S197 Dreamsicle (Grabber Orange)GT500 Build Thread Profile - S197 Mustangs

[Jonnywalk]

This is the Build Thread for Grabber Orange GT500. Reply below.

 

[dcpatters]

More pics!!!!

 

[Dave_W]

With the orange paint and white stripe, there's one name for this car that immediately jumps to mind - Creamsicle!

 

[dragoon]

This is the Build Thread for Grabber Orange GT500. Reply below.

Welcome aboard !!

 

[Bill Pemberton]

Hope you get here all prepped and make it to the SCCA Solo and CAM Nationals in September of 2025. Love the color and stripe combination and I will amend Dave_W name to " Dreamsicle " as it has like been that to you since 2009!

 

[Jonnywalk]

 

[Jonnywalk]

Update: wheels ordered and shipped. Apex Ec-7 18x11’s. Satin black Will be running a squared setup.
Option A Bridgestone RS 71’rs 295/35r18
Option B Falken 660’s 315/30r18
Option C Yokohama A052 315/30r18

Thoughts??

 

[Bill Pemberton]

I would check with Luke Pavlik ( ext. 4362 ) at TireRack and check on a couple of items. Falken has a new RT 660 coming out early in 2025 with some changes likely to make it more competitive and alleviate a concern some drivers have had. Also the Nankang CR-S ( V2 version only ) is another good ticket and likely one of the better choices if wanting to do some DE events also. We do know the Yokes and Bridgerocks are fast , but wear with the A052s is pretty dramatic.

 

[Apex Wheels]

Update: wheels ordered and shipped. Apex Ec-7 18x11’s. Satin black Will be running a squared setup.
Option A Bridgestone RS 71’rs 295/35r18
Option B Falken 660’s 315/30r18
Option C Yokohama A052 315/30r18

Thoughts??

RT660 or RE71RS on a car like that. The A052 will get burnt up so fast.

How much camber do you have up front? I really like the RT660 on heavier cars because of its stiff construction. Allows for great feedback/feel, but also can tolerate less camber because of it. I found it held heat better than the others listed too, but the RE71RS will have a bit more pace lap time wise.

If you can wait, the RT660+ will be here in Q1 as Bill mentioned. It has some construction improvements to build on what was already a fun tire.

 

[Jonnywalk]

I would check with Luke Pavlik ( ext. 4362 ) at TireRack and check on a couple of items. Falken has a new RT 660 coming out early in 2025 with some changes likely to make it more competitive and alleviate a concern some drivers have had. Also the Nankang CR-S ( V2 version only ) is another good ticket and likely one of the better choices if wanting to do some DE events also. We do know the Yokes and Bridgerocks are fast , but wear with the A052s is pretty dramatic.

Thank you! I will check with Luke!

 

[Jonnywalk]

RT660 or RE71RS on a car like that. The A052 will get burnt up so fast.

How much camber do you have up front? I really like the RT660 on heavier cars because of its stiff construction. Allows for great feedback/feel, but also can tolerate less camber because of it. I found it held heat better than the others listed too, but the RE71RS will have a bit more pace lap time wise.

If you can wait, the RT660+ will be here in Q1 as Bill mentioned. It has some construction improvements to build on what was already a fun tire.

I plan to be running between 2.5 and 3 degrees camber but can adjust as necessary. I will be installing all new coil overs (with offset brackets) this winter as part of this build. The car will go to a local race shop here in Birmingham for alignment afterwards. As far as tires I should be able to wait. I live in Alabama so our season starts in late Feb or March. I am running 2008 date code Eagle F1’s now so why rush right!

 

[JDee]

Just my experience, but -2.5/3 is not enough for a max effort build. You really should be looking for -4, or as close to it as you can get. There is almost no such thing as too much negative camber. My Dark Horse showed up with -2.5 right from Ford without camber plates so that tells you something.

