Rare Pony: 2006 Mustang Stampede Edition

MGP Caliper Covers

2011-09-19T06:57:00.001-05:00

Ever painted your calipers? Then repainted them only to repaint them AGAIN later? Yeah, me too. Well, actually my friends painted them but you get my point.

I absolutely LOVE the look of body matched calipers and, unless your car is red or black, it isn't easy to come by. If you want it to look Good? Well, that's when you do your research, a little planning and invest in some MGP Caliper Covers.

The possibilities of customization are mind blowing or, if you want the popular red, black or silver, you can pick those up at a distributer like AmericanMuscle.com. I being the girl that I am had to go the more creative (aka expensive) route but do not regret it.

We required spacers which MGP was happy to supply. Once we had those the install was easy and quick. We finished up in about an hour total (had to take photos too) which isn't bad considering our extreme heat in Texas this August and that we are not 20 anymore. :).

All in all, I LOVE my MGP Caliper Covers and highly recommend them. Oh, and before the install I had my Ford Service department at Bankston Arlington remove the Hawk Ceramic Pads, resurface the rotors and install OEM pads. No squeak, no sound, and with the covers in place,them out at http://www.calipercovers.com

Pics below!

Awards

2011-09-12T12:01:00.001-05:00

Here are the other awards I've received this summer.

Found another Stampede

2011-09-12T11:46:00.001-05:00

This one came in the dealership as a trade in and one of the employees snatched it up. Smart girl. I finally caught up with her and got some pics. I've seen a black one in person now, a Vista Blue Metallic like mine, two Red fire Metallics but no Tungsten. I've seen pics just not in person. This one is #411 and she just needs a little TLC. She's fully stock. Hopefully the owner realizes that it is a keeper.

NTMC Cruise Night

2011-09-11T00:25:00.001-05:00

Sixth show, fifth award... Forth first place. Nice.

Interior with iPad Mount

2011-09-09T11:22:00.000-05:00

Pad Holder - http://padholdr.com/

Slow Summer

2011-09-08T08:36:00.001-05:00

I haven't been feeling myself this summer and just don't have the "get up and go" I need to do all the shows I normally do. I have only done the Palestine trip in April then one SVT Cruise, and three of the NTMC Cruise Nights. I took a Class Award at SVT in the Open Class and First Place ("Class Winner") in the V6 Class at the NTMC events. Palestine is a given.... I've yet to see one of the NTMC cars win there. So, out of the five shows I've done this year I've come away with four awards... three of those being First. Not bad. Just wish I was more involved this year. Maybe next year.

Until then... The caliper covers came in and are GORGEOUS. Just what I wanted. I also put in chrome door strikers, a chrome hood latch and a chrome hood prop (for those windy days when hood lifts don't cut it). (Will have to add pics later)

I have more on the horizon, of course.... stay tuned. :)

Reba

Quality, not quantity

2011-07-11T11:07:00.001-05:00

Usually by mid-July I have already participated in a lot of shows, suffered from heat exhaustion every weekend, and spend more time with my car than with Susan or my family. I promised myself that this year would be different. Including the NTMC Cruise last Saturday, I've gone to five shows this year - Palestine, three NTMC Cruises and a SVT Cruise - and with the exception of Palestine (where no one from NTMC wins) I've taken awards every time. SVT was a Class Award, the other three are First Place/Class Winner. Better than that though, I've spent some wonderful quality time with Susan. We will be celebrating our 15th anniversary this year. She's more important to me than this hobby. So, you haven't seen me posting much and the above is why. There are additional changes on the way. I just placed an order for some MGP Caliper Covers in Vista Blue. They will have my custom touch added of course so I'll add pictures when they come in. I was going to order a shifter from GrabberPony.com but they don't seem to respond to emails or voicemails. Not sure I want to throw money that way if I can't feel confident in who I'm working with. I have some other ideas though to do instead. Until then! Reba

Hey Everybody!

2011-06-19T15:18:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lapse in posting... :)

The season is well underway and the temps are already in the 100's. You really have to love this hobby to do car shows in that kind of heat. Really. (Right Justin?) :)

Last off-season I went more of the "Go" route than the "Show" route by converting to Pypes True Duals with X Pipe, adding Pypes headers and a SCT Tuner with Bama Tunes. I'm now running the 93 Octane Race tune and although it is more expensive when I fill up I must say I truly enjoy the difference in performance. I still have a few "wish list" items to add in the Go department but remember, I have already replaced the coil with a Screamin' Demon racing coil, added Live Wires and the Air Raid CAI. I would like to add a BBK Throttle body, larger MAF and maybe replace the CAI with something else... a BBK unit maybe?

On the "Show" side, I decided to add my iPad to my Mustang's stereo setup... granted, it had to be removable as well as look like it belonged there... After a lot of searching and pondering, I settled on PadHoldr and the vehicle specific kit for the 05-09 Mustang. Of course, I purchased chrome. :)

I still have a few things left on my To Do list but I'm kinda running low on steam lately. I don't know.

More later.
Reba

Hanging out

2011-03-19T12:35:00.002-05:00

It's a good day to hang out with the clubbies at Palestine!!

Lots of changes... :)

2011-02-16T07:26:00.002-06:00

I need to post soon... I've made a few changes to the car and taken in it a different direction than I have previously. This year is going to be a blast!

Pypes

2011-01-26T23:23:00.001-06:00

I had a problem with the mufflers on the Pypes True Duals conversion kit. The kit includes Pypes StreetPro mufflers and I love the sound but the tip on the left muffler was welded on wrong. Instead of being properly lined up it was rotated to the left and the S of the Pypes logo was the only part of the logo that was centered. Problem was I was outside my 30 day window with American Muscle... I snapped some photos and sent off an email to Pypes and another to American Muscle. Pypes was very easy to work with and they are shipping out a new muffler! Yeah! I have some ideas for the new season and it's banging around in my head so loudly that it's drowning out just about everything else. No hints yet other that it should turn heads. :) Time for bed. G'night Reba

Here we go again....

2011-01-21T14:15:00.001-06:00

Here it is... the off season. Football playoffs. Superbowl. Getting excited about Palestine in March which, all things considered, is like the show season kickoff for NTMC... and another visit to Arlington Orthopedics. Yeah me.

So, next week I have appointments for a MRI, a ENG and a "Let's discuss the results". The issues I'm experiencing are no where near what was going on before but we have a 50/50 chance of it not being news I want to hear. Either way, it is not in my hands so I'm not stressing over it. I only bring it up because this always happens at the beginning of show season... or the early part of it anyway. :)

We start 2011's season with only minor changes cosmetically and a couple changes that were more performance based. I've finished out the center stack and dash, added a StreetFighter shifter (told you I it was on the Hot List), added an Optima battery, a custom tray for said battery, and converted the car to true duals with an x-pipe. When you walk up to the car and look at it you don't really notice that I've made many changes. I do have a couple exterior ideas that keep lingering in my head as well as more performance items and changes to the interor leather... and it is Tax-Refund-Time... :) (Just kidding honey!)

I do have a couple of things I may add before the season starts... Just need to work it out mentally first. When I do, this blog will see it first!

Pypes X Pipe True Dual Exhaust w/Pypes ProStreet Mufflers

2011-01-20T01:01:00.000-06:00

Here is a sound clip/video of the new exhaust. :)

Optima Tray install

2010-12-23T23:21:00.002-06:00

I received the battery tray today and it was more beautiful in person. Needless to say I installed it immediately! Here are the pictures I took as I was installing it.

I love the off season....

2010-12-20T12:02:00.008-06:00

I love the off-season. I really do. Probably more than I do the show season. This is the time of the year when I make all the little changes and improvements to Trinity that I've been thinking of throughout the year or, as in the duals and the shifter, that were on my "Wish List".

One improvement that was more of a necessity than a "want" was the Optima battery. With my short commute time and high drain electronics I've managed to kill another battery so it was time to upgrade to something better suited to my needs. Problem with that is that the Optima battery best for the job is Yellow... and the car isn't. So I bought a tray to cover it up and it was beautiful but it didn't work for my application so I had to return it. I kept looking though.

Patience always pays off especially in customization. OptimaTrays.com is wonderful to work with and together we designed a tray that is unique to my car and will cover that Yellow Top wonderfully. It will also work well with the brushed aluminum caps I have under the hood with a nod to the flames on the plenum cover and the grille pony. I received an email today that it is finished and I should have it in hand by Christmas Eve. I'm very excited! Benjamin Barch of Barch Designs (http://www.optimatrays.com/) created the tray and was kind enough to send me a couple pictures.

I'll be sure to post more once I have it installed.

Merry Christmas everyone!

A big shout out to Gear Heads for the great install on Friday!!

2010-12-06T15:09:00.002-06:00

Gear Heads Performance in Arlington TX gave me a great deal and great service on the install of my Pypes True Dual X Pipe conversion with Pypes Street Pro Mufflers. They also installed my TCI StreetFighter Ratchet Shifter on the same day. What a difference in sound feel and performance! Thank you so much guys for getting to it so quickly. I'm still waiting for the dealership's aftermarket guy to call me with a quote!

Thanks again!
Reba

Shelby Kicker Upgrade for Ford Mustang Shaker 500

2010-10-13T20:06:00.000-05:00

This one has explicit language... but it's a good song to show off the Shelby Kicker Upgrade package for the Mustang Shaker systems.

Light display

2010-10-13T20:01:00.000-05:00

Good weekend...

2010-10-11T02:11:00.001-05:00

Friday night I hung out at the Nostalgia Nights show (I-20 and Little Road, Arlington). I didn't go out there with anyone but Tara came out and Donnie and Sonya dropped by. I'm learning that, outside of my home life, I'm pretty much satisfied with being alone.
I enjoyed Tara's company and the fact that Donnie and Sonya dropped by but I would have enjoyed my time alone. Saturday I did more of the same. Knights of Columbus charity Car Show at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Saw a friendly face there and made a couple new friends. Nice to see different cars for a change of pace. Then the NTMC Cruise at the Cracker Barrel at 4 that afternoon. All my club friends, good laughs, a class award then dinner with the gang before heading home. Only one more cruise left in the season and then the holidays will be here. Soon it will be time to begin work on the off-season mods and changes for next season. I'm actually excited about that. :)

New website design!

2010-07-21T10:58:00.001-05:00

Hope you like the new site design. I've enjoyed sprucing up the place.

I'm still working on the brakes but I got sidelined with Susan's Mustang this week. We haven't driven it since her operation on 6/28/10 and consequently the battery gave out on us. 100+ temperatures will do that to a nearly 4 year old battery anyway then add in the fact it wasn't getting recharged daily... Well, yeah, it was D.E.A.D. We couldn't even unlock the doors or move it into neutral. Nothing.

I borrowed Donnie's charger and we left it on the car overnight. This morning it showed that we had a full charge. Pulled the charger off and she started up without any problems at all. I will test it again tonight and it it shows any signs of degradation I'll put it back on the charger (on trickle per Donnie) and start looking for a decent replacement. I'm praying that won't happen because with Susan out for medical and on no-pay status we really didn't budget for a new battery. :)

Oh well, we will do what we have to do and smile, thankful for what we have and the blessings we have been given.

Until later!
Reba

Contact from Hawk!

