Ford GT in clasifieds

[THamonGT]

A pulley and tune done on a GT to me doesn't do anything to the vehicle but let it Breath better and adjust the cooling fans to help it run a little cooler. Thats all. Ford built these vehicles to certain spects for sale to the general public as per Government regulations and spects. Every vehicle is what I call "somewhat de tuned" for safety regs. I agree with Dave. Thats my 2 cents.

 

[Sinovac]

I will add that a pulley/tune/exhaust changes the character of the car immensely. I now regret driving my car nearly 7k miles without those mods. Shame on me. The sound alone was worth the(nominal) cost. The additional HP doesn't hurt either.

Even with the really crazy mods done to the GT500 5.4, engine failures are a rare event, and the rods in the GT500 are junk compared to the Manley rods in the GT.

 

[w. mitty]

I'll wager that a smartly driven, non-abused car with modifications will be immensely more durable and desireable than a non-modded car that has been rid hard and put away wet. For that matter, a car that sits unused and undriven year after year is likewise problematic. I am convinced that some guys are just born as "high impact" users. These are the guys that drive over parking islands while drunk, who take their cars through brushed car washes, who have no idea how to drive a clutch, and store stuff ON TOP OF THE CAR while it sits in the garage.

I'll take a modded car from the original, fastidious owner 10 times to 1 over the car that has an uncertain history and shows signs of wear at the hands of the non-car guys of the world. In a strange way, this becomes the ART of buying a used exotic.

 

[bonehead]

Let me also add that a pulley/tune, from what I understand, will not pass California smog. I believe there is a relatively 'easy' way to fix this?? Without even a prospect of car yet, I haven't delved into this much. But anything that makes passing the draconian CA emissions laws more difficult is not worth it to me. I spent more hours and money than I care to recall trying to get my Porsche to pass. Another headache I don't need.

 

[bonehead]

I'll wager that a smartly driven, non-abused car with modifications will be immensely more durable and desireable than a non-modded car that has been rid hard and put away wet. For that matter, a car that sits unused and undriven year after year is likewise problematic. I am convinced that some guys are just born as "high impact" users. These are the guys that drive over parking islands while drunk, who take their cars through brushed car washes, who have no idea how to drive a clutch, and store stuff ON TOP OF THE CAR while it sits in the garage.

I'll take a modded car from the original, fastidious owner 10 times to 1 over the car that has an uncertain history and shows signs of wear at the hands of the non-car guys of the world. In a strange way, this becomes the ART of buying a used exotic.

Certainly don't disagree with you there. But therein lies the impossible: how to figure out who abused and who didn't. Since that's usually not readily determined, all I have to go on is mods as an indirect indicator of wear.

 

[AHudson]

I'll wager that a smartly driven, non-abused car with modifications will be immensely more durable and desireable than a non-modded car that has been rid hard and put away wet. For that matter, a car that sits unused and undriven year after year is likewise problematic. I am convinced that some guys are just born as "high impact" users. These are the guys that drive over parking islands while drunk, who take their cars through brushed car washes, who have no idea how to drive a clutch, and store stuff ON TOP OF THE CAR while it sits in the garage.

I'll take a modded car from the original, fastidious owner 10 times to 1 over the car that has an uncertain history and shows signs of wear at the hands of the non-car guys of the world. In a strange way, this becomes the ART of buying a used exotic.

Really good points. As a minor expansion, I think the "put away wet" comment would apply even more to a modded car than unmodded. My very unscientific observation based on poking around high performance cars for 25 years is that the modded cars are more likely to have been in the hands of a "high impact person" (great phrase!). Though some of us very careful owners can't EVER leave well-enough alone, there's another group that mods for the full-bore experience to be had.

That's like you say, the "art" of buying a used exotic. Though I'm more regularly put off by mods (especially coming from a Porsche background) it is wise to interview and get some background on who did it, why, and how its been used.

A very telling comment when buying this GT of mine - and I only wanted pure 'stock' - was when a previous owner who'd put the majority of the miles on it told me, "I'd buy that car back in a second."

