Awesome!
I’m really happy for you and your son.
[quote]Dr. Pangloss wrote:
Awesome!
I’m really happy for your and your son.[/quote]
Thanks! The pack leader’s boy had a car turning 2.65s. My car was the only other car that turned a sub 2.70. My boy’s car turned consistent 2.70-01s. I need to figure out how to shave a few hundredths for next year. 
This was heat 3 of the finals; heat 2 was much closer (My boy in lane 4).
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
Ford are releasing a 450hp Mustang in Australia at the end of the year. I think the flagship model will be a 6 litre V8. It’s reported that it’s going to be under 70k - possibly well under. There has never been a performance car like that on the market here at that price before. And petrol is now under a dollar a litre and looking stable. Seems like a good choice for a new car. Has anyone ever driven a recent model GT Mustang? Any thoughts about them? Longevity? Reliability? Cost of keeping it on the road + insurance for a 450+ hp car? Colour? Black? White? Racing red? Green? Silver? British racing green would like interesting on a modern sports car. Of course they don’t offer colours like that so I’d have to get an aftermarket spray job.[/quote]
Actually, I’ve checked and it’s a 5.0 litre v8 engine not a 6.0 litre that will be available in the premium model. It’s the same as the premium package 2015 Mustang GT that sells for around $40k in the US. So, does anyone have any opinions about that car?
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
Ford are releasing a 450hp Mustang in Australia at the end of the year. I think the flagship model will be a 6 litre V8. It’s reported that it’s going to be under 70k - possibly well under. There has never been a performance car like that on the market here at that price before. And petrol is now under a dollar a litre and looking stable. Seems like a good choice for a new car. Has anyone ever driven a recent model GT Mustang? Any thoughts about them? Longevity? Reliability? Cost of keeping it on the road + insurance for a 450+ hp car? Colour? Black? White? Racing red? Green? Silver? British racing green would like interesting on a modern sports car. Of course they don’t offer colours like that so I’d have to get an aftermarket spray job.[/quote]
Actually, I’ve checked and it’s a 5.0 litre v8 engine not a 6.0 litre that will be available in the premium model. It’s the same as the premium package 2015 Mustang GT that sells for around $40k in the US. So, does anyone have any opinions about that car?
[/quote]
It’s a pretty bad ass ride. I know for a fact that you can put it in drive, turn the wheel all the way to one side, floor the throttle, and do a 180 with ease on dry pavement. It’s a solid ride, good suspension, good handling, can get a little swirly if you are not used to the power.
I was bringing one back from an account and making a u-turn to head back up to an on ramp. Came out of the u-turn at about at about 40 mph and punched it while ending my turn, there was a strip of water about 6 inches wide running across the road that I did not see. The horsepower hit the tires right at that strip of water and the ass end came out about 45 degrees and held it there for about 100 ft with a full throttle then it squealed going into 3rd and I was on the highway.
^^ Yes, that sounds good. But I’ve heard the handling is not the best. But it’s good performance for the money. I can’t afford a European sports car of that power.
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
Note the canted wheels for reduced friction. The front passenger side wheel is slightly off the track as well while the driver side wheel steers the car slightly into the rail to reduce bouncing and rebound. [/quote]
Pinewood derby cars… tons of fun. I helped my kids with theirs and of course it always got out of hand.
I made a lathe arbor that I turned the wheels within .0005" of each other. The treads I beveled the edges so it ran on a 1/8" wide strip in the middle.
I also took the burrs off the axles. I was cutting one car on the chop saw and it grabbed and ate the blank. So looking around… what do I have to use? I found a piece of dense teak leftover from a project, so the car could be a lot smaller.
Since I had 2 boys as cub scouts at the time, I made up a jig to drill the axle holes, but shifted towards the front of the car by a 1/4". The jig also picked up the LF tire by .020 so it ran on 3 wheels.
I milled weight pockets in the bottom and used those Pinecar weights. The C of G is 1.5" in front of the rear axle.
I found out what they use for a scale, a small postal scale and they taped over the display so it only showed 1 place past the decimal. A car that weighed 5.099 ounces could be legal. I have a scale at work that is extremely accurate so I could check it quickly.
The kids did all the paint and other work to the car, but I agree I got way too involved in it. And it took a while to stumble upon the perfect set up. My oldest was out of the cubs by then, so my youngest son’s last 2 years as a cub, he cleaned up at derby night.
This is what I’m working on now. A 1959 Ford Custom 300 sedan. This was from when I first got it back in late July. Almost no rust on the car, just on the front of the hood and I found a small patch (was hard to detect) on the front floor.
Having trouble finding a 460 or 351C without spending a ton, so I’m using a 355 Chevy that I had leftover from my stock car days. It will be freshened up with a cam change. Transmission is a M20 Muncie from a '64 Vette. Clutch set up is a 1955-1957 Chevy iron bellhousing and 11" truck clutch, which will be replaced by a Zoom unit. I have a Wilwood hydraulic clutch master installed. THe rear will be a Yukon posi with Richmond 4.11 gears.
