Archive for December, 2005
The 4.6L SOHC Mustang engine finds itself in pretty good company as the winners of Ward’s 10 Best Engine awards for 2006 were announced and the Mustang engine was included. The engine has been the staple of the Ford Mustang GT for over 10 years. The 4.6L SOHC V-8 is back as a winner for a second year following a significant design change that yields more horsepower and torque.
The 2006 list marks the 12th year for the Ward’s 10 Best Engines program, the auto industry’s highly anticipated annual barometer of powertrain prowess.
This year’s winners, as well as the vehicles tested, include:
- Audi AG: 2L FSI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Audi A3)
- Audi AG: 4.2L DOHC V-8 (Audi S4)
- BMW AG: 3L DOHC I-6 (330i)
- DaimlerChrysler AG: 5.7L Hemi Magnum OHV V-8 (Dodge Charger R/T)
- Ford Motor Co.: 4.6L SOHC V-8 (Mustang GT)
- General Motors Corp.: 2L supercharged DOHC I-4 (Chevrolet Cobalt SS)
- General Motors Corp.: 2.8L turbocharged DOHC V-6 (Saab 9-3 Aero)
- Mazda Motor Corp.: 2.3L DISI turbocharged DOHC I-4 (Mazdaspeed 6)
- Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Infiniti G35 6MT)
- Toyota Motor Corp.: 3.5L DOHC V-6 (Lexus IS 350)
Source: WardsAuto.com
The VFN 2005 Mustang body package has extended wheel well openings, wheelie bar cutouts and a stock wheelbase. The retail price on this body package is $4650.00. VFN’s new 3″ cowl induction hood for the 2005 Mustang is perfect for race cars or that Pro Street look and is a direct bolt on. VFN’s new 2005 Mustang rear bumper clip saves weight on race-only cars.
Contact:
VFN FIBERGLASS INC. - www.vfnfiberglass.com
501 W Interstate Road
Addison IL 60101
Toll Free Order Line: (800)279-4209
Local (630) 543-0232
Fax: (630) 543-9877
The Fun Ford Weekend schedule has been released for the 2006 race season. Orlando Speed World Dragway is the first of twelve stops on the year. The season will end in See below for the rest of the dates and locations.
- 16th Annual MM&FF FFW Spring Break Shootout, Orlando Speed World Dragway, March 4-5, 2006
- 16th Annual Peach State FFW Nationals, Atlanta Dragway, April 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2005
- 16th Annual O’Reilly Texas Thunder FFW Nationals, Houston Raceway Park, April 28, 29 & 30, 2006
- 2nd Annual O’Reilly Cajun FFW Nationals, No Problem Raceway, May 5, 6 & 7, 2006
- 8th Annual Old Dominion FFW Nationals, Virginia Motorsport Park, June 23, 24 & 25, 2006
- 16th Annual Buckeye State FFW Nationals, Norwalk Raceway Park, July 7, 8 & 9, 2006
- 15th Annual O’Reilly Thunder Valley FFW Nationals, Bristol Dragway, August 4, 5 & 6, 2006
- 12th Annual New England FFW Nationals, New England Dragway, August 19 & 20, 2006
- 2nd Annual Heartland FFW Nationals, Heartland Park Raceway, September 8, 9 & 10, 2006
- 16th Annual O’Reilly Ford Mustang World Finals, Texas Motorplex, September 15, 16 & 17, 2006
- 4th Annual Pacific FFW Nationals, California Speedway, October 21 & 22, 2006
- 4th Annual Valley of the Sun FFW Nationals, Firebird International Raceway, October 28 & 29, 2006
I was reading through Mustang Monthly and saw this little tidbit about the allocation of 2007 Shelby GT500’s and thought I should post it up to give some insight into how they will be divided up between dealers.
2007 Shelby GT500 production will be limited to around 7,000 units according a memo emailed to all dealers. Allocation to dealers includes two GT500’s to full-line SVT dealers, one incremental unit to SVT Focus-only dealers, one car for any dealership that completes the certification process, and one unit for 2005 President’s Award dealers, with remaining units allocated according to a share-of-nation formula. A full line SVT dealer that wins a president’s Award qualifies for four cars, plus a share-of-nation allocation.
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Christmas is just around the corner and I know what all of you are thinking, how am I going to find a gift for my Mustang crazy relative. Well put the gun away I might have a solution for you. I did some surfing around the net and came up with Classic Creations of Central Florida who sell Mustang themed Afghans, pillows and bags for several different years of Mustangs.
The afghans are 100% double woven cotton and are fringed on all four sides. They measure 48 X 68 and are machine washable, color fast, shrink resistant and the best part they are woven in the USA. They are heirloom quality keepsakes for today’s generation. The cost is only $49.95 each plus shipping. The pillows are approximately 16 inches square and sell for $24.95 plus shipping. The tote bags measure approximately 15 inches square and also sell for $24.95 plus shipping.
Classic Creations of Central Florida
Just wanted to let all you 2005 Mustang owners no about these Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) or recalls as I like to refer to them. You may have already been aware ,but I wanted to post them to give everybody a heads up because Ford does not usually publisize these TSB’s.
TSB 05-4-8: Fuel Fill Slow on some ‘05 Mustangs, it may be slow or difficult to fill the fuel tank, as exhibited by repeated pump nozzle shut-offs. The condition may be the result of the fuel tank vapor venting system, so Ford has instructed dealers to install a new tank under warranty. Your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer will install fuel tank part number “5R3Z-9002-AA” under provisions of the new vehicle warranty and the Federal emissions warranty.
