What do y'all think about building and maintaining this single thread full of facts / gotchas / warnings / instructions / sources etc ... a knowledge base ... that owners might not readily know about? Also see "New-to-you '05/6 Ford GT items to check" at bottom.
- Airbag emblem / Horn button - If your horn button / airbag emblem has de-laminated (or oxidized, or whatever happens to it), it can be sent to Shelby at Elite Autos LLC in Jonesboro AR for refurb (https://www.eliteautosllc.com/ 870-932-7744 store / 870-931-8004 mobile). Here are instructions (link).
- Axle bolts aka Half shaft bolts - "Check the OASIS report for axle bolt TSB (it was not a recall)." - by @twobjshelbys 6/14/23 (link). "The OEM kit and the Accufab kit will both get the job done. Not sure we prefer one over the other - but the Accufab kit uses a different (6) outer bolts which makes it easy to see the upgrade has been done but for the pure fanatics, they do represent a difference from original. The OEM kits are still available." - by @nota4re 6/13/23 (link).
- Battery - "Forget the Ford battery, it's just a Group 25 Optima that you can swap or get at Auto Zone or O'Reilly's for half what Ford wants." - by @twobjshelbys 6/14/23 (link). "Battery ground cable in front trunk should be cleaned and tightened." - by @69b302 6/15/23 (link).
- Belts - Available from Rock Auto (link). "Oil pump belt, should be changed, if original." - by @69b302 6/15/23 (link)
- Brake fluid - "Ron, Never use DOT 5 brake fluid in the Ford GT as you suggested above. Only use DOT 3, 4 or 5.1. The DOT 5 is silicone fluid and will ruin your brakes. The other DOT formulas are synthetic. There is a huge difference between DOT 5 and DOT 5.1." - by @TO AWSUM 4/20/21 (link).
- Brake master cylinder - "The 2004 F-150 is a great match. I bought Brakebest 10-3033 from O'Reilly as a reman. I took the guts out of my old cylinder and put the guts from the F 150 in, bled the brakes, and Whammo back in business." - by @Rick 6/21/24 (link).
- Clearances for ground / ramps / speed bumps / trailering - Below are the bottom dimensions of my own '05 FGT 401459; note that its front is lowered ~1" via perches:
- Console tunnel - Consider telling your spouse to be careful when putting on her seat belt as wedding rings can scratch the side of the magnesium console. Or you could cover it with something like PPF.
- Control arm and link end seals - "Very typical for the rear lower control arm and link end seals to be split from age. The GT garage or GT101 can supply replacement seals, which are not available from Ford, separate from the component." - by @69b302 6/15/23 (link).
- Fuel filler - When fueling up be gentle when inserting the fuel nozzle into the filler port:
- Horn button / Airbag emblem - If your horn button / airbag emblem has de-laminated (or oxidized, or whatever happens to it), it can be sent to Shelby at Elite Autos LLC in Jonesboro AR for refurb (https://www.eliteautosllc.com/ 870-932-7744 store / 870-931-8004 mobile). Here are instructions (link).
- Jacking - Bottom of GT whole-side-of-car jack points and jack stand placement locations from (link).
- Paint chip - Don't open the driver's door when the frunk lever is open / out as the lever and front upper corner of the door can contact each other and the door's paint can be chipped right on that corner. Same on the other side: Passenger side door can contact the fuel filler lever and chip that door's corner. I believe this is an example of the chip:
- Roundels - This link (https://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/threads/roundels.9754/post-114771) states the '06 Heritage roundel and number sizes are:
- Tires - Warning!! "If you don't have experience with no-nanny high performance cars read alot about the handling here. They have a tendency to break the rear wheels loose with the slightest provocation with dangerous consequences. Bridgestones help alot as they are stickier in cold tires/cold pavement but still can let loose when you least expect them. Accelerate only in a straight line, and be careful about sudden power (like trouncing on the accelerator to pass, and most especially with the downshift/accelerate/upshift to pass.)" - by @twobjshelbys 6/14/23 (link). "This is the big one, cold tires have been the leading culprit of most GT crashes. Drive it like it’s on ice skates until warm and even then only apply power with the car pointing straight. 2nd gear is the torquey gear and it will break loose and swap ends very quickly!" - by @Special K 6/15/23 (link).
