2012 Mustang Roush Six Success

[UltArc]

I'm disappointed no one had any comments on the snow testing from January! I thought it was sweet.

But for the Mustang, the single piece aluminum drive shaft is in, and the front passenger seat is removed. So far, I have noticed an increase in fuel economy- but that is not from the changes, it is from the warm air we are having (should be over by n- yepp, snow on the ground...).

I thought "well, maybe engine load will be less with it" and drove through a few spots that I always drive the same. Well, engine load is the same if not worse. To be clear, no conclusive, solid, data created results have been made.

Thinking about how I want to do my Bonneville spoiler still, and going out to look at it a bit more soon. Attached are some photos of the current setup.

[nemo]

Nikon! Welcome to the dark side.

[UltArc]

Originally Posted by nemo

Nikon! Welcome to the dark side.

I've been with the dark side since 2008...a year ago upgraded from the D3000 to the D5200. Although I recently picked up an EOS D40- Nikon will stay my preferred.

Edit: I hate to say dark side, because I don't really see any other side lol, but I don't want to start a camera war on one of my build threads.

[mcrews]

your snow pictures are VERY depressing......said the man sitting in San Antonio Texas!

But I am a big mustang fan!!!!

[UltArc]

I thought the influence of air on the snow was interesting- growing up here, it is just natural to have it. I was about ~10 when I found out it was just Cleveland in the snow belt getting hit with so much snow- I thought everywhere got ridiculous snow lol

[mcrews]

Originally Posted by UltArc

I thought the influence of air on the snow was interesting- growing up here, it is just natural to have it. I was about ~10 when I found out it was just Cleveland in the snow belt getting hit with so much snow- I thought everywhere got ridiculous snow lol

That's funny!
And growing up in Dallas, I NEVER understood all the sweaters in the fall/winter sears catalogue!!!!
especially when it arrived in AUGUST!!!!

[UltArc]

The Green Grand Prix!

My copilot and I have spent the last few weeks just sending pointless messages to one another about excitement/anxiety for this event.

Since I started with the Mustang in May of 2012, getting it as a fuel efficient vehicle, I have been told it was a poor decision. From my family saying "just because it can get 29 on the highway, doesn't mean you're going to get that good of fuel economy" and my rebuttal quenched with "you can't do that to a brand new car, let alone a Mustang!" I have had a lot to prove.

My goal has always been 30 mpg, and in a way, still is. I wanted to just get 30 mpg per tank. Then, 30 mpg all year. Now, my goal is 30 just on the SCii (with the engine on).

I feel I have done decent to above average with the vehicle- and others believe I have done the impossible. Regardless of my detailed tracking, fill ups, average speeds, driving techniques, and documentation of everything (photos), people secretly question or outright say I am full of crap.

Well, the GGP has helped me prove otherwise.

Leaving for the GGP, we finally got on the road around 1600. I filled up just before, and I saw 37.64 mpg. Driving there, we managed 45.89 mpg for the 350+ mile trip.

To the competition from our fill up in NY, we got 39.85 mpg.

And the competition...
The first hill is a monster. All the way, holding as efficiently as possible, to get to the track. It was terrible seeing the mileage when we finally made it to the top. I've tried to push it from memory, but it was teens. Teens.

I am not going to go over my technique on the track. We may be one team, but I used our basic techniques to get there, and you'll learn your own technique for the track next year

So how'd team UltArc/underscore_22 do?

49.42 MILES PER GALLON

This is corrected from the difference in tire diameter, the GGP number is 48+, topping my old record of 46+.

The rally...
Bob described it as being high way like- he may have meant just the speeds, but even that was a bit off. I feel terrible for any cars commuting down this road daily!

As sheepdog will attest, it was a brutal ride. Underbody tearing, slippery, road debris, and right when one caught momentum- STOP SIGN. But as bad as it was, somehow we managed 36.76 mpg, using the same Valero, pump, and fill style. Although "fuel economy would be taken into consideration," it was not. Although we would have actually tried on the rally if we knew this, it would not have changed what happened to the underbody. Approximately 60% through, the main support bar capable of holding 150 lbs per side, was taken out. An error on my part did even more damage to, almost paralyzing us on the final leg. Combined with our excitement from the FE portion blinding our care in research, we started to get very tired of this portion, and just wanted it to be over.

Our grand total for the event, was 228.888 miles with 5.35 gallons, coming to an event total of 42.78 mpg.

As we wait for the grand scores to see the ranking of the Mustang amongst the other vehicles, we are happy knowing we won our class, and beat many others in other classes. And now, the work for next year and 50+ begins!

[pgfpro]

Awesome results!!!!

[UltArc]

Not as exciting as my last post, but figured I would post some recent projects.

So, I worry about criminals and threats to my home, so I rescued a Great Pyrenees. For several months I was searching to rescue a Caucasian Shepherd, but they are just too hard to come by. The only ones available are beyond my dog re/training abilities. Since I don't have 3k to spend on a pup, or enough time to train one and keep it in line through it's first year, we couldn't get my destined dog. If you are not familiar, this is a Caucasian Shepherd:




The GP breed is much more common, and we have given a young man (male, not really a man...) another chance.

A bit graphic, a GP a little battered after defending it's flock from a wolf: Stillwater County News

Both breeds are bipolar. Not in the sense we think of the term in relationship to humans, but they flip from one end to the other. In the home with the pack (adults, children, pets) they are docile and loving. They are just big puffy fluffs.

And then a stranger walks up to the house...and then you have a 130-200lb monster that only knows one task: stop the threat. Training is a big part of having a dog that can survive in civilization, but even if my boy knows to attack when I say a certain word, if I am uncomfortable, his flip gets switched, and although I can contain my mood/feelings- he makes it quite clear how he feels.

Even though he stays with us, or patrols the home when we are away, and is never in the yard alone, we made some nifty signs. PC cut into large strips, painted safety orange, then letters purchased from a craft store were placed down, and then black paint over. Three cable ties hold them in place.






This is from the street. With ones eyes, it is clear as day- the images don't really do it justice.

Now something actually related to cars...


I swapped the rear emblem on my Mustang to something more fitting:





Won't help fuel economy, but my little pony with a rainbow behind it isn't me- and although my dedication to performance is closer to GT, this is what belongs

[UltArc]

Unfortunately some issues have been keeping me driving the Mustang.

Now my tanks are going by much faster

I built a rear panel, but found that it was way too short and could not be made efficiently. Here is my prep for my new, inspired by Jedi Sol, build.



Total cost is $137.19. I bought a lot of extra pieces because I am not solid on my mounting points yet.



The bold pieces are the joints. Six on the main portion, four on the rear. Middle is 6x4, rear is 4x4. EMT tubing, 1/2 inch. The lighter rings on the base are the hose clamps that will keep the sheet to the frame. The outer rings refer to my known mounting points of the fully assembled pan to the vehicle itself. There will be more, these are my current known points.

Again, this was inspired by Jedi Sol and a few other threads on other forums. For reference on excellent diffuser builds, check this out: DIY Rear Diffuser : The Writeup - NASIOC