It's in (my shop, that is). It's what many have been waiting for since the first time they saw it...
This writeup will be broken up into two sections. First - the parts themselves, followed by a narrative on what it'll take to get it to fit a 2009 GT500. Let us begin...
I love hardware. Doesn't matter what its used for as long as it is well engineered. The kind that feels good in your hand. Substantial. But in this case, removing the rear seats, seat belts, seat brackets and fasteners, all in an attempt to trim fat while adding some strength. Torsional rigidity. In place of the original equipment will go flyweight panels disguised as upholstery, along with a unique welded tubular assembly designed to make an already stiff body structure even more so.
Problem to date has been piecing the kit together through the Ford Parts network was prohibitively expensive. Enter FRPP. How they convinced the Parts people to allow them to carry these OEM pieces at a price far below what the network has been asking - I don't know. But a big thanks to those that negotiated this one. Hopefully, OEM leather Recaros and the CF driveshaft kits are in the pipeline as well. But I digress...
On to the box that this part is shipped in, the one that held up our orders.
Everything is packaged neatly in a rather large box. It has to be shipped freight even though it really isn't that heavy. The invoice I have from Con-way says 50lbs. I would have guessed less than that.
If you have to pick it up from the freight company like I did (I apparently missed the first delivery attempt) you better bring a truck or full size van. The box had to be large enough for the panel that takes place of the seats, thus the 14/12 pitched 'roof' box. Mine was open when I picked it up. Either it opened on its own or somebody took a peek to see what was inside...
The X brace came neatly packaged with an eye towards protecting it from shipping damage.
More on this coup de gras in a moment. So how about the panel that will reside behind the X brace?
The label affixed to its backside...
The rather large panel will take the place of the seat bottoms as well as a portion of real estate formerly earmarked for the seat backs...
I had wondered what these panels were made of. How fragile they might be. Well, I'll have to do some digging to determine just what comprises these two panels as I haven't seen this type of construction from Ford before. The panels are very light (weights to come), allow some flexibility, and don't appear to be overly brittle and thus crack-prone (fingers are crossed here).
I hope they prove to be at least durable enough to allow me to climb into the back to occasionally clean the inside of the rear windows.
Also included in the large box was a bag full of fastener hardware.
Also included was an instruction booklet, made up of the same pages that are in the FRPP pdf available online.
Back to the centerpiece, the X. Wouldn't be the year 2012 if there wasn't a disclaimer plastered somewhere, now would it?
The finish on this piece is absolutely first rate (and I mean that!). The lighting in my shop is somewhat lacking so I took a couple of shots of the front face, the second being with the flash on.
Interesting that in photos the brace appears orange. When I first opened the package I noted that it is more red in the flesh. Yet it looks orange in my photos as well as most any other you'll find on the web or in print. This, I can say with confidence - the paint is without flaw.
Here's the backside of the tube assembly where the tubes 'cross'...
I like the MUSTANG script more in person as well. Kind of neat effect.
And there you have what comprises FRPP's latest kit. Pricey, but I'll withold further valuation until everything is in place. My apologies, as it might be a bit until I can initiate the install phase of this writeup.
This writeup will be broken up into two sections. First - the parts themselves, followed by a narrative on what it'll take to get it to fit a 2009 GT500. Let us begin...
I love hardware. Doesn't matter what its used for as long as it is well engineered. The kind that feels good in your hand. Substantial. But in this case, removing the rear seats, seat belts, seat brackets and fasteners, all in an attempt to trim fat while adding some strength. Torsional rigidity. In place of the original equipment will go flyweight panels disguised as upholstery, along with a unique welded tubular assembly designed to make an already stiff body structure even more so.
Problem to date has been piecing the kit together through the Ford Parts network was prohibitively expensive. Enter FRPP. How they convinced the Parts people to allow them to carry these OEM pieces at a price far below what the network has been asking - I don't know. But a big thanks to those that negotiated this one. Hopefully, OEM leather Recaros and the CF driveshaft kits are in the pipeline as well. But I digress...
On to the box that this part is shipped in, the one that held up our orders.
Everything is packaged neatly in a rather large box. It has to be shipped freight even though it really isn't that heavy. The invoice I have from Con-way says 50lbs. I would have guessed less than that.
If you have to pick it up from the freight company like I did (I apparently missed the first delivery attempt) you better bring a truck or full size van. The box had to be large enough for the panel that takes place of the seats, thus the 14/12 pitched 'roof' box. Mine was open when I picked it up. Either it opened on its own or somebody took a peek to see what was inside...
The X brace came neatly packaged with an eye towards protecting it from shipping damage.
More on this coup de gras in a moment. So how about the panel that will reside behind the X brace?
The label affixed to its backside...
The rather large panel will take the place of the seat bottoms as well as a portion of real estate formerly earmarked for the seat backs...
I had wondered what these panels were made of. How fragile they might be. Well, I'll have to do some digging to determine just what comprises these two panels as I haven't seen this type of construction from Ford before. The panels are very light (weights to come), allow some flexibility, and don't appear to be overly brittle and thus crack-prone (fingers are crossed here).
I hope they prove to be at least durable enough to allow me to climb into the back to occasionally clean the inside of the rear windows.
Also included in the large box was a bag full of fastener hardware.
Also included was an instruction booklet, made up of the same pages that are in the FRPP pdf available online.
Back to the centerpiece, the X. Wouldn't be the year 2012 if there wasn't a disclaimer plastered somewhere, now would it?
The finish on this piece is absolutely first rate (and I mean that!). The lighting in my shop is somewhat lacking so I took a couple of shots of the front face, the second being with the flash on.
Interesting that in photos the brace appears orange. When I first opened the package I noted that it is more red in the flesh. Yet it looks orange in my photos as well as most any other you'll find on the web or in print. This, I can say with confidence - the paint is without flaw.
Here's the backside of the tube assembly where the tubes 'cross'...
I like the MUSTANG script more in person as well. Kind of neat effect.
And there you have what comprises FRPP's latest kit. Pricey, but I'll withold further valuation until everything is in place. My apologies, as it might be a bit until I can initiate the install phase of this writeup.
Last edited:
