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Making the S650 as capable or better than an SS 1le

MustangMitch69

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Stuff that worked well in my car:
. Steeda Mustang IRS Subframe Alignment Kit 555-4438
. Steeda 555-4437 IRS Subframe Bushing Support System
. Steeda IRS subframe support braces 555-5754
. Steeda 555-4137 vertical links with Polyurethane Bushings
. Steeda 2 way G-trac front brace. 555-5535
. Michelin PS4S tires

Car handles much better.
Good luck for your upgrades!
I did basically this same thing for my GT convertible, except the tires and plus jacking rails, and it makes a night-and-day difference. Car handles more like a German car now and less like a boat. It costed less than $3k total installed by Steeda in Valdosta.

Totally worth it in my opinion to give the S650 basically the only edge that the SS 1LE has on it (with the S650 being better in literally every single other way).

I don't know why Ford didn't just equip all this as a configurable package option. Could have saved them a lot of criticism in 2023 when all the "influencers" were first reviewing and testing the S650 GT and making comparisons to the SS 1LE.

And I get that the dark horse is more track focused, but no convertible trim, which Chevy did offer for the SS and ZL1.
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frostysteven

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Hi guys, hope all is well and I hope I am posting this in the right place.

I have an s650 PP and I’ve already done some work to it. It does not have magneride, so I put the Ford performance track package on the car - M-FR3A-MAA.
This completely changed how the car felt and tightened things up a lot especially after I put wider wheels and bigger tires on it.

I had an SS 1le in the past, but because of a change in work I had to sell it. I came over to the s650 because I wanted to try something different and there is nothing like ringing this car out to redline, something the SS can’t compete with in my opinion.

I’m looking to get this car up to an SS 1le in terms of performance.

I also read the PP cars come with the DH sway bars, so not sure if I really need to change them out yet.

The car now feels up to snuff and I feel it could challenge an SS 1le on the track now, but wanted to see if I should do anything else?
As others have said, steeda stop the hop is great. But it does make the ride feel safer. Not as jolty if that makes sense.

I also did a k brace under the car for more firming feel. Which i definitely like the feel. Although with the lowering springs you have it will be hugging the ground.

I have a staggard set up and going to bigger tires after I burn through my summer ones this month with my whipple.
 

tktrain

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CLEARLY you have never driven, or actually owned an SS1LE. It is a superior car in any road course scenario. Sorry, but thats the hard truth. They are the biggest bang for your buck for track work times 10. I have owned a 2017 and a 2020, and they are SICK. They still hold leader board records over cars 2-3x the price and power. Dont kid yourself here lol.
Humm, I guess that's why GM sells so many of those every year... Oh yeah, I forgot they're discontinued.
 

Puddinpop

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Humm, I guess that's why GM sells so many of those every year... Oh yeah, I forgot they're discontinued.
Sales doesn't equal better car. ZX is right the 1LE package is leaps and bounds better than any Performance Pack Mustang. The chassis alone is better than anything Ford has come out with in the past 10 years. Before you say I should sell my Mustang and go buy a Camaro I already have one parked next to my Mustang.
 

robvas

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Sales doesn't equal better car. ZX is right the 1LE package is leaps and bounds better than any Performance Pack Mustang. The chassis alone is better than anything Ford has come out with in the past 10 years. Before you say I should sell my Mustang and go buy a Camaro I already have one parked next to my Mustang.
They were pretty close in the lightning lap, the Mustang has a little bit better tires on it stock.

Even on the same tires they're almost equal

 


ZXMustang

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Humm, I guess that's why GM sells so many of those every year... Oh yeah, I forgot they're discontinued.
Marketing has always been a problem for GM. Which is why the challengers sold 2:1 over both ford and GM, yet are you saying that’s a better car?! lol stupid logic is stupid. Go lick your premium GT.
 

