My first mods were window tint and clear bra to protect the appearance. I just put JLT oil separator.

What else can I add to the car that can improve its efficiency or prevent long term breakdown? I just started taking the car to the drag strip. I want to know how far I can take the car in stock form before i start doing any performance mods. Although I just ordered GT500 axle backs just to improve how it sounds.

Do you think control arms would be next logical mod i should do? Because i experienced a lot of wheel hop at the drag. I assume excessive amounts of wheel hop would be damaging in the long run? It was really my first time and i didnt lower my tire pressure on the stock tires.

 

The factory lower control arms are a joke. They look like you could bend them with both hands. I'd go ahead and get some good LCA's for sure.

 

There are two mutually exclusive sentences in that quote.

 

Easy, leave it stock and stop racing it...

 

Boss oil cooler.

 

hehe i wouldn't have a problem with keeping the car stock if it were just a daily driver ( which it is now) but i recently just did my first drag strip and now i'm hooked and i plan to go every couple of weeks when possible. and im interested in taking some performance driving lessons on the track at Virginia International Raceway sometime in the future.

so yeah the car is going to be pushed hard in the future. i just feel bad for her hehe. but i just want to do all precautions so i can have this baby operating in good condition for me in the long term.

 

Thanks for this. I never considered this. I think this maybe part of the track package?

I will definitely consider this for my next in future mods.

 

I would do the MMR coolent crossover mod, same idea as the old 4.6l cross over, to allow water to circulate more evenly between both sides of the block.

 

An air to oil cooler would be better, frpp sells one. More $$ but well worth it, especially if it had a thermostat.

 

Mechanical empathy is going to help...change your oil often...consider full synthetic if going anything longer than 5k (I change mine every 3k with the recomended blend). Follow all maintainence requirement exactly, using the "heavy duty" cycle where applicable.

Dont shut it down when it's really hot if possible...lift the hood when you park it between runs at the strip at least.

Refrain from side-stepping the clutch and power shifting. You'll be giving up a couple tenths from your 1/4 mile time but the shock loads on the drivetrain will definitely be reduced if youre a bit gentler.

Dont tune...this may be controversial but the power that Ford left on the table (that people pick up when tunng) is eating into the durability margin.

Basically, to quote Dr. McCoy; "Treat her like a lady and she'll always bring you home."

 

To be clear, do you mean to keep the engine on idle between runs as i let it cool off?

Sidestepping is allowing the clutch to spring up on it's own by releasing it as fast as possible?

And powershifting is keeping the gas pedal pressed down between shifts?

Just wanted to be sure.

 

 

As for the cool down...When at the strip, do the best you can, like what slostang described. I wouldnt have it sit the and idle for very long but go nice and slow/easy in the retun lane and pop the hood when you park it, preferably in the shade. It will theoretically preserve the life span of the hoses, belts, etc to not be baking n the heat pouring off of the exhaust...and it will minimimize oil coking (more of a worry with turbo cars...but still...)

You got sidestepping/powershiing correct there. With slicks, it's sometimes the fastest way to launch but it wreaks holy hell on your drivetrain, especially u-joints and axles...and I certainly dont want to excessively beat on our flimsy Chinese transmissions.

 

I think the most effective simplest mod anyone can start with is a oil catcher or a catch can. I installed a JLT oil seperator as soon as I brought my 13 home. You can simply even use a husky compressor filter. Actually, believe it or not, before the 13GT500 came out there was a magazine article on motor trend I believe it was where it show the GT500 testing with a compressor filter as a oil catch can. I couldn't believe my eyes but it must of been good enough for it. I used it for awhile on my camaro and it did well until I got tired of leaking after awhile and filling up too fast. The darn thing is very small.

 

The greatest mod for prolonged engine life is finding a mod friendly dealer.

 

Dual adjustable lower rear control arms and/or an adjustable upper rear control arm will allow you to adjust your pinion angle which will cure your wheel hop (and save your rear axles from leaking eventually). My '11 5.0L had 4 degrees of pinion angle from the factory, while 2 degrees is optimal to banish the wheel hop. I bought Maximum Motorsports' dual adjustable LCA's with spherical steel bearings on both ends, got the pinion angle to the suggested 2 degrees, and no more wheel hop!

 

Keep the oil cool.

Keep the coolant cool.

Keep the oil fresh.

Keep the brake fluid fresh.

Keep the coolant fresh.

Clean often.

If you're not on slicks, don't dump the clutch, unless you want to do a nice smokey burnout. Nice smokey burnouts do not make good launches.

If you are on slicks, and you dump the clutch, and you haven't upgraded your driveshaft or strengthened your rear axle, expect to have those parts break.

Keep your oil cool.

If something looks, sounds, or feels wrong, get off the throttle. Do not hesitate. You will lose the pass, but if you keep going you may lose your engine... or the whole car. Or your life.

Keep your oil cool.

 

I haven't found one yet, also haven't found one with a service mgr. that has any clue whatsoever goes on inside/outside of a vehicle.

 

I used to do that on my LSx vehicles. It was cheap insurance having the old "Home Depot" catchcan

 

Boss oil cooler along with a boss radiator
Rear end girdle
After marker upper and lower rear control arms
If you can afford it, forged internals in the motor.
Dyno tune and proper octane.
Billet oil pump gears.