I figured this would be a good way to organize all of the progress I’ve made on the car throughout the 4 years that I have had it. Picked it up August 18th back in 2012. Only reason I remember the date is because it was my Mom’s birthday as well haha. It is a 2006 Deluxe model manual 6 cylinder, had 45k on the clock and completely stock save a horrendous bug and window guard. So why does anyone care about a base model V6? It will get a little better, don’t worry 
I was 16 at the time and a GT was just not reasonable in multiple ways. Here it is a few days after bringing it home. I immediately removed the guards and then added a GT500 spoiler.
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I took it drag racing a lot the following year and at the time it was kind of fun. First mods to the car were an AFE cold air intake and Magnaflow single axle back. Also did the GT500 rear LCA’s off my dads car (2011 GT500). After a little bit I was a dumb kid and painted my wheels black. Looked meh, but whatever.
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Quickly realizing how boring drag racing a 14/15 second car is, I lost interest. Best pass with the previous mods was 14.8 at 94 mph. I had started drag racing my dads car as well so it was even more depressing to hop into the car with a roaring 200 ponies. I kind of always had a thing for corners and enjoyed backroads, so I figured that since the car will never be fast in a straight line, lets try to make it fast in a curved line. Takeoff 2011 wheels and tires went on along with matte black hash marks, GT500 leather seats, Boss 302 steering wheel, and Ford Racing shifter. First set of handling mods came by the way of some Steeda Sport springs, Steeda Pro-Action shocks and struts, GT500 strut mounts, and takeoff GT sway bars. Ran that setup for about a year and while that was better than stock, the springs didn't lower it enough for my taste and I found some new in box H&R Race springs locally so I toss those on. Big time improvement in looks and handling as they are linear rate and more rate overall too.
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At this point, I was pleased with the car and began thinking about doing some real track days. I joined a few track focused forums and Facebook groups where I kept seeing people on really nice tires and that made me want some as well. Bought a set of ’08 GT500 wheels and had 275/35/18 BFG Rival’s mounted. I had also bought a Lakewood watts link and BMR rear LCA’s from a friend. Didn’t know any better and added Hawk HP+ pads for the track day and off I went. Being my first time out I didn't stress the base model brakes too much so they weren't an issue and I had a blast. My boss came out there with me in his Chump car and also helped out with some lines through some of the tricky corners.
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I had a blast and was hooked for good. Over this past winter, I started to get a little more serious and began doing more research on what parts were better than others. Began stock piling a lot of nice parts to install. Wanting to rid myself of this horribly noisy watts link, I looked at a few different options before finally deciding on Whiteline. To use this, I picked up an 8.8 rear axle locally. Also installed Bilstein shocks and struts, BMR 35mm adjustable front sway bar, J&M camber plates, dual exhaust with H pipe, Ford Racing Stingers (way lighter than previous exhaust), ditched the AFE intake for a Ford Racing one with a custom email tune, adjustable rod end BMR LCA’s with relocation brackets, Aeroforce Interceptor mounted in the vent, GT500 strut tower brace, and 20% window tint. Took all of this out to the first track day of the season up at The Ridge Motorsports Park in March. Took a little bit to get used to how the car drove with all the new parts, but by the third session I was really starting to get a feel for the car and it’s capabilities were definitely above mine. Drove it home after 6 good sessions with a plan for what to improve on next time.
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Exactly a month later I had another track day out at Oregon Raceway Park. No changes to the car, other than some more seat time for the nut behind the wheel. ORP is a fantastic track for a car with good balance and doesn't require a lot of power. I really fell in love with it all over again during this track day.
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With 3 track days under my belt, I signed up for my first performance driving school along with some other members of the local mustang club. I had also fell into some takeoff continental slicks and mounted them onto the GT500 wheels. The Rivals went onto a set of 18x9.5 F14’s that I bought a few weeks prior. Also added GT500 Brembos with the Ford Racing 3” cooling ducts and backing plate along with Porterfield R4 pads and a Whiteline rear adjustable sway bar and end links. I knew it was probably a bit early to go out on slicks but I figured it would be best to test them out with a superb instructor in there with me. The instructor has a ’67 coupe that is a trans am replica car according to him. He was very impressed with the car and gave me a near perfect score for the school section! Afterwards he shook my hand and said he hadn't had that much fun in a car in a long time, I thought that was pretty cool. With a vacation to Hawaii coming up, that was the last of my track days for the year.
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I had periodically been checking insurance auctions for a wrecked 05-06 mustang gt in the hopes of finding a decent one to swap into my car for a few months. I loved everything about my car, except the engine and trans. I would always tell people it’s about 150 horsepower away from being a pretty respectable car. While in Hawaii I was bored one night (yes, I know…but it was while the Hurricane was hitting so I wasn't going outside) and cruised Craigslist back home. That’s when I found it…a wrecked 2005 manual gt with 70k on it. Once I got back, I immediately talked to the guy and pulled the trigger. Damage wasn't as bad as it looks because the guy had already started taking it apart. Brought it home and got to tearing it apart as soon as I pulled into the driveway. I lack patience with certain things. Lol
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I was 16 at the time and a GT was just not reasonable in multiple ways. Here it is a few days after bringing it home. I immediately removed the guards and then added a GT500 spoiler. IMG_5579 I took it drag racing a lot the following year and at the time it was kind of fun. First mods to the car were an AFE cold air intake and Magnaflow single axle back. Also did the GT500 rear LCA’s off my dads car (2011 GT500). After a little bit I was a dumb kid and painted my wheels black. Looked meh, but whatever.
