Tag: Ford

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Ride Of The Week: 2018 Roush 729 Mustang


Roush Performance introduced its 2017 SEMA concept build: The 2018 Roush 729. The Roush 729 is a custom-built one-of-a-kind supercharged wide-body Mustang, built to pay tribute to Ford’s historic 1970 Boss 429. It was on display at Ford’s Main Stage for the entirety of the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Finished in the commemorative hue of Ford Grabber Green, of which only 95 Boss 429s were painted in 1970, the Roush 729 features the company’s all-new 2018 Mustang body kit, as well as a custom wide-body kit designed by Roush and Stratasys. The 729 is equipped with various race-inspired carbon fiber parts developed in conjunction with Anderson Composites, as well as custom Vossen RVS forged wheels wrapped in Continental ExtremeContact Sport rubber. Custom-painted Brembo GT Series brakes provide plenty of stopping power, while a Roush 3-Way Adjustable Coilover Suspension system allows for skid pad ratings of 1.07 lateral g’s.

Under the hood, the all-new Roush/Ford Performance 2018 Supercharger sits atop the 5.0L Coyote engine. The all-new Roush R2650 supercharger features a front-inlet, front-drive design, utilizing Eaton TVS technology with optimized porting and integral bypass, to produce a staggering 700+ horsepower.


Airflow to the 729’s engine is provided through a functional hood scoop with Roush “Air Gobbler” ram air induction system and Roush Cold Air Intake, while the innovative and patented Roush Active Quad-Tip Exhaust system allows the driver to tune the sound of the 729 to their preference.

Though the Roush 729 is a tremendously customized build, it features many of the same appearance upgrades that you will find on production 2018 Roush Mustangs, including its upper and lower grilles and rear blackout panel. It has also been fitted with several carbon fiber body components developed with Anderson Composites, including a front splitter, rear aerofoils, side rockers, a spoiler, and mirror caps.

Inside, custom Katzkin leather upholstery covers Recaro Racing seats. Roush Performance window NACA ducts with cooling tubes have been installed, as well as several safety upgrades, including a Watson Racing Roll Cage and Sparco 4-Point Racing Harness.

Article courtesy Speedville.

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News Video

VIDEO: Our Favorite Rides At SEMA


From Hot Wheels brought to life to blockbuster vehicles, the SEMA Show houses some amazing cars. In the second SEMA Show Edition of T2 Breakdown, editor Carley Hull shares some of Tomorrow’s Tech staff’s favorite vehicles at 2017 SEMA Show.

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Pennzoil Synthetics Presents: Ken Block’s Climbkhana

Ken Block and the Hoonigan team recently released “Climbkhana” and now Pennzoil is giving you a behind-the-scenes view of the film and an inside-look into Block’s Hoonicorn RTR V2.

Block pushed his ’65 Ford Mustang (twin-turbo Ford V8 engine) to the limits, climbing over 14,000 feet up Pikes Peak. Easier said than done…but 14,000 feet and 1,400-horsepower didn’t limit Block, his team or Pennzoil.

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Domino’s, Ford To Test Driverless Pizza Delivery


The majority of drivers might not be hungry for autonomous vehicles yet, but some residents of Ann Arbor, Mich., will get a taste of what it’s like to have a self-driving vehicle deliver pizza to their homes.

Ann Arbor-based Domino’s Pizza and Ford are launching what they’re calling “an industry-first collaboration to understand the role that self-driving vehicles can play in pizza delivery.”

Over the next few weeks, randomly selected Domino’s customers in Ann Arbor will have the option to receive their delivery order from a Ford Fusion Hybrid autonomous research vehicle, which will be manually driven by a Ford safety engineer and staffed with researchers.

Customers who agree to participate will be able to track the delivery vehicle via GPS using an upgraded version of Domino’s Tracker, according to Domino’s and Ford. As the self-driving vehicle approaches, they also will receive text messages that will show them how to retrieve their pizza using a unique code to unlock the “Domino’s Heatwave Compartment” inside the vehicle.

