2013 GT500 full suspension build along with power mods too.

[Myfast70]

I have a local customer that decided he wanted to toy with and chase down ZR1 Corvettes (and other cars of the same caliber). I got him in touch with Van (from Revan Racing) to solidify his mods that he was after. He has had a full on Griggs Fox Body in the past and had done very well with it on the road courses and decided that was going to be the path for his Shelby build. Once he collected all of the parts he dropped them off along with his Shelby to have me do a full install.

The part he chose were as follows:

BMR front k member
BMR front lower control arms
BMR radiator support
BMR support brace
Revan Racing s/s brake lines (front & rear), Brembo LCF brake fluid and clutch line
Ground control front coil over struts & C/C plates
Front brake pads
Innovators West 10% over drive crank pulley
Ford Racing 65mm t/b
JLT Big Air cold air intake, tube and filter
ARH headers and off road X pipe
Corsa mufflers
Spec P trim clutch & aluminum flywheel
Griggs torque arm
Griggs watts link
Griggs rear coil overs
Griggs anti roll bar
Griggs rear lower control arms w/ relocation brackets
Griggs rear coil overs and rear coil over support brackets
TA rear support cover (I modified to work with his track pack optional cooler and fabbed a new s/s line to make work properly)
NGK TR-6 spark plugs
Torco accelerator


I would like to thank Van for his support and returned phone calls whenever we had questions, he's top notch as always but I'm sure most of you already know that!


So here are the pictures of the build and car they went on

K frame removed and making some spare for ARH long tubes

Van was right, the stock harness will reach the o2's without extensions, just some creative rerouting was needed

Modified the rear cover to work with the track pack option. I drilled and tapped the lower drain to 1/2" npt to accept TP suction line/fitting, milled a flat spot for the temp sensor then drilled & tapped proper thread size and used an aluminum crush washer for a leak free seal. Bent up a new 1/2" s/s return line to clear and tig welded a bung to work with the new return fitting and milled cover to clear

Stitch welded axle tubes and relocated the vent from factory cover to the top of the axle tube where there was a plug conveniently located

All cleaned & painted

X pipe and exhaust installed, tight squeeze but all fits

Rear brake lines. I tig welded a small piece of s/s to the passenger brake line bracket to hold both electrical connectors on passenger side instead if just using zip ties.

 

[Myfast70]

Sorry guys, I thought I knew how to post pics directly here but things have changed since the last time I've added pics. Please feel free to tell me how to fix so you don't have to click on each link

 

[Myfast70]

I forgot to mention that we scaled the car before and after the mods and lost a total of 88lbs to boot! It went from 3920lbs to 3832lbs

 

[ThomasL]

Good write up! Sounds like one hell of a ride.

 

[Tob]

You have to place img tags around the photo link or click on the blue "globe" when posting and place the link(s) there, one by one. Your photos may be a bit large however. It does look as though you can link a smaller version of each though.

Nice TIG work on those fittings. Regarding welding the axle tubes...I assume you MIG welded there but I have to ask - did you preheat at all?

 

[Myfast70]

Thanks TOB! I tried using the

after as you did but it shows up with the little box with the line thru it when I do it that way? Maybe pics are too large. Did you resize the pic you posted? If I can;t figure it out in the next day or so then I'll just switch it over to my trusty photobucket page instead.

Thanks for the props. I used a Mapp gas torch to lightly warm up the housing and tube, I usually shoot for 150* or so and then start Mig welding the tube. Stainless and aluminum are my two favorite materials to weld. I rarely ever use the Mig welder any more except for stuff like the cross member mounts, axles tubes and the other on car type stuff. If it's on my bench then my preference is to Tig weld

 

[BMR Tech]

Looks very nice! Words cannot explain the handling characteristics on a GT500 with these chassis and suspension modifications.

I would like to add/recommend....that car needs an A-Arm Support brace on it, if it plans on seeing some cornering and braking abuse. I don't like seeing 3800lb cars running around hard corners and braking hard, without a brace connecting the inner A-Arm mounts from side to side. Add some R Comps and it makes it even that much more crucial.

Awesome build!!!

