time!