“We’re interested to learn what people think about this type of delivery,” said Russell Weiner, president of Domino’s USA. “The majority of our questions are about the last 50 feet of the delivery experience. For instance, how will customers react to coming outside to get their food? We need to make sure the interface is clear and simple. We need to understand if a customer’s experience is different if the car is parked in the driveway versus next to the curb. All of our testing research is focused on our goal to someday make deliveries with self-driving vehicles as seamless and customer-friendly as possible.”

As both companies begin to examine perceptions of driverless food delivery, the research conducted in pilot projects such as this one will be important.

“As delivery experts, we’ve been watching the development of self-driving vehicles with great interest, as we believe transportation is undergoing fundamental, dramatic change,” said Patrick Doyle, Domino’s president and CEO. “We pride ourselves on being technology leaders and are excited to help lead research into how self-driving vehicles may play a role in the future of pizza delivery. This is the first step in an ongoing process of testing that we plan to undertake with Ford.”

Local partner Roush Enterprises fabricated the prototype vehicle’s pizza container, the Domino’s Heatwave Compartment, based on its experience working with Domino’s on the DXP delivery vehicle in 2015. Ford and Domino’s completed preliminary testing of the delivery process using the vehicle in self-driving mode at Mcity, the simulated urban environment on the University of Michigan’s campus. The city of Ann Arbor also has been supportive of the testing process, the companies noted.

“I’m delighted that Ann Arbor continues to be at the forefront of autonomous-vehicle research,” said Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor. “While it’s pizza delivery today, my hope is that collaborations such as this will enable even more innovations tomorrow.”

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PPG-Painted Ford Takes Top Prize At Syracuse Nationals


A customized 1951 Ford wearing a gleaming PPG finish stole the show and drove off with the coveted Winfield Award for automotive excellence at the recent 18th annual PPG Syracuse Nationals at the New York State Fairgrounds.

Owned by Bruce Leven of Auburn, Wash., built by Craig Wick and the team at Wicked Fabrication and painted by John Byers of Byers Custom – both also from Auburn – the dazzling Ford drew the approval of the crowd when the award was announced.

Once Wick constructed the Ford, he turned it over to Byers, who used several PPG products including Deltron DPS 3055 V-Prime Acrylic Urethane Primer – Gray, DBC2000 Basecoat and DP90LF Non-Sanding Epoxy Primer Black with Global Refinish System D8152 Performance + Glamour Clearcoat and custom toners to give the car its distinctive gray-blue finish.

The Winfield Award was the Ford’s second prestigious honor in as many weeks. On July 8, the car’s outstanding paint job made it a PPG Dream Pick at the 20th annual Goodguys PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.

The annual Winfield Award was established in 2010 by Gene Winfield – a celebrated master car designer and builder for more than 50 years – and is regarded as an exceptional honor in the custom car world.

Winfield chooses the winner based on which vehicle he believes best-represents the world of auto customization. Entrants for the Winfield Award are required to provide a list of enhancements that the vehicle has received. Competition is always stiff, with the winner chosen by Winfield from a “Select Six” group of finalists picked out of an initial field of dozens of candidates.

The winner receives a custom trophy, jacket and $10,000, along with a lifetime of bragging rights. The remaining five finalists also receive a trophy, jacket and $1,000 each.

Considered to be the premier car show in the Northeast, the annual PPG Syracuse Nationals, presented by Your Local Ford Store, this year drew more than 8,000 cars and trucks and 90,000 people from across the United States and Canada to the festive family-oriented event.

To learn more about PPG products, call (800) 647-6050 or visit the PPG website.

Article courtesy BodyShop Business.

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News

Ford Mustang GT Owners Can Use Quiet Modes To Stay In Neighbors’ Good Graces


Someone called the cops on Steve von Foerster. The former head of vehicle engineering for Ford wasn’t thrilled, but he understood why.

