I have recieved some PM's lately asking for a build thread describing my 2000 GT. It's beed dubbed "Frankenstang" mosly because it uses parts from many forms of Mustang as well as some other Ford (truck) vehicles. I bought it new back in mid-2000 when I started my career at Ford as an engineer. Of course it didn't take long before I started to mod it. I started simple with changing out the mufflers, just like 80% of Mustang owners do. I then turned my attention to the suspension, then the brakes. It started to see life on the road course back in 2002 and has been used for that purpose ever since.

Vehicle Details:

Engine
1997 (NPI) 5.4L short block - purchased off craigslist, rebuilt with new bearings & rings
PI heads
Comp XE270AH Camshafts
Comp Valve Springs
Comp Adjustable Cam timing gears
HPS intake manifold
Trickflow upper intake plenum
Trickflow 75mm TB
BBK CAI

Exhaust
BBK O/R X-pipe
High-flow cats welded in
Custom cat-back w/ secondary x (similar to FR500 concept)

Suspension
Front:
Steeda/Eibach Sport Springs (650 #/in)
Tokico D-Spec adjustable struts
Steeda 1.375" Swaybar
Steeda X2 balljoints
Steeda Bumpsteer kit
Steeda Caster/Camber plates
Rear:
2001 IRS assembly w/ 3.55:1 gears
Eibach sport springs (675 #/in)
Tokico D-Spec adjustable shocks
Maximum Motorsports Polyurethane subframe bushings
Chassis & Weight:
Kenny Brown SFC's w/ jacking rails & triangulated for strength
Rear Seat deleted
Mach 460 deleted
Battery relocated to trunk

Brakes
Front:
2001 Bullitt Calipers
Brembo Rotors
Hawk HPS (street) / DTC60 (track) pads
Braided Stainless brake lines
2000 Cobra R brake ducts
Rear:
Hawk HPS (street) / HP+ (track) pads

 

Here are some detailed pictures of the build-up:

Engine:
Craigslist find - 1997 5.4L from an E350

Tearing it down to the block



Block cleaned up & a fresh coat of paint

Short Block Reassembled

Heads installed

Cams & Timing gear installed & timed in

All installed

 

Suspension & Brakes

Out with the old...

In with the new...

New front brakes:

New Front Suspension:

Rear Seat Deleted

Removed Parts:

Race tires for the season:

 

sweeeeet

 

awesome buildup!

 

 

Nice build.

 

I almost forgot about the obligitory shots of the "track *****" on track...

Leaving for the track:

Getting ready for a day of racing...

Gingerman Raceway

Grattan Raceway in the wet chasing down a Porsche

 

This car is a blast to ride in. So much torque all the time!
Couldnt be owned by a better guy as well.

 

Thanks for posting it up.

I'm surprised that you went with such relatively low spring rates for a track oriented car. 650#/in up front isn't much stiffer than stock Mach 1/Bullitt.

 

So instead of a 2K Cobra R, this is more akin to a "2K GT R". Nice combo.

 

Very, very cool! Thank you for sharing the info. and pictures!

 

How do you like the IRS? Both on and off track.


I so hope to put one in mine one day.

 

This is freaking sweet

one heck of a car lets see some race footage :P

 

Great build.

 

Nice work man...

Any updates or comments on performance?

 

If the factory offered the option back in 2000 to get the IRS in a GT I would have done it. Instead I found a local guy with a Cobra that wanted to go drag racing, and I wanted to go road racing. We swapped everything over in my garage in about 3 hours. I love having the IRS. It makes everyday driving much better, and on track, it is awesome. If I kept the SRA I would have gone the route of the MM torque arm and panhard bar. Swapping to the IRS was a lot less work and it has the added bonus of factory durability.

 

I have some on-track videos posted up on youtube. Just do a search for my username JScottGT. Plus there are some videos on the 5.4 swap there too.

 

Nice! Still have the 8.8? Haha

 

What tires were you running on the wet course?