2010-07-14T11:41:00.002-05:00

Hawk Performance has contacted me and it was a very wonderful conversation. I will follow the instructions provided and follow up as requested. I do still want to hear from others with these pads though.

- Reba

Hawk Performance Ceramic brake pads

2010-07-14T08:22:00.001-05:00

Anyone out there have Hawk Performance Ceramic brake pads? The ones that come in the yellow and black box? If so, how are they working out for you? I have some concerns that I have voiced to Hawk and I'm awaiting a reply. I just wanted some unbiased feedback from other consumers. Let me hear your stories. I can't go into details of mine just yet as 1) I don't want to influence what you tell me and 2) I want to give Hawk the opportunity to reply to me. That seems to me to be the correct and fair way to conduct business with any vendor. Right?

I have some new photos to add... I'll try to post those soon!

- Reba

Trinity got new shoes!

2010-06-22T10:22:00.000-05:00

I purchased the car on 6/19/2006 and four years to the day I replaced the original tires. (Hard to believe its been 4 Years!) I had taken the car to NTB to have them rotated and balanced but they wouldn't touch them. They stated they (NTB) had a policy that kept them from rotating tires with the wear bars showing. Well... crap.

I knew I needed tires but I was stalling as long as I could. The car had just over 25500 miles when I arrived at Discount Tire on 6/19/2010 and purchased a set of the Riken Raptors. Donnie's wife Sonya has these on her Mustang and they looked really nice plus the price was reasonable. About an hour later my car was ready with new tires which they took the time to "show mount" on my request. They look SWEET! And the ride is awesome. Of course, I still have to break them in a bit. :)

Also, Susan found this steering wheel cover and ends up it goes pretty well with the interior. :) I like it!

Here are the pictures!

Side Scoops by DG Custom Auto

2010-06-04T10:54:00.000-05:00

Back on May 15th I took the car over to Jeff Holland at Autograph Sign Shoppe and we pulled the side stripes off the car and made some significant appearance changes. Once that was completed I spent a day or so trying to determine what the sides "needed" and kept coming back to side scoops. So... on May 17th I purchased some from DG Custom Auto, Inc.. They arrived on Monday, May 24th, just after 'the paint incident', and just in time to be put on before I put the wax back on.

When I first ordered these I had indicated my color code, G9, and that I needed them in time for an event in early June. Craig at DG Custom Auto, Inc. replied letting me know that they did not have any of the scoops in my color in stock but they were at paint and were expected in by the following week. I know that I can be persistent and, to some vendors, a bit of a pain in the rear but my frequent checking in for status didn't seem to upset Craig. If anything, he put a rush on getting them here... The scoops shipped on Friday, 5/21/10, and they were here by Monday, 5/24/10.

Installation is very straightforward and instructions are provided. I was surprised to see the 3M promoter supplied. Very pleasantly surprised! I didn't get that with some of the other pieces I have on the car and really wish those manufacturers had the forethought to provide it. I digress...

We aligned the scoops to the car - both sides - to ensure we knew where they would go. We then broke the seal on the 3M Promoter and quickly applied a light coat where the 3M tape would be applied. We waited 5 minutes then began the process of applying the scoops.

We pulled a little of each 3M tape back to form a "pull tab" and then carefully seated the top corner by the door making sure that the bottom corner (by the door) stayed aligned. We then pressed the scoop to the car gently while pulling the red 3M tape backing from under the scoop. Once all of the backing was removed we pressed firmly on all edges of the scoop, checked to make sure we had a good seal then stepped back to check our work. Looked AWESOME! Then we repeated the process on the other side. The pictures below are of the scoops when I first opened the box, after the first was installed, and then the next morning in full light.

I think they complement the car very well. :)

Thank you again DG Custom Auto, Inc.!!

- Reba

Paint...

2010-05-31T23:07:00.003-05:00

Happy Memorial Day!

Time to catch up. Last post was on Thursday, May 20th. On Friday, May 21st, Susan and I met some of my high school friends for happy hour at a pub on the north side of town. We had some laughs, some drinks, took some pictures and then headed out. When we got to the car the whole back end was covered in bird droppings. This should have been a sign for how the rest of the weekend would be... but I digress...

We arrived home and despite the late hour I proceeded to wash the Mustang. I also washed Susan's. Heck, it was sitting right there and getting wet too so I figured why not surprise her with a clean car? (She loved it by the way). So, a couple beers later, jeans and t-shirt soaked through and through, I finished both cars and headed to bed.

A few hours later I was up and getting ready for my niece's wedding. Showered, dressed and with all my gear in hand (camera? check) I headed out the door to Meadowbrook Park, the site of the reception, to help with set up and to get some pictures before the wedding. (Yes, I am getting to the point.)

When I got there I noticed, and then mentally dismissed, the painters working on some park structures in the parking lot. I parked and went to help out. When I returned to my car a hour later all was well. We went to and then returned from the wedding. I parked a little closer this time to the painters... opting for a location that was not under a tree. From the painters there were two handicap spaces, an empty space, then me. Again my brain did not grasp the plastic sheeting, smell of paint and anxious look on the painters' faces. When I returned to my car several hours later they were watching me and I quickly noticed the paint all over my car. And I mean all over it. Glass. Trim. All Panels. The painters came over and were looking at it with me. I could see fingerprints on the car so it appeared they had already been there. Anyway, the dots would move so we figured they would come off. This was on Saturday, at 2:00 PM.

At 2:30, when I got it to my Mom's and we looked at it closer, it looked like dust and felt like a combination of tree sap and sandpaper... and it wasn't coming off... this is where the panic set in. It is also the beginning of a saga and process that did not end until I was back home and wiping it down in my driveway at 2:10 AM on Monday morning.

I won't bore you with the blow by blow details. This post is long enough as it is. However, I can say now that I have learned that clay bar and Windex will get overspray off a car. The car was also buffed and polished. (Thank you Tara and David Gowin!) When we were done it felt like glass. In the morning light it positively glowed. Luckily I had Monday off so the early morning hours didn't hurt as much but Susan did have an appointment that morning that I took her to. I also received my scoops on Monday afternoon (details to follow in a separate post) which were applied before I put down the first coat of Meguiar's Tech 2 wax that evening. Tuesday evening I followed up with the second coat. I still need to put a couple more on there to protect the paint but I feel better about it being protected from the elements.

There is still overspray on the trim (like the black areas around the side mirrors, window trim, etc) and around the newly installed decals on the windows. I am still working on how to get that off. The window decals may have to be removed, the paint scraped off with a razor blade (which is how it was removed from all the other glass) and then re-applied. That's a lot to re-do though.

So, anyway, it was nearly a disaster... there's still plenty to fix before Yellow Rose... but it wasn't a total loss.

Edit 6/1/10: Photos are below.

Added a little extra touch to the engine...

2010-05-20T12:04:00.006-05:00

The 2006 V6 Mustang has a SOHC 4.0L engine capable of 210 HP from the factory. Today, most engine sizes are given in liters instead of cubic inches however we all want to know what that magical number is. You see, cubic inches translates to the size of the engine and that, to us gear heads, means power and speed. Think Boss 351, Boss 302, Boss 429 or the Roush 427. Those numbers are referring to the cubic inch of the engines. The larger the number the larger the engine.

"In the world of drag racing - "there ain't no substitute for cubic inches" - meaning, that the bigger an engine, the more power you can make."

To get technical about it,

"the cubic inch of a motor is usually a reference to the size of the motor. Technically, it is the sum of the volumetric displacement of the pistons as the engine makes one complete rotation."

So, yeah, we all want to know our magical number.... the CI or Cubic Inch.

The V6 Mustang that I have has the 4.0L engine which translates to 245ci. Its not a Boss 302 of course, but its not bad. What is all this leading to? I added something to the engine bay yesterday and, without an explanation to those who are not gear heads, you would walk away confused. :)

Here are the 2006 Mustang specifications - V6 and V8:


	sohc V61	sohc V82
Size, liters/cu. in.	4.0/245	4.6/281
Horsepower @ rpm.	210 @ 5250	300 @ 5750
Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	240 @ 3500	320 @ 4500
Availability	Standard	Standard
EPA City / highway mpg
5-speed manual	19/28	17/25
5-speed automatic	19/25	17/23
1. Base models. 2. GT models.
Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

This is what I added:

These are badges made by Autobadges.com. I have one on each side of the engine on the valve covers. I'm a little worried that they may not stand up to the engine heat but they seemed to do okay this morning. We'll see how they are after I drive to Irving or Lewisville. :)

Here are some pictures taken after I put them on. Let me know what you think!

- Reba

Side Scoops!!

2010-05-17T16:05:00.001-05:00

Yeah! Bought these today! Susan is so good to me!

05 06 07 08 09 FORD MUSTANG PAINTED GT CS SIDE SCOOPS

I can't wait!!

- Reba

Some early pics of Jeff's work - New Face Lift for the Stampede

2010-05-15T22:07:00.057-05:00

No more rocker panel stripes.... :)

New windshield banner - Different style than previous one...

Rear Window Design... Multiple types of material were used. From the inside I can actually see through the pony tri-bar emblem.

The windshield banner after he finished it... That's Jeff working on the rear window....

Removed the Stampede 351 badges from the front and rear of the car and replaced with these "351" decals.

Combo shot of front bumper number, windshield banner and un-striped sides.

Combo shot of rear window and rear number...

So, what do you think?MORE PICTURES SOON! Have to wash and detail first!- Reba

Working on Trinity

2010-05-14T18:34:00.001-05:00

I'm over at Autograph Sign Shoppe working with Jeff Holland on some of
the ideas and pictures I've sent over. As always the real magic
doesn't begin until you are here with Jeff and his creative juices
start flowing. Already some of my great ideas, and I say that with a
tinge of sarcasm, have become awesome. Of course, knowing Jeff
anything can happen between the time he works with the art on the
computer to when he applies the graphic to the car. Awesome can easily
become brilliant!

Stay tuned.

I want THIS!!!

2010-05-14T16:45:00.000-05:00

I've seen it in person and it looks BADD ASS. I've been researching it and watching the vids on YouTube... and I know that when I keep coming back to something that it means it is on my Hot List... So, I think this is the next big mod to the Mustang. If not, I may wear out my stock shifter!! (Thanks to Sarah for getting me into more "race style" driving!).

-------------------

DESCRIPTION:

New TCI® automatic transmission shifter fits in stock console and hooks up to the OE 5R55S transmission without modification.

The ‘05–’09 Ford Mustang GT is the hottest late model performance vehicle on the market, however the stock shifter has some drawbacks when it comes to serious street/strip performance. The new TCI® StreetFighter® ’05-’09 Ford Mustang Ratchet Shifter provides a positive stop shifting action that allows you to manually “speed shift” the transmission without fear of hanging between gears or missing a gear all together. Best of all, this new shifter also has an equally impressive billet, race-inspired appearance that makes it at home on the track or cruising in town.

The TCI® StreetFighter® Ratchet Shifter is a perfect fit in the ’05-‘09 Ford Mustang console and requires no modifications to your interior or the factory Ford 5R55S transmission. This shifter also utilizes the factory shift cable to further simplify the installation and comes complete with a lighted gear indicator for perfect gear selection.

http://www.compperformancegroupstores.com/store/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=TC&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=619570

New lock pockets from Silverhorse Racing.