On an otherwise peaceful morning in his suburban Detroit neighborhood, von Foerster had just backed a Shelby GT350 Mustang out of his driveway. As the car’s V8 engine thundered, an annoyed neighbor set aside their coffee cup and dialed 911.

Von Foerster had left before the officers arrived, and he didn’t end up with a ticket. Nor did he get angry. What he got was an idea for the new Mustang.

“I love the sound of the V8, but it can be loud, and you can’t annoy people like that in your neighborhood,” said von Foerster, who now leads Ford’s User Experience team in product development. “It sounds so cool, but I thought, ‘There has to be a way to give people more control over the engine’s sound.’”

The experience fueled a discussion between von Foerster and fellow Mustang program team members that led to development of Quiet Exhaust mode and Quiet Start, known as “Good Neighbor Mode” among Mustang engineers. The new features on properly equipped 2018 Mustang GT vehicles allow drivers to keep engine sound at a minimum if they wish and to program quiet startup times in advance.


While some sports cars offer active exhaust systems with on/off functionality, Mustang’s Quiet Start is the first to allow scheduling of times, according to Ford.

Using steering wheel-mounted thumb controls, drivers toggle through a menu in the instrument cluster to select when they want to fire up their Mustang GT without sharing the event with neighbors. For example, between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m., drivers can keep the peace by scheduling their car to start, minus the roar.

‘Best of Both Worlds’

Both new Quiet Exhaust mode and Quiet Start features will be part of the available active valve performance exhaust system on the new Mustang GT, along with different exhaust volumes for Normal, Sport and Track modes, according to Ford.

“Active valve performance exhaust gives Mustang owners the best of both worlds – that classic Mustang sound, and the ability to not wake up your neighbors when you leave the house early in the morning or arrive home late at night,” said Matt Flis, Ford exhaust development engineer.

Neighborhoods across the country should be thrilled. According to a recent poll by Ranker.com, loud engine revving ranks among the most annoying noises neighbors make, alongside other common nuisances such as power tools, barking dogs and band practice. Only early-morning lawn mowing is more robustly despised.

“When sounds get up into the upper-70-decibel range, that’s typically about when they start to bother people,” said Flis. “With Quiet Start activated, the decibel level of the new Mustang GT drops by about 10 decibels, to a much more comfortable 72 decibels – about the level of a household dishwasher.”

On the Mustang GT equipped with the available all-digital 12-inch instrument cluster, the exhaust mode menu appears within the pony menu. With the standard 4-inch cluster, exhaust mode is found within the settings menu.

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Ford Celebrates 100 Years of Truck History


Ford celebrated 100 years of leadership, innovation, capability and durability for it’s iconic trucks. Starting with the Ford TT that initiated the rich history back in 1917 to the new Ford F-Series lineup.

Henry Ford’s vision to create a vehicle with a cab and work-duty frame capable of accommodating cargo beds and third-party upfit equipment proudly endures a century later in the F-Series lineup, from F-150 to F-750 Super Duty.

The F-Series reigns as America’s best-selling truck for 40 straight years and best-selling vehicle for 35 straight years, thanks to Ford listening to and understanding the needs of truck owners, developing customer-centric product innovations, and delivering purpose-built capabilities, features and configurations; Ford has sold more than 26 million F-Series trucks in the United States since 1977.

Ford is credited with putting the world on wheels, and Ford trucks helped build America. “Ford trucks carried the loads, the people and the products necessary to get the job done,” said Bob Kreipke, Ford historian.

Article courtesy Speedville.

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Ride Of The Week: ‘The Green Machine’ 2015 Ford Mustang

It’s hard to find a rear-wheel drive sports car that feels as good to drive as the 2015 Ford Mustang V6 for a similar price. Could this be the perfect balance of sports car looks, sound, and feel? For some people, yes, but then it still has the appearance of practically every other Gen VI Mustang on the road.

