Ten Questions with: Part 2

[dbk]

The first ten questions session with Camilo Pardo went really well. Hope everyone enjoyed it. It felt like the answers were really off the cuff, and those were direct transcriptions of the responses he gave into my iPhone voice memo recorder. The responses are now stickied at the top of this section, and eventually when we have enough of these, maybe they'll get there own section for historical value.

For round two, we're moving on to: Ten Questions with Jamal Hameedi.

Jamal Hameedi was the Program Manager for Ford GT. He's an engineer by trade, and is currently SVT Chief Nameplate Engineer, but his role at Ford GT could best be described as being the hub of the wheel that held together the many spokes of the program.

Jamal is suited to answer any kinds of GT questions you might have. He's very good with program details and suppliers, development details etc. He also has a high degree of technical knowledge regarding the Ford GT. Oh, and he took a 45 minute half shaft beating at Rally II like a champ.

What would you like to know about Ford GT and Ford GT program from Ford GT Program Manager Jamal Hameedi?

Fire away!

 

[Neilda]

I would be curious to know about parts availability in the future for our cars? Also what parts (beyond the obvious like panels) are unique to the GT and may become hard to find.

 

[ViperJoe]

Gauge failures appear to be prolific. What can be done to improve long term reliability, potentially through the availability of improved replacement components?

 

[fjpikul]

Oh boy, I'm gonna have to ask my neighbors about this one.

 

[AZGT]

Hey, I was going to ask that.

I will anyway - future parts? What is Ford's committment?

Why was the specific engine size selected instead of something larger?

I would be curious to know about parts availability in the future for our cars? Also what parts (beyond the obvious like panels) are unique to the GT and may become hard to find.

 

[BlackICE]

Also what parts (beyond the obvious like panels) are unique to the GT and may become hard to find.

I would tell everyone, but I have to buy some 1st before the stampede! :biggrin

 

[PL510*Jeff]

Oh boy, I'm gonna have to ask my neighbors about this one.

Both of them?:thumbsup

 

[PL510*Jeff]

Gauge failures appear to be prolific. What can be done to improve long term reliability, potentially through the availability of improved replacement components?

Joe - what's your definition of prolific?

10 to 20 cars or 1000?

I ask that, just for the sake of discussion, rather than to be argumentative?

This has not been a problem with my GT. So it is a non-issue with me.

A number of posts have been made here on the Forum on this item. And if my memory is not faulty, the troubles have been with electrical "issues" that affect the gauges performance, rather the gauges themselves.

Semantics come into play on this issue, and a few others . And that I assume just might cause this item to be troublesome only to those GT owners that have had a problem.

 

[Indy GT]

Jamal-

Many owners have expressed dissatisfaction with the GT Program selection of Goodyear Formula 1 tires. Owners have sung the laurels of how much "better" their car performs on Michlens, Pirellis, Hoosiers, and others to the exclusion of our OE Goodyears. Knowing the methodical detail the engineering team expended on the OE tire selection, could you explain from your official inside capacity to the owner audience:

1) What performance attributes were a) must have b) nice to have and c) don't care one way or the other for the review team? Was, for instance, mud/snow traction actually in the evaluation equation? (That's for you Jeff)

2) How many tire candidates willing to supply tires for our cars stepped forward for the FGT production business?

3) How many Goodyear tire variations were assessed before a final production selection was made?

4) How were the tire applicants judged and why was Goodyear selected?

5) Knowing the earlier Firestone fiasco with the Ford Explorer, how important was it to Ford and Fred's GT team regarding verification of sustained 200+ mph capability of the OE tire? Should this, in your engineering opinion, be a consideration for those owners who use "other" non OE tires? Were any high-speed tire failures experienced during development testing and if so how did the car react?

6) Because many owners have a) replaced the OE Goodyear tires with different tire sizes and manufacturers b) altered suspension heights c) added wheel spacers to increase tire stance d) replaced the Ford rims with aftermarket units and e) added increased geometry front splitter and rear diffuser runners, in the interest of making their car "look and perform better", might these changes alter (benign to significantly) any safety characteristics (in like the medium-to-high speed regime) of our GT's?

Thanks.

 

[Fubar]

If you had to name one item that you fought for/against that brought you the most grief, what would it be? ...give us some details on the agruments.

Thanks Jamal, we all appreciate your continued commitment to our community. I enjoyed speaking with you at the Austin events.

 

[Kayvan]

RE: Prolific gauages.

Would have to agree with PL510&Jeff.

I parsed every single dead gauge thread and related posts, for unique IDs, and came up with 24 names.

When cross referencing with the Optimay battery survey / dead gauge surveys; it appears the number of folks who had a dead battery <2yr /dead gauges was very smilar.

Further, 70% of people who have gauge problems didnt use the Ford OEM charger. And the ones that did may have done so after letting it sit for some time.

 

[Howard]

But isn't it surprising that a low/dead battery would cause permanent harm to the gauges or gauge computer, in at least some of the cases?

Howard

 

[Cobrar]

Ok here's a couple.

1) The Ford GT development program was (from memory) an incredible 18 months from concept approval to production. What, if any 'lessons learned' from that abbreviated process were later adopted by Ford for it's vehicle development processes?

2) Did (or will) any of the GT (business or engineering) processes find their way into SVT (e.g. Raptor or future products)?

3) And for extra credit - Was Fred easy or difficult to work with - most days? :lol

 

[Waxer]

Jamal:
1. Did you guys ever consider an exhaust configuration similar to the original bundle of snakes found on the original Mark I's which the current FGT seems to have been birthed from?

If you did consider it, why wasn't a bundle of snakes exhaust configuration used?

If it wasn't considered why wasn't it considered (maybe for the same reason as above I guess? :confused)

2. Also, did you guys ever consider a wheel configuration to permit more original style wheel styles (e.g. Halibrand style) with 3 eared faux spinners? If so, what happened. If not considered, why not?

 

[DanQ]

Questions for Jamal:
1) As a business case, did the GT make money for Ford?
2) What would have to happen to make a similar business case for a follow-on exotic in todays market?
3) Not sure how to ask this, but do the suppliers contribute development "at cost" in order to be included in a Halo project like the GT? If not, what manner do they help out to be selected to supply systems or parts?
4) Are part suppliers expected to supply parts for 10 years after production ends? If not, how long?

 

[Silverbullitt]

When I was at the Centenniel I ran into some advanced powertrain guys. They told me that the V-10 in the concept cobra and GR-1 was considered for the gt. Is that a rumor? If not when did they decide on the 5.4 V8?

 

[AZGT]

What is the REAL story about trying to use the GT-40 name?. What other names were considered?

 

[dbk]

Jamal is getting all the hard ones . Poor guy always takes a beating.

Keep them coming and I'll get the answers tomorrow.

 

[AZGT]

Jamal is getting all the hard ones . Poor guy always takes a beating.

Keep them coming and I'll get the answers tomorrow.

Hey - if he can stand up to the axle bolt fry, he can answer the easy ones :biggrin

 

[roketman]

Jamal,
When can I get a focus rs?
The pic in your phone got me excited.
Next rally come for a ride at the track event !
I'll drive !!