2010-05-13T08:12:00.002-05:00

These are the triple chromed lock Pockets from Silver Horse Racing. I went ahead and got these even though the 'redesigned' version isn't out yet. I'm hoping that they work well enough that I will not need to return them and get the newer design...

I took the Mustang up to Audio Tint Depot where we removed the existing Ford Plastic lock pockets and found the quick disconnects that Tyler built into the LED lights. We were then able to remove the RadLites from the plastic pockets and thread them into the chrome ones. With that done we reinstalled them and seated them into the doors. These, as Silver Horse Racing stated, do not fit 100% true to OEM so I used a bit of the plastic trim adhesive to see if I could stabilize them. Since there are no moving parts (door pins) in this install there's no fear of the repetitive movement knocking them free.

The completed project turned out just as wonderfully as I hoped. The RadLites LED's look like they were made for these lock pockets. They sit totally flush and blend beautifully with the pockets. When they are off you barely notice them. At night the chrome amplifies the LED light even though these are bright enough on their own really.

I'll post some pictures soon of the entire door with these installed. Looks sharp.

- Reba

Mother's Day

2010-05-10T13:07:00.004-05:00

The kids got together and cashed in some of their empty dog and cat food cans to buy me a Mother's Day gift. I think Momma Susan helped though because she had to go pick it up....

I now have my very own, and very blue, 2 Ton Jack, jackstands, chocks, and creeper. I know... It was just what I'd been wanting and will come in handy this summer as I get ready for Yellow Rose.

I was VERY EXCITED about being able to take the wheels off of the car to clean them (no more busted up hands) and with them off I can clean the wheel wells too. Again, hard to do with the wheels in place. I haven't had the chance to use them yet but I can't wait!

Thank you Momma Susan, Nicholas, Snoopy, Lil'Bit, Lilo, Haley Alexis, Casey, and Austin. Oh, and I understand that Clyde, Jada, Jazz and Jerry helped too!

I love you!
Reba

New Hawk Brakes! Painted Calipers!

2010-05-06T13:10:00.025-05:00

Hawk brake pads arrived today about 30 minutes after I had dropped the car off at NTB so I walked them down there and had the pleasure of getting to watch as he was machining my rear driver's side rotor. He did say that the rear rotors were also warped... worse than the fronts... o.O

A couple of hours later I picked up the car and on the way back down to my office I ran it around the block making some hard stops from 35-45 MPH and some softer ones (not complete stops) and I can really tell the difference. I'm really pleased with the brakes and with NTB! Good job!

I was talking with Sarah via texting and she said if I brought the car by that she'd paint the calipers... WOOHOO! So, off I went to Sarah and Troy's!!!

They turned out beautifully... Here are the pics of before, during, and after.

Thank you so much Sarah and Troy!! - Reba

--------------------------------------

Well... I had some plans....

2010-05-03T12:56:00.001-05:00

I was looking at fixing some paint/small body dents and also MAYBE upgrading the rims but Trinity has decided that other things are requiring attention first.

I had noticed that on extreme braking (from higher speeds on the highway and track) that the response was diminished and the brakes seemed to almost "grind" a bit. I thought maybe the ABS was kicking in a little too hard at first but my instinct, and experience, with my Mustangs told me not to guess.

Since we had a rain-out on AER Manufacturing's show last Saturday (rescheduled for 5/8/10) I took that opportunity to take her up to Bankston Arlington (prev. Texan) for a complimentary brake inspection. Ends up the front pads are shot, the front rotors are warped and the rear pads are down to 4mm. So... no paint and no rims right now. Baby needs some brakes.

I just bought some ceramic brake pads on American Muscle:

They should be here by Wednesday. I talked with NTB down the street from work and got a quote on installing the pads and turning the rotors - $214.83 - for all four wheels. Total for the whole thing - pads, install, turning the front and rear rotors - $411.92. The dealership wanted $230 just to do the front (pads included) and another $230 for the rear. I'm saving a little bit AND I'm getting upgraded pads. I could save more by having O'Reilly's turn the rotors at $15 each but I have to take them off the car and bring them in to them... not possible when it is your ONLY car. :)

It needs to be done so we'll bite the bullet and get it taken care of before it becomes a larger, more dangerous and more expensive problem. I think I'll check with Sarah about painting the calipers too. :)

- Reba

2010-04-26T22:45:00.000-05:00

Visited with Daniel and Liz Chavez this afternoon. They own a shop in Arlington that does Fabrication, Paint and such (I don't have the card with me at the moment sorry). Tyler recommended them and I needed some idea of what it would cost to fix that bad dent in the rear wheel well, some scratches, and possibly clear coat the car (future project). It also allowed me to determine if I liked them, how they work, their attention to detail, commitment to quality and overall disposition. I left there tonight pleased that I had made that trip. I may not be able to afford to do everything that I want - yes, need even - to do but I know that I have found the shop can help me bring the ideas I have in my heart into wonderful mirror image reality. Stay tuned!

Wow, it has been CRAZY!

2010-04-21T12:38:00.000-05:00

As you know Palestine was cancelled so instead we hung out at Nostalgia Nights in Arlington before the weather came in and brought us, strangely enough, snow. Flash forward to March 26th - Again we headed out to Nostalgia Nights but this time we got there early and it was packed! The weather was perfect and everyone had a good time. Saturday, March 27th, we headed over to North Richland Hills to the Christian Classic Cruiser's show. I'd never been to theirs before. It's a judged show and it really showed me how out of this I was! It was a good night with friends nonetheless topped off with 80's night (LOL) at a bar "around the corner" in Wataga, Texas.

April took off like a rocket with three shows on April 3rd. - Cars and Coffee - Dallas, Freddy's in Frisco, and Monthly Muscle in Plano. The Cars and Coffee had probably over 1000 cars there! There was a Bugatti, some Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Alfa Romeo, Lotus, Tesla... You name the car and it was there. Everyone had coffee, walked around and looked at cars, talked to owners and then went home. It was really cool.

I won my first award of 2010 at Freddy's. :) Lastly the Monthly Muscle show was fun but I was TIRED. :) That's a lot of car shows for one day when you've been out of the circuit for a year. :)

April 10 - North Texas Mustang Club's first Cracker Barrel Cruise of the season and all of Tara, Justin and Vinny's hard work passing out flyers at all these shows paid off. It was PACKED and I picked up my second award of the year.

I still have some minor things I wanted to get done before Yellow Rose which, by the way, I will be in this year provided of course there is room. I understand it is filling up quickly.

I'll keep you updated!

Palestine cancelled... Yet...

2010-03-20T12:14:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the wonderful change in weather the North Texas Mustang Club leaders decided to cancel the road trip to Palestine. I was SO DISAPPOINTED having worked for months to prepare the car for its grand debut back into showing. :) So, not willing to go down without a fight, I suggested to Susan that after dinner we head out to the Friday night show on Little Road. Didn't know at the time that our friend and fellow NTMC Members Tara and Justin were going out there to hand out flyers anyway.

Well, our dinner for two at Pluckers became three and Tara invited Justin who invited Troy & Sarah as well as Annie & Vinny. Party time! After dinner we headed over to the show. It was a light crowd but I think it satisfied that "need to show" feeling for a little while. It also let me see that the time and money spent back in December for the LED's was well invested. We had a steady flow of folks over to check out the Stampede and the light show. I had the underbody lights and engine lights on sound and the interior and trunk on steady. Bass notes would kick the underbody on hard and the treble and mid tones had seven colors beating from under the hood. I had anticipated the lights drawing the younger crowd and the little kids but was surprised to see the adults that came over too. I was so stoked when we headed out for the night. :)

All in all, a good evening! I'm looking forward to the next one!

Recent Changes

2010-03-19T09:23:00.005-05:00

Here are some pictures of the recent changes. I've removed the door lock pins and replaced them with flush mount billet LED's (blue of course) from RadLites LED Lighting that are tied to the factory alarm system. When the key is removed and the factory system displays the Armed status in the cluster the lights in the doors also flash. The key, when inserted and moved to the on position, disables the factory alarm and thus the lights. These guys are BRIGHT at night.

These pictures also show the Kicker Subwoofer in the trunk and the kicker subs in the doors both of which now have the blue piping to set them off.

I've also added the blue piping to the top of the dash and returned it to the sides of the center stack (may not keep it there though). You can also see the new AC knobs, the shifter surround, the shifter handle covers, and etc.

Its all coming together! Scary part is I have a whole laundry list of things I still want to do. Of course very little of it has to do with the interior. :)

- Reba

Putting on the final touches...

2010-03-15T13:31:00.000-05:00

It is almost here... the beginning to the show season - Palestine! The road trip to Palestine, the Dogwood Festival and the car show. There's nothing like 50+ Mustangs cruising down the highway!

We have a couple shows before Palestine but, to me, Palestine is the beginning of the season. This is what I have been working towards and waiting for. When the doctor gave me good news on Thursday, 3/11/10, it was Palestine that I was excited about. I finally get to show my car again!

I've got one item on the way but it may not get here in time. I've got a few more that I'd 'like to have but will have to wait on. I think at this point with the IRS money and Susan's generosity I've dropped a serious amount of cash into the car since December. More than I really want to add up to be honest. I'm already paranoid that someone is going to run into it.

I just added 6 more items. Two of these replaced items I already had. The others were new to the car:

* Action Artistry Auto Shift Bezel - Chrome Smooth
* Artistry Seat Strap Covers - Chrome
* Artistry Seat Release Levers - Chrome
* Artistry AC Knob Covers - Smooth Chrome
* Artistry Mustang A/C Trim Pieces - Smooth Chrome
* Chrome Billet Auto Trans. Handle Shrouds

The fun part was finding my original A/C knobs. Did you know those sell for $36 EACH from Ford? WTH? Anyway, luckily I didn't have to replace them.

She is looking VERY GOOD! New photos will be available soon!

- Reba

Good Progress...

2010-03-12T09:43:00.001-06:00

Yeah! The x-rays from yesterday's appointment showed that there is, in fact, bone growth. This is GREAT news! Of course, I'm nowhere near being completely fused but it is a good sign. Doctor says I can move a bit more, even twist a little, but to remember that I'm still healing. I can increase my activities but I'm still limited quite a bit. That's okay... I can show the car in 2010! I just have to be careful. I'm having to realize, and accept, that this may be how things are for the rest of my life. Even if it does heal completely there's still the chance of another level (disc) being injured or this one being re-injured since it is technically "weaker". The hardware is there to help support it but it can break. Next appointment is in 9 months...

The Big Day

2010-03-11T00:25:00.000-06:00

No, the Big Day isn't about a show or an event. This is the day that I go back to the doctor for a follow up and we see how/if the bone is fusing in my spine. Today is the day I've been waiting for since I woke up 6/8/09 in the recovery room following my surgery... Hopefully it be the end of the "recovery" period, time to relax a bit and begin to enjoy being pain free for the first time in YEARS (as in double digits here).

The appointment is at 4 PM, 3/11/10. PRAY and wish me luck!