Josh Rivers, of Phoenix, is one of those who wanted to stand out. With a sci-fi penchant and a 2015 Ford Mustang for a canvas, Josh Rivers’ car, “The Green Machine,” looks like no other. After working with Apex Customs and others, The Green Machine looks as though it drove straight out of TRON.


What did it take to turn an ordinary Mustang into “The Green Machine?” Rivers tells us he started at Best Buy, with a new sound system, and a couple of small paint jobs at Lucky Luciano Paint Shop, green key fobs and rear Pony logo.


Apex Customs provided the new Rosso Insignia 20-inch black-and-copper wheels, with Nitto skins. Like the key fobs and pony, these would get the green treatment, as well. After a black powder-coat, Apex Customs wrapped the wheels’ copper accents in 3M’s Sheer Luck green vinyl wrap, to match the rest of the car. The brake calipers received a black powder-coat treatment as well.


Lighting was next, Rivers opting for green halo headlights and fog lights, green LED daytime running lamps, and green LED accent lighting behind the grille.


For the body, Rivers opted for a full-body vinyl wrap, a custom dark green with Sheer Luck green “TRON” lines. At night or in broad daylight, there’s no doubt The Green Machine is a unique car, driven by a unique driver.

Article courtesy Speedville.

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Automotive

TPMS Procedures On Domestic Vehicles

Chrysler

Chrysler uses a Schrader Electronics or VDO system on just about every late-model vehicle. Chrysler never used a band sensor in any of its platforms. On some 2004 and 2005 models, Chrysler may have used two different tire pressure monitoring systems on a vehicle platform depending on if the vehicle was equipped with AWD or if the system was optional or standard.

On early TPMS-equipped models, the static relearn process requires a relearn procedure to be initiated on the vehicle’s information center display followed by activation of each TPMS to enable all of the sensors’ unique ID numbers to be loaded into the Wireless Control Module.

The TPMS tool should be held on the tire adjacent to the valve stem and not directly over the TPMS when activating the sensor. Each time a code has been successfully loaded, the horn acknowledges.

2004-Current Self Initialization

1. Inflate all tires to correct pressure specification as indicated on the vehicle tire placard.

2. Park vehicle with the ignition switch set to the off position for 20 minutes.

3. Drive the vehicle faster than 15 mph for at least 20 minutes. The sensor locations and ID numbers will be automatically registered during drive cycle.

During this reset period, the instrument panel TPMS indicator may be illuminated. This is normal unless the indicator is flashing. It will turn off after a period of driving at a sufficient speed, usually 1-20 minutes at speeds more than 15-20 mph. If your initial drive is too short, the process will reinitiate the next time the vehicle is driven.

ALTERNATE METHOD: On some models, you can perform the TPMS sensor initialization procedure using a scan tool.

Menu Initialization

1. Inflate all tires to correct pressure specification as indicated on the vehicle tire placard. Calculate for air temperature.

2. Press MENU key on the electronic vehicle information center until RETRAIN TIRE SENSORS-NO is displayed.

3. Press STEP button until YES appears.

4. Press MENU button to select YES, causing display to read TRAIN LEFT FRONT TIRE.

5. Place activation tool on the left front tire valve stem. The tool should remain in place for approximately five seconds until the horn sounds.

6. Repeat procedure for the remaining sensors in this sequence: right front, right rear, left rear and spare.

7. After all four or five sensors have been reset, the electronic vehicle information center will display: TRAINING COMPLETE. If TRAINING ABORTED appears on the electronic vehicle information center at any time, move the vehicle ahead at least one foot and restart procedure.

8. Press either MENU, RESET, STEP or C/T on the electronic driver information center to exit the reset procedure.

Learn mode will cancel if the system is not retrained within the allotted time and the procedure will have to be repeated for all tires.