The front end is new, all new ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar links, drag link kit, idler arm, front springs (Ford Aerostar coils) and Monroe shocks all around. The chassis has been painted semi-gloss VHT black from the crossmember forward. Tires are Hankook H724 all around on new Vintiques steel wheels.
Rear drum brakes are all new, as are the axle bearings. Discs up front with a dual master from Speedway. The gas tank and sender are new. Currently getting ready to re-wire it 100% with a Kwik Wire kit.
I’m also rounding up the missing trim right now, only down to a few minor items that I need. Glass will be all new except for the rear window. I have all new glass for the vent and door windows, but have to replace all the glass runs and seals. I’m having my glass guy do the vent windows and he will also set the door glass.
I’ll post more pictures, I have a bunch on my work PC. The picture I posted is way small, will fix soon.
[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
Note the canted wheels for reduced friction. The front passenger side wheel is slightly off the track as well while the driver side wheel steers the car slightly into the rail to reduce bouncing and rebound. [/quote]
Pinewood derby cars… tons of fun. I helped my kids with theirs and of course it always got out of hand.
I made a lathe arbor that I turned the wheels within .0005" of each other. The treads I beveled the edges so it ran on a 1/8" wide strip in the middle.
I also took the burrs off the axles. I was cutting one car on the chop saw and it grabbed and ate the blank. So looking around… what do I have to use? I found a piece of dense teak leftover from a project, so the car could be a lot smaller.
Since I had 2 boys as cub scouts at the time, I made up a jig to drill the axle holes, but shifted towards the front of the car by a 1/4". The jig also picked up the LF tire by .020 so it ran on 3 wheels.
I milled weight pockets in the bottom and used those Pinecar weights. The C of G is 1.5" in front of the rear axle.
I found out what they use for a scale, a small postal scale and they taped over the display so it only showed 1 place past the decimal. A car that weighed 5.099 ounces could be legal. I have a scale at work that is extremely accurate so I could check it quickly.
The kids did all the paint and other work to the car, but I agree I got way too involved in it. And it took a while to stumble upon the perfect set up. My oldest was out of the cubs by then, so my youngest son’s last 2 years as a cub, he cleaned up at derby night.
[/quote]
I totally get it. All the parents and scout leaders seemed to agree (consistent with our written guidelines) that its a joint project and the kids get to design the graphics and body and paint and help with sanding and as much of it that that the age allowed them to handle and that the dads/parents/grandparents are responsible for helping make the car go fast.
The older scouts who could handle the tools are expected to do more of the go-fast work. I told my boy planning and prep were important to do our best, so he made me a 6-way-view design blue-print of the body shape and color scheme and we worked off that together; he helped sand, tape off and measure the painting tape; and we jointly did the spray paint together; and was he was also involved in handing me tools etc. when he were honing the axles and wheels, and running wheel alignment and canting angles, etc.
He also vetoed several of my ideas to shave weight off the wood. All-in-all we both had a blast.
[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
This is what I’m working on now. A 1959 Ford Custom 300 sedan. This was from when I first got it back in late July. Almost no rust on the car, just on the front of the hood and I found a small patch (was hard to detect) on the front floor.
Having trouble finding a 460 or 351C without spending a ton, so I’m using a 355 Chevy that I had leftover from my stock car days. It will be freshened up with a cam change. Transmission is a M20 Muncie from a '64 Vette. Clutch set up is a 1955-1957 Chevy iron bellhousing and 11" truck clutch, which will be replaced by a Zoom unit. I have a Wilwood hydraulic clutch master installed. THe rear will be a Yukon posi with Richmond 4.11 gears.
The front end is new, all new ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar links, drag link kit, idler arm, front springs (Ford Aerostar coils) and Monroe shocks all around. The chassis has been painted semi-gloss VHT black from the crossmember forward. Tires are Hankook H724 all around on new Vintiques steel wheels.
Rear drum brakes are all new, as are the axle bearings. Discs up front with a dual master from Speedway. The gas tank and sender are new. Currently getting ready to re-wire it 100% with a Kwik Wire kit.
I’m also rounding up the missing trim right now, only down to a few minor items that I need. Glass will be all new except for the rear window. I have all new glass for the vent and door windows, but have to replace all the glass runs and seals. I’m having my glass guy do the vent windows and he will also set the door glass.
I’ll post more pictures, I have a bunch on my work PC. The picture I posted is way small, will fix soon.[/quote]
Nice, looking forward to seeing the pics.
Just to touch on the Vette I posted pictures of earlier in this thread. Nothing more has been done to it, just sitting under a car cover.
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
^^ Yes, that sounds good. But I’ve heard the handling is not the best. But it’s good performance for the money. I can’t afford a European sports car of that power.[/quote]
I am not a Ford guy. My buddy is a Mustang freak and has a 600+ HP Super Snake. He will be the first to admit they don’t handle like a german car. But they go like a bat out of hell in a mostly straight line and the handling of the newer versions is much better than it used to be. I have driven his car and it is thrilling. It doesn’t handle like my Audi S4, but it put a huge smile on my face. If you sit in one and you like the interior and it feels like it fits you: get one in black and don’t look back.