- Reba

CHANGES SINCE MY LAST SHOW (May 2009)

2010-02-22T11:06:00.000-06:00

Wow... I just took an inventory of the Mod List and put together a list of everything added since my last show. Impressive. I know that I want the car to reflect the transformation that I feel I've made in my life both physically and spiritually and I think I've accomplished that. Here is the list. I still have some to add to it hopefully before the next show. :)

INTERIOR:
• Chrome Upper Center Button Highlights - Action Artistry
• Chrome Wiper Accents - Action Artistry
• Chrome Side Air Vent Covers - Action Artistry
• Chrome Steering Wheel Accents - Action Artistry
• Chrome Steering Wheel Badge - Action Artistry
• Chrome Radio Button Highlights - Action Artistry
• Chrome Radio Knob Cover - Action Artistry
• Satin Billet Shoulder Belt Mount Accent - Scott Drake
• Satin Billet Windshield Washer Nozzle Covers - Scott Drake)
• Satin Billet Stock Door Lock Pins
• Polished Billet Headlight Knob - Action Artistry
• Polished Billet Lock Switch Covers - UPR
• Blue LED Trunk light (StreetGlow LED Pod)
• LEDGLOW Blue LED Lighting - Interior & Trunk
• Center Console 6-PC Dash Completion Kit - Silver

EXTERIOR:
• Chrome Mustang Taillight Trim- Stack Racing
• Chrome Mustang Third Brake Light Trim - Stack Racing
• Chrome Mustang Quarter Light Trim - Stack Racing
• Chrome Mustang Headlights with CCFL Halo (05-09)
• Chrome Pony Package Upper Billet Grille
• Chrome Billet lower Grille - V6
• OPTX by StreetGlow - Blue LED Lighting - Underbody
• SilverStar Headlights (H13) & Foglights (H11)

ENGINE BAY:
• LEDGLOW 7 Color LED Engine Lighting Kit

AUDIO:
• Shelby Kicker Premium Sound

We've had some record snowfall here lately (9-12 inches) in North Texas and we are expecting some more tonight and tomorrow. I won't be able to get some new pictures for you until the weather turns more Texas Like... which is in the high 50-60's. :) Thanks for stopping by!

- Reba

Install of dash kit pieces...

2010-02-20T13:04:00.002-06:00

Check out some of the pictures of the install Susan and I did yesterday on my Mobile Me Gallery.... The kit is from Silver Horse Racing and is designed to finish off where the Interior Upgrade Package left off...

Looks sharp!

As always... more to come!

- Reba

Recent Upgrades (Slideshow)

2010-02-20T01:50:00.001-06:00

EXCITED!!!

2010-02-18T09:54:00.000-06:00

Heading up to the installer's momentarily... This Shelby Kicker Premium Shaker Upgrade is on the UPS truck for delivery this morning and should (hopefully) be installed today along with some other minor additions... :)

Other items recently added:

Action Artistry steering wheel highlights
Action Artistry steering wheel badge
Action Artistry side mirror knob cover

Photos soon...

- Reba

Side Vent Covers arrived...

2010-02-04T08:58:00.001-06:00

When I last posted I stated I was waiting on two items:

Side Air Vent Covers - Chrome (Action Artistry)
Billet Lock Switch Covers - Polished (UPR)

Yesterday the Side Air Vent Covers arrived from V6MustangStuff.com. The Billet Lock Switch Covers are being drop shipped directly from UPR on behalf of V6MustangStuff. I'm still awaiting an update on those.

Of course, the vent covers were promptly installed. They had the tiniest amount of 3M tape on them and, strangely enough, only on the bottom edge. I found that this really wasn't enough to hold them in place. I applied a very light and thin strip of silicone adhesive to the top and bottom of each and held them in place for about 30 seconds to allow the adhesive to begin to set. Within an hour they were perfect. This morning I tested them and they aren't going anywhere. :)

I took some quick photos with the iPhone for now. When I take some better quality ones I'll post those.

Let me know what you think of these and the other new additions.

- Reba

Transformation...

2010-01-27T11:32:00.009-06:00

The really cool part of the show season ending is the getting ready for next year. Trying to figure out what you want to do next. We all know that modifying these cars, performance wise or cosmetically, is never done. We always have a Wishlist and ideas of really cool things we can do to our cars. Funny thing is watching how competitive we get. How we want to be the first one in our group or club to have thought of something or to have purchased/installed something. :) I am definitely guilty of that one. I get so excited about what I'm doing that I want everyone else to be just as excited. I guess that is why I have this blog. So I can gush my excitement and Mustang devotion to the black hole of the Internet in hope that someone out there will read it and share my obsession.

Having to sit out the 2009 season was very hard... not being able to clean or detail my car made it even worse. I was able to actually hand wash it recently for the first time since June and was so ecstatic. I still have to determine if I can handle the detail work... Detailing these cars for shows can take all day if done right. If it is a really big show like Yellow Rose preparation starts the day after the show ends... Seriously.

Susan and I will be going on the Palestine Road Trip and to the Palestine car show. This will be my, and the Mustang's, first outing since May 2009. I've been working to transform her into something 'different' than everyone remembers from May. I've been transformed during this time and I want the car to reflect that.

I recently posted that I removed the honeycomb panel from the back of the Mustang. This was NOT EASY but was very rewarding when it finally came off. It was one of the first things I added three years ago. I also removed the black tail light trim and the black honeycomb vinyl overlay film from the tail lights. All that black just didn't look right with the chrome, brushed aluminum and blue.

Of course, you know I wouldn't make a move like that without having a plan as to what I wanted to replace it with. Yesterday my order from AmericanMuscle.com came in... a kit consisting of the tail light trim, third light trim and side marker trim - all chrome - made by Stack Racing.

Mustang Taillight Trim - Chrome (Stack Racing)
Mustang Third Brake Light Trim - Chrome (Stack Racing)
Mustang Quarter Light Trim - Chrome (Stack Racing)

More pictures to follow once I actually get the opportunity to take some good ones. I also received the majority of my order from V6MustangStuff.com. :)
There is one item on back order and another being drop shipped directly from UPR Products but the rest arrived yesterday and promptly installed yesterday afternoon.

The following pictures show these items installed...

Upper Center Button Highlights - Chrome (Action Artistry)
Shoulder Belt Mount Accent - Brushed Aluminum (Scott Drake)
Wiper Accents - Chrome (Action Artistry
Windshield Washer Nozzle Covers - Brushed Aluminum (Scott Drake)

I love how the Windshield Washer Nozzle Covers blend into the stripes!! Exactly what I was wanting! To get rid of those black nozzles sticking out of the silver stripes!!

Profile shot... now the headlights blend in with the clear corners, clear side markers, wheels, side stripe, etc.... it just flows...

The items I am waiting for are:

Billet Lock Switch Covers - Polished (UPR)
Side Air Vent Covers - Chrome (Action Artistry)

I have other items on the "to be added list"... Stay tuned!

- Reba

No more honeycomb...

2010-01-24T18:54:00.000-06:00

Decided that the front of the car no longer matched up with the rear honeycomb. The billet grilles, chrome bucket headlights, clear corners and clear side lights just didn't work with the honeycomb panel, black tail light trim and honey comb overlay. So... I remove them today. What do you think?

2010-01-19T14:08:00.000-06:00

On the way home last night I found a little place with a nice background and some good lighting and yet still dark enough to let the blue lights show... and proceeded to take pictures and make a video for YouTube.

Here's a picture and the video:

Pictures as promised...

2010-01-18T17:20:00.001-06:00

Here are some pictures I took this morning. I forgot how good she looked when she is this clean. Enjoy!

Progress!!

2010-01-17T22:28:00.001-06:00

I washed the Mustang today!!! Hand washed it and wiped it down! I even detailed it a bit. Granted, I didn't go all out like I used to, but this is the FIRST TIME I've washed it since the fusion surgery on 6/8/09! I'm not in pain but I will definitely be sore tomorrow.... I can feel that already...

I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow on my way to work if I'm not running behind. :) Good night everyone!

Lower Billet Grille installed!

2010-01-15T19:52:00.007-06:00

Hey out there!

On my last report I didn't quite have that lower billet grille installed... Well, apparently it doesn't work on the Pony Package lower bumper insert. The vendor stated this but the manufacturer said it work work. Silly me, I trusted the manufacturer. Well, we tried to make it work without altering it, the pieces it came with or the car and then put it back in the box and contacted the manufacturer. They were really nice and quick to respond. Pictures were sent and I never heard from them again even though I've sent follow up e-mails.

So... I figured what I needed to make it work was the bumper insert of a Non-Pony Package V6. I almost convinced a friend of mine to trade but he wasn't having anything to do with it. He has an all black mustang with blacked out lights front and rear, GT honeycomb grille, SHR honeycomb tail light panel... you sense a theme? You can't blame a girl for asking right? :) Well, turns out the insert was easy enough to find online and very reasonable. Once I received the insert it didn't take but 5-10 minutes to uninstall my insert and put the new one in place. The grille took a bit longer but I am pleased to report that it is, in fact, installed. Here is an updated picture:

I have a few more things that I want to change... okay, more than a few... but there are some that are on the top of my list for now that I hope will be in place by the time the show season kicks off in earnest. I won't spoil the surprise... :)

Other than that... I'm anxious to get the X-Ray done that will show the state of my fusion... Anxious to get back to being more active... Anxious to start showing my car again....

Thank you everyone who has come by this blog and made the trip from everyday driver in 2006 to Show Car/Daily Driver today. Someday I hope to retire her to "Occasional Driver" status but I have to pay down on her some (a lot) before we get there.

Talk to everyone soon and, if you're NTMC and will be at a local show, I hope to see you there!

------------------------

Here are some more pictures:

Excited to get 2010 started...

2009-12-18T08:51:00.001-06:00

When I first got this car in 2006 I wasn't sure really what I wanted to do with it but I had ideas. One of which was lighting it up but in such a way that it would be unique and "my own". After getting other parts of the car ready and finally entering shows in July 2007 I put this idea on hold. I kept coming back to it and again and again but always putting it on hold...

Well, the planets and stars were finally in the right place I guess. I found what I wanted at a reasonable price and put it on my Christmas Wishlist. Santa Susan got it for me and my talented installer, Tyler, made it a perfect show-quality install. (Honestly folks this is your go-to-guy if you need something done!!)

The interior is a four piece one-color kit, the underbody is a four-piece one-color kit, the engine bay is a four piece seven color kit, and the trunk is actually the wheel well kit minus one... Tyler didn't feel he could hide them well enough in the wheel wells so they were moved to the trunk. There is one extra that will be used in the grill. All are sound sensitive. The headlight housings are new CCFL Halo's, all the front bulbs have been replaced with Sylvania SilverStars, and we have added new Billet Grilles top and bottom to finish out the new look on the front end (although we still have to install the lower one this weekend).

RECENT MODIFICATIONS:

* Blue LED Interior & Trunk Lighting - LEDGLOW
* Blue LED Underbody Lighting - OPTX by StreetGlow
* Headlights (H13) & Fog lights (H11) – Sylvania SilverStars
* Chrome Mustang Headlights (housing) with CCFL Halos (05-09) - Eagle Eyes
* Chrome Pony Package Upper Billet Grille - Stack Racing

* Chrome Lower Billet Grille - Stack Racing (Not installed yet)

* 7 Color LED Engine Lighting Kit – LEDGLOW

There is some tweaking to be completed on the lighting and we have one more item left to complete from "Santa", not counting the lower billet grille, but it will not be completed until after we have settled up with Uncle Sam for the 2009 Tax Year. We're also going over the paint and body for any imperfections that need to be addressed and reviewing other items that should be changed to keep in line with the recent changes we've made.