New-to-you '05/6 Ford GT items to check:
- Airbags - The 05/6 Ford GT was/is subject to the common Takata airbag recall. "Check the OASIS report for axle bolt TSB (it was not a recall). Of course get the air bags done if they haven't (and there's a good chance they aren't). Ford will come to you to do them and there are some trusted third party installers. The steering wheel is easy but the passenger side requires careful disassembly of the lower portion of the passenger side dash panel that has a thin segment across the center console best handled by two people." - by @twobjshelbys 6/14/23 (link).
- Axle bolts aka Half shaft bolts - See above.
- Battery Grounds - See above.
- Fuel filler - See above.
- Paint chip on doors - See above.
- Tires - See above.
- Transmission operation when cold - "Until the transmission warms up, you will notice a slight grinding when upshifting to 2nd gear. Either shift 1-3 or 1-3-2 for the first few minutes." - by @Special K 6/15/23 (link)
- Airbag emblem / Horn button - If your horn button / airbag emblem has de-laminated (or oxidized, or whatever happens to it), it can be sent to Shelby at Elite Autos LLC in Jonesboro AR for refurb (https://www.eliteautosllc.com/ 870-932-7744 store / 870-931-8004 mobile). Here are instructions (link).
- Axle bolts aka Half shaft bolts - "Check the OASIS report for axle bolt TSB (it was not a recall)." - by @twobjshelbys 6/14/23 (link). "The OEM kit and the Accufab kit will both get the job done. Not sure we prefer one over the other - but the Accufab kit uses a different (6) outer bolts which makes it easy to see the upgrade has been done but for the pure fanatics, they do represent a difference from original. The OEM kits are still available." - by @nota4re 6/13/23 (link).
- Battery - "Forget the Ford battery, it's just a Group 25 Optima that you can swap or get at Auto Zone or O'Reilly's for half what Ford wants." - by @twobjshelbys 6/14/23 (link). "Battery ground cable in front trunk should be cleaned and tightened." - by @69b302 6/15/23 (link).
- Belts - Available from Rock Auto (link). "Oil pump belt, should be changed, if original." - by @69b302 6/15/23 (link)
- Brake fluid - "Ron, Never use DOT 5 brake fluid in the Ford GT as you suggested above. Only use DOT 3, 4 or 5.1. The DOT 5 is silicone fluid and will ruin your brakes. The other DOT formulas are synthetic. There is a huge difference between DOT 5 and DOT 5.1." - by @TO AWSUM 4/20/21 (link).
- Brake master cylinder - "The 2004 F-150 is a great match. I bought Brakebest 10-3033 from O'Reilly as a reman. I took the guts out of my old cylinder and put the guts from the F 150 in, bled the brakes, and Whammo back in business." - by @Rick 6/21/24 (link).
- Clearances for ground / ramps / speed bumps / trailering - Below are the bottom dimensions of my own '05 FGT 401459; note that its front is lowered ~1" via perches:
- Console tunnel - Consider telling your spouse to be careful when putting on her seat belt as wedding rings can scratch the side of the magnesium console. Or you could cover it with something like PPF.
- Control arm and link end seals - "Very typical for the rear lower control arm and link end seals to be split from age. The GT garage or GT101 can supply replacement seals, which are not available from Ford, separate from the component." - by @69b302 6/15/23 (link).
- Fuel filler - When fueling up be gentle when inserting the fuel nozzle into the filler port:
- "The plastic fuel filler flap and dinky spring is so fragile many folks have broken them off. Myself included. Much care is needed when filling the tank not to hit the spring side of the flap with the fuel nozzle. You'll know when the flap fails, engine check light leading to emissions fault code." - by @bret a ewing (link).
- "Easy on the gas pump nozzle as you insert it in the fill hole, the plastic “flapper” is finicky and prone to cause issues." - by @junior (link).
- "I always just put the nozzle in straight and didn't let the hose put too much pressure/tension on the handle so it doesn't try to move the nozzle inside the tube." - by @twobjshelbys (link).
- Horn button / Airbag emblem - If your horn button / airbag emblem has de-laminated (or oxidized, or whatever happens to it), it can be sent to Shelby at Elite Autos LLC in Jonesboro AR for refurb (https://www.eliteautosllc.com/ 870-932-7744 store / 870-931-8004 mobile). Here are instructions (link).
- Jacking - Bottom of GT whole-side-of-car jack points and jack stand placement locations from (link).
- Paint chip - Don't open the driver's door when the frunk lever is open / out as the lever and front upper corner of the door can contact each other and the door's paint can be chipped right on that corner. Same on the other side: Passenger side door can contact the fuel filler lever and chip that door's corner. I believe this is an example of the chip:
- Roundels - This link (https://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/threads/roundels.9754/post-114771) states the '06 Heritage roundel and number sizes are:
- Door: 20" diameter roundel / 16" number height
- Clamshell: 19" diameter roundel / 13" number height
- Front: 16" diameter roundel / 11" number height
- Tires - Warning!! "If you don't have experience with no-nanny high performance cars read alot about the handling here. They have a tendency to break the rear wheels loose with the slightest provocation with dangerous consequences. Bridgestones help alot as they are stickier in cold tires/cold pavement but still can let loose when you least expect them. Accelerate only in a straight line, and be careful about sudden power (like trouncing on the accelerator to pass, and most especially with the downshift/accelerate/upshift to pass.)" - by @twobjshelbys 6/14/23 (link). "This is the big one, cold tires have been the leading culprit of most GT crashes. Drive it like it’s on ice skates until warm and even then only apply power with the car pointing straight. 2nd gear is the torquey gear and it will break loose and swap ends very quickly!" - by @Special K 6/15/23 (link).
That said ... Since the OEM Goodyears are no longer available, Bridgestones are the only choice and are actually recommended over the Goodyears anyway. Bridgestones are often available from Radial Tire (Bill) 301-585-2740 or 703-554-4803: "Hi Ron, happy Friday! I wanted to let you know that I have 12 Bridgestone GT tires and Bridgestone called me today to inform me that they have allocated their entire North American stock to us which is awesome. I have 90 rears and 90 fronts coming to me me. Now I am biting my nails hoping for calls." - by @roketman (link) 5/6/22. Correct Bridgestone sizes for the 2005/6 Ford GT are:
- Front: Bridgestone RE050A Potenza (Porsche N1) 265/40R18
- Rear: Bridgestone RE050A Potenza Scuderia 345/35R19
- Base wheels, BBS Cast (6 chunky spokes):
- Front: 4G7Z-1007-AA (18" dia. x 9" wide / 50mm offset)
- Rear: 4G7Z-1007-BA (19" dia. x 11.5" wide / 40mm offset)
- Upgrade wheels, BBS Forged (10 narrower spokes):
- Front: RG395 4G7V-1007-CA (18" dia. x 9" wide / 50mm offset)
- Rear: RG396 4G7Z-1007-DA (19" dia. x 11.5" wide / 40mm offset)
New-to-you '05/6 Ford GT items to check:
- Airbags - The 05/6 Ford GT was/is subject to the common Takata airbag recall. "Check the OASIS report for axle bolt TSB (it was not a recall). Of course get the air bags done if they haven't (and there's a good chance they aren't). Ford will come to you to do them and there are some trusted third party installers. The steering wheel is easy but the passenger side requires careful disassembly of the lower portion of the passenger side dash panel that has a thin segment across the center console best handled by two people." - by @twobjshelbys 6/14/23 (link).
- Axle bolts aka Half shaft bolts - See above.
- Battery Grounds - See above.
- Fuel filler - See above.
- Paint chip on doors - See above.
- Tires - See above.
- Transmission operation when cold - "Until the transmission warms up, you will notice a slight grinding when upshifting to 2nd gear. Either shift 1-3 or 1-3-2 for the first few minutes." - by @Special K 6/15/23 (link)
