What have you done to your Ecoboosted vehicle today?

[BiGMaC]

Got the SHO professionally detailed including the engine compartment and interior... A few more pics later, but this video is amazing! I thought I'd share it now.

My SHO is coated (this is not a paint sealer) with CQuart Finest (for exactly four months) and has never had anything else on the finish... no wax, no detail spray, literally just the CQuart Finest (if your interested in what it can do for a car, even a brand new one, my thread on correcting dealer paint damage is here:
http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php?topic=1496.msg17656#msg17656

The car is on completely level ground.
 

Wills Amstutz, my detail guy at Windows and Wheels, showed me how to dry my car with water!... yea it works!  The coating is incredibly hydrophobic with a runoff angle <10 degrees.



Then a quick blow dry with a leaf blower (or a dedicated blower if you have one)... no touch, no scratch or spidering.

thats exactly what i do blow it off with my leaf blower works wonders

For sure... True no touch is the way to go!  :thumb:

One other trick...Although I'd recommend research it before you do it on a non-coated paint job.... I learned this from Wills also. Dilute some Iron-X wheel cleaner in your soap... foam cannon assumed... Use it every 6 months or so.  Always rinse after this and then do your regular wash following all that. 
It really wakes up the paint by decontaminating it and is WAY faster and easier than claying.... no sore shoulder and saves hours....  :biggrin:

I'm gonna post some pics of this as soon as I get them off my camera.

 

[glock-coma]

Changed the engine oil with with Pennzoil ultra 5-w20 and motorcraft FL-500s filter.

I found the Pennzoil ultra at Wal-Mart on roll back for $21 for 5 quart jug.
Couldn't pass up that deal. 

 

[SHOdded]

If using a leaf blower to dry, I hope it has been tested for microscopic debris emerging from the nozzle.  It is recommended to put a secured cloth/cheesecloth over the opening before use.  Stepping up to a Metro Vac Master Blaster is even better, if you plan to use this drying method for quite some time and are concerned about ROI.

 

[BiGMaC]

If using a leaf blower to dry, I hope it has been tested for microscopic debris emerging from the nozzle.  It is recommended to put a secured cloth/cheesecloth over the opening before use.  Stepping up to a MetroVac Master Blaster is even better, if you plan to use this drying method for quite some time and are concerned about ROI.

Excellent advise!...
At least make it a dedicated blower that you take special care of.... Here's what I feel is the best.... SHOdded referenced it.... The metrovac Master Blaster.  Comes with dual mode (4 & 8 HP a long flexible hose and a variety of automotive attachments, plus it really small and portable.... Amazon price is about $300.... yea more than $40 at home depot (but if you get one to use with cheesecloth it will be more... a decision to make. This one gets top ratings on all the detail sites.
The best product description is here: https://www.metrovacworld.com/Master_Blaster

This is what most of the detail folks use.... and of course me... being the resident OC paint and finish nut! 


The conical attachment is what I use for about everything.. but after the water dry (posted here: http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php?topic=299.msg33677#msg33677 ) ... using runoff of water sheeting it's mostly getting the water out of all those nuisance body fitments where it collects.

 

[mval]

got the vertini wheels & conti dws tires put on. changes the look of the car completely. was down between tsw carthage & these vertini's. basically the same price just more chrome & less black, but still good amount of black. a quick question for anybody using conti dws's is the inflation. performance plus tires had them @ 40#, they used nitrogren which is what i wanted. changed to 37 in front 35 in rear. is that ok as used to running the goodyears & most other tires @32#, but from what i've read conti's like air& because of the softer wall should have more.
mikev

 

[BiGMaC]

Mike... Don't have ay experience with the DSW's, but I run my SHO with OEM Primacies the same pressures front and rear at Ford recs.  I do stagger my pickup with rears 5# lower unless loaded.  I would watch the wear pattern closely.