TSB 05-8-8: Growling Noise in Transmission. Some GTs built before January 15, 2005, and equipped with the five-speed manual transmission may exhibit an intermittent grinding noise while decelerating in Second or Third gear. More likely to occur during warm-up, the noise may sound like a bearing growl, screech, or scraping. Under warranty coverage, dealers are instructed to replace the Reverse gear and synchronizer on the main shaft.
TSB 05-9-11: Front Suspension Popping Noise. Some ‘05 Mustangs built before April 8, 2005, may exhibit an intermittent popping noise from the front of the car while turning, typically during low-speed maneuvers. To remedy, dealers can install a revised upper strut bearing assembly. Some cars may also require a lower spring seat isolator.
TSB 05-???: 2005 Mustang vehicles made from 5-17-2004 through 2-24-2005 and equipped with a single or six disk CD player with MP3 capability may have a defective audio unit. If a CD player skips, locks up when playing homemade CDs, displays “error” or “bad disk”, will not accept CDs or is inoperative or inconsistent when playing CDRs, then the audio unit should be replaced by Ford under provisions of the new vehicle limited warranty. Ford has already authorized your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer to replace the audio unit.
Steel Pedal cars were all the rage at the turn of 20th century when Henry Ford began mass-producing Model T’s. Pedal car sales were steady up until the 1970’s when the manufacturer ceased production.
In the middle sixties as the Mustang came on the scene so did the Mustang pedal car. The 1965 Mustang pedal car was a hit selling over 93,000 units in it’s first year compared to sales of the real Mustang at over 500,000. Created as a promotion for Ford dealerships across the United States, Mustang pedal cars originally sold for $12.95, if you can believe that. But plastic gained ground over metal as a material for toys in ensuing years. Eventually, the Mustang’s initial pedal car manufacturer, AMF, sold the tooling to a Mexican company. In the early 80’s that company closed, leaving the original equipment in a warehouse, where it remained untouched for nearly 20 years.
Then in 2004 Mark Luzaich , owner of Warehouse 360, a small company in Windsor, Calif., Luzaich started importing and producing pedal cars as collectables. Hearing about the original equipment just sitting in a Mexican warehouse, he flew to Mexico, bought it, and prepared to produce the original Mustang pedal car once again. Despite some modifications for contemporary safety standards, it would be exactly the same with all-steel construction, adjustable rubber pedals, a clear windshield and authentic Mustang markings.
You can find these pedal cars at a variety of websites on the net and prices range $200-$250 depending on the site. A few sites I found with these pedal cars are MustangPedalCars.com, SensoryEdge.com, PedalCarPlus.com.
Ford Motor Company will auction the right to purchase the first 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 coupe available to the public during the 2006 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Event in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Carroll Shelby is scheduled to greet the winning bidder of the auction, which will be sold on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006. Proceeds from the no-reserve sale will benefit the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation, and the GT500 will be displayed throughout the 35th anniversary event from Jan. 14-22, 2006.
“We have a long and distinguished history working with Carroll Shelby,” said Craig Jackson, president and CEO of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Co. “Only Ford and Shelby American have sold more genuine Ford-powered Shelby vehicles than the Barrett-Jackson auction over the past 35 years. I’m proud that Ford Motor Co. and Carroll Shelby chose to offer the rights to the first 2007 Shelby GT500 coupe at our auction, where only the finest, authentic Shelby vehicles are offered to the public.”
Shelby, who celebrated his 80th birthday at a gala conducted in his honor at Barrett-Jackson in 2003, reinvented the performance world with his Cobras and Mustangs in the 1960s. The automotive icon reunited with Ford later that year to develop enhanced editions of the company’s vehicles.
“The new Shelby GT500 is an amazing American car that will offer fantastic performance,” said Shelby, founder of Shelby Automobiles. “It’s fitting that Ford would choose to offer the first one available to the public at Barrett-Jackson, America’s auction house, which has helped raise so much money for charities over the years. This will be a rare opportunity to own a very special car while also helping so many children that desperately need medical assistance.”
The GT500 will feature upgraded suspension, brakes and interior. However, it is the car’s heart that makes it truly special. The Shelby’s supercharged 5.4-liter, 32-valve V8 is based on the engine in the Ford GT, making it the most powerful factory-built Mustang in history. Projected to churn out over 475 HP with 475 ft. lbs of torque, the car will have a higher factory rating than the 1969 Mach 1 428 Super Cobra Jet or legendary 1969 Boss 429. The first GT500 is expected to be available in June 2006.
Shelby has enjoyed success in virtually every sports car and formula series in the world. In 1959, he won the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans and was named Sports Car Illustrated’s “Driver of the Year.” Retiring from racing due to a heart ailment, he founded Shelby American and created the Cobra sports car in 1962. He was responsible for the Shelby GT350 and GT500 in 1965 through 1970.
Shelby is the oldest and longest living double organ recipient. He received a heart in 1990 and then his son Mike donated a kidney to him in 1996. He created the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation (www.shelbychildrensfoundation.org) in October 1991. The organization is dedicated to providing assistance for acute coronary and kidney care for young people.
Source: Barrett-Jackson Auction Co.
