Hello all – Yes I am the proud new owner of ’13 #536, Black LS- I’d like to say thanks to all here on the forum as I researched the *ell out of this car here before pulling the trigger – the knowledge here is vast and spot on!
The Boss has that pucker power I was looking for, it is a blast to drive and sounds like a V8 should – lean and mean – this is one wicked machine! I bought this as my track car and will be frequenting all the NorCal tracks – Sears (Sonoma), Thunderhill, Laguna, Buttonwillow and Willow Springs (Socal) – I may even get out to Miller late spring as well. As for myself I have 50 plus track day events behind me and all in Audi’s – highly tweaked A4 turbo and S4 V8, so I have a bit of experience going forward with the new Boss.
The Boss has about 4k on it now, the previous owner did not activate the track key nor did they install any of the trick oem stuff either- which is great as I’ll get into the car deep putting the brake ducts, trans scoop and splitter on – that’s all good! Oh and I did get all that and a bag of chips with the car including all the original documentation and owners kit – so I am ready to roll – well sort of with a couple of reservations/questions.
I’ve read and searched here on the following topics, but looking to confirm a couple things before starting the track day mod spending spree!
1. The shifter is dodgy at best – doing some high speed, hard shift runs – I have never missed or searched for a gear so many times in any car before. The gate seems tight in pattern but wow is it vague. Also shifts at or near redline result in locked out or stuck in gear transitions – not being a drag racer I wonder how you get through a ¼ mile clean with this shifter. So an upgrade to the shifter (MGW, Steeda etc) seems to be a good mod path but does it really solve the issue – I also notice a ton movement in the transmission/driveline under load - I have seen both a bolt in tubular brace out there as well as a bushing insert designed to stiffen the remote shifter mount so I am wondering if that alone could solve the shifting issue or not?
2. Clutch pedal stuck close to floor a couple of times during high rpm shift events (just pulled it back up with my foot) but I don’t want to go through this on the track – the removal of the helper spring seems to be the right call here – or is this a bigger issue?
3. Track pads – I typically swap out pads and rotors - front – for track days – what’s working out there –I’m used to running Pagid Yellow 19’s on the German stuff but would like to hear the other success stories out there! Oh and I am hard on brakes, just ask StopTech about the guy that warped three sets of their “un-warpable” rotor rings!
4. Brake Fans – anyone running these, seems to me to be a natural fit with the ducting and an easy install as well – would really help during the cool down laps and also in the paddock when coming off track – like I said I am known for going in deep so getting an extra few weekends or more out of pads/rotors is money in the bank.
5. Wheels – who is making an 18” wheel that will clear the brakes, allow for the staggered fitment and doesn’t cost $2000 plus for a set ,– the available rubber in 18” is vast compared to 19 and good rubber is the best mod you can make for the track imo.
6. Track key – went to the dealer to get it flashed in and was told that Ford Racing has to next day air the software out to the dealer (plus $302 for the software and $140 to install)– which seems a bit odd in this digital age – well it’s been 5 days and still nada from Ford – is this the usual process?
Again thanks for everyone’s insight here- you all know your cars well and have a lot more seat time in the Boss than I do – so your experience is what will be guiding me making the right choices to get this Boss sorted!
Thanks! Dave
The Boss has that pucker power I was looking for, it is a blast to drive and sounds like a V8 should – lean and mean – this is one wicked machine! I bought this as my track car and will be frequenting all the NorCal tracks – Sears (Sonoma), Thunderhill, Laguna, Buttonwillow and Willow Springs (Socal) – I may even get out to Miller late spring as well. As for myself I have 50 plus track day events behind me and all in Audi’s – highly tweaked A4 turbo and S4 V8, so I have a bit of experience going forward with the new Boss.
The Boss has about 4k on it now, the previous owner did not activate the track key nor did they install any of the trick oem stuff either- which is great as I’ll get into the car deep putting the brake ducts, trans scoop and splitter on – that’s all good! Oh and I did get all that and a bag of chips with the car including all the original documentation and owners kit – so I am ready to roll – well sort of with a couple of reservations/questions.
I’ve read and searched here on the following topics, but looking to confirm a couple things before starting the track day mod spending spree!
1. The shifter is dodgy at best – doing some high speed, hard shift runs – I have never missed or searched for a gear so many times in any car before. The gate seems tight in pattern but wow is it vague. Also shifts at or near redline result in locked out or stuck in gear transitions – not being a drag racer I wonder how you get through a ¼ mile clean with this shifter. So an upgrade to the shifter (MGW, Steeda etc) seems to be a good mod path but does it really solve the issue – I also notice a ton movement in the transmission/driveline under load - I have seen both a bolt in tubular brace out there as well as a bushing insert designed to stiffen the remote shifter mount so I am wondering if that alone could solve the shifting issue or not?
2. Clutch pedal stuck close to floor a couple of times during high rpm shift events (just pulled it back up with my foot) but I don’t want to go through this on the track – the removal of the helper spring seems to be the right call here – or is this a bigger issue?
3. Track pads – I typically swap out pads and rotors - front – for track days – what’s working out there –I’m used to running Pagid Yellow 19’s on the German stuff but would like to hear the other success stories out there! Oh and I am hard on brakes, just ask StopTech about the guy that warped three sets of their “un-warpable” rotor rings!
4. Brake Fans – anyone running these, seems to me to be a natural fit with the ducting and an easy install as well – would really help during the cool down laps and also in the paddock when coming off track – like I said I am known for going in deep so getting an extra few weekends or more out of pads/rotors is money in the bank.
5. Wheels – who is making an 18” wheel that will clear the brakes, allow for the staggered fitment and doesn’t cost $2000 plus for a set ,– the available rubber in 18” is vast compared to 19 and good rubber is the best mod you can make for the track imo.
6. Track key – went to the dealer to get it flashed in and was told that Ford Racing has to next day air the software out to the dealer (plus $302 for the software and $140 to install)– which seems a bit odd in this digital age – well it’s been 5 days and still nada from Ford – is this the usual process?
Again thanks for everyone’s insight here- you all know your cars well and have a lot more seat time in the Boss than I do – so your experience is what will be guiding me making the right choices to get this Boss sorted!
Thanks! Dave