...and where are the pics of the news shoes and socks mounted?  Wanna see.... sig pic is small for my tired old eyes  ;D

 

[mval]

tom: small pic above . old versus new.
mikev

 

[DJE624]

Welcome to the aftermarket wheel club Mike!  I run my Primacys at 36 front and back.  I tell myself that extra pound will make the outside treads last a little longer.  I may be fooling myself but, what the heck. 

 

[BiGMaC]

tom: small pic above . old versus new.
mikev

Love them Mike!  :bow: Great change... Wheels look awesome and the whole car looks lower and more aggressive.

 

[shoman04]

tom: small pic above . old versus new.
mikev

TWO THUMB's UP ON THE NEW WHEELS!!!!!!!

 

[Txstrmhntr]

Installed alky control kit, 160 tstat, 3bar map, relocated washer fluid to trunk, and started on rx catch can..... car still in pieces in garage...must go finish.......

 

[SHOdded]

Installed alky control kit, 160 tstat, 3bar map, relocated washer fluid to trunk, and started on rx catch can..... car still in pieces in garage...must go finish.......

Quite an upgrade to your competition-killing machine!  Any pics to go with?

 

[Txstrmhntr]

Quite an upgrade to your competition-killing machine!  Any pics to go with?

Ill get some pics up once im done shouting profanities at ford for these ridiculous plastic pop rivets with fake phillips head indentations on them...

Anyone know where you can purchase more? or better alternatives?

 

[SHOdded]

Don't know if this will help (used them for my 95), but give it a go:  http://www.thefastenerwarehouse.com/page/page/568361.htm

 

[JimiJak]

Did some mock fitting together of some pieces for the XSport headlight mod project I'm working on. Anyone have any recommendations for where I might find someplace to back and split my headlights, then re-seal them for me when I'm done? Big Box chains? Anywhere local to Grand Rapids, MI?

I've baked them before, but I would rather have someone else do it than deal with the hassle. Splitting and re-sealing is a PITA; the rest is play time!

Thanks Guys!

 

[JimiJak]

SHE FINALLY GOT NAMED!

Ok...so it's not a propped name yet...but she accidentally got a nickname today. The girlfriend caught me having a conversation with Sync and the XSport seems to have aquired the handle "Jarvis"...(Ironman ref. if you're not following)

On another positive note; Jarvis 2.0 gets picked up from the dealership today after it's 200mile birthday - alternator, battery, wire harness replacement thanks to a missed nut from Ford on the alternator. Lol

 

[risskybusiness]

Ordered up a bunch of Plasti-dip, switchback LED front blinkers, and emailed LMS about tunes... Spring is going to awesome!

 

[SHODYOU]

Changed oil, RedLine 5/30 with 500s filter.
Fixed underbody shield as one clip had broken, clip and twist lock thing was like 15$ from Ford.
Finished open BOV mod as rear was a pita. Also cut away the hood gasket that shrouds the air inlet opening.

Cleaned the engine, touched up the paint on the exhaust (after axle pipes are painted flat black, hate seeing dirty gray tails from behind car)
And I Plasti-dipped the little red reflectors in the rear valance. Subtle, but cleaner imo.

I ordered Lamin-x taillight tint too, in the medium-dark shade.


Bad news/good news... installed bare x pipe in place of the magnaflow x muffler I had. It def picked up volume at idle, and stays quiet at cruise. Sounds great.
Bad news is it picked up enough rasp in the 25-2750 range to consider swapping back. Esp under load.
Rest of exhaust consists of stainless works catless dp's and a dynomax axle-back.
Ill prob reinstall the muffled x and go to louder mufflers instead.

 

[TSS]

Unexciting. Today I am replacing the cabin air filter and windshield wipers. I use 0EM motorcraft parts and do it once a year.  I had the car hand washed yesterday and I will do a quick vac today.  I still have my winter matS in, so this is not going to be a thorough detail. Boring!

 

[glock-coma]

Installed husky liner floor liners front and rear.
Pretty happy with the fit and finish. I'll have some pics up later