 

[bonehead]

Really good points. As a minor expansion, I think the "put away wet" comment would apply even more to a modded car than unmodded. My very unscientific observation based on poking around high performance cars for 25 years is that the modded cars are more likely to have been in the hands of a "high impact person" (great phrase!). Though some of us very careful owners can't EVER leave well-enough alone, there's another group that mods for the full-bore experience to be had.

That's like you say, the "art" of buying a used exotic. Though I'm more regularly put off by mods (especially coming from a Porsche background) it is wise to interview and get some background on who did it, why, and how its been used.

A very telling comment when buying this GT of mine - and I only wanted pure 'stock' - was when a previous owner who'd put the majority of the miles on it told me, "I'd buy that car back in a second."

Adams. Was going to PM you this but thought it somewhat amusing to share.
I had mentioned somewhere on this forum that I was offered a Tungsten around 5 years ago when I lived in Arizona. Had a horrible job and not a whole lot of money. GT was financially out of my league at that time. The owner had just taken delivery of his black/no stripe which would go on to become the orange 'Joyride' GT. Upon researching about your car on this forum, I found out it used to be owned by Shane (AZSTAD). Same car I was offered back when I lived in Phoenix. Haha! Goes to show how much these cars have appreciated in value in such a short time. Car is 5 years older, has accumulated tens of thousands of more miles but is worth about the same as it was back in 2008. Craziness.

 

[Xcentric]

...are junk compared to the Manley rods in the GT.

Manley rod! What an awesome testosterone-laden name. :biggrin

 

[AHudson]

Adams. Was going to PM you this but thought it somewhat amusing to share.
I had mentioned somewhere on this forum that I was offered a Tungsten around 5 years ago when I lived in Arizona. Had a horrible job and not a whole lot of money. GT was financially out of my league at that time. The owner had just taken delivery of his black/no stripe which would go on to become the orange 'Joyride' GT. Upon researching about your car on this forum, I found out it used to be owned by Shane (AZSTAD). Same car I was offered back when I lived in Phoenix. Haha! Goes to show how much these cars have appreciated in value in such a short time. Car is 5 years older, has accumulated tens of thousands of more miles but is worth about the same as it was back in 2008. Craziness.

That is so awesome. I did an editorial not long ago how material things (houses, cars, books, etc) traipse in and out of lives, not indiscriminately and - to me - not by sheer coincidence. Cool story. A side note...

I take a 72 year old retired fighter pilot (who is also a very gifted consultant/speaker) to lunch semi regularly. I'd missed him for a few months, and generally pick him up in a F-car, Porsche (when I had it), NSX, Pantera... something weird and fun because he loves high performance.

Today I picked him up for the first time the GT. I had no idea the emotion. He got a tiny bit wet in the eyes that America could build this crazy, fabulous, world-class car. He loved it. Me too.

So this same car, touching and spreading joy to others over a thousand miles away, running as good as ever!

 

[Sinovac]

Let me also add that a pulley/tune, from what I understand, will not pass California smog. I believe there is a relatively 'easy' way to fix this?? Without even a prospect of car yet, I haven't delved into this much. But anything that makes passing the draconian CA emissions laws more difficult is not worth it to me. I spent more hours and money than I care to recall trying to get my Porsche to pass. Another headache I don't need.

First, the FRPP pulley/tune is California emissions compliant. The kit comes with an EO# and the decal below. The link is to the executive order referenced on the decal.



http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/eo/D-231-35.pdf

The FRPP pulley is made by Whipple and the kit was certified under the same executive order as the GT500 FRPP Whipple supercharger kits.


Second, even if you are running a custom tune and pulley, your tuner can give you a cheater tune to pass emissions, assuming you are still running the cats. Install the emissions compliant tune before the test and re-install the performance tune thereafter.
Don't fear the pulley and tune!
The FRPP pulley/tune and FRPP muffler, while retaining the cats, is the way to go if you are mod sensitive.

Manley rod! What an awesome testosterone-laden name. :biggrin

They look "manly" too.