Now, my follow up appointment with the spine surgeon isn't until March but I am confident I will have a good checkup. I've been very good and extremely careful during my recovery. I have every intention of showing in 2010 whether that is at NTMC shows, local MCA shows or just shows around town but wherever we - Susan and I - show this car we plan on just enjoying the hobby and having fun with the car.

Here are some new pictures for you:

OMG, she's CLEAN again!!!

2009-10-19T11:16:00.004-05:00

It took one very nice power washer, a couple hours, a muscle relaxer and a pain pill but I got my baby washed for the first time since Memorial Day weekend just prior to my surgery. Pictures were taken in the neighbor's driveway... our grass was being mowed and I didn't want the car getting dirty again...

I'll admit that once I had her all cleaned up that the urge to show her started pulling at me again. I can't wait until next Spring. Maybe then I won't need medicine just to detail my car.

Looking hard at replacing some audio pieces... A friend has an X pipe and duals on his V6 which got me to thinking again about putting those on Trinity. Would have to get a GT bumper though... don't want to cut mine.

I can't believe the car is now over 3 years old but just rolled over to 21K miles this weekend. I can't remember ever keeping a car this long. OMG, it's actually out of the standard factory warranty and into the extended warranty now! LOL!

Hmmm.... what else can be done to this car that is "bolt on" and would be easy to remove later when I want to return to stock? Has to be tasteful and classy...

2009 Season...

2009-08-24T12:45:00.003-05:00

The surgery went well and I'm doing good but I am out of the rest of this season meaning I will *not* be showing my car in any shows. Right now my car is DIRTY. The emphasis on dirty is because I can't believe it! I am looking forward to being able to participate in next year's season and, as such, I have been limiting my activities. Today is the beginning of week 12 post-surgery. The incision sites (about 5 inches in front and 5 inches on my back) are healed and the muscle spasms are not as bad but the bone is still in a fragile state. We aren't talking a fracture or break here... we are growing new bone... fusing two parts of my spine together with new bone that my 43 year old body is trying to create. I have to remind myself of that often. I feel good, hell I feel great, but I know that I can screw it up if I am not careful. The bills are coming in now and I can tell you that I'm thanking the LORD that I have my job and my insurance!! We would never have been able to afford the hospital room alone without it. I have been very blessed to have Dr. Scott Wieser on both my surgeries but specifically on this one. Folks, there is no way to make anyone understand the pain of 4 pinched nerves for 3 years, the feeling of bone on bone when you moved and the sharp pain when a nerve got "caught" in the process. No way I could express the pain, frustration, tears, and heartache it took to get to the point where someone finally did the MRI. And during that time... 2006-2009 I've been showing my car because that car has a special connection to my Dad who died in 2006. It is for him that I show it. Next year I'll be able to continue showing the car with my Dad's memory close in heart. I look forward to seeing some of you at the shows next year! Especially Yellow Rose!

New Mods, Pics, and End to 2009 Season?

2009-06-05T23:16:00.025-05:00

Here are some more new pics... Check out the honeycomb tail light pieces with the black tail light trim from http://www.stangmods.com/. Looks sharp with that honeycomb trim between the tail lights (Silver Horse Racing). Thanks goes out to Matt for your quick service and excellence in customer support! Also, today I added the Action Artistry Chrome Radio Button Highlights and Chrome Radio Volume Knob, both were purchased from http://americanmuscle.com/. Install took about 10 minutes total including pictures. :) Lastly are pics of my Stampede tucked under its cover. I may drive it over the weekend but, if not, it will be covered for a while. Monday I have surgery and will be unable to enjoy my Mustang for at least 3 weeks. I'll be off work for 6-8 weeks. My 2009 Show Season has been curtailed. It may not be over, as Donnie reminds me, but it definitely isn't going to be as active as I would like it to be. The May NTMC Cruise was my last this season probably. (Got a First Place though!) We'll see. Susan and I agreed that Yellow Rose would not be a good idea. Even if I am back at work by then I will not be ready to do that type of detail work on my car. Being that this is a spinal fusion it may be awhile before I am 100%. I won't go into all the details but suffice it to say this is major stuff. Oh well, 2009 will be the year to heal and 2010 will be my time to kick ass. Right?

Updated Photos...

2009-05-22T09:57:00.010-05:00

Took some photos on my way into work this morning...

These two were from last night's Show-n-Shine at the NTMC meeting in Irving. That is a Grabber Blue 2010 Mustang GT next to my Stampede. It is the first 2010 in the club and a gorgeous car! The second picture is an updated shot of the engine bay.

It wasn't the lights...

2009-03-17T12:20:00.007-05:00

There really is a problem that causes my battery to fail... and it wasn't my blue lights.

My 2006 Stampede has been having battery issues. The indicator on the battery was red and, to my knowledge, has always been red since I bought it in June of 2006. On Saturday the stereo would turn off when I shifted into Drive from Park or accelerated. Happened on while playing a CD, while playing AM/FM, or if it was playing the iPod through the Harmon Kardon drive+play.

I took it to Best Buy since they installed the Harmon Kardon and had Tyler check the connections but all was well. We found that there was 15 volts going to both the stereo deck and the Harmon Kardon instead of the normal 12 volts. This spiked to 17 volts when I revved the engine. We tested the battery while the engine was running and it was 16.3 volts. We disconnected the battery positive cable with the engine running and the car died. We then reconnected it and tested the alternator. It too was getting 15-16 volts with spikes to 16.8 volts when I revved the engine. After some discussion Tyler and I agreed it was best to disconnect anything that was not covered by the Ford warranty just in case the higher than normal voltage causes a problem before I got it serviced.

I called and made an appointment with Bankstston (Texan) Ford for Monday, 3/16/09. It was determined that the voltage regulator had gone out on the alternator. Bankston tested the battery prior to replacing the alternator and then tested it again afterwards. They decided it was too damaged and went ahead and replaced it as well.

This apparently happened some time ago and consequently the battery was slowly being damaged. This explains why I couldn't leave the lights or accessories on for more than a few minutes without the battery dying. The iPod player, the Harmon Kardon drive+play, doesn't place a large load on the electrical system. The stock stereo system is the Shaker 500 so the electrical components should be designed to handle that. The addition of the speaker box in the trunk without adding an amp did put a bit more stress on the stock amps but not enough cause this. In other words, I didn't have enough electrical modifications to have explained this.

The car will technically be three years old later this month (built 3/30/06)... so the logical conclusion would be that it was just time for it to go out. However, I know that the battery has had issues since I've had the car. The battery indicator light has always been red, the fuel gauge has freaked out several times and they replaced the whole console as well as the brain unit. (I actually had daytime running lights for a day!) My gas milage as been crap... far worse than it should be. I've had many mornings where it the starter stuttered before starting. For the last several weeks my GPS system has been sending me "Cut Battery Cable" alarms. Lots of little things that now have gone away. Suddenly at 1/4 of a tank I have 104 miles to E? Finally!!

I am very pleased with the service that I received at Texan (I just can't call them Bankston!). Everything was covered by my warranty and, since it was due, they even asked for permission to send it over to the Quick Service Lane for the oil change (part of my extended warranty). I had the car in to them at 8 and back to me by the time I got off work at 5:30 PM. The coolest part is you can't tell they worked on it. There is NO oil, dirt, fingerprints or anything on that engine bay or on the alternator. They topped off all my fluids and all my caps are lined up properly just as I left them and still polished. Kudos Texan!

Today the Stampede is at National Tire and Battery (NTB) for it's tire rotation, balance, and alignment. Later this week I'll head back over to Best Buy so that Tyler can reconnect the iPod player.... again, under warranty... so that it will be ready for Palestine!!

Installed!! Check out the pictures!!

2009-02-06T10:52:00.003-06:00

Here is the install of new coil and spark plug wires... Yup, did it myself! Well, Susan was my assistant and photographer! Next... replacing the spark plugs and opening them up to 0.065". The looms are cool! I had to go buy the tools needed to install them but, hey, who doesn't need more tools? Anyway, they came the day after I installed the wires so the first set of pictures show them held with zip ties and the bottom ones show the billet looms. Enjoy!

Been Shopping...

2009-02-03T09:18:00.016-06:00

My Mom and Dad taught me that the best way to make a decision on something was to sleep on it... well, I've been looking at the Screamin' Demon Coil and Livewires for a long time (in blue) of course and kept putting them off. I finally gave up and bought them. I guess if I kept coming back to them then Mom and Dad was right. Now, I realize that whatever performance gains I may get from these will be nominal at best but as this site will attest to, the Stampede has been more about Show than Speed. The coil and the wires should be here today per the tracking number provided by site owner Don Tate. (A nice guy to do business with by the way!) I also picked up the Livewire looms which should be here tomorrow. These are made of billet and should accomodate the nearly 1/2 inch size of each wire... a feat the stock looms could not handle. The weather was nice this weekend so I cleaned the car up and went through my supplies. I had to touch up a couple rock chips and noted my touch up paint bottle has a broken lid... So I found a few things to play with so that the paint wouldn't go to waste. I'd been wanting to do this all along but had been hesitant on messing it up. They turned out ok. (Pictures to follow.) Guess I'll have to pick up some more paint before next show season starts. :) Here are pictures from the V6MustangStuff site of the coil, wires and looms. Be sure to check out that site for the description and prices: Now, this morning I took some pictures of what the engine bay looks like now along with some of my painting handiwork. Donnie should be proud. :) (I wish AirRaid put out a blue throttle body spacer!)

More pics to follow once this is all installed. :)

- Reba

Love of my life...

2008-11-21T10:02:00.005-06:00

Back while we were all still waiting to see the 2010 Mustang I entered an essay into the Mustang story portion of the promotion. Of course I did not win (sigh) but this was what I sent in. It is corny but I liked it. :) Wednesday, October 08, 2008 1:02 PM "What would you like for your birthday dear?" I smile… More Mustang parts! You see, I'm not the average girl... dinner, movies and jewelry are nice but they just don't thrill me like the sound of my Mustang first thing in the morning. Luckily the love of my life doesn't mind that I have a human life partner. The love affair began when I opened the door to my best friend's garage at the age of 15 and there, unmolested, was her 1966 Mustang that her parents bought for her shortly after her birth in June 1966. I would sit in that beautiful car, smell the leather, examine every detail, and imagine a day when I would drive a Mustang as wondrous as this. Twenty one years later my dream became a reality as I drove my 2002 GT Convertible off the lot. This was followed by a 2004 40th Anniversary Edition Coupe and lastly by my 2006 Stampede Edition Mustang (#351 of 500). No other car has such a rich heritage, lasting legacy, and promising future as the Mustang. Its one car I remember as a kid, love as an adult, and will remember fondly when I pass it on to the next generation. The Mustang is one American Icon that will not fade with time. Now, speaking of the 2010 Mustang have you seen it? Pretty impressive! The first thing I was thinking was... "I wonder if they will put out any regional specials?" :) I'm sure if they do that the Texas/Oklahoma and California Markets will not be included. They took care of those with the 2005 & 2006 regionals. Of course, I could be wrong. The 45th Anniversary Edition, limited to 4500, was already announced. Hopefully this time they won't put the 45th badge on ALL 2010 cars like they did the 2004 40th Anniversary ones... Ever try explaining your 40th Anniversary Edition Mustang to someone with a 2004 40th Anniversary Mustang which, of cource, has a 40th Anniversary badge? They all think they have a "40th Anniversary Edition" when, in fact, that was a special package available in only 3 colors with specific options... only 5700 created and over 4000 of those were Crimson Red - A color that only exists for that special. The other two colors are Black and White. Ok, don't get me going on that. Back to the 2010... From what I've seen at the reveal event on Monday, on the website, the order guide, and the photos it appears that Ford designers spent some time at the local Mustang Club car shows. They paid attention to what we customized on our cars, what we liked and enhanced and what we added to it to make it better. Reading the order guide I see all these standard items that were aftermarket for the S197 crowd (is 2010 still S197?). If my car wasn't 1) rare 2) my baby and 3) owned by the bank I might actually consider an upgrade. Its nice to look though. :) The Grabber Blue and Kona Blue were awesome!! I can't wait to see what they will have done by the time the Stampede is paid off and in storage (not sold!).