 

[BIRDDOC]

Awesome Job!! Go get some ZR1!! LOL

 

[MCDEV]

The photo embed feature does not seem to work with dropbox. Since the last update I always have to upload stuff to photobucket to embed. :bash:

 

[Tob]

Thanks TOB! I tried using the

after as you did but it shows up with the little box with the line thru it when I do it that way? Maybe pics are too large. Did you resize the pic you posted? If I can;t figure it out in the next day or so then I'll just switch it over to my trusty photobucket page instead.

Thanks for the props. I used a Mapp gas torch to lightly warm up the housing and tube, I usually shoot for 150* or so and then start Mig welding the tube. Stainless and aluminum are my two favorite materials to weld. I rarely ever use the Mig welder any more except for stuff like the cross member mounts, axles tubes and the other on car type stuff. If it's on my bench then my preference is to Tig weld

Dropbox wouldn't allow me to link the photo directly so I right clicked off to the side of the photo and got the address to a smaller version in the name/content box...

I agree regarding the welding. Once you TIG, you never want to go back to MIG welding anything except as you noted. TIG is just sooo clean and quiet!

 

[Myfast70]

Looks very nice! Words cannot explain the handling characteristics on a GT500 with these chassis and suspension modifications.

I would like to add/recommend....that car needs an A-Arm Support brace on it, if it plans on seeing some cornering and braking abuse. I don't like seeing 3800lb cars running around hard corners and braking hard, without a brace connecting the inner A-Arm mounts from side to side. Add some R Comps and it makes it even that much more crucial.

Awesome build!!!

Thank you!! Could you kindly post or PM me a link to the brace you speak of. I wasn't aware of any additional bracing that you had available. Your stuff was top notch!! Very high quality, easy to install and Kelly was great for any questions that I had for him. Thanks for all the help and comments!!

Tires are next on the agenda list. His stock GY's are all cracked so we are trying to warranty out. The car will more than likely run the streets on a set of MPSS's, then a dedicated set wheels & slicks for road race events and another set of big & littles for the strip.

 

[Myfast70]

Thanks again TOB!! I'll try to get to it this afternoon when I free up some time.

 

[BMR Tech]

Thank you!! Could you kindly post or PM me a link to the brace you speak of. I wasn't aware of any additional bracing that you had available. Your stuff was top notch!! Very high quality, easy to install and Kelly was great for any questions that I had for him. Thanks for all the help and comments!!

Tires are next on the agenda list. His stock GY's are all cracked so we are trying to warranty out. The car will more than likely run the streets on a set of MPSS's, then a dedicated set wheels & slicks for road race events and another set of big & littles for the strip.

Thank you for the kind words.

I highly recommend installing this AAS001 before the alignment is done.

http://www.bmrsuspension.com/index....cleid=20&maincatid=97&catid=279&productid=742

 

[Van@RevanRacing]

Really nice work and good installation. I've finally found a GOOD shop in Arizona to do work for my customers in that area.

As you can see through these pictures this is going to to be a nice Street/Strip/Open Track combo. We've go more irons in the fire with this build. Great working with you and I look forward to doing more.

 

[13 Cobra Toy]

Here is another improvement you should consider.... Delrin bushing for the BMR A-arms.

 

[BMR Tech]

Here is another improvement you should consider.... Delrin bushing for the BMR A-arms. I had four sets made and they are all spoken for. But I may have some more made if there is enough interest.

I like this, a lot.

Good job David.

 

[Myfast70]

Thanks for the help with the pics TOB! I finally realized you were using Firefox and found that window. What a PITA to post pics with dropbox, I won't do that again!

 

[NELCO]

Myfast70................... I am very impressed with your work.... Awesome
Nelco

 

[Myfast70]

Thanks! You should see the GN that I'm finishing up now for another customer, should be right at the 1000hp mark with a v6 in it still! I will be doing a couple other cool & fun projects with the GT500 owner after the GN and another Fox body Mustang for another customer are completed. Somewhere in between I need to get the engine back in my personal twin turbo Fox body and get it to the dyno to see how close I can get it to the 1000hp mark.