 

[bonehead]

^^Good info. Thanks Sinovac!

 

[nota4re]

Nice and accurate post from Sinovac re: compliancy of the FRPP pulley/tune. We like the FRPP kit because of its "completeness". That said, virtually all of the tunes out there will pass CA smog sniffer test because by definition the mods that the tuners make are when the car is in open loop mode (heavy throttle). The CA emissions test is all done under extremely light loads and the car remains in closed-loop mode which is un-altered by tuners. I just smogged a car with one of Torrie's tunes in it and Torrie even had the rear O2's turned off and the car passed fine. Bonehead - I see you are from Visalia..... I don't admit it often, but I grew up (many will even argue that fact) in Porterville. Yee-haw!

 

[twobjshelbys]

I take a 72 year old retired fighter pilot (who is also a very gifted consultant/speaker) to lunch semi regularly. I'd missed him for a few months, and generally pick him up in a F-car, Porsche (when I had it), NSX, Pantera... something weird and fun because he loves high performance.

Today I picked him up for the first time the GT. I had no idea the emotion. He got a tiny bit wet in the eyes that America could build this crazy, fabulous, world-class car. He loved it. Me too.

As emotional as he was about your car I am about your taking him for lunch. Thank you for supporting them. I "secret santa" service men in uniform at the airport and other places when I can.

But he's right. There is nothing the US has ever built that can compare to the GT.

 

[twobjshelbys]

... had the rear O2's turned off and the car passed fine.

Won't that result in a "not ready" condition on the OBDII scan? Is there a way to permanently cheat that and still keep them off? If so there are a couple of Mustang guys that would like to know the recipe.

 

[Sinovac]

^^Good info. Thanks Sinovac!

Like many others here, I am happy to help and share information. This forum has been an invaluable resource for me over the years and I am glad to give back. Good luck with the hunt.

 

[gtforme]

The GT is the first supercar I have ever owned and probably the last due to the fact that the others are pretty much all out of my financial reach , not that I would want another type of supercar , honestly the others just dont seem to have the heart that the GT has

I was wondering if the same passion exists on other supercar forums as it does here , maybe some guys could comment who share experiences with other supercars and their forumns

I have been on holidays for the last month and have done a lot of GT forum reading , best reading ever , keep it up

Thanks

 

[SYCO GT]

Let me also add that a pulley/tune, from what I understand, will not pass California smog. I believe there is a relatively 'easy' way to fix this?? Without even a prospect of car yet, I haven't delved into this much. But anything that makes passing the draconian CA emissions laws more difficult is not worth it to me. I spent more hours and money than I care to recall trying to get my Porsche to pass. Another headache I don't need.

Is this true?

Oh, seeing responses from Sinovac and Nota4re now. Thanks!

 

[bonehead]

Nice and accurate post from Sinovac re: compliancy of the FRPP pulley/tune. We like the FRPP kit because of its "completeness". That said, virtually all of the tunes out there will pass CA smog sniffer test because by definition the mods that the tuners make are when the car is in open loop mode (heavy throttle). The CA emissions test is all done under extremely light loads and the car remains in closed-loop mode which is un-altered by tuners. I just smogged a car with one of Torrie's tunes in it and Torrie even had the rear O2's turned off and the car passed fine. Bonehead - I see you are from Visalia..... I don't admit it often, but I grew up (many will even argue that fact) in Porterville. Yee-haw!

Thanks Kendall. But how does this sync with what Sinovac said about having to revert back to a 'cheater' tune? Is this not necessary for off the shelf tunes (i.e. only needed for custom tunes)?

 

[ByeEnzo]

I have the GT Guys pulley and tune on my white car with 37k miles. I have to load the stock tune when I get it inspected every year with the OBD-2 test they do here in TX. Minor inconvenience.

 

[jcthorne]

After you load the stock tune, how long does it take the OBD2 checks to clear so you can get the inspection? IE how much to you have to drive it and is there a suggest driving pattern to get the checks to clear quickly right before inspection?