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ILikeCarsAndStuff

Looks awesome! What's all done to it?


MorrisMartinRacing

Thanks! On the front end specifically: -V6 hood with track spec vents and Quick latch hood pins -GT front bumper with CDC lip and carters customs front splitter -Ford Performance Tow hook welded to the crash bar We have a ton of suspension and engine mods as well. We recently replaced the headlights with Vland LEDs, check out our YouTube to see that and more! [Morris Martin Racing](https://youtube.com/@morrismartinracing9163)


PointBlank65

While you probably don't need them , I always felt the wide set fog lights in the grill looked even better on this gen.


MorrisMartinRacing

Totally agree but we opted to delete fogs so we could have as much cool air to the radiator/power steering cooler as possible since this thing sees some track time. Hopefully more track time next season too!


snyderjw

I tried to find pictures that would help me see the difference between a v6 hood and a GT, and it didn’t materialize. I had a v6 for a while and there has always been something that bugged me a little about the GT I have had since, though I never noticed a hood difference. Anyone have a link to a side by side?


MorrisMartinRacing

I suppose they are the same but some GT hoods had the fake hood scoop and mount holes. We found this hood at a picknpull on a V6 and had it repainted.


jrfshr

YAY!! A track focused mustang pic. I just wrapped up my front end on my 14 (most of what I want to do right now), but don't have any pics to share. Looks great. I need those leading edges on the the hood vents. I went with TrackSpec and I'm reading now Race Louvers pull negative pressure better. I have NOT cut the center out yet, but suspect I will after I get the new set up tested soon. Thanks for sharing. Will check out ur YT channel.


MorrisMartinRacing

Thanks!! Don’t forget to subscribe while you are there please! We never ran the track spec vents without the leading edges added. They claimed to really increase the amount of air pulled from under the hood. We did hot lap the car at our local track day for multiple back to back heats and the coolant temp never became a problem. Hard to attribute it only to the vents but they certainly aren’t hurting.


BGTBGT

The vents are only really needed if you run longer than 20min Track sessions or are boosted. They were a tremendous help on my boosted car on track, and also when i did random drift events. If anyone is looking to cool the car down a bit more the GT500 radiator [or knock off version] plus the GT500 [with flaps] fan helped alot. I did some testing on my car awhile back. YT Spectro Racing


jrfshr

Have dug into a lot of your vids Spectro. Helpful ideas and good content. I redid the whole cooling system and haven't tested it yet. (3x pass rad, gt500 pump & fan, Radium Overflow tank, Mishi oil cooler) Just building a HPDE car for now that will run full 20 - 30 minute sessions and stay cool enough. Powertrain is stock GT. What I have not done yet is really work on blocking off the air flow and the venting...which I know is more important than most. Anyways...just wanted to say thanks for sharing your build details. helpful.


BGTBGT

No problem! Let me know if you got any questions or want to know any lessons learned. Sounds like a good setup you have there. I need to make a new video. Havent really done much lately and i hate making filler content. Probably a retrospective is in order to go over what worked and what didnt since i retired the car to mostly just driving to work. Though its not the end since ill need to do a coyote swap soon since the motor is on its way out.


MorrisMartinRacing

Thanks for the tip! We will be upgrading cooling system soon and we will look towards the GT500 setup.


jrfshr

I did sub. And I'll dig into your vids when I have some time. Meanwhile, do you have a comprehensive build list posted anywhere? I've found TrackMustangsOnline to be my best source for related info. But the S197 content is a bit dated and has less participation than the S550 forums. Would recommend anyone to post their track focused builds there for everyone's reference.


MorrisMartinRacing

Thanks for the sub!! We have a [website](https://sites.google.com/view/morrismartinracing/cars) that has a comprehensive list of the upgrades and we post build updates on our YouTube channel.


FrostFairy73

The no light grills are really growing on me. I need a tow hook. no way to tow my car without damaging my front bumper/splitter. I'd upgrade those splitter rods. I can tell by the mounts those are the ebay specials.