General Motors

GM TPMS on Buick, Pontiac, Chevy, GMC Cadillac and Hummer models are some of the easiest to service if you have the right tools and knowledge. There are exceptions, like the Toyota-manufactured Pontiac Vibe.

  • The antenna and receiver are the same ones that are used for the keyless-entry system. The antenna is typically sandwiched between the layers of glass in the front or rear glass. But, some vehicles have dedicated antenna mounted in various places.
  • The keyless entry module communicates with the TPMS sensors and relays the information with the Body Control Module (BCM) on the CAN BUS. If the keyless entry module is replaced, the sensors must be relearned. The same goes for the key fobs.
  • It is best to perform the TPMS relearn procedure away from the shop in the parking lot. This decreases the chance of other radio signals interfering with the relearn process.

Relearns

1. Set the parking brake.

2. Turn the ignition switch to ON/RUN with the engine off.

3. Press and hold the keyless entry fob transmitter’s LOCK and UNLOCK buttons at the same time for about five seconds to start the TPMS learn mode. The horn sounds twice indicating the TPMS receiver is ready and in learn mode.

4. Starting with the left front tire, activate the sensor by holding the TPMS tool aimed upward against the tire sidewall close to the wheel rim at the valve stem location. Press and release the activate button and wait for a horn chirp.

5. Once the horn chirp has sounded, the sensor information is learned and the turn signal in the next location to be learned will illuminate. On most models, the driver-side front turn signal also comes on to indicate that corner’s sensor is ready to be learned. Once the learn mode has been enabled, each of the sensor’s unique identification codes can be learned.

6. When a sensor ID has been learned, the module sends a serial data message to the BCM to sound a horn chirp. This verifies the sensor has transmitted its ID and has received and learned it. The module must learn the sensor IDs in the proper sequence to determine sensor location. The first learned ID is assigned to the left front location, the second to right front, the third to right rear and the fourth to left rear. On most models, the turn signals will individually illuminate indicating which location is to be learned in the proper sequence.

Troubleshooting

The learn mode will cancel if the ignition is cycled to OFF or if more than two minutes have elapsed for any sensor that has not been learned. If the learn mode is cancelled before the first sensor is learned, the original sensor IDs will be maintained. If the learn mode is canceled after the first sensor is learned, the following will occur:

  • All stored sensor IDs will be invalidated in the RCDLR memory. If equipped, the DIC will display dashes instead of tire pressures. If the learn mode is canceled after the first sensor is learned, the following will occur:
  • All stored sensor IDs will be invalidated in the module memory.
  • If equipped, the DIC will display dashes instead of tire pressures.
  • DTC C0775 will be set. These conditions will now require the learn procedure to be repeated for the system to function properly.

Ford

From 2006-’09, Ford used banded sensors that are mounted in the center of the rim, 180º from the valve stem. In 2010, Ford reverted to the valve stem mounted sensors. Some replacement sensor suppliers have snap-in sensors that can eliminate the need for a banded sensor.

2002-Current Direct Systems

Ford systems use the unique ID numbers of the sensors that have to be registered along with their position on the car with the tire pressure monitor ECU.

This process requires the activation of the TPMS sensor using a low-frequency radio signal tool or magnet to excite the sensor so UHF data is transmitted. The transmitted data includes the TPMS ID, the pressure and temperature.

If a TPMS sensor or its position on the car is changed without reregistering the IDs, the TPMS warning light will turn on and stay on until the IDs are reregistered.

Sensor Training

NOTE: The tire pressure sensor training procedure must be done in an area without radio frequency (RF) noise. RF noise is generated by electrical motor and appliance operation, cellular telephones and remote transmitters.

1. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position and set the parking brake.

2. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN position three times, ending in the RUN position. Do not wait more than two minutes between each key cycle.

3. Press and hold the brake pedal.

4. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.

5. Turn the ignition switch to the RUN position three times, ending in the RUN position. Do not wait more than two minutes between each key cycle.

