2013 5.0 Build Thread - VORTECH/FORGESTAR/APR Widebody/KW V3 Coilovers and much more

[Thalilbear02]

2013 5.0 Build Thread - KW V3/Forgestar CF10/Hotchkis/Falken/CDC/RTR/3DCarbon & MORE!

Mod List
Engine
Vortech V3si Complete System in Black
Magnaflow catted x-pipe
Flowmaster outlaw axleback (rusted within weeks)
Mishimoto Radiator
Mishimoto Thermostat
Mishimoto Sandwich plate (for oil cooler)
Oil cooler (coming soon)
AFE oiled cold air intake - (Still have this if anyone wants it - PM me)

Exterior
APR Performance Widebody kit
Impressive wrap - Vinyl color Avery Gray
RTR rear decklid
RTR rear spoiler
CDC front grill
Smoked front reflectors
APR Wing (coming soon)
3D Carbon GT500 Style rear spoiler painted in DIB - (Still have this if anyone wants it - PM me)

Interior
Sparco Pro.ADV Seat w/ mounting hardware
Sparco quick release and steering wheel
Sparco 6-point harness
Custom roll cage
MGW Race Spec Shifter
Sound of Speed Gauge pillar
AEM AFR gauge
Autometer Boost gauge
Innovate Oil temp/pressure gauge
Innovate Water temp/voltage gauge
Ford Racing gauge pod

Suspension/Drivetrain
Eibach Multi-Pro R2 Coilovers w/ Custom spring rates
BMR Watts link (Rod end/Rod end)
BMR K-Member with lowered and solid mounts
BMR Adjustable lower A-Arms with Delrin Bushings and rod ends (19mm tall ball joint)
BMR A-Arm support brace
BMR Radiator Support Brace
BMR Control arm relocation brackets
BMR Lower double adjustable control arms - rod ends
BMR Strut tower brace
Hotchkis adjustable upper trailing arm
Hotchkis lower control arms, non adjustable (Still have this if anyone wants it - PM me)
Hotchkis Panhard bar (Still have this if anyone wants it - PM me)

Previous suspensions
KW V3's - Sold
Airrex Digital Air Ride - Sold

Brakes & Wheels/Tires
HRE Classic 300 Wheels - 18x11.5 and 18x12.5
Toyo R88 Tires - 305/35/18 and 335/30/18
Hawk HP+ Pads
Motul 660 Fluid
Goodridge stainless steel lines
Kenny Brown brake duct kit (coming soon)

Previous wheel sets
Forgestar F14 Super Deep Concave - Semi-Gloss Black, 20x10.5 / 20x12
Forgestar CF10 - Black Graphite, 20x10 / 20x11


I started my build in December 2012 originally. Since then it's been an amazing process in trying to build my 2013 Mustang GT. From very humble beginnings to where it is now, here is my build. I hope you enjoy ​

Fronts are just nasty how high they are:

Rears are even worse:

About time these arrived!

Some of the other parts in there too:

Stock trailing arm:

More stock stuff in there:

Good shot of the stock lower control arms.

Hotchkis lower control arms going in:

Great looking design, great quality, strong as hell too. Someone took their time designing these, so I thank you for that :beer:

KW V3's on the rear going in!

Update coming after some lunch :rockon:


****EDIT - MY THOUGHTS****

So I've come to my conclusion on these parts. Of course mind you these are all my opinion, but after several years of race experience, I'm glad I picked these particular parts. I just want to thank Hotchkis and KW for making parts that honestly completely turn this car around.

Now I'm sure you've been in the same boat as I, first and second gear, lots of wheel hop, and an overly tailhappy car at times. Unfortunately the rear end of this car from factory is just way to skiddish, and often times I find myself in situations where I could have honestly pulled away in a car with just 100HP let alone the factory 420HP (I've got the '13 model). The real kicker that made me purchase the Hotchkis parts was when I pulled into an intersection, shifted into second gear, and I noticed someone coming in the wrong way of traffic perpendicular to I was not going to stop. Slamming on the brakes would have just caused the person behind me to crash into me, so the only option was to get on it, and of course, as usual, wheel hop, I barely squeezed by. I know now with those lower/upper control arms from Hotchkis, now installed on the car, getting away in 2nd gear is not a problem.