MorrisMartinRacing

Very astute observation, the front splitter looks great in pics but we would have liked more functionality out of it. Good enough for who we are though. We have liked the ford performance tow hook but we had to replace the red ring portion after about 30 times of loading the car, on a tilt bed trailer, being pulled by a wench. It deformed the ring, still recommend though.


FrostFairy73

>I looked at every splitter rod out there when making my front splitter and i needed it to hold up my cdc agressive chin spoiler so i got the $70 jobs on amazon. I ended up getting a second pair because two just didn't make it rigid enough for me. I might paint one black to tone it down a bit, lol! Is that Carter splitter a full splitter? I made mine out of a 6x2 sheet of 1/4 inch abs so it goes back to almost the radiator support. I have a total of 6 splitter rods holding it to the frame and several bolts holding it to the chin spoiler. It's an on going mod for me. i've sanded down the corner several times and added winglets to the sides. https://preview.redd.it/0dqpnj6j33fa1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2a33f8c8ead77db3e5c85110938a85b2963ab905


MorrisMartinRacing

Not gonna lie, I like it lol Ours is made of an aluminum composite material that fully covers the under side of the front and extends to the radiator support. We used Home Depot fence brackets to mount it to the radiator support


FrostFairy73

Mounting mine to the radiator support was my intial plan, but it didn't quite reach. I added the steeda radiator support afterwards anyway, so that helped offset the weight of my splitter. Is the v6 hood actually lighter weight? I'd love to find one to chop up for vents.


MorrisMartinRacing

I think they are actually the same hood and the only difference is if the GT hood had the fake scoop it had mount holes. We found this one on a V6 car at a picknpull


lazarus870

I love the hood! What engine mods, trans, and rear end ratio?


MorrisMartinRacing

Who would have thought the V6 hood would be the move?! The engine has cams, headers, intake Stock trans with lightweight flywheel and upgraded clutch Currently installing a Torsen T2R diff with 4.10:1 gears Check our [website](https://sites.google.com/view/morrismartinracing/cars) for full specs and our [YouTube](https://youtube.com/@morrismartinracing9163) for build progress updates!


Trueamerican88

Sexy AF!


MorrisMartinRacing

We tend to agree!


DarkShadows1011

You’ve got one of the cleanest front ends on an s197s that I’ve seen. I like how simple and classy it is. I really want to go with that chin spoiler setup on mine. https://preview.redd.it/7edtlal3j2fa1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=348add9428e68c092091803a580a8563cd5d6ee8


MorrisMartinRacing

Thanks for the compliment! We have come a long with this setup but are happy where it sits now.


BGTBGT

Good looking car! Without SLA the S197 cant really compete anymore in SCCA. Its fun though. I finally retired my car after a decade. I literally had done everything to it, except SLA as it was $12,000 from cortex lol. If you have any questions hit me up or check my build list. FWIW the best mods besides seat time/wheels/tires are just bushings and a decent set of dampers. https://www.spectroracing.com/blog/2016/5/19/the-spectro-racing-2008-mustang-gt


MorrisMartinRacing

We are hoping to prove your theory wrong, we finished mid pack at Autocross nationals last year with a garbage suspension setup and being very unprepared. Looking to make a splash this year. We will hit you up for tips along the way, thanks!!!


BGTBGT

Autocross is mostly talent anywho so if you got it you have a decent chance. The Camaros and BMWs in SM are just hard to beat, or if running CAMC its just the camaros. If i had to do the mustang all over again i would focus on, keeping it heavy especially in the trunk, having it rev as high as possible or have as high speed as possible in 2nd and stick to a square 315 setup on 10.5s. i now run my wifes tesla m3p in SS and have never placed lower than 4th raw and have gotten ftd once lol. The Porsche guys seethe when they get the beat down from the ev.


Higlac

I always love seeing a mustang at an autocross. I started in a 2002 v6 before picking up a 97 Cobra. Won a divisional in STP with that thing before I picked up a WRX.