Wiley Marmot

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My Dad can whip your Dad! 😉
 

tktrain

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Marketing has always been a problem for GM. Which is why the challengers sold 2:1 over both ford and GM, yet are you saying that’s a better car?! lol stupid logic is stupid. Go lick your premium GT.
Guess again... My Whippled Dark Horse! Go buy a Slomaro... Oh yeah, they're not made anymore.
 

tktrain

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Sales doesn't equal better car. ZX is right the 1LE package is leaps and bounds better than any Performance Pack Mustang. The chassis alone is better than anything Ford has come out with in the past 10 years. Before you say I should sell my Mustang and go buy a Camaro I already have one parked next to my Mustang.
You have my sympathy...
 

ZXMustang

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Guess again... My Whippled Dark Horse! Go buy a Slomaro... Oh yeah, they're not made anymore.
Funny you should say that....LOL Maybe open a site other than mustang7g.

You missed the joke as well. Dark horse is nothing more than a PP GT with less tq management. I would know, Ive tuned several hundred GTs at this point and more DHs than you have fingers and toes. You paid a premium for badges and a body kit, and before you start spouting off at the mouth about forged this and GT500 that, you might want to fact check those internet myths.
 

tktrain

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Funny you should say that....LOL Maybe open a site other than mustang7g.

You missed the joke as well. Dark horse is nothing more than a PP GT with less tq management. I would know, Ive tuned several hundred GTs at this point and more DHs than you have fingers and toes. You paid a premium for badges and a body kit, and before you start spouting off at the mouth about forged this and GT500 that, you might want to fact check those internet myths.
If you dislike them so much, why are you on here? Go find a GM site and preach to the choir. I can't help it that GM couldn't make enough money on Camaros to keep building them.

Oh, and while we're at it, I was a GM power train engineer and now retiree and spent my last 4 years developing the die cast chassis components used in the current C8. We had fits making those hold the torque of the ZR1 power. Before that I did the 10 speed case for pickup truck and Camaro applications and the turbo SGE used for a number of years in the economy cars. We begged management to adopt OHC V8 engines but marketing wouldn't budge. They claimed the people wouldn't like non pushrod engines. It's inevitable with emissions and CFE getting tighter. Maybe the new Camaro will be an EV or a hybrid. GM has hung their hat on the Corvette as the corporate hot rod, as it should be. If you're going for performance, it's the obvious choice. I'm NOT anti GM. My interest is in a high rev engine that loves tons of air.
 

ZXMustang

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If you dislike them so much, why are you on here? Go find a GM site and preach to the choir. I can't help it that GM couldn't make enough money on Camaros to keep building them.

Oh, and while we're at it, I was a GM power train engineer and now retiree and spent my last 4 years developing the die cast chassis components used in the current C8. We had fits making those hold the torque of the ZR1 power. Before that I did the 10 speed case for pickup truck and Camaro applications and the turbo SGE used for a number of years in the economy cars. We begged management to adopt OHC V8 engines but marketing wouldn't budge. They claimed the people wouldn't like non pushrod engines. It's inevitable with emissions and CFE getting tighter. Maybe the new Camaro will be an EV or a hybrid. GM has hung their hat on the Corvette as the corporate hot rod, as it should be. If you're going for performance, it's the obvious choice. I'm NOT anti GM. My interest is in a high rev engine that loves tons of air.
I tune fords, and own them for business. I own chevys by choice. And I wasn’t joking or being mean about the DH being a GT with less tq management. That’s the only difference in their factory calibrations between them.
 

P2

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You want to get a Mustang up to Camaro standards. Well, first yuo'll have to install a $hitty, cheap-looking 60s interior witha butt ugly dash. then put in an engine and exhaust system that soulds like a bag of squirrels being strangled when under power and if it's a convertible a crappy top that doesn't work 50% of the time and when it does fold down it takes 50% of the trunk space..... I could go on. Oh, BTW, where is Camaro now - yeah, is's where it belongs - nowhere. You got a Mustang GT with PP - you already won the lottery dude.
Come on... Don't hold back. Tells us what you REALLY think...
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