The Granatelli crew discovered...
The Granatelli crew discovered subframe connectors aren't the only way to beef up a chassis. The company offers a kit that includes a pair of subframe connectors designed to square up the chassis. The best part is that it's a direct bolt-on that uses the stock nuts and bolts to make installation simple.
Horse Sense: Granatelli Motorsports also offers more aggressive bolt-on power in the form of an intercooled turbo kit for the S197 Mustang (PN GM-STK0507). The kit promises up to 500 rwhp on a stock S197 GT running 93 octane.
Many Mustang enthusiasts make collecting, altering, and racing their cars a lifelong journey, one that has weathered marriage and raising a family. They buy a new Mustang and the ride is phenomenally quiet and smooth, the gearshifts are effortless, and the clutch pedal is as free-traveling as the gas pedal, which is just the way the wife likes it.
However, men tend to want more power, a solid shifter, and enough clutch to hold a 5,000-rpm clutch dump with good set of sticky tires. The car is all hers until the mods make it unbearable for her to drive anymore, then it finally becomes ours. In this story, we add just enough mods to put a smile on your mug without sacrificing your lady's satisfaction with her new steed.
Just as with every 'Stang from the last 25 years, the new model is quicker, more solid, and more refined than its predecessor. The main issue we see with the S197 is its tendency to wheelhop, sometimes violently, especially in the rain.
One of the few compromises...
One of the few compromises Ford makes in the new S197 Mustang is putting pillow-soft bushings in the upper and lower control arms, inviting sometimes-violent wheelhop under duress. Granatelli Motorsports has come to the rescue with replacement pieces that have greasable polyurethane bushings to alleviate that problem. We install the GMS adjustable upper link, a pair of adjustable lower control arms, and a Panhard bar.
Our anxious patient is an '06 GT stick-shift car with about 15,000 break-in miles. It clicks off consistent 13.70 e.t.'s with an occasional dip in the 0.60s in favorable atmospheric and track conditions. The goal is to not only address the wheelhop, but also add a few ponies in the process. We requested the advice of Granatelli Motorsports, long known for its induction and suspension goodies. The company now offers go-fast parts to pacify anyone from the dragstrip junkie to the corner-hugging Saturday night cruiser.
Proprietor J.R. Granatelli says, "Replacing the spongy bushing hosting rear control arms and Panhard rod while beefing up the chassis will alleviate the wheelhop." Installing a driveshaft loop is done in compliance with NHRA safety requirements when running slicks or street tires, and the guys at Granatelli have an ingenious driveshaft loop design that adds safety and frame rigidity without any welding or hole drilling.
We have to add power to take advantage of the newfound traction, so we tap a Granatelli cold-air kit, a Fuego flash programmable tuner, and a GMS after-axle exhaust to separate us from the stockers.
We don't have the space to cover a complete and thorough installation of each of our featured products. Instead, we highlight a couple of the main steps, along with some tricks we noticed on the way. Always read the manual front to back before starting the project, no matter how basic installation may seem. Kevin Shine and the guys at PUR Performance in St. Charles, Missouri, helped out on this one.
The entire cold-air intake-replacement...
The entire cold-air intake-replacement process can be done in less than 1 1/2 hours. The first step in replacing the factory air intake ducting is to unplug the wiring harness where it's attached to the mass airflow sensor, near the filter. Use a fingernail to pull out the red tab, releasing the plug from the mass air.
Always read the provided instructions...
Always read the provided instructions from front to back before beginning any project. Remove the PCV hose attached to the left side of the unit near the throttle body, and disconnect the hose clamp retaining the ducting. One screw holds the unit to the firewall; remove it as one piece. PUR Performance dyno technician Ben Craven says it's easy to install a cold-air kit in less than 30 minutes.
Flip the airbox over and remove...
Flip the airbox over and remove the rubber grommet. It will attach to the upgraded GMS kit. We found it better to attach it to the fender, as the grommet clicks in place via a groove cut for the body sheetmetal. The locator on the air tube floats in the grommet, securing it in place.