Its been awhile!!

2008-11-18T06:28:00.000-06:00

Yellow Rose was a smashing success. Our little trio took Most Unique Display and all three of us earned Class Awards. Not bad at all. We had a blast! We did a Red, White and Blue theme as the "Patriotic Ponies" honoring our those who have served/are serving our country. Susan's "USA PNY" was the centerpiece of our display. Each of us had an individualized show poster describing our car and then at each corner and at the center posts were pictures of all three cars together with a description of our display and what we were doing (Honoring our troops). We also had a slideshow (with patriotic songs) of soldiers playing - some of which were family members of our club members including my Dad and my niece. We had giveaways and candy and red, white, and blue mardi gras beads. It was really fun.

Its been a busy busy show season. I participated in 18 Shows this season and earned 6 Class Awards, 3 Class Winners/First Place, 1 Director's Choice and the Most Unique Display honor. I started showing half-way through the 2007 season and completed 12 shows earning 5 Class Awards, 2 Class Winner/First Place and one Participant Choice Award.

Christmas is around the corner and I can't think of anything I want for the Stampede... Well, maybe some new leather covers for the seats but that's out of the $$$ range. Future thoughts may include a GT bumper and duals. My friend Donnie has a muffle delete that sounds sick on his Mustang! I keep imagining that times two! Other than that, I may have someone look at the suspension parts and tell me if they are V6 or V8. I don't think they are V6. The car is lower than Susan's V6 (I've measured it thank you!). The ride and handling are totally different. I realize I have traction control and she doesn't but I can turn that off and it doesn't change the fact that it just sticks to the road. We have the same wheels, same tires, same swaybars (?), same suspension (?)... I have ABS and traction control... but this thing corners like my old 2002 GT only better. Seriously. If you are a NTMC member and know me personally I'll let you drive it and see for yourself. Something is different in this Stampede package...

Stampede ID Plate, AC Port Caps, and...

2008-07-29T16:47:00.010-05:00

I had an ID plate made for Trinity (it took awhile to design and find someone to actually print it) but it is done and installed. I also found some awesome AC Port Caps by NDZ Perfomance.com. I got the ones in blue (surprise) and Susan got silver ones to match her new Scott Drake satin billet engine caps. :) Here are pics of the new ID plate and the AC Caps:

Also, a friend recently gave me a dealership Hero Card for the Stampede which I used to make a 20x30 Poster for my display at Yellow Rose:

More later!!! I have to run to catch a movie with my sweetie!

Rare Pony: 2006 Mustang Stampede Edition: North Texas Mustang Club - Cracker Barrel Lewisville Tx Photo #4#links

2008-07-02T11:05:00.000-05:00

http://www.flickr.com/people/racphotography/

North Texas Mustang Club - Cracker Barrel Lewisville Tx Photo #4

2008-06-29T17:48:00.001-05:00

North Texas Mustang Club - Cracker Barrel Lewisville Tx Photo #4, originally uploaded by SouthEast Dallas Photographer.

Look what I found on Flickr... My little Stampede next to Jason's #235. An awesome sight!

Yellow Rose Classic

2008-05-09T09:26:00.002-05:00

It is official - Stampede #351/500 is registered for this year's Yellow Rose Classic in August! I wrote the check out last night and handed it over to the show chairman in person at the NTMC Board Meeting. We are at 92 days and counting... So much left to do!!! Anyone want to sponsor a showcar?? :)

Defining Light Photo makes an appearance...

2008-04-07T14:57:00.004-05:00

Check out the June issue of Mustang Enthusiast (out now) for a Midwest Auto Gear ad. There is a Black GT with red flames in the ad that belongs to Bentley Palez. The picture of his car is one that I took along with some others off to the side there. There is a "photos by Defining Light Photography" reference as well. To see those photos in full size go here: Bentley & Donnie's Photo Shoot.

It really doesn't end does it???

2008-04-05T22:54:00.003-05:00

And thank goodness it doesn't!! Cause I'm having a blast with this car! Here's the changes I'm about to make. These items have just been purchased and will soon be en route to me. JUST PURCHASED - APRIL 2008

Mustang Underhood Stainless Steel Hardware Set
Mustang headlight knob cover - Chrome
Mustang automatic shift handle trim - Brushed Aluminum Billet
Mustang seat adjustment switch cover - Brushed Aluminum Billet
Mustang seat lumbar switch cover - Brushed Aluminum Billet
Theft Deterrent Valve Stem Covers - Pony Tribar

I'll keep you updated! In the meantime, I'll update my MODS list shown further down this page.

New Airbrushed Plenum!!!

2008-04-03T09:24:00.016-05:00

Cover by Midwest Auto Gear, custom paint and airbrush art by MadMic at Unique Automotive Designs. They also did my grille pony. Looks sweet! Speaking of, here is the grille pony they did for Susan's Mustang... Talk about a custom job. He did this one over and over until it was "just right". Her Stars and Stripes pony was fading out and looking kinda bad. I'm glad we finally got her into a MadMic pony!

First Show... 2008 Season Kicks Off!

2008-03-04T11:43:00.017-06:00

Saturday, March 8th, at Grand Prairie Ford in Grand Prairie, TX the Mustang Club of America Board of Directors will be meeting and North Texas Mustang Club (NTMC) will be showing our cars in a dealer display from 9 AM to 3 PM. This will the first "show" of the season for the Stampede. This will be followed by the show in Palestine, TX on 3/22/08 and then our first cruise at Cracker Barrell (Lewisville, TX) on 4/12/08. Full NTMC calendar can be found at http://ntmc.org

2008 Show Season changes have been started (they are never "done"!). The plenum is en route from the talented hands of Mickey and his wife Michelle over at Unique Automotive Designs (aka Madmics). I know it hasn't been that long but the USPS seems to be taking FOREVER to get it here. :D Pictures will be posted! That is the crown jewel in the recent changes... Other pieces recently added:

Retention Rod, Chrome Plated 22"
MRT Hood Struts
Satin Billet Door Sill Accent Pieces
Radiator Extensions - Vista Blue Metallic
Radiator Cover - Vista Blue Metallic
Fuse Box Cover - Vista Blue Metallic (with added Chrome Pony)
MUSTANG Sill Plates Letter Inserts - reflective blue
Door Sill Accent Stripe Insert (1 per side)- reflective blue
Dark Tinted Tail Lights (20%)
Mirror Chrome (acrylic) accents & Blue Pony on Door Speakers
Mirror Chrome (acrylic) accents on door reflector bezel
Mirror Chrome (acrylic) accents on map lights
Blue tire valve covers
More Blue piping on dash

Removed:

1968 Mustang Script Emblems from sides

Even as I was working on these items I found a few more that I wanted to do and then there were others from my list that did not get done. Of course, my list is rather fluid and it changes as things are added. All changes are "bolt on" or items that can be easily removed at a later date when it is restored to original.

Oh... and I just turned over to 11K miles last weekend... She will be officially two on 3/30/08 (build date) but I will have had her two years in June. :D

(Check out updated pics on my CarDomain site!! http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2874230/4)

Some updated pics...

2008-01-27T17:58:00.000-06:00

Not too recent but more updated than what I have here...

Yellow Rose Classic - 8/11/-8/12/2007

Added Blue Piping

Labor Day - 2007

Added a personal touch to my Grand Design Mat - trunk mat:

And lastly... here is a little video.... just for fun!

Blue LED map lights from my friend Donnie last August for my birthday along with the new blue H11 & H13 bulbs in the headlights, blue ShowLenses, blue neon on the subwoofer enclosure in the trunk, and the sequential tail lights in action.

Getting ready for Show Season...

2008-01-27T10:42:00.000-06:00

New items on the wishlist...

Retention Rod, Chrome Plated 30"
Retention Rod, Tote Bag 30"
HOOD STRUTS,05-07,ALL,KIT
SPARK PLUG WIRES,JBA,05-06,V6,9MM,BLUE
DOME LIGHT ACCENTS,ALUM,05-07,MUSTANG**
DOOR SILL PLATE ACCENT BARS,05-07,6 BARS
DOOR SILL PLATE,05-08,STAINLESS,PR,CDC
Radiator Extensions (Blue, Vista) - 60G9
Radiator Covers (Blue, Vista) - 55G9
Plenum Cover (V6), PLNMBSC17
2005 Ford Mustang Custom Carpeted Floor Mats With Logo, 2 PC, Gray, Pony.
Headrest embroidery (custom)
Floor Mat embroidery (custom)
StreetGlow - Interior/Exterior
Optima Blue Top Battery
And a lot more...

These are all just ideas at this point. You should all know by now that I like to fully research and "think it out" before I spend the money. It if doesn't meet the theme or the project intital goals then I toss that idea and move on. I'll let you know if any of these come to pass. :)

The 2008 Show Season will be great!

New Pedals... Installed!

2008-01-09T15:00:00.001-06:00

The new pedals arrived yesterday and I was very (pleasantly) surprised to find an additional pedal in with the auto transmission set that I had purchased.

Remember, when I originally posted about these I mentioned that I passed on the ones with the pony due to the fact that the pony on the auto transmission set was facing right? Well... Brian at SRP Racing read my blog and decided to surprise me.

As a special treat he included an extra brake pedal for the auto transmission with the pony facing left!! Yeah!

Needless to say, the plain one was not installed!

I managed to get through the rest of the work day and even to 6 PM before heading over to my friend Donnie's house. I'd like to say we installed them but Donnie did all the work. Something about "You don't want to watch..."... as he drilled into the metal of the brake pedal.

Here are some pictures of Donnie installing the pedals:

And the finished product:

This weekend I'll get an updated shot of the interior with all the billet and these beautiful new satin billet pedals.

Thank you Brian for a quality product that performs as well as it looks and for your excellent customer service! I'll be recommending you to all my fellow Mustang owners!

2005+ Hood Blanket...

2008-01-07T08:33:00.000-06:00

The hood blanket on my Mustang is something that I'd like to remove but I'm unsure as to how that would affect the car. The Stampede's stripes are vinyl and excess heat could damage them... An alternative would be this: http://www.wmsracing.com/pgi-ProductSpec?WMS-SHB05M But other than the cool pony in the center I'm not sure if I'd actually be gaining anything asthetically. The stock blanket is a fiber content (?) and this is ABS Plastic. It appears to be more gray than black. Can it be polished (Armor All)? Not sure I want to spend $80 to find out... I'll have to find someone who has this...

