Greg Weld's 65 Mustang fastback track car

[GregWeld]

So there's the whole point. Ron is a PROFESSIONAL... the car will get the brakes that are appropriate. They'll be an improvement. We talked about the rear suspension and his statement was - that would be an improvement but probably not worth the expense... SO what I'm trying to say is -- nobody is more aware than we are of the limitations... or the goals. I'm not putting 315 squares on the car but we will look at what tire can be used. The goal is more fun ----- not proving anything. I enjoy learning - and I enjoy improving... and I like doing. For me personally - there's more to this than just changing the oil and running the car. It's about mechanics - learning what and why we're doing something - limitations - options. The car has no history - it's not a historic car - it's something Jack Mauer built. It's been changed and improved upon. I have no personal history how old any of the parts are - where they came from - how they've been maintained... and this is all a part of what we're doing. Checking the car from top to bottom... improving where it makes sense... making good - better if possible. It is what we all live to do.

Originally Posted by chetly

Running on narrower tires is going to be your limiting factor. Doesn't do any good to put huge brakes like the chassis you were standing next to when the tires can't do the work to stop the car. Driving Mike Maiers coupe with the nascar motor in it with the old setup and 275's vs the new setup with the 315's, it's amazing how much deeper you can go into the corners and still slow down and turn.

But I get it, your trying to keep it with the look of vintage trans-am vs the newer pro touring look. I just question if your going to be able to get the brake feel any where close to the Lotus being the size of tire and car are like comparing apples to pineapples...

[SSLance]

I was able to outbrake similar sized cars running 13" brakes and 315\335s with my little 10.5" brakes and 275s at Gateway...and do it more comfortably and securely at the same time. The trick is having everything matched and working in sync with one another, geometry, shocks, springs, brakes, tires, etc...

Enjoy the ride Greg, not only are you going learn a ton but you are also going to get to reap the rewards after with an excellent handling car.

I do agree with Charley on one thing though, once you get it set up...do an event with an instructor in the car that can teach you how to get the most out of what you've got. That's what I've spent most of this year doing, working on the driver instead of the car...and it's really paying off.

[Ron Sutton]

Wow! Greg you're getting a lot of heat for making improvements to your Track Toy.

Guys, I'd like to ask everyone to relax a bit ... enjoy an adult beverage ... and not worry too much. Maybe because I'm involved some folks might think we're doing a major upgrade or makeover to the car ... which is not even remotely accurate. Greg asked me to make his Mustang more fun to drive. So better braking & more grip are on the agenda. Nothing major ... just some shock & brake changes.

The current braking is sub-par. The calipers have too small of piston area, requiring super aggressive pads & it still doesn't stop as well as it could. Currently Greg is experiencing cracking & excessive rotor wear along with constant brake pad replacement. We're going to calipers with more piston area, allowing us to run gentler pads for longer life & less rotor wear. Larger diameter & wider rotors made of Wilwood's Spec-37 iron allow the brakes to stay cool & last longer.

Having more grip makes the car more fun. So we're changing to shocks with my special high grip valving. That's it. No high travel un-obtanium trick suspensions. I suggested we make the car safer too. So we're installing floater hubs on the rear housing & larger, stronger, safer spindles & hubs in the front. Plus some stronger Howe ball joints. If ... if ... if there is room to put a smidge wider tire on the car, we'll do that. But it will be minor.

Now I can't speak for Greg's goals down the road. He may want to undo the radiator cap & slide a Trans Am race car under it. But that is not what we're doing here.

So everyone ... relax, breathe ... LOL

[chetly]

Special high grip valving? Hmm, sounds like you've been talking to Maier. He likes to use those technical terms also... LOL

[GregWeld]

Dang it Ron! I don't want to give these guys ANY info!


Nothing - nada - zip.

[GregWeld]

Just got off the phone with Mister Bill McAnally the owner of BMR Racing. Talk about a nice guy!! I wished I'd have met him when we dropped the car off... but I will meet him at some point.

He thanked me for my business... He called ME. Not often the owner of a shop like this is going to pick up the phone to call a small time guy like me. I appreciate that kind of "service" and it tells me a lot about the integrity of his business.

He liked the Mustang... and said they were already pulling off measurements and then would pull the motor and get into it to see where we'd be going with that anchor. I'd like to hear it's minor but to be honest - it didn't sound minor... and I was hauling the mail when whatever it was let go.. that usually doesn't work out real well. High RPMS and moving pieces not being where they belong or moving in the manor they're supposed to. HAHAHAHAHAHA. 'Tis what it 'tis.

[clill]

Better brakes sound great Ron but what was on there are better than most of the old iron at our events and neither Jack or me had problems with them. That car was a Caddilac compared to my other Mustangs, Bigger brakes, power Rack and pinion steering, Jerico 4 speed. It will be interesting to see what let loose in the engine. Actually I should call McAnally and have him weld the door shut just to force the Ewok to climb in and out the window.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by clill

Better brakes sound great Ron but what was on there are better than most of the old iron at our events and neither Jack or me had problems with them. That car was a Caddilac compared to my other Mustangs, Bigger brakes, power Rack and pinion steering, Jerico 4 speed. It will be interesting to see what let loose in the engine. Actually I should call McAnally and have him weld the door shut just to force the Ewok to climb in and out the window.

Don't buy Stielow's next build... it has improvements in it. LOL

[Rick D]

Originally Posted by clill

Better brakes sound great Ron but what was on there are better than most of the old iron at our events and neither Jack or me had problems with them. That car was a Caddilac compared to my other Mustangs, Bigger brakes, power Rack and pinion steering, Jerico 4 speed. It will be interesting to see what let loose in the engine. Actually I should call McAnally and have him weld the door shut just to force the Ewok to climb in and out the window.

Greg I think he jumps on here just to give you sh!t!!

[fleetus macmullitz]

Originally Posted by Rick D

Greg I think he jumps on here just to give you sh!t!!

Yep, that's the long and the short of it.