Hello + Advice on maintenance/to-do's appreciated

[RALPHIE]

...The shifter is spring loaded, so you will feel a ratchet as you go fwd into 1st gear....

The neutral position of the shift gate is between 3rd and 4th. It is spring loaded to 1st/2nd left, 5th/6th right. Be careful finding reverse - test it slowly, as you may be in 1st.

 

[fjpikul]

I'm not sure we're ready for a new member from Minnesota with a risky name. All good advice. Most important, don't punch it with the wheel turned.

 

[Button]

Congratulations! Enjoy the car while you still can as cold weather is coming. Watch out for those chilly mornings. To paraphrase another member awhile back..."This ain't no Yugo."

 

[HIRISC]

I'm not sure we're ready for a new member from Minnesota with a risky name. All good advice. Most important, don't punch it with the wheel turned.

Congratulations! Enjoy the car while you still can as cold weather is coming. Watch out for those chilly mornings. To paraphrase another member awhile back..."This ain't no Yugo."

So noted guys. Thanks.

 

[Nafod]

Only other thing that comes to mind is the 2nd gear "grind" until the trans axle warms up. Shifting 1st to 3rd until warm or double clutching helps.
When the right temp, the tranny shifts into 2nd very nicely. If you "feel" you have to force it. Dont.

Welcome :biggrin

 

[HHGT]

Only other thing that comes to mind is the 2nd gear "grind" until the trans axle warms up. Shifting 1st to 3rd until warm or double clutching helps.
When the right temp, the tranny shifts into 2nd very nicely. If you "feel" you have to force it. Dont.

Welcome :biggrin

Changing the transaxle fluid will make the 2nd gear grind disappear.

 

[JAYGT]

HIRISC congrats on the new GT. For heavens sake please stop calling it a "GAL":ack

 

[HIRISC]

Thanks all.

I agree Jay, 'gal' doesn't quite read right to me in hindsight.

 

[GT35065]

Congrats to a fellow Minnesotan. These cars are truly amazing, and when you are not driving, it's like having a Rembrandt with four wheels in the garage. I'm in White Bear Lake if you are near by, would love to see your car. If you have the stock exhaust, that is the first change I would make. I went with Heffner's but there are several good choices out there. I kept my stock exhaust for resale, if that ever happens in my lifetime.

 

[texas mongrel]

My 2cents; if you've any track work planned you must have the trans cooler otherwise you'll get severe erectile dysfunction of the clutch pedal
(it goes all floppy on you)! Bridgestone tires rock; pulley and tune a must (easy to do yourself if you're handy),and lastly, hot buttons are mandatory on an FGT - get the awesome billet top inserts too

 

[HIRISC]

Congrats to a fellow Minnesotan. These cars are truly amazing, and when you are not driving, it's like having a Rembrandt with four wheels in the garage. I'm in White Bear Lake if you are near by, would love to see your car. If you have the stock exhaust, that is the first change I would make. I went with Heffner's but there are several good choices out there. I kept my stock exhaust for resale, if that ever happens in my lifetime.

Thanks much. Mine's got the pulley/tune done. I'm south of the river. You ever go to Cars & Coffee in Chanhassen? I'm at every one.

My 2cents; if you've any track work planned you must have the trans cooler otherwise you'll get severe erectile dysfunction of the clutch pedal (it goes all floppy on you)! Bridgestone tires rock; pulley and tune a must (easy to do yourself if you're handy), and lastly, hot buttons are mandatory on an FGT - get the awesome billet top inserts too

Thank you. Has Bridgestones, pulley/tune AND hot buttons. I must be living right!

 

[FastFords]

Chris, you should share with these great guys your wet dream of a garage condo. :eek It will give them an idea of your abilities with cars besides something to salivate over.

:cheers
Joe

 

[Superfly]

Chris, you should share with these great guys your wet dream of a garage condo. :eek It will give them an idea of your abilities with cars besides something to salivate over.

:cheers
Joe

^^^^ THIS. Do it!!! One of the most amazing plans I've ever seen.

 

[HIRISC]

Thanks guys.

I'm sure plenty of guys here have garages vastly superior to mine, but here goes:

Project Garage Condo - Condensed Version

These pics encapsulate the experience

 

[jaxgt]

Wow - very well done garage. I'm jealous !

 

[texas mongrel]

you people with clean garages are just sick! Who's Cobra? I've got an all-black ERA with side-oiler - probably the most bitchin' car to look at, and most bitchy car to drive!

 

[MNJason]

I'm not sure we have officially met, however, I have been in your garage. Very nice!

 

[FastFords]

you people with clean garages are just sick! Who's Cobra? I've got an all-black ERA with side-oiler - probably the most bitchin' car to look at, and most bitchy car to drive!

It's his. He's working on a Factory Five Mark IV Roadster. The Camaro and the Corvette are also his. He goes by the same screen name over on FFCars. I'm sure when Chris gets his new harlot next week he'll give a more detailed post about the car and garage, but he's been pretty busy this summer.

 

[HIRISC]

Wow - very well done garage. I'm jealous !

I'm not sure we have officially met, however, I have been in your garage. Very nice!

Thanks guys.

Jason, I'll be at the next C&C.. if my place is open, look me up and introduce yourself (in person).

you people with clean garages are just sick! Who's Cobra? I've got an all-black ERA with side-oiler - probably the most bitchin' car to look at, and most bitchy car to drive!

It's his. He's working on a Factory Five Mark IV Roadster. The Camaro and the Corvette are also his. He goes by the same screen name over on FFCars. I'm sure when Chris gets his new harlot next week he'll give a more detailed post about the car and garage, but he's been pretty busy this summer.

Thanks Joe.

Yeah, the shop is rarely that clean anymore.. Lot's of messy grinding, drilling and fabrication goes on in the shop - most directed at my Factory Five roadster kit. Chronologically, I've spent about 18 months working on her. In actual work time, about 8 months and 400 hours. I agree, all of the 'Cobra' derivatives are stunning to look at. Kudos on the ERA.

Thanks all for your tips/suggestions re my GT.. she'll get a little TLC on Monday then hop a transport.

I'll post some more pics soon after her arrival, but I'm spending a lot more time at home lately with our 10 week old son.

 

[HIRISC]

It's here
http://www.fordgtforum.com/forums/showthread.php?23218-Delivery-of-my-new-Ford-GT

Thanks all for your suggestions.

To close the loop, Shelby's guys changed clutch & brake fluid, changed oil/filter, and added an iPod jack.

Coolant and trans fluids were fine and were recently changed.