[Our03z4]

Looking great!!! Glad to hear the engine checked good.

[heitzke]

Originally Posted by Our03z4

Looking great!!! Glad to hear the engine checked good.

Thanks! Yeah it was a huge huge relief for me.

Also seemed to have found a Ford Racing speedometer correction box in the engine bay - suggesting the vehicle might be rocking 3.73's. I'll have to get on the highway and see what i'm turning for speeds.

That would also potentially suggest why my MPG was down a touch on the way back home. Got JUST over 20 on a 22 rating, and I'm usually pretty good at nailing or beating EPA estimates.

[thasuperdude]

I think it's awesome!

Congrats, you're going to love it.

[heitzke]

Originally Posted by thasuperdude

I think it's awesome!

Congrats, you're going to love it.

Haha thanks, mustang crew checking in over here.

Just ordered a few "necessities":
- Eibach pro-kit springs
- Koni SA shocks
- MM camber plates

Should drop it 1" in the front and around 1.5" in the rear. That's about enough for me given how these things ride anyway.

Also picked out some wheels since I need some rear tires anyway. I found a cheap single wheel in the right size on eBay so I snatched it up and we'll see how I feel about the color/fitment before moving forward.

[heitzke]

Few "small" updates and one surprise!

First, I had to replace the cracked 3rd brake light - was driving me crazy being all broken on both ends.





Also, lol, yes I AM going to get the car registered. I'm just waiting for emissions testing to 'officially' end in my county on Feb 5th. I'm not sure that i'd pass even with the high-flow cats and readiness codes.

Surprise! Not a build for the domestic purists over here.




18x9.5 +15 fronts and 18x10.5 +15 rears. Going to run some MPSS 295/35 rears and maybe some 275/40 up front. 18's are quickly going out of style with manufacturers lol but 19's look like hot garbage on this platform IMO.

[heitzke]

Well, I think thinks turned out pretty well. VERY happy with the drop and how it rides/handles so far. Desperately needs an alignment but otherwise I think we're moving along.












Got all the wheels in - waiting on tires and then i'll do the alignment, tire swap, mount/balance and all that.

[P1]

Love these types of threads. Looking forward to your updates! Are we going to detail this puppy?

[heitzke]

Originally Posted by P1

Love these types of threads. Looking forward to your updates! Are we going to detail this puppy?

Thanks!

Ohhh yes we are going to detail, you can tell how dirty that thing is in the pics lol. We've been having some pretty rough weather but as soon as the M4 is back from the shop i'm putting this car into the garage for some paint correction and actual detail work.

[MmmmmM2]

I had a 2004 SVT Cobra. Loved that car until I wrecked the shit out of it lol

[heitzke]

Originally Posted by MmmmmM2

I had a 2004 SVT Cobra. Loved that car until I wrecked the shit out of it lol

Hahah bummer to hear that, and hopefully nothing like that on this car. I'm trying to keep this one around a bit

[MmmmmM2]

Originally Posted by heitzke

Hahah bummer to hear that, and hopefully nothing like that on this car. I'm trying to keep this one around a bit

Yeah, those cars are wicked light on the rear and will spin super easily.

[heitzke]

Originally Posted by MmmmmM2

Yeah, those cars are wicked light on the rear and will spin super easily.

Haha yeah, that's the truth. The "traction control" barely even tries.

[heitzke]

Wheels are on! Car was too low to get on the alignment rack so off to a performance shop it goes next.

[JP10]

I've never really studied these models - I wish they made the fenders tighter to the wheel. I like my wheel gap as minimal as possible. Looking good though!

[heitzke]

Originally Posted by JP10

I've never really studied these models - I wish they made the fenders tighter to the wheel. I like my wheel gap as minimal as possible. Looking good though!

haha yeah same, there's really no way around *not* lowering them, and then when you do you run into a lot of clearance issues. Nose is pretty long and bumper is low, plus all the room you need for the exhaust, etc.

[heitzke]

Quick wash and minor detail. This thing needs a FULL paint restoration and cleaning. It's going to be a lot of work tbh.

Looks good in the shots but it's rough around the edges. Have at least one oil leak pinned down, but looks like maybe the front timing case cover is seeping a bit. I have some pretty major work to do here and there.

[0-60Motorsports]

That cobra looks great. Looking forward to updates on the resto

[heitzke]

Originally Posted by 0-60Motorsports

That cobra looks great. Looking forward to updates on the resto

Thank you! Just don't get too close to it haha. Once I get the M back later this week the Cobra is going down for a little bit for a light paint correction and to repair this leaky oil coolant adapter.

Once we're not leaking vital engine fluids lol, i'll turn back to making sure the motor has been tuned appropriately with the given mods.

[heitzke]

Current attack plan:

• Paint correction
• Oil cooler rebuild kit (requires coolant flush and oil change, even though I just did one lol)
• Simple green all undercarriage to target other leaks
• Prioritize easier oil leaks and/or any that actively drip vs. wetness
• Wideband install (Ballenger w/ speedhut gauge)
• SCT X4 (for tuning and data logging since my old X2 is deprecated)
• Log existing tune to see how safe it is
• If retune needed, consider doing fueling
• If tune safe, start fixing body/visuals

At some point i'll need to do a clutch since the TOB is making some noise, but i'm going to ride that one out a while since when I do that i'll need to do a 26 spline input shaft, etc etc and that gets expensive quickly - just like doing the fuel system.

[P1]

Please take good pics during the detail. I'm a sucker for good befores and afters.

[heitzke]

Originally Posted by P1

Please take good pics during the detail. I'm a sucker for good befores and afters.

Definitely planning on it, I ordered a new overhead LED light stand so I could work better and get some good pictures. My garage ceiling is so tall that the overhead lights just aren't enough

[heitzke]

Few little updates here and there. Definitely having some driveline issues that look/feel like they're clutch related. Not surprising at all given how problematic the systems are, but I don't really feel like pulling the trans off and spending where I need to spend there.

Here's a quick video of the ticking noise that i'm hearing. You can hear it change pitch and almost go quiet when the clutch is being depressed and engaging.

I've started to worry about the tune a little more so I went ahead and ordered a SCT X4 and a custom base tune from JDM Engineering. That should at least get me started until I get my A/F logging and gauge set up since that's a whole thing in itself.

Once that's done, oil cooler leak is stopped and I pinpoint other leaks I may have to pull the trans and do all the major work there. If that IS the case there then the work will entail:

- Spec twin-disc w/ flywheel 26-spline
- 26 spline input shaft (which i'll have to learn how to do lol)
- lethal performance TOB retaining sleeve
- FRPP TOB
- FRPP shift fork
- new pilot bearing, rear main seal, etc

All a bunch of money in parts for sure but that'll set it up for whatever else might come down the road. Even a ported eaton may end up breaking the 10-spline input