Christmas...

2007-12-30T02:03:00.000-06:00

JUST ORDERED: SRP Racing's Classic Race Pedals - Satin Billet These are the Manual Transmission pedals in Satin Finish. They also come in Machined and other textures as well. These are plain but you can also get them with the GT logo, the Pony, and the Cobra. I didn't get the Pony because on the Auto Transmission version the Pony is facing the Right instead of the Left. I'm finicky that way... SRP Racing http://www.srpracing.com/cat_2005_mustang.cfm ADDED TO THE WISHLIST:

JBA PowerCables - 9mm Blue - Spark Plug Cables
Scott Drake Door Sill Plate Accent Bars - Brushed Aluminium
Scott Drake Dome Light Accents (for Active Alarm), Brushed Aluminium MRT Hood Struts

The above wishlist items are from Dallas Mustang: http://dallasmustang.com/. Dallas Mustang and Laurel Mountain Mustang (http://laurelmountainmustang.com/) are the ones who helped me get all the Scott Drake Billet cap pieces for under the hood just in time for Yellow Rose. (Thanks Guys! ) Oh, and the rest of the Christmas $$$??... I have a snazzy new Ality Pixxa 8-Inch LCD Photo Frame (with 512MB Memory) for my office that does photos, movies, and music... I have it programmed now to show different photos during the day each work week. It's cool to open my office door every morning and see my baby there. :) Every hour it changes then at 5 PM it displays the clock... Time to go home!! I also picked up some kick-A earphones for my iPod. The earphones are by V-moda and are called Vibe. These little in-ear phones pack some serious bass and awesome sound!!! I had been looking for some replacement phones and didn't want to buy Bose just on the brand's reputation alone. I had done some research on V-Moda and decided to try them out. I was very impressed. I wanted a set of phones that could handle the bass in the Hip-Hop, Rap, and R&B that I listen to but also handle the complex mixing of the Trance, D&B, and Electronic. I needed an expansive sound stage with excellent response on the mids and highs as well. Still, comfort was essential. The phones that come with the iPod leave a lot to be desired. Anyway, these ROCK! They are VERY comfortable, I hardly know they are even there. The cord is a bit too long but that's ok. Both the frame and the earphones are from Sharper Image. I have four new CD's on their way. Three of these are ones I've owned, loved, but somehow misplaced. BT's ESCM, Digweed's MMII, and Kosheen's Resist. LOL! You have to love Trance/D&B to appreciate those names/titles. The fourth is TQ's second album, The Second Coming, which was never released in the USA. Susan and I have both been wanting to get that for a long time... His new album is due out in February. If you don't know who TQ is check out his website http://www.thugpoetry.com/. (NOTE: This is a R&B/Rap/Urban artist.) I also managed to add yet ANOTHER pair of Converse All Stars to my collection. I think this makes 31 now. :) So, all in all, my Christmas gifts to myself have been very nice. Not much for the Mustang... But reviewing my mod list and taking in account that this is a special there really isn't a whole lot more I can do. I'm sure there are more cosmetic things I can do to the engine maybe... even change a few more things on the interior... but if we get too carried away we go from classy to rice and unless it's on a plate I don't do Rice. One last thing, my sweetie bought the most beautiful necklace for me for Christmas. It is the infinity symbol and half of it is in diamonds. I'd seen it in an advertisment before Christmas and remarked on how much I liked it... She remembered. She is the best. :) Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Year!! Reba

Christmas is coming...

2007-11-26T14:23:00.000-06:00

That means $$$ for car stuff, camera stuff, or just 'whatever' stuff.... so it's time to figure out what in the world I want to spend it on. :)

"STAMPEDE 351" Badges...

2007-09-26T16:17:00.000-05:00

While at the Yellow Rose Classic back in August I ran into a guy from a company called "On in 60 Seconds" who made some "STAMPEDE 351" badges for my car. All Stampedes have the interior badges but nothing on the exterior of the car to identify it as "Stampede XXX" in the 500 released.

I removed the "351" plates I had on the left front bumper and left rear trunk lid deck and put these in their place. They look sharp and quickly identify the car as a Stampede. On in 60 Seconds is interested in making these badges for all of the Stampedes as well as the CE's.

Here are the pictures of mine:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
On in 60 Seconds: http://www.onin60.com/store/home.php

Quick Change Console Plates #16201
High impact plastic and lots of designs to choose from! (Custom Order: Stampede XXX - XXX = your car number)
Price: $12.95 EA Badge

New Subwoofer enclosure...

2007-08-28T12:05:00.000-05:00

Dealer Info/Order Sheet - Stampede Edition Mustang

2007-08-05T10:31:00.000-05:00

WTF is Nissan thinking??

2007-08-02T11:11:00.000-05:00

2007 Nissan Develops Pop-Up Hood to Reduce Pedestrian Injury NISSAN REVEALS NEW "POP-UP ENGINE HOOD" SAFETY TECHNOLOGY Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has developed an innovative “pop-up engine hood” to help reduce head impact injuries in the event of a pedestrian collision. The new safety feature will debut on the new Skyline coupe, set for release this fall in Japan. The concept of the pop-up hood is based on a very simple principle: to help minimize serious head injury by creating more space to avoid collision with hard objects. In the case of a car-pedestrian collision, the engine hood is designed to pop-up instantly to help create a protective buffer space between the hood and the engine components underneath. Upon impact with a pedestrian and based on the severity of that impact, a sensor incorporated in the bumper activates the pop-up control-unit which in turn will trigger an explosive actuator that raises the hood. The pop-up hood also allows car designers greater freedom in having to balance the aesthetic of a streamlined hood design with the safety benefits of adding more protective space over the engine components. On a global level, Nissan is committed to build safer vehicles equipped with advanced safety technologies. In Japan, the company’s safety vision is to halve the number of traffic fatalities or serious injuries involving Nissan vehicles by 2015 compared with the level in 1995. Nissan Tokyo, Japan Status: not an ad Type: car, ARTICLE, PRESS PHOTOS ONLY, NEWS FACTORY ----------------------------------- My Opinion: Is it just me, or isn't "Safety" supposed to be about NOT hitting the Pedestrian? Or anything else for that matter? Why not work on the engine and braking system so that the driver can avoid hitting someone walking or standing in their path? Give me a sensor that detects stupidity ahead and applies the brakes... I'd buy that!

Birthday Toys!!

2007-07-25T14:19:00.000-05:00

My birthday is just around the corner and before it gets here I'll (hopefully) be showing Trinity at the Yellow Rose Classic in Fort Worth. So... in preparation I'm adding the following to my engine bay which, up to now, has been negelected... • Shock Tower Covers – Vista Blue Metallic • Radiator Cover Extensions – Molded Black • Fuse Box Cover, Brushed Aluminum • Brake M/C Cap, Brushed Aluminum • Windshield Washer Reservoir Cap, Brushed Aluminum • Power Steering Pump Reservoir Cap, Brushed Aluminum • Oil Filler Cap, Brushed Aluminum • Oil Dip Stick Handle, Brushed Aluminum • Radiator Cap Cover, Brushed Aluminum • Hood Prop, Stainless Steel I still have CAI (AirRaid), a Plenum cover, and a matching set of fuel rail covers on the list. Oh, and don't forget the new muffler (Donnie?). Audio will be limited to the addition (maybe) of a box and amp. I want it to look good for shows but I don't want to negate the collectibility of my Stampede. Speaking of that... my car won its first trophy last Saturday (7/21/07) at the NTMC Payton-Wright Ford Display. We got 1st Place Participant's Choice!! Wow was I surprised! Pictures from NTMC events can be found here: http://defininglight.smugmug.com/share/yJ8BM5B98nFTs More Later! -Reba

I love summer!

2007-07-15T17:13:00.000-05:00

To start the summer off well, Mustang Club of America (MCA) used my photos from the OK Centennial National in Mustang, OK show in the June 2007 Mustang Times magazine (http://mustang.org). They also featured one of my photos as the cover!! Then I submitted an article and photographs to the editor and they were published in the July 2007 Mustang Times! (Page 32 - centerfold) My first magazine! Trinity's show debut was the North Texas Mustang Club (NTMC) display at Middlekauff Ford in Plano, TX on 07/07/07. It was a good show with plenty of cars showing up and, thankfully, the rain stayed away. Just seeing how everyone set up, what they had prepared on their cars, and hanging out gave me more of an idea of how this whole "show" thing worked. Susan and I had attended the June NTMC Meeting and while there I signed up for four displays (7th, 21st, 28th, and August 18th.) We also learned more about the Cruise Nights and other events like the Yellow Rose Classic. The Cracker Barrel Cruise Nights are held the 2nd Saturday each month (unless another event is on the same day). Yesterday Susan and I attended the NTMC Cracker Barrel Cruise Night in Lewisville, TX for the first time and entered Trinity. I got up at 5:30 AM and started working on the car getting it ready. I was at the car wash for hours detailing the interior, trunk and engine. Then it was off to Michael's to get what I needed to complete my display. (My display from 7/7/07 had to be replaced after the glass broke in Plano as I packed up to leave.) With that done, lunch taken care of, and everything packed it was time to shower, get ready, and complete a final wipe down. We arrived 5-10 minutes early to a packed show field but managed to get a spot close to the front. We discovered later why everyone got there so early and parked on the other side... We were facing west and the sun was HOT! Next month, we're getting there EARLY! All in all we had about 75 cars entered into the 13 Classes. It was one of their largest turn outs. Judging started at 7:30 PM and the judges were the 75 participants... Susan and I had a great time walking around and picking our favorites. My Class ws the 05-07 Mustangs and of the 13 entries I was car 4. Three "Class Awards" and one "First Place" were given in each class. I won an award in the 05-07 Mustang Class! I was really not expecting that!! Thanks everyone! PICTURES!!

Some more photoshop magic...

2007-06-11T10:24:00.000-05:00

Update on Susan's Car...

2007-05-27T19:47:00.000-05:00

New Clear Corners, clear rear reflectors, painted mirror covers, stealth bulbs (for clear corners), red bulbs (for rear markers), and new tags!!

PRIDE was taken so Liberty was the second choice. Baby said she'll keep trying for Pride but I think it looks good either way!

Baby bought me a trunk mat!

2007-05-27T19:41:00.001-05:00

5/7/07 UPDATE

2007-05-08T16:17:00.000-05:00

Recent changes: Polished Billet Headlight Bezel...

and GT Rocker Panels - Added 5/7/07.

Here's a better shot of the Mirror covers:

And the recently added Side Mirror Adjustment Bezel:

Here is the dash with all of the billet installed... You can even see the Harmon Kardon Drive+Play display on the Map Light area by the rear view mirror:

Airbrushed Grille Pony:

1968 Mustang Script emblem (front fenders, decklid and dash):

Front view with Showlenses:

And, finally, the updated side profile shot with rockers:

My how time flies!

2007-04-13T03:32:00.000-05:00

Quick update...

The last editions to Trinity were Painted Mirror Covers and MGW's Seat Lever covers that match my 12v Power Point in the dash. Both were received and installed on 2/22/2007.

The interior is almost complete - there are only two more pieces of billet that I want to add and one of those is already en route. :) I'll post new pics when its installed.

