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S197 3V 2007 Mustang GT Build Thread Profile - S197 Mustangs

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Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
Since I'm not really getting any hits on my ad, I am looking for OEM exhaust pipes for my generation Mustang. Just the pipes, not the mufflers or anything else. If anyone has them laying around, please let me know, though I suspect a lot of people toss them like I did.
I kept mine forever...just tossed them a couple months ago. :(
 

ChrisM

Mostly harmless.
1,180
1,419
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
3-5 Years
South Carolina
Had a pretty good day at Willow Springs today. Car is great, can't ask for anything more. Driver, on the other hand, needs a lot of work.

Since this was my first track day in 4-5 years, and it being on the notorious Big Willow, I opted to go with the beginner group with an all-day instructor. This was a good idea, because Big Willow is not for the faint of heart. I wasn't even close to mediocre, but it was fun and hopefully I'll be back again. I had an off at turn 3. I apexed too early and lost it. No damage, thankfully.

I felt pretty good though. I missed a shift and one of the GT350s in my run group caught up to me. I checked myself and managed to run away from him and never saw him for the rest of the session. He was probably in limp mode or something.

Overall fun day! Pictures to come. Most importantly, I hung out with some cool Mustang dudes and at least one other TMO member!
 

Norm Peterson

Corner Barstool Sitter
939
712
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
5-10 Years
a few miles east of Philly
Since this was my first track day in 4-5 years, and it being on the notorious Big Willow, I opted to go with the beginner group with an all-day instructor. This was a good idea . . .
That was a good call regardless of the track you were going to be running on. After that much time away from the track it's going to take a few events to knock all of the rust off the driver.

Even street driving skill levels can soften over as little as two months of not driving in that environment. Never mind how I might be currently aware of this . . .


Norm
 

ChrisM

Mostly harmless.
1,180
1,419
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
3-5 Years
South Carolina
Kicking around a long shot idea. Does anyone know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy who might want a dopey volunteer to assist their team at an event in SoCal? It may be too late in the season for anything, but if someone needs an extra pair of hands, I'd be interested to hear of any opportunities.
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
Kicking around a long shot idea. Does anyone know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy who might want a dopey volunteer to assist their team at an event in SoCal? It may be too late in the season for anything, but if someone needs an extra pair of hands, I'd be interested to hear of any opportunities.
You're 500 miles too far to the south unfortunately.
 

ChrisM

Mostly harmless.
1,180
1,419
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
3-5 Years
South Carolina
Noob question: anyone have any tips for lining up the exhaust tips? My driver's side exhaust tip always sits about a 3/4" low and too far out back. The passenger side is dead on. I know it's cosmetic, but it's a toy anyways. I've tried twisting stuff every which way I can think of. I'll bend the hangars if I need to, just didn't want to miss something...
 

ChrisM

Mostly harmless.
1,180
1,419
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
3-5 Years
South Carolina
How did you set up your ride height and specs? My car is definitely too low and I need to okay with suspension settings in the off-season.
Honestly, when I had the coilovers installed at a race shop in Massachusetts I just said I drive it on the street occasionally, but it's primarily a track car, and they took it from there. They did the corner-weighting and I just said give me all the camber you can manage. Wish I had a better answer for you but I'm still dumb on a lot of stuff.
 

ChrisM

Mostly harmless.
1,180
1,419
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
3-5 Years
South Carolina
Noob question: anyone have any tips for lining up the exhaust tips? My driver's side exhaust tip always sits about a 3/4" low and too far out back. The passenger side is dead on. I know it's cosmetic, but it's a toy anyways. I've tried twisting stuff every which way I can think of. I'll bend the hangars if I need to, just didn't want to miss something...
Pro-tip: remove the muffler and hammer the dog$@#+ out of the hangers until it lines up.
 

ChrisM

Mostly harmless.
1,180
1,419
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
3-5 Years
South Carolina
How did you set up your ride height and specs? My car is definitely too low and I need to okay with suspension settings in the off-season.
@Jbrad I just remembered I have the spec sheet from the shop buried somewhere. Let me dig it out and get back to you. Hopefully that will help.
 

Boone

Professional Thread Killer
Just got done installing the Ford Racing radiator, GT500 fan, and aluminum coolant tank.

Got me thinking though...I never use the A/C anymore. I should just tear all that out.
I'll check to see if I still have an AC delete kit. I'm sure it would prefer to travel across the country rather than sit on a shelf in my shed.
 

ChrisM

Mostly harmless.
1,180
1,419
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
3-5 Years
South Carolina
I'll check to see if I still have an AC delete kit. I'm sure it would prefer to travel across the country rather than sit on a shelf in my shed.
It's not something I would have normally considered but these days I just drive with all the windows down anyways.
 

ChrisM

Mostly harmless.
1,180
1,419
Exp. Type
HPDE
Exp. Level
3-5 Years
South Carolina
Bummer on the cancellation, and anxious to see the louver pics.
If you're on the fence about which to buy, I'd just go with Race Louvers. I've had Race Louvers and Trackspec. Both are high quality pieces, but Race Louvers have the built-in wicker that is proven to aid cooling. Since you're working on supercharging, I'd just go to the most serious RX louvers. Race Louvers also have the advantage (to me, at least) in that the two center louvers are separate pieces and so they can be placed on either side of the center hood crease instead of bending over it like the Trackspec louvers. Looks cleaner that way. I may consider their GT4 style side louvers too if they fit.
 
Last edited:
303
371
CA
If you're on the fence about which to buy, I'd just go with Race Louvers. I've had Race Louvers and Trackspec. Both are high quality pieces, but Race Louvers have the built-in wicker that is a known benefit to cooling. Since you're working on supercharging, I'd just go to the most serious RX louvers. Race Louvers also have the advantage (to me, at least) in that the two center louvers are separate pieces and so they can be placed on either side of the center hood crease instead of bending over it like the Trackspec louvers. Looks cleaner that way. I may consider their GT4 style side louvers too if they fit.
Race louvers 100%. Wind tunnel tested to be exponentially more effective than track spec. Install was an absolute breeze using the special rivets that Racelouvers can supply. Al the owner of the company is great too. Can't recommend them enough.
 

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