New Ford GT Buyer...So Excited!

[Treviso]

Hi Everyone,
My name is Rob and I live in the Detroit area. I am a long time car aficionado, but new to the FGT world. I just purchased a 1500 mile 2005 Black/Silver Stripes Ford GT 4-Option from Shelby that is supposed to be in spotless, mint condition. It has a clear bra on the nose, but I don't think it has the mirrors or rockers done. I will have that done. This is my second purchase from Shelby in under 3 months and, yes, he's great to deal with. I just recently purchase a wickedly fast 500 mile 2012 Porsche Turbo S that was better than described.
I am coming from a background of (most recently) driving Dodge Vipers, having until recently owned 3 of them (I kept one, sold two), many corvettes throughout the years, 2008 Ford GT500KR, many 60s muscle cars, and my recent new 2012 Porsche Turbo S. I am so excited about this FGT that I hardly can stand it. I hope to have the car by the end of the month.
The car is stock, but Shelby suggested some mods like a pully, a tune, and a few other things to really make the FGT super fast. I haven't modified any cars since my 60s muscle cars back in the 80s...all of my cars since have remained stock. However, Shelby said that the mods he suggested will unleash at least another 100hp from the engine. Does anyone know if he dynos the car? Does the exhaust system have to be modded as well? Are there any other things that are must have mod options? Because the tires are over 7 years old any way you look at it, I am going to have him put new Bridgestone Tires that are nice and soft and grippy. Coming from Vipers, I know very well that good new tires are a must with torque monsters. These cars are so expensive that a set of four new tires seem like a no-brainer.
I have read over and over again about how great FGTs drive and how much fun they are, what can I expect? The classic lines and contours of the car are just incredible and I look forward to owning such an iconic car. Having never driven one, I just can't imagine what to expect. Why do you love your FGT so much?
Thank you, in advance and I look forward to becoming a part of this community.
Rob (Treviso)

 

[GTED]

Congrats on your new purchases! Do searches on " pulley tune", " Whipple", "TT" and you'll have 4 weeks worth of good reading!!! Good and informative stuff. Your first upgrade ought to be to replace the oem GY F1 tires to the Bridgestone. Old rubber and HP don't mix well....

Enjoy your FGT and your Turbo S!

GTED

 

[RALPHIE]

Welcome Aboard!! :thumbsup

You're going to love it!!

:cheers

 

[Waxer]

+1

 

[Fracman]

Dyno not really needed for a pulley and tune unless you want to really try to optimize the power in the new comfiguration, there is a lot of work behind them already. Just for the heck of it I dyno'd my car a few months after Shelby installed a pulley and tune and it put down 602 at the wheels. This seemed to be right in the middle of most feedback numbers on this mod and I was very pleased. If you are going with the dyno route , it is worth considering a custome tune (Torrie @ Unleashed Tuning was great to work with when he did my Whipple tune).

Be careful though, this car mods so easily that you may find yourself adding a Whipple later. Shelby offered a Whipple, in hindsight I wish I had taken him up on it and skipped the pulley and tune. I decided in ease into the hp additions and added a Whipple about 10 months later. The whipple has taken the car from being very fast to a rocket that will "punch" the air out of an unsuspecting passenger's lungs due to the incredible torque on the hit when already moving.

Either way (pulley/tune or Whipple), you can't go wrong as it is a great car in any form.

Other mods that were on my list are exhaust "to taste", hot buttons, billet seat inserts, billet vents (TX heat warped my originals in short order), and lots of other goodies from forum vendors.

Congrats and enjoy!

 

[STORMCAT]

Congrats and welcome !! :cheers. A pulley and tune is a great choice. You can trust Shelby's opinion on GT matters.

 

[MJSFRX]

Welcome aboard. you wont be disappointed with you purchase.

 

[Specracer]

Congrats, if I were you, get the car as is, and get to know it, and after decide if you want to change it.... If you do mods later, you will get to enjoy the tweaks along the way bringing a fresh perspective

 

[Ed Sims]

Welcome to a great Forum Treviso! I hope you can make it to the Rally in October!

