a2k_stang
08-17-2008, 01:37 PM
I've been lurking around this site for a long enough time now that its about time I make a build thead so here it goes.....
*cliff notes complete mod list at the end of the second post*
The progression of this car began in the summer of 2005 (my sophomore year of college) when I purchased my 2000, 5 speed, mustang with only 22,000 miles on the clock. The car was completely bone stock except for the wheels. I didn’t know much about mustangs at the time, but I knew in the end I wanted faster, better looking, and better handling car.
This is what I started with.....
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/Mustangside2.jpg
Shorty after I purchased the car, I stumbled across this site and began reading and researching what I could do to improve my car. Being a student I didn’t have a lot of money so I started with an ebay CAI, a few months later, exhaust, and after that a frpp t-loc rear. I didn’t have the money for gears at the time which I definitely regret.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0364Plateedit.jpg
Next was my first major mod, suspension. This was done in the summer of 2006. I chose to use Eibach pro kit springs, tokiko shocks and struts and eibach front and rear sway bars. For the money I spent, I was and still am very happy with my suspension choice. Its not overly stiff, good for daily driving, but works very well for autocross and lately for drifting. The drop is just about perfect IMHO especially after removing the rear spring isolators.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0380.jpg
About this time I also added some little parts like black bumper inserts, tinted windows (20% all the way around), and steeda tri-ax short shifter.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/2186646480084473780zVVuBM_fs.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/licenceplateedit.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/P1010285licenseplateedit.jpg
My first love has always been car audio. I've installed at best buy for almost 4 years until recently I moved on to a high end custom audio shop. That being said, I had to do a system in the mustang. I've always been an alpine fan, plus I can get all their equipment at cost, so my system is composed of entirely alpine. I used type R speakers front and rear and v12 4ch. to power them. Single 12" type R sub being driving by again a v12 series amp. I chose not to use the factory wiring and instead ran twisted and double shielded monster speaker wire throughout the car. I also put down a healthy amount of dynamat while I had my car ripped apart.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1804.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1806.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1807.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1835.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1833.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1840.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1803.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF0103.jpg
I built a simple box using 3/4" MDF with volume and port size per alpine's specs and used thin and somewhat flexible wood (mesonite i believe) for the beauty panels. The best part is, I still have a usable trunk.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF0428.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF0429.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF0434.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF0433.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF0431.jpg
At this point I was pretty much done with appearance and audio mods so now it was some time for some power. With my income tax return along with some extra money I saved up I began piecing together a HCI setup in the summer of 2007. I got a used SSM p&p lower, Derek hooked me up with I think his first cut and welded p&p upper intake, a vap auto 3/8" intake spacer, bbk 65mm tb, x-cal 2 from Justin at vmp, 25% asp udp used from Kirk, p&p heads, and lastly a comp custom ground billet cam (218/228 .555/.579 112 lsa) springs, and pushrods from Matt at Delk Performance.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/094.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/097.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/098.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/104.jpg
(Oh really? wtf!)
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/117.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/123.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/124.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/125.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/127.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/128.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/129.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/130.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/184.jpg
My next round of mods in the spring of 2008 were centered around the drivetrain. My clutch started slipping, probably from all the drifting abuse so I went with the Spec 11" Aluminum flywheel. This allowed me to bolt up the 10.5" Spec stage 2+ clutch designed for the V8's. It is rated to 620ft tq so I think it should last for a while. No pictures of this one, I was lazy and didn’t want to screw it up so I paid a shop to install it.
Again all the abuse from drifting decided to surface again and my t-loc rear decided to grenade itself. Instead of rebuilding it, I decided to purchase an 8.8 rear out of a 01 GT. For the record, rear end fluid smells like s%!t
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0903.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0900.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0939.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0957.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0958.jpg
I was able to do the rear end swap pretty easily by myself using 3 separate jacks. 1 jack on the input shaft and a jack on each side under the shock mounting tabs.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0947.jpg
Around this time I also found a good deal on long-tube headers from a member here. I must say, the long tube headers were a good bang for buck mod. They were however a royal pain in the ass to install.