You can get negative camber at the top and bottom of the strut with a variety of devices. Vorshlag plates with the top of the strut tower cut open and old school camber bolts down below will help a lot, that got me to -4 with my '16.

People will tell you that much camber will wear the inner edges of the tires down prematurely and they are wrong, it actually made tire wear much better and quite even across the tire.

 

[Jonnywalk]

Just my experience, but -2.5/3 is not enough for a max effort build. You really should be looking for -4, or as close to it as you can get. There is almost no such thing as too much negative camber. My Dark Horse showed up with -2.5 right from Ford without camber plates so that tells you something.

You can get negative camber at the top and bottom of the strut with a variety of devices. Vorshlag plates with the top of the strut tower cut open and old school camber bolts down below will help a lot, that got me to -4 with my '16.

People will tell you that much camber will wear the inner edges of the tires down prematurely and they are wrong, it actually made tire wear much better and quite even across the tire.

Thanks for the info. I’m up for whatever works the best for the car (without chopping it to bits ofc). I plan to go with Cortex setup and if os will be running their plates

 

[Apex Wheels]

Don't be afraid of having the strut towers opened up. It can be very cleanly done with a basic fixture and hole saw, and honestly looks 100% factory at a glance once you add some touch up paint.

Somewhere between negative 3-3.5° is likely where that combo will want to end up camber wise.

 

[Jonnywalk]

Update: decision made on tires. RE71RS’s will be the first tire to try out. Both the folks I spoke to in the tire industry had the same comments regarding them vs the competition. I will admit I have my eye on the 660+ but they aren’t available in a workable size yet and I would like to get some feedback out there about them prior to running them. Thank you both Luke and Ryan for your advice and guidance!

 

[Jonnywalk]

Guys looking for a front splitter for my gt500 for cam c class. Can either replace factory or go underneath. Any suggestions?

 

[DaveW]

Update: decision made on tires. RE71RS’s will be the first tire to try out. Both the folks I spoke to in the tire industry had the same comments regarding them vs the competition. I will admit I have my eye on the 660+ but they aren’t available in a workable size yet and I would like to get some feedback out there about them prior to running them. Thank you both Luke and Ryan for your advice and guidance!

Sorry I missed this thread. You will be fine on RE71's and will want at least 3.5 camber. Photo is my car with 295's and 4.1 static camber. Seemed to be decently competitive at Nat's.

Guys looking for a front splitter for my gt500 for cam c class. Can either replace factory or go underneath. Any suggestions?

I started with a C2 customs one which is really too small. I used it to template a larger one out of plywood. It's good enough to be certified 100% illegal by @Terry Fair But since I did that, 9 lives released their kit which is a good deal and that's what I would do if I did it again. Keep on top of him for communication though - multiple month wait times and ghosting emails can happen with them. And Cortex, but I digress....

 

[Jonnywalk]

Sorry I missed this thread. You will be fine on RE71's and will want at least 3.5 camber. Photo is my car with 295's and 4.1 static camber. Seemed to be decently competitive at Nat's.


I started with a C2 customs one which is really too small. I used it to template a larger one out of plywood. It's good enough to be certified 100% illegal by @Terry Fair But since I did that, 9 lives released their kit which is a good deal and that's what I would do if I did it again. Keep on top of him for communication though - multiple month wait times and ghosting emails can happen with them. And Cortex, but I digress....

View attachment 100532

Nice looking car. I love the stance

 

[Jonnywalk]

Update: Suspension ordered…Cortex kit:
Penske double adjustable coil overs
LCA’s and bracket
Torque arm
Caster camber plates

Old stuff off waiting on UPS!!!!

 

[DaveW]

Update: Suspension ordered…Cortex kit:
Penske double adjustable coil overs
LCA’s and bracket
Torque arm
Caster camber plates

Old stuff off waiting on UPS!!!!

Stay on top of cortex else you will waiting months….

Great products and knowledgeable…but not great follow up sometimes