89Trooper's Garage - Modification Journal

[89Trooper]

Hello fellow S650 owners! Just like I did with my 2015 Mustang GT here, I will use this thread to document everything I do to my car. I'll update this first post with links to pictures and/or write-ups of things that I have done.

Please feel free to comment, ask questions, and to give suggestions on anything and everything!

- Pictures of the car stock - 10/4/24
- Window Tint - 10/13/24
- Sunvisor Solutions Sun Visor Label Covers - 10/30/24
- Steeda Ultra Lite Jacking Rails - 11/6/24
- Ford Performance Strut Tower Brace - 11/15/24
- Performance Pack Carbonized Gray Rims - 11/17/24
- Performance Pack Front Splitter - 11/21/24
- Escort iXc Radar Detector with Mirror Tap - 11/22/24
- Ford All-Weather Floor Mats - 12/20/24
- AOOC Caliper Covers - 1/18/25

Adding pics soon:

- Performance Pack Rear Spoiler
- Coyote Premium Wheel Accessories Black Lug Nuts
- Lighted Door Sill Plates
- Ford All-Weather Trunk Mat
- ZL1 Deluxe Rock Guards
- Steeda IRS Subframe Alignment Kit
- Steeda IRS Subframe Support Braces
- Form Lighting LED Reverse Lamp with 4th Brake Light
- Form Lighting Amber/Red LED Sidemarkers
- Coyote Premium Wheel Accessories 25mm Wheel Spacers (Front)
- Coyote Premium Wheel Accessories 20mm? Wheel Spacers (Rear)

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[89Trooper]

Pictures of the car stock

At the dealership with 7 miles.

Saying goodbye. The 2015 was an amazing car with just over 100,000 miles.

And finally in the driveway the next day, 11/5/24.

 

[BizJetTech]

Congrats, I just picked up a 2024 GT base (non PP in vapor blue) a few days ago - let the mods begin

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Pictures of the car stock

At the dealership with 7 miles.

Saying goodbye. The 2015 was an amazing car with just over 100,000 miles.

And finally in the driveway the next day, 11/5/24.

Congrats on the stunning new ride, we can't wait to follow your build progress!

 

[89Trooper]

Steeda Ultra Lite Jacking Rails

Date completed: 11/6/24

Purchased from: Late Model Restoration

Part number: 555-5205

Definitely should be one of the first additions to any S650... these make tire rotation a breeze!

Installation is a piece of cake, but there is one thing that I have not seen mentioned in any of the write-ups for installing these.

@tj@steeda - as you remove the front two bolts, a plate is there under the material that you cut away (this was not on my 2015). It can't be removed, as it is attached at other locations, so you have to mount the jacking rail on top of this plate.

As you loosen the two bolts, it hangs down quite a bit and goes pretty far toward the front of the car:

This is really no big deal except for these two things:

• The four shorter bolts that come with the kit can't be used anywhere so I had to reuse four of the stock bolts.
• The jacking rails end up at a slight angle.

It's hard to get a picture of it, and this picture does exaggerate the angle. When looking from the side, the rail is slightly lower in the front. Of course, you can't see this unless you get under the car, and it doesn't affect jacking up the car at all.

 

[BizJetTech]

Steeda Ultra Lite Jacking Rails

Date completed: 11/6/24

Purchased from @Late Model Restoration

Definitely should be one of the first additions to any S650... these make tire rotation a breeze!

Installation is a piece of cake, but there is one thing that I have not seen mentioned in any of the write-ups for installing these.

@tj@steeda - as you remove the front two bolts, a plate is there under the material that you cut away (this was not on my 2015). It can't be removed, as it is attached at other locations, so you have to mount the jacking rail on top of this plate.

As you loosen the two bolts, it hangs down quite a bit and goes pretty far toward the front of the car:

This is really no big deal except for these two things:

• The four shorter bolts that come with the kit can't be used anywhere so I had to reuse four of the stock bolts.
• The jacking rails end up at a slight angle.

It's hard to get a picture of it, and this picture does exaggerate the angle. When looking from the side, the rail is slightly lower in the front. Of course, you can't see this unless you get under the car, and it doesn't affect jacking up the car at all.

Would be nice to see a response about this from Steeda - I'm going to hold off on buying these until I see some feedback from them on this

 

[tj@steeda]

Let me have our tech look into this - this is news to me & I haven't seen / or heard about this potential question.

Standby.

TJ

 

[89Trooper]

Let me have our tech look into this - this is news to me & I haven't seen / or heard about this potential question.

Standby.

TJ

Great! Thanks! I’m curious what they find out.

 

[BizJetTech]

Great! Thanks! I’m curious what they find out.

Me too

 

[Alan Applegate]

I think I understand the issue when using a regular floor jack, but I use a Harbor Freight motorcycle jack with large rubber rails. As a result, I don't see the need for jack spots or vehicle-mounted rails? Have I missed something?

 

[89Trooper]

I think I understand the issue when using a regular floor jack, but I use a Harbor Freight motorcycle jack with large rubber rails. As a result, I don't see the need for jack spots or vehicle-mounted rails? Have I missed something?

I wouldn't own a Mustang without these. A few pumps right in the dead center with a floor jack, and the entire side of the car is in the air. If you rotate tires front to back, easy.

If you want all four tires off, jack up the one side, put jack stands under the rails, and jack up the other side.

Here's a pic of my 2015 easily jacked up on one side. I wouldn't trust the pinch welds for this:

 

[BizJetTech]

I wouldn't own a Mustang without these. A few pumps right in the dead center with a floor jack, and the entire side of the car is in the air. If you rotate tires front to back, easy.

If you want all four tires off, jack up the one side, put jack stands under the rails, and jack up the other side.

Here's a pic of my 2015 easily jacked up on one side. I wouldn't trust the pinch welds for this:

Do you know why the MFGR does not recommend using jack stands under the jacking rails?
That makes no sense to me

 

[89Trooper]

Do you know why the MFGR does not recommend using jack stands under the jacking rails?
That makes no sense to me

Where have you seen that? I have had the car (both cars now) up on four jack stands many times. I've never had an issue and it couldn't be more solid.

I don't take the tires off until all four jack stands are in place (just in case, although there has never been anything close to something falling). And I make sure that all four jack stands are solidly planted (not leaning at all on either side).

Maybe cause they don't want to be responible for people that don't have common sense?

I don't have a pic of the 2024, yet, but here's the 2015 up on all four jack stands:

 

[BizJetTech]

Where have you seen that? I have had the car (both cars now) up on four jack stands many times. I've never had an issue and it couldn't be more solid.

I don't take the tires off until all four jack stands are in place (just in case, although there has never been anything close to something falling). And I make sure that all four jack stands are solidly planted (not leaning at all on either side).

Maybe cause they don't want to be responible for people that don't have common sense?

I don't have a pic of the 2024, yet, but here's the 2015 up on all four jack stands:

See this video and FF to 4:05 for the statement not to use jack stands under the jack rails.
(I will note that I agree with you and should be fine using jack stands with them).

 

[89Trooper]

See this video and FF to 4:05 for the statement not to use jack stands under the jack rails.
(I will note that I agree with you and should be fine using jack stands with them).

It's gotta be for liability purposes. I'm glad you agree, but for others, one can see from my pic that it doesn't even come close to putting the car in a precarious position. The weight distribution is nicely spread out.

I am curious, though... is it the vendor (CJ Pony Parts) that is recommending this... or the manufacturer (Steeda)? Maybe @tj@steeda can chime in on this, too?

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