Carbon-Fiber Mirror CoversOur...
Carbon-Fiber Mirror CoversOur first installation was a set of carbon-fiber covers for the side mirrors of any Gen 5 Mustang GT.
In the '60s, Mustang owners bought Shelby parts from Shelby's parts catalog to make their Mustangs faster and cooler. Forty years later, the Shelby Mustang is back in a big way. With the return of the legend comes a new Shelby Performance Parts catalog. Now today's owners can improve their '05-'09 Mustangs with a new breed of modern Shelby components. Browsing through the Shelby Performance Parts catalog reveals literally hundreds of trick upgrades for Gen 5 Mustangs. Today it takes a less than a minute to download a catalog. A print version of the Shelby Performance Parts catalog is also available from the website at www.shelbyperformanceparts.com.
Recently we stopped by Quantum Performance, Shelby's Southwest Mod Shop in Farmers Branch, Texas, and talked to co-owners Glenn Martini and Kenny Northum. We looked at some easy Shelby parts installations that just about anybody can do at home in the family garage. Quantum tech Shawn West was installing 40th Anniversary parts on a customer's GT500, so we followed along. All of these parts fit Gen 5 Mustangs.
Mask the mirror using the...
Mask the mirror using the carbon-fiber cover as a template. The tape protects the exposed mirror housing from the glue. Use a razor to cut away the masking tape.
Apply two-stage glue with...
Apply two-stage glue with a gun. Shawn has seen people use double-sided tape, but glue holds the covers much better. Spread the glue around with a finger.
Firmly press on the carbon-fiber...
Firmly press on the carbon-fiber cover.
Wrap the cover with masking...
Wrap the cover with masking tape. Allow the glue to seat the cover to the mirror housing overnight.
Shawn installed Super Snake...
Shawn installed Super Snake Shelby headrest covers on the 40th Anniversary GT500. These headrests are made from a simulated leather grain pattern and match the armrest cover. They are available in black only.
Installation is simple and...
Installation is simple and straightforward but slipping the covers over the headrests requires a strong set of hands. They attach at the bottom with Velcro flaps.
In addition to the Super Snake...
In addition to the Super Snake lettering seen here, Shelby headrests are also available with the modern Shelby and Snake logo, or with a classic Tiffany Snake logo embroidered in silver.
Polyurethane-injected bushings...
Polyurethane-injected bushings isolate noise and vibration. In street language, Shawn describes the Shelby Performance Parts shifter as "a little heavier throw, so it's shorter, quicker, sharper, cleaner, and a little crisper."
To remove the stock shifter,...
To remove the stock shifter, firmly hold the leather shifter boot and spin off the factory shifter knob counterclockwise.
Pry up the four sides of the...
Pry up the four sides of the boot and lift away with the stock shifter knob. Set the assembly aside.
Back out the two 13mm bolts...
Back out the two 13mm bolts that secure the shifter arm to the linkage and remove the stock shifter handle.
To reduce the possibility...
To reduce the possibility of noise, Shawn uses double-sided tape on the new shifter handle.
Install the bolts and lock...
Install the bolts and lock washers from the stock shifter through the double-sided tape and into the shifter handle. Tighten the two shifter handle bolts, bottom first and then top.
Reuse the stock leather boot....
Reuse the stock leather boot. Screw the white ball into position with the shifter schematic upright on top of the ball. Finally, tighten the nut on the bottom of the white shift ball.
Ford Racing Shifter Handle
Shelby's Ford Racing shifter handle is machined from 6061-T6 Billet aluminum, anodized for corrosion protection, and is available for five-speed and six-speed transmissions.
Shelby Cat-Back Exhausts
When Shawn laid out the Shelby Performance Exhaust system, it looked like an installation job for a professional shop. However, the procedure takes 20 minutes due to precision construction for an accurate fit. There's nothing to weld, and the pipes and mufflers fit tightly into the vacated stock location. This system yields 7 to 15 percent horsepower gains.
Remove the two clamps at the...
Remove the two clamps at the back of the factory H-pipe.
Remove the factory rear m...
Remove the factory rear mufflers.
Shelby Performance Parts offers...
Shelby Performance Parts offers two different systems that bolt directly to the factory H-pipe. One has the traditional turbo-style mufflers. The owner of our GT500 chose the smaller Borla S-type mufflers. They come with 3-inch Borla stainless steel exhaust tips made from aircraft grade T-304 stainless steel.
Place the new mufflers into...
Place the new mufflers into position at the rear.
Install the clamps on the...
Install the clamps on the new pipes and feed them over the top of the rear axle. Install the factory clamps over the muffler pipes. There's no cutting or welding required to mate the pipes.
Complete the installation...
Complete the installation by installing the large clamps to secure the new Borla pipes to the factory H-pipe.
Billet Engine Cap Set Add...
Billet Engine Cap Set
Add style to your Shelby or Gen 5 Mustang engine bay (including the 4.6L, 5.4L, and V-6) with a Shelby billet engine cap set. There are two radiator caps, one oil cap, one washer fluid cap, one brake fluid cap, one power steering fluid cap (with retaining cable), and one oil dipstick handle. These caps feature the Shelby and snake logo. You can order caps without the Shelby logo, and you can also order individual caps.
The radiator cap is actually...
The radiator cap is actually a cover for the factory cap. Squeeze the prescribed 3M adhesive into the bottom of the radiator cap cover and firmly press the radiator cover to the radiator cap.
The power steering cap utilizes...
The power steering cap utilizes this retaining cable.
The factory oil cap fits inside...
The factory oil cap fits inside the Shelby oil cap cover.
The hardest part of the dipstick...
The hardest part of the dipstick upgrade is removing the handle from the dipstick. Steady the dipstick handle in a vice and knock out the dowel pin.
Attach the new Shelby dipstick...
Attach the new Shelby dipstick handle to the dipstick tube. Then tap in the dowel pin from the factory handle.
Remove the original map light...
Remove the original map light housing.
The kit comes with two button...
The kit comes with two button accents to replace the stock black plastic buttons.
Pull the paper off the back...
Pull the paper off the back of the trim piece to expose the adhesive and press the trim piece onto the map light housing.
Pop the housing back in place....
Pop the housing back in place. The satin finish matches other satin and billet interior trim accents.
Shelby Map Light Insert
Another trick piece is the Shelby map light insert. It's made from stamped aluminum and has a brushed satin finish. You can purchase this trim piece with or without the Shelby logo.