68flashback Posted October 4, 2011 Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 I am considering a 2007 GT500. It has 50,000kms on it. The first owner modified the car when it was new. Cold air intake, s/charger pulley, lowered, 3.73 gears, 3" exhaust. Needless to say the car is smoking hot. Oh, and recently a SPEC clutch after 2 stock ones burned out. The cold air intake has Steeda printed on it - carbon fibre. They removed the strut tower brace in order to fit in the CAI, and never replaced it. So my question is, with so much torque and HP, was removing that bar a good idea? Could there be some frame twist now? He has all the original parts, and black SVT rims with Hoosier slicks on them just for fun. The price is quite attractive too. Any advice very much appreciated! Gregg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shel-b001 Posted October 4, 2011 Report Share Posted October 4, 2011 The original brace should go back on with a few washers to give clearance for the CAI. If it doesn`t line up with studs then it could indicate something has twisted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasShelby Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 If you know the previous owner, it would benefit you to find out if the flywheel has also been replaced in your 07? Or if the TSB has been performed changing the clutch assy and flywheel. If not, and you do city driving, I'd really think about getting a good flywheel. The flywheel was one of the major problems to begin with and may wear out your Spec in heated city driving. Oddly enough some guys that drag it or highway drive it haven't had as bad a problem. I have an early 07, new clutch at 13k miles, then another new clutch, flywheel, and complete tranny at 13,001 miles, and now at 27,000 miles another clutch needed, but I didn't go back to Ford, I went with the McLeod RXT Street Twin and new flywheel. So far so good, except for a little tranny rattle that the installer is going to look at when I get it to him. Good luck, and you will love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobjshelbys Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 If you know the previous owner, it would benefit you to find out if the flywheel has also been replaced in your 07? Or if the TSB has been performed changing the clutch assy and flywheel. If the work was done at a Ford dealer then an Oasis report will tell you everything that has been done to it. The service manager at your favorite dealer should be able to get you a copy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68flashback Posted October 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Attached is the invoice for the clutch work that was done. Let me know what you think. This was 8,000 kms ago. Thanks for the help! Gregg ps - made a deal to buy the car, might be picking it up today. The strut tower brace fit perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiJoseph22 Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Good luck with the car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprint200 Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Regarding your question about the strut tower brace: I have a car built by the 2009 Grand Am Koni Challenge champions, and it did not even come with a STB. If anyone thought it was important, it should be those guys. FWIW, the builder was an engineer on the SVT team who helped design the GT500 suspension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68flashback Posted October 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Thanks to all who replied. It was very helpful. I picked up the car last night. Had about an hour drive home - mainly multilane highway. What a blast!!! She is a rocket, and the Shaker 1000 kicks as well. Can't wait to get her detailed (needs it bad) and looking perfect. I have a garage full of stock parts for her too, plus an extra set of black SVT rims with Hoosier slicks for fun times at the track. Lots of questions to follow from me I'm sure!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug_GT350 Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Congrats on the new ride, I'm sure you will love it!!!! Ask all the questions you want, there is a wealth of information available on here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VorpalBunny Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Thanks to all who replied. It was very helpful. I picked up the car last night. Had about an hour drive home - mainly multilane highway. What a blast!!! She is a rocket, and the Shaker 1000 kicks as well. Can't wait to get her detailed (needs it bad) and looking perfect. I have a garage full of stock parts for her too, plus an extra set of black SVT rims with Hoosier slicks for fun times at the track. Lots of questions to follow from me I'm sure!! Congrats on the new purchase! Sounds like great fun. You can register yoiuself as the new owner at the link below. Enjoy her, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68flashback Posted October 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Congrats on the new purchase! Sounds like great fun. You can register yoiuself as the new owner at the link below. Enjoy her, David Thanks David - I did so. What does that do for me? The car was already registered, and showed no mods. Not exactly true! Where can I go to edit the details? Cheers Gregg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValyCop Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Congratulations Gregg on the new ride, looks nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseygator Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 Welcome and Congrats! Beautiful car... Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rev Dennis Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 I have seen racing Boss 302s without a strut tower brace. I will get arguments about this but I think people expect them, thus they are there. They are really not necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGT/SC#0471 Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 Right on! Enjoy your new ride, looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasShelby Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 If you get her detailed, or do it yourself, spend the money or time right now and have it stripped and clay barred. It's not hard to do and you will be amazed at the results of the finish. If you do it yourself, first: make a paste of backing soda and warm water. dab it all over the leading edge of the car and let it sit a couple minutes, then gently remove all the bugs and stains. You won't believe how easy they come off with the baking soda, and not abrasive. second: wash your car in Dawn dish liquid. that will strip any way you have on it. third; clay bar with any good quality clay bar, making sure your keep it plenty wet when working the clay. It's easy, but just time consuming. fourth: lay down a couple layers of your favorite finsh, wax or sealant. I used ICE paste with an orbital buffer. ICE paste does not leave white residue. You can use it on everything under the hood as well that will make it POP. five: wait a day or so, lay down another layer of ICE paste. Enjoy I keep it clean with a Cali duster and use Adam's Polish Detail Spray. I only use ICE car wash in a Mr. Clean filtered car wash wand and touch up the front with ICE liquid and use it was well to detail under the hood. I use Adam's Polish VRT for the rubber and Meguiar's Vinyl Dressing for the interior. I put it on thick on the dash and seats and let it sit. After a couple hours I wipe down and do it again the next day. The seats are very soft and supple. Once you clay bar it, and ICE it. If you don't use commercial car wash soap (and NEVER use a drive through car wash, it will remove your side stripes) this little effort should last a year if you keep it touched up with the ICE liquid. And the finish looks about 6 inches deep, even the fastest color....white. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68flashback Posted October 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 To all who have sent good wishes and advice - thanks. Texas, thanks for the detailed detailing instructions. My son is big into that so the weekend I got the car we spent the afternoon cleaning, claybarring, polishing and waxing. We also took about 5 years worth of brake dust off of the rims - who knew they were bright silver!!! lol Here's a couple of shots of her now. This past weekend we got some dry weather so I took her down Niagara way and back. Some serious highway fun! Loving every minute. Cheers Gregg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang loco Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Congrats on the new ride,looks great!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasShelby Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Brake dust is something you have to live with. Most have changed their front pads to a pad that has reduced brake dust. A lot of guys switched to the AutoZone DuraMax Gold pads and have had good luck with them. I'm running them on the rears, but up front I'm running the Porterfield RS-4's and have had great luck with them and about 75% less brake dust. I use Eagle AtoZ wheel cleaner that works great removing the dust with no effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaporDude Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 Congrats on the car Gregg. As far as the wheels go, put a couple of good coats of wax on them. It helps with rinsing the dust off easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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