Ed

 

[soroush]

congrats and welcome, shelby is great and will not lead you on the wrong path, listen to his advice, he has been around these cars for a long time. pulley tune is great but as fracman said whipple is even better! you can have shelby do that for you as well, regardless on what you decide this car is unlike any of the other cars in your stable! so sorry you bought the porsche your not going to want to drive it when you get the GT

 

[GTdrummer]

About damn time you pulled the trigger, Rob.

I responded to your PMs. Hopefully, you got them. Like me, coming out of Vipers (wonderful cars) , you first reaction will be ,"where has this been all my life"?

Shelby will steer you right on options, etc. Good luck

 

[P3GT]

Welcome. I had the pulley and tune done by Shelby when I purchased my car, and am very happy with the results. I am also a long time Viper, Ferrari, Corvette, and 60's muscle car owner. I love them all, but the GT is my favorite. There is nothing else that I know of that combines all of the best things of those other cars into one. Will definately put a smile on your face. Hope you don't have a jealous wife.

 

[twobjshelbys]

I did pulley/tune (from the GT Guys) on mine. I also ditched the 6 year old tires and put Bridgestones on before I ever saw the car.

Another mod that is a "why didn't the car come that way" is the Ford Racing Short Throw Shifter. FRPP has discontinued it but someone here bought the remaining stock.

 

[2112]

I also ditched the 6 year old tires and put Bridgestones on before I ever saw the car.

Another mod that is a "why didn't the car come that way" is the Ford Racing Short Throw Shifter. FRPP has discontinued it but someone here bought the remaining stock.

+1

And Welcome!

 

[Fubar]

Welcome to club… have fun (as if that needs to be said). No tractions nannies, lots of torque… the obligatory “be careful” must be added.

 

[Treviso]

Many thanks to all who have replied. Special thanks to GTDrummer: I PM'd you and, once again, thank you for all of your excellent information. I am currently talking with Shelby about exhaust systems. Now, the countdown begins...Pics to follow.

 

[FBA]

Like Fracman said...be careful with the small mods. I did that and ended up wasting a few k as I installed a Whipple a few months ago, making 783 WHP..with a conservative tune...and it was maybe all in around 12k total...

If you're thinking more power...think about the Whipple 4.0L before you shell out a few grand for a pulley and tune. The difference is astounding, but well worth the coin.

 

[Treviso]

I tend to be a little conservative when it comes to mods. I don't really want to mod the car too much, but the pully and tune, according to Shelby, is a must as it adds about another 100hp to the engine. With regards to exhausts, I really dislike the "drone" noise that can come about at certain rpms with certain exhaust systems. I like a nice sound, but not too loud. My neighbors will get pissed!

 

[Fracman]

I tend to be a little conservative when it comes to mods. I don't really want to mod the car too much, but the pully and tune, according to Shelby, is a must as it adds about another 100hp to the engine. With regards to exhausts, I really dislike the "drone" noise that can come about at certain rpms with certain exhaust systems. I like a nice sound, but not too loud. My neighbors will get pissed!

This is a very subjective topic and it is hard to go wrong. the suggestion of hearing several at the rally is a great one as well as quizzing Shelby as he has probably heard them all.

If you aren't sensitive to removing the CATs (it is not permanent), the borla muffler with the CAT delete pipes is an alternative as well. Not too loud under normal loads, music to my ears (and terror to those behind you) under mid-high load, and a great snap, crackle, pop under decel once everything was finished. I gotta say that the straight header setup that I have heard can't be described in words (but not neighbor friendly at 2am as others have pointed out). This may also seem petty but I really like the "ford racing" stamping on the borla as well.

 

[2112]

Fracman, I think you have what I have, the Ford Racing M-9430 GTX headers?

I love them too and they are not as obnoxious as one would think. Anders has a set for sale here on the Forum BTW.
.