*cliff notes complete mod list at the end of the second post*
The progression of this car began in the summer of 2005 (my sophomore year of college) when I purchased my 2000, 5 speed, mustang with only 22,000 miles on the clock. The car was completely bone stock except for the wheels. I didn’t know much about mustangs at the time, but I knew in the end I wanted faster, better looking, and better handling car.
This is what I started with.....
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/Mustangside2.jpg
Shorty after I purchased the car, I stumbled across this site and began reading and researching what I could do to improve my car. Being a student I didn’t have a lot of money so I started with an ebay CAI, a few months later, exhaust, and after that a frpp t-loc rear. I didn’t have the money for gears at the time which I definitely regret.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0364Plateedit.jpg
Next was my first major mod, suspension. This was done in the summer of 2006. I chose to use Eibach pro kit springs, tokiko shocks and struts and eibach front and rear sway bars. For the money I spent, I was and still am very happy with my suspension choice. Its not overly stiff, good for daily driving, but works very well for autocross and lately for drifting. The drop is just about perfect IMHO especially after removing the rear spring isolators.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0380.jpg
About this time I also added some little parts like black bumper inserts, tinted windows (20% all the way around), and steeda tri-ax short shifter.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/2186646480084473780zVVuBM_fs.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/licenceplateedit.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/P1010285licenseplateedit.jpg
My first love has always been car audio. I've installed at best buy for almost 4 years until recently I moved on to a high end custom audio shop. That being said, I had to do a system in the mustang. I've always been an alpine fan, plus I can get all their equipment at cost, so my system is composed of entirely alpine. I used type R speakers front and rear and v12 4ch. to power them. Single 12" type R sub being driving by again a v12 series amp. I chose not to use the factory wiring and instead ran twisted and double shielded monster speaker wire throughout the car. I also put down a healthy amount of dynamat while I had my car ripped apart.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1804.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1806.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1807.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1835.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1833.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1840.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF1803.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF0103.jpg
I built a simple box using 3/4" MDF with volume and port size per alpine's specs and used thin and somewhat flexible wood (mesonite i believe) for the beauty panels. The best part is, I still have a usable trunk.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF0428.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF0429.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF0434.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF0433.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/mustang%20audio/DSCF0431.jpg
At this point I was pretty much done with appearance and audio mods so now it was some time for some power. With my income tax return along with some extra money I saved up I began piecing together a HCI setup in the summer of 2007. I got a used SSM p&p lower, Derek hooked me up with I think his first cut and welded p&p upper intake, a vap auto 3/8" intake spacer, bbk 65mm tb, x-cal 2 from Justin at vmp, 25% asp udp used from Kirk, p&p heads, and lastly a comp custom ground billet cam (218/228 .555/.579 112 lsa) springs, and pushrods from Matt at Delk Performance.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/094.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/097.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/098.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/104.jpg
(Oh really? wtf!)
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/117.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/123.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/124.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/125.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/127.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/128.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/129.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/130.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/184.jpg
My next round of mods in the spring of 2008 were centered around the drivetrain. My clutch started slipping, probably from all the drifting abuse so I went with the Spec 11" Aluminum flywheel. This allowed me to bolt up the 10.5" Spec stage 2+ clutch designed for the V8's. It is rated to 620ft tq so I think it should last for a while. No pictures of this one, I was lazy and didn’t want to screw it up so I paid a shop to install it.
Again all the abuse from drifting decided to surface again and my t-loc rear decided to grenade itself. Instead of rebuilding it, I decided to purchase an 8.8 rear out of a 01 GT. For the record, rear end fluid smells like s%!t
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0903.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0900.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0939.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0957.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0958.jpg
I was able to do the rear end swap pretty easily by myself using 3 separate jacks. 1 jack on the input shaft and a jack on each side under the shock mounting tabs.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj279/a2k_stang/mustang/DSCF0947.jpg
Around this time I also found a good deal on long-tube headers from a member here. I must say, the long tube headers were a good bang for buck mod. They were however a royal pain in the ass to install.