Susan's Pony debut...

When I last posted we had just had the windows tinted and added her quarter window louvers... Well, her 2007 Pony looks like a whole new car! She saved everything in a box and had it all done at once. AUTOGRAPH SIGN SHOPPE did the work and removed the factory side stripe.

Jeff did a beautiful job of taking her concept and creating exactly what she wanted! She LOVES this car, it makes her happy, and that makes me VERY happy! Here a shot of both cars together...

Well, have a great day and I'll post more soon!

BTW - Be sure to stop by the Stampede Mustang Registry for a bit. StampedeStunner's got a great video of his black Stampede you are sure to enjoy... Plenty of pictures from our members... BlueStampede has modded his Stampede with a Roush flair... If you see a Stampede, or know someone that owns one, send them on over to the registry! Its free!

Updated Pictures....

2007-02-19T21:57:00.000-06:00

Washed and detailed... with new clear corners and clear rear reflectors from Stang Mods.com:

Rear Reflectors installed...

2007-02-17T00:01:00.000-06:00

As previously reported I had ordered bulbs for the rear reflectors that would allow me to use these and yet still remain street legal here in TX. So on Wednesday, 2/14/07, my shipment of red bulbs (2 pair) and blue bulbs (1 pair for show use) arrived from Street Beat Customs. Once installed it worked perfectly. When off they are clear. When on, especially at night, they emit a red light. Here are pics of them I took today (off) and tonight (on).

The clear corners and rear reflectors (with stealth bulbs sold separately) can be located on StangMods.com at this link: http://www.stangmods.com/Mustang-Clear-Turn-Signal-Lenses-Side-Markers-s/156.htm

The bulbs I used in the rear reflectors (5W 194) can be located on StreetBeatCustoms.com at this link: http://www.streetbeatcustoms.com/tuc194.html

Early this morning I placed an order for the 2005+ Mustang Painted Mirror Covers (Vista Blue) that I've had my eye on for awhile (www.mustangtuning.com) and also the seat lever covers from MGW (www.mgwltd.com) that match my 12v Power Outlet plug. I should have these in by the middle of next week... I'll keep you posted on those items when they arrive.

Tomorrow is the big day for Pride, our 2007 Mustang I've mentioned here before. Tomorrow PRIDE goes to Autograph to have the black rocker stripes removed, then her lemans stripes, side graphics and her MUSTANG emblems will be added. Previously I reported that her louvers and tint were recent additons and there's a shopping list of other add-ons that keeps growing. I will keep you updated on the PRIDE project as it progresses!

And, with that, I say goodnight! It will be a very busy day tomorrow!! :)

Clear Corners installed...and more!

2007-02-13T11:00:00.000-06:00

Also have the billet emergency brake piece installed. It really looks good with the rest of the dash.

I have some bulbs on order for the clear reflectors I purchased. The bulbs will give the red glow needed to meet TX State requirements. Right now if I put them on all that I have is pure white light on the sides. I may not get pulled over for it but I'd rather not risk it.

I had wanted to tint the headlights and clear corners blue and even attempted it without much success. Then I talked with Glacier, the shop that tinted my windows, who advised that it would only come off later, and of course would get me a ticket... so I opted for the clear/chrome look instead. I'll just have to get the blue-white lights instead. :)

We've started working on Pride, my honey's Mustang. The antenna was changed out to a 6 inch black shorty antenna, we've bought the side graphics, planned the stripes, bought the emblems, tinted the windows (2/12/07), and installed her louvers. She also has the billet 12v power outlet Pony from MGW like I do. We'll keep you up to date on that project. For now, here is a pic taken yesterday:

New sequential tail lights installed

2007-02-07T22:31:00.000-06:00

Received and installed the sequential tail light harnesses today!!! Here's a video of how smooth they work!! I also received the clear corners and the rear reflectors (clear). Installing the clear corners looks difficult. The rear reflectors were easy but I noted that I only orded 2 sets of lights and it ends up that they will both be used by the clear corners set... Looks like I need to buy more bulbs. In testing it appears that only white light is showing from the markers... According to the Texas DL book these must be Red. Bummer. E-Brake billet item should be here tomorrow. Yeah! Time for bed! Reba

How to spend $500 in a blink of an eye...

2007-02-02T09:18:00.000-06:00

All you need is a Mustang... :) Bought today with IRS Refund (yes, we already have it in the bank!):

Clear Rear Side Marker Lenses for all 05-07 (sold in pairs) - http://stangmods.com
Clear Turn Signal Lens for 05-07 (sold in pairs)- http://stangmods.com
Concealment (194) Bulbs (sold in pairs)- http://stangmods.com
Concealment (3157) Turn Signal Bulbs for all 90-07 (sold in pairs) - http://stangmods.com
Sequential Tail-lights (plug in harnesses) - http://showlenses.com
2 pairs of showlenses (blue) - http://showlenses.com
MGW Ltd. E-Brake handle (satin billet) - http://www.mgwltd.com

And I still had $4.22 left over. (LOL!)

Oh, and we are also paying off multiple credit cards, a loan, $500 to the parents (just because) and $500 to BabyGirl for her Mustang. I love tax time!!

More later!

I am so over winter...

2007-01-31T09:27:00.000-06:00

For all my efforts on Saturday I ended up not feeling well Sunday, cancelled our trip to the Movie Studio Grill (just opened here) and stayed home hoping to stave it off. No such luck as Monday morning it only got worse and I called in to work and slept all day. Now this morning I am leaving for work and it is SLEETING! Yesterday the sun was out and it was chilly (40-50 degrees) but beautiful. All of a sudden we're back to this crap. Sometimes I really do not like Texas weather. Tuesday I ordered the louvers for PRIDE, our Performance White 2007 Mustang Coupe. There's this box in on Susan's desk with all her stuff that she's bought for the car that she hasn't been able to put on since we've been having this cold weather... She's excited about the louvers... Me too! I love the way they looked on the simulator. The thing I love most of all is now Susan's fully sharing my Mustang addiction and, along with our photography and other interests, its really awesome to share all the things you love in life with The One, ya know? Now, if I could only get her to love Converse All-Stars like I do... LOL! I've been hanging out on MyMustangSite.com lately. Think MySpace but where everyone is a Mustang fan/enthusiast/owner. Its really cool. You should check it out! Well, got to run for now!

2007-01-28T16:09:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I washed, then applied two coats of Mequiars wax to Trinity then finished with Mequiars Detailing Spray to get any excess wax and add extra gloss. I still need to get some Zainos or Mequiars clay bars and pull the gunk out of the paint but it is a start.

I also vacuumed out the carpet (1st time ever - very clean car so far) and used Mequiars Interior Mist and Wipe cleaner and Leather cleaner as well. I opted not to put the Mequiars Tire Gel on this week due to the way it flies off it applied to heavily and besides it is still working from last week.

Well the tax refund has been filed and we are waiting patiently for those checks. We are both looking at paying off bills but also maybe 1-2 small things for the cars. I just can't decide what to do at this point... Muffler change (sound mod only at this point), Cold Air, side skirts, or more interior items... billet or ??

Decisions...

Finally!!

2007-01-22T19:22:00.000-06:00

The ice has melted and the cold wet weather has left even if it is only temporary. Today and yesterday we finally saw the sun again for the first time in a week which here in Texas is unusual even for winter. So... I took the opportunity to wash both Mustangs and detail Trinity. They put a lot of junk on the roads to keep everyone from sliding around and that crap ends up all over the cars, especially the white one.

Anyway, this is the first time I've had the chance to clean the car up and photograph it since adding the louvers and all the billet pieces... Thought I'd add some more pictures!

Christmas brought a nice $$$ gift from Babygirl and I spent it on eBay (of course). The first purchase was the louvers, jacket covers for our alarm fobs, MUSTANG letters for the door sills on both Mustangs, MUSTANG overlay for the rear tail-light on both Mustangs and then the rest was spent on BILLET for Trinity...

Interior items recently added:

Polished billet switch plates
Polished billet A/C Switches
Polished billet 12v power outlet plug with satin front and 3D pony
Satin billet shift boot trim
Polished billet cup holder bezel
Satin billet coat hook replacements

Here is a look at the louvers from inside the car... notice that they are actually open.

And finally... here is a shot of the sill plate with the MUSTANG letters installed and the rear of the car (iced over) with the MUSTANG overlay on the third light.

I don't know when I'll be adding more since we have some work to do on Pride now and my birthday is a ways off. :) But I'm sure something will come up. :)

Final Touches

2007-01-14T00:43:00.000-06:00

Since I bought this car in June I've added:

Custom designed/cut STAMPEDE rocker stripes & windshield banner
Custom airbrushed pony to stock grill (original chrome pony removed)
Honeycomb blackout panel
1968 Mustang Script emblems - right dash, sides (above tri-bar ponies) and right rear decklid
1979 Indy Pacecar Ponies - Blue (Removed in December)
"351" Plates from 1969 Mustang - Left Rear and Left Front (Used for #351 Stampede)
MUSTANG 3rd brake light overlay decal
Brushed billet door pins
Blue Showlenses (http://showlenses.com)

The external changes are almost complete... I have just a few minor items left on that wishlist: (The first four are from StangMods... http://www.stangmods.com/)

Clear Rear Side Marker Lenses for all 05-07 (sold in pairs) $39.95
Clear Turn Signal Lens for 05-07 (sold in pairs) $99.95
Concealment (194) Bulbs (sold in pairs) $29.95
Concealment (3157) Turn Signal Bulbs for all 90-07 (sold in pairs) $29.95
Sequential Tail-lights (plug in harnesses)
Side skirts
Headlight splitters
Chin Spoiler
Rear valance... more aggressive.

I also want to apply a blue tint to the headlights and clear corners. (not too much that it would affect the light color) similar to the yellow tint used on "The Mistress" by MRT. Finding the right tint and someone to do it will be a different matter.

Interior items recently added:

Polished billet switch plates (came in today)
Polished billet A/C Switches
Polished billet 12v power outlet plug with satin front and 3D pony
MUSTANG letter inserts for sill plates

Ordered but not received yet:

Satin billet shift boot trim
Polished billet cup holder bezel
Satin billet coat hook replacements

I guess when I have all this done and can't think of anything else to add that won't be over doing it (aka Pimping It Out) then it will be time to look at the Flowmaster, Cold Air Intake, and other under-the-hood changes... I Really Love This Car! :)

Trinity - no more ponies... new louvers

2007-01-13T23:44:00.000-06:00

Removed side ponies yesterday

2006-12-18T12:57:00.000-06:00

We removed the side ponies last Sunday, 12/17/06. I decided to go with a cleaner look. This is the first time I have been able to detail the car since I had back surgery on 11/8/06: Also finished out the dash with a touch of classic chrome:

The 2006 Stampede Mustang Registry

2006-10-31T16:49:00.000-06:00

The 2006 Stampede Mustang Registry is now online. It still needs some tweaking but we'll get it there. Come on by and let us know where and how you found your Stampede, what state you're in, what color your exterior and interior is and any extra options you have. Any pictures you have would be great!!

If you need the link: http://stampedemustangregistry.com

All in the family...

2006-10-30T14:08:00.000-06:00

My Stampede just got a stablemate... 2007 Mustang Coupe, Pony Package