IMG_1103IMG_1102IMG_5583Quickly realizing how boring drag racing a 14/15 second car is, I lost interest. Best pass with the previous mods was 14.8 at 94 mph. I had started drag racing my dads car as well so it was even more depressing to hop into the car with a roaring 200 ponies. I kind of always had a thing for corners and enjoyed backroads, so I figured that since the car will never be fast in a straight line, lets try to make it fast in a curved line. Takeoff 2011 wheels and tires went on along with matte black hash marks, GT500 leather seats, Boss 302 steering wheel, and Ford Racing shifter. First set of handling mods came by the way of some Steeda Sport springs, Steeda Pro-Action shocks and struts, GT500 strut mounts, and takeoff GT sway bars. Ran that setup for about a year and while that was better than stock, the springs didn't lower it enough for my taste and I found some new in box H&R Race springs locally so I toss those on. Big time improvement in looks and handling as they are linear rate and more rate overall too.
IMG_2305 IMG_2459IMG_2107At this point, I was pleased with the car and began thinking about doing some real track days. I joined a few track focused forums and Facebook groups where I kept seeing people on really nice tires and that made me want some as well. Bought a set of ’08 GT500 wheels and had 275/35/18 BFG Rival’s mounted. I had also bought a Lakewood watts link and BMR rear LCA’s from a friend. Didn’t know any better and added Hawk HP+ pads for the track day and off I went. Being my first time out I didn't stress the base model brakes too much so they weren't an issue and I had a blast. My boss came out there with me in his Chump car and also helped out with some lines through some of the tricky corners.
IMG_0736 IMG_3055I had a blast and was hooked for good. Over this past winter, I started to get a little more serious and began doing more research on what parts were better than others. Began stock piling a lot of nice parts to install. Wanting to rid myself of this horribly noisy watts link, I looked at a few different options before finally deciding on Whiteline. To use this, I picked up an 8.8 rear axle locally. Also installed Bilstein shocks and struts, BMR 35mm adjustable front sway bar, J&M camber plates, dual exhaust with H pipe, Ford Racing Stingers (way lighter than previous exhaust), ditched the AFE intake for a Ford Racing one with a custom email tune, adjustable rod end BMR LCA’s with relocation brackets, Aeroforce Interceptor mounted in the vent, GT500 strut tower brace, and 20% window tint. Took all of this out to the first track day of the season up at The Ridge Motorsports Park in March. Took a little bit to get used to how the car drove with all the new parts, but by the third session I was really starting to get a feel for the car and it’s capabilities were definitely above mine. Drove it home after 6 good sessions with a plan for what to improve on next time.
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IMG_2882IMG_2885 IMG_2906 Exactly a month later I had another track day out at Oregon Raceway Park. No changes to the car, other than some more seat time for the nut behind the wheel. ORP is a fantastic track for a car with good balance and doesn't require a lot of power. I really fell in love with it all over again during this track day.
IMG_3239IMG_3308IMG_3305 IMG_3300 With 3 track days under my belt, I signed up for my first performance driving school along with some other members of the local mustang club. I had also fell into some takeoff continental slicks and mounted them onto the GT500 wheels. The Rivals went onto a set of 18x9.5 F14’s that I bought a few weeks prior. Also added GT500 Brembos with the Ford Racing 3” cooling ducts and backing plate along with Porterfield R4 pads and a Whiteline rear adjustable sway bar and end links. I knew it was probably a bit early to go out on slicks but I figured it would be best to test them out with a superb instructor in there with me. The instructor has a ’67 coupe that is a trans am replica car according to him. He was very impressed with the car and gave me a near perfect score for the school section! Afterwards he shook my hand and said he hadn't had that much fun in a car in a long time, I thought that was pretty cool. With a vacation to Hawaii coming up, that was the last of my track days for the year.
IMG_3588 11063682_1040974745955929_9123993417815965257_n IMG_4006IMG_4004 IMG_4013 IMG_4007I had periodically been checking insurance auctions for a wrecked 05-06 mustang gt in the hopes of finding a decent one to swap into my car for a few months. I loved everything about my car, except the engine and trans. I would always tell people it’s about 150 horsepower away from being a pretty respectable car. While in Hawaii I was bored one night (yes, I know…but it was while the Hurricane was hitting so I wasn't going outside) and cruised Craigslist back home. That’s when I found it…a wrecked 2005 manual gt with 70k on it. Once I got back, I immediately talked to the guy and pulled the trigger. Damage wasn't as bad as it looks because the guy had already started taking it apart. Brought it home and got to tearing it apart as soon as I pulled into the driveway. I lack patience with certain things. Lol
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