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
^^ Yes, that sounds good. But I’ve heard the handling is not the best. But it’s good performance for the money. I can’t afford a European sports car of that power.[/quote]
The entire 2015 Mustang line up has an IRS for the first time in it’s history so I think the complaints about the handling will drop away. It will be as capable as any other car through the twisties.
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
^^ Yes, that sounds good. But I’ve heard the handling is not the best. But it’s good performance for the money. I can’t afford a European sports car of that power.[/quote]
I am not a Ford guy. My buddy is a Mustang freak and has a 600+ HP Super Snake. He will be the first to admit they don’t handle like a german car. But they go like a bat out of hell in a mostly straight line and the handling of the newer versions is much better than it used to be. I have driven his car and it is thrilling. It doesn’t handle like my Audi S4, but it put a huge smile on my face. If you sit in one and you like the interior and it feels like it fits you: get one in black and don’t look back. [/quote]
Roush do a supercharger kit for the GT that is supposed to deliver 600+hp. I’m not sure I’d really want a car that fast. I’m not a drag racer. But yes, the GT seems like a great deal.
[quote]Dr. Pangloss wrote:
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
^^ Yes, that sounds good. But I’ve heard the handling is not the best. But it’s good performance for the money. I can’t afford a European sports car of that power.[/quote]
The entire 2015 Mustang line up has an IRS for the first time in it’s history so I think the complaints about the handling will drop away. It will be as capable as any other car through the twisties.[/quote]
I’ve driven a BMW M4 and I really liked the handling. I’m going to test drive a Mustang GT but I still have doubts that it will have anything like the feel of a German car. Of course an Audi, Mercedes or BMW is well over twice the price of the Mustang GT.
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
^^ Yes, that sounds good. But I’ve heard the handling is not the best. But it’s good performance for the money. I can’t afford a European sports car of that power.[/quote]
I am not a Ford guy. My buddy is a Mustang freak and has a 600+ HP Super Snake. He will be the first to admit they don’t handle like a german car. But they go like a bat out of hell in a mostly straight line and the handling of the newer versions is much better than it used to be. I have driven his car and it is thrilling. It doesn’t handle like my Audi S4, but it put a huge smile on my face. If you sit in one and you like the interior and it feels like it fits you: get one in black and don’t look back. [/quote]
Roush do a supercharger kit for the GT that is supposed to deliver 600+hp. I’m not sure I’d really want a car that fast. I’m not a drag racer. But yes, the GT seems like a great deal.[/quote]
Zero to 60 (mph) the limiting factor in is going to be traction/tires, not the HP. 450 HP is a very powerful car, IMO, despite the crazy numbers some of these cars are producing theses days.
[quote]jjackkrash wrote:
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
^^ Yes, that sounds good. But I’ve heard the handling is not the best. But it’s good performance for the money. I can’t afford a European sports car of that power.[/quote]
I am not a Ford guy. My buddy is a Mustang freak and has a 600+ HP Super Snake. He will be the first to admit they don’t handle like a german car. But they go like a bat out of hell in a mostly straight line and the handling of the newer versions is much better than it used to be. I have driven his car and it is thrilling. It doesn’t handle like my Audi S4, but it put a huge smile on my face. If you sit in one and you like the interior and it feels like it fits you: get one in black and don’t look back. [/quote]
Saw a Supersnake in candy apple red with matte black racing stripes the other day that looked incredible. I don’t usually like racing stripes but it just doesn’t seem like a Shelby without them.
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
[quote]Dr. Pangloss wrote:
[quote]SexMachine wrote:
^^ Yes, that sounds good. But I’ve heard the handling is not the best. But it’s good performance for the money. I can’t afford a European sports car of that power.[/quote]
The entire 2015 Mustang line up has an IRS for the first time in it’s history so I think the complaints about the handling will drop away. It will be as capable as any other car through the twisties.[/quote]
I’ve driven a BMW M4 and I really liked the handling. I’m going to test drive a Mustang GT but I still have doubts that it will have anything like the feel of a German car. Of course an Audi, Mercedes or BMW is well over twice the price of the Mustang GT.[/quote]
It doesn’t feel the same, but it will keep up in stock form.
[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
One picture of my 1959 Ford. This was after the front end and disc brakes were in.
[/quote]
Beautiful.
I read the all the work you’re doing on the previous page, but what are your plans for it? Cruiser? Drag?
Any plans for paint?
[quote]Dr. Pangloss wrote:
[quote]beachguy498 wrote:
One picture of my 1959 Ford. This was after the front end and disc brakes were in.
[/quote]
Beautiful.
I read the all the work you’re doing on the previous page, but what are your plans for it? Cruiser? Drag?
Any plans for paint?[/quote]
Just something to drive almost every nice day. It will be painted once all the mechanicals are sorted out. It was colonial white from the factory according to the vin plate.