6. When the message center displays “TRAIN LEFT FRONT TIRE,” place the magnet on the valve stem of the LF tire pressure sensor. The horn will sound briefly to indicate that the tire pressure sensor has been recognized by the TPMS module.

7. Within two minutes after the horn sounds, place the magnet on the valve stem of the RF tire pressure sensor.

NOTE: If the TPMS module does not recognize any one of the five tire pressure sensors during the tire training procedure, the horn will sound twice and the message center will display “TIRE TRAINING MODE INCOMPLETE” and the procedure must be repeated.

8. Repeat Step 7 for the RR, LR and spare tire.

When the tire training procedure is complete, the horn will sound twice and the message center will display “TIRE TRAINING MODE COMPLETE.”

Article courtesy Brake & Front End.

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Automotive

Ford Mustang 2005-2014 Brake Job

ford mustang brake job featured

The brakes on 2005-2014 Mustangs are fairly standard, with discs both in the front and rear. The front calipers are of the dual piston variety, while the rear calipers have single pistons. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes are standard on all models.

The only major difference in the brake systems between the base V6 models and the V8-powered GT models is the size of the rotors. The V6-powered Mustangs have 11.5-inch front rotors, while the GT models have larger 12.4-inch front rotors. The rear rotors on both models are 11.8 inches in diameter, but are narrower than the ones up front.

BRAKE ISSUES

To date, there have been no major problems with the brakes on these Mustangs. Other than the normal wear one would expect, the brakes have been reliable and relatively trouble free — with one exception.

On the 2005 and 2006 models, there have been some reports of the rear parking brake cables freezing up during cold weather. Apparently, road splash gets past the parking brake cable end seals, puddles inside the cable and freezes. This may prevent the parking brake from releasing, causing the rear brakes to drag. Ford issued TSB 06-5-4 on Feb. 20, 2006 covering this problem, and recommends fixing it by replacing the original parking brake cables with new redesigned cables that are more water resistant.

The pads should also be replaced if there is more than 3 mm of taper in any direction, if the pads have been contaminated with brake fluid from a leaky brake caliper or if the owner is complaining about squealing or groaning brake noise.

If these models need new pads, you also need to measure the rotors to see how much they are worn — even if they appear to be relatively smooth with no serious grooving, cracking or visible hard spots (discolored patches). The minimum rotor thickness specification for the front rotors on both the V6 and V8 Mustangs is 28.4 mm (1.11 inches) and 17.4 mm (0.68) inches for the rear rotors.

If a rotor still has enough metal left in it for another go around, but needs to be resurfaced to smooth up the surface, the minimum “machine to” spec is about 0.6 mm more than the minimum thickness specification: 29 mm for the V6 and V8 front rotors (30.6 mm for the Shelby front rotors), and 18 mm for the rear rotors. This spec will allow for wear until the next time the brake pads are replaced.

PERFORMANCE UPGRADE OPTIONS

Many Mustang owners are good prospects for brake performance upgrades. If the pads and/or rotors need to be replaced anyway, it’s not a hard sell to convince certain customers that stopping quick is just as important as going fast. The most popular brake upgrades include performance aftermarket brake pads made with friction materials that can handle higher braking temperatures and drilled/slotted/grooved rotors that provide improved cooling and venting of hot gases from the pads.

The nice thing about selling and installing performance upgrades is that it can add a great deal of profitability to what would otherwise be a standard brake job. Most of these upgrades are simple bolt-on installations that require few, if any, modifications. The only thing you have to watch out for is making sure there is adequate clearance between the inside of the wheel and the caliper when larger rotors are installed.

The front rotors on a V6 Mustang can be upgraded to the larger stock V8 rotors, but require 17-inch or larger wheels for clearance. If a set of 13- or 14-inch aftermarket performance rotors are being mounted in place of the stock GT rotors, the wheels have to be 18 inches or larger, depending on the calipers.

Article courtesy Brake & Front End.