The car actually hooks up a bit, even with the stock tiny Pirellis which is really surprising. Of course first is just useless, but it's manageable now, you can actually, if you don't have a foot of lead, put down the power like it should and second gear I can actually put the power all the way down, and not skid uncontrollably in second. Now if you are in a turn, and you do put the rear out, it's just so manageable, obviously no wheel hop, but it's so smooth, it's actually reacting like a normal rear wheel drive car!!

Now I put most of this down to Hotchkis, mainly because I know what I was to expect from the KW V3's, which are beyond belief. With a compression setting and rebound setting, I've got my GT at exactly where I want it, and once she has some track tires ready for her, I know I can turn her up to the right settings and it'll be perfect. The sensation I'm getting actually having a car that handles, the smile on my face cannot get any bigger.

Hopefully I'll have more opportunities to add on the Hotchkis items, as if they are as any good value as these particular parts were, then I'd buy the whole Hotchkis line up without skipping a beat. KW, obviously has pushed the bar, made a new yard stick to measure coilover systems... Watch out, I wouldn't be surprised if we see more V3's on the road very soon to come.

 

[apex32]

You will love this.. I had KW V2's on my last 5.0. Your car is about to be a different beast. Are you going with the preset height or +/-?

 

[VETTEHUNTER]

I love threads like this :banana:.....I'm gonna have one just like it in March when I get around to installing everything in my sig along with a new set of Vossen CV7's.

Great choice of parts!! :beer:op:

 

[2013Boss302]

lets see the after shots

 

[Dave_6]

Awesome! I wish I could afford to put some KW's on mine.

 

[jayman33]

Dude you worked up a great kit!

 

[Thalilbear02]

Got some more shots as the install starts to wind down... Almost done:

Here's the real need for a Hotchkis Panhard bar... It's hard to tell because the pictures aren't great, but the broom I put down because the axle shifted over about 1/4". Really noticeable by just looking at one side, then going to the other and checking that side out. You can see the first picture, the wheels are closer to the fender (driver side), but there's a gap between the broom and the wheel on the other side (passenger side).

Stock stuff going out:

All gone!

Spring comparison (fronts):

Another comparison:

All done on this side:

On the lift:

Time for the upper control arm. Rear seats come out first so we can get to this bolt you see in the center:

Stock on the left, Hotchkis on the right:

The lil guy is going to be put back in in that spot above the diff.

Almost there! Pictures once it's off the rack and all done!

 

[BUCKET]

Very cool. I have been looking at the KWs myself in the future. Look forward to in depth write up on how they perform. Also, what rear pinion angle do you plan to set the car at?

 

[Thalilbear02]

Some final pictures for you guys...

Upper control arm is in:

Another angle at it:

Front coilover from another angle:

Rear coilover, finally adjusted to my ride height I wanted:

Finally done!

Front how she sits now (was originally a 4 finger gap from Post#1):

Rear how she sits now (was originally a 5 finger gap from post#1):

I'll be giving my full thoughts once I have a few days to drive around and see how I feel about it, but since I've been on cars before with coilovers, I know how they're supposed to feel. I've had KW's before, so there's no surprise, excellent as usual. The one thing I did notice more than anything else was the lack of wheel hop through 1-2nd gear once getting on it. No more hopping around, everything was smooth, and the power felt like it went down a lot harder than it did before, so one serious thumbs up for Hotchkis.

 

[dirtyd88]

Great stance man! Can't wait to see some more profile shots to she how it really sits from front to back.

 

[kingnut]

nice setup. waiting to hear back on how this beast handles.

 

[charba951]

Looks killer!

 

[Scuba-Matt]

Looks 100% better now. No more 4x4 look.

 

[Aaron@JPCRacing]

Car looks killer! The stance is perfect.

 

[PhillyLS1]

you CAN'T beat K&W V3's.

 

[Dave_6]

Love it. I am anxious to hear how noisy that UCA is though.

 

[t-ray]

Great pictures man. I would love to do those coils myself.

And the picture of the Vertical Epic is awesome. Have you had the others? I've got 09 through 12

 

[kaane]

Are you worried about NVH with that spherical bushing in that UCA?

 

[VETTEHUNTER]

I love it!!!! Looks great!

 

[apex32]

Looks awesome man! And that epic ale is great - had it on tap last week.