[Bigayal]

Ps those jingyu tyres were gone the first day I bought it 🤣

 

[Bigayal]

Hi all here is my st500 Stripe as she is known in our house

Items completed
Rs clutch
Block mod
M factory lsd
Wheels refurbed (new centre caps)
Callipers painted
Drivers seat refurbed and seats fed
Kit off ceramic coating
Full detail and stone chip fixed
Section 59 exhaust
Airtec intercooler stage 2
Gearbox torque mount
Cp340
Rs injectors
Collins actuator
all suspension and stability items replaced
Full waxoyl underneath
New shocks b12 kit
Engine/coolant/ancillary hoses
Recirc valve
Plenum
Rs vac lines
Rs airbox and mountune lid
Custom built titanium crossover
Both engine mounts upgraded to hardrace
New uprated oil filter housing
New stripes/badges
Headlights reconditioned

Items not completed in order of importance
Braided brake hoses/ calliper refurb
Engine forging
Block painted
Refurbished subframes
New wheels (purchased)
New 500 badge (purchased)
New exhaust tips (non melty ones )

 

[Bigayal]

I went for Yokohama advan sports as I had them on my EO and loved them 👍

 

[Bigayal]

Honestly the lsd is much more important than tuning it sticks like weetabix now , it reminds me of my old cozzie 4x4 the way it sucks you into corners 🥰

 

[Bigayal]

Had these on my ST170 and found them a good tyre myself.

Ive always liked yokies they are a bit soft so they wear out quickly but I dont get to drive it much anyway lol so they last 🙄 I use yokie bluearths on my work car and they kick up as much spray as an artic when its raining 👍 handle really well too

 

[Bigayal]

View attachment 884599
Wheels and callipers are booked in for next Monday going for graphite grey again and red callipers 👍

ps I dont know why it comes on upside down

 

[Bigayal]

It's the way you hold your phone when taking a picture, there's a thread on how to take them to ensure they post the right way.

Cars looking nice, have you always had your reg with that spacing? Ever had any issues?

Ahh ok 👌 I uploaded it about ten times and was thinking there must be something I have done wrong somewhere 🤣 , and yeah Ive always had it like that and never had a problem so far 🤞 it doesnt look right any other way

 

[Bigayal]

Anyone know what that exhaust is ?

 

[Bigayal]

This belongs to Frank bird junior its a genuine Malcolm Wilson wrc spec , I have obviously asked to have a blast in it 🤣 I do quite a lot of work for his uncle 👍

 

[Bigayal]

Arrrrgh Ive got a dilemma , bought a spare wheel as one of mine was slightly buckled when I bought the car so I bought another one for when they go in for refurb next week and its white (have asked the refurb to be graphite) I put the white up against the car just to see and it looks amazing 😍 but I have 2 bikes with white wheels and they are an absolute nightmare to keep clean 😢 ps yes Im a moron and I even read the link on how to take a picture properly 🙄 Ive put the wheel away now so this one will have to do 🤣

 

[Bigayal]

I used to have white wheels on mine and I only had to drive 10 minutes and they'd be dirty, felt like I was constantly cleaning them, never again!

but they are so enticing with their whiteness 🤣 they really stand out maybe I could go white not clean them and have white/brake dust ? And occasionally have white 🤔

 

[Bigayal]

They would look so good though 🤯 I already know how much of a chore white is on my bikes 🏍 They have already ordered the paint so dont think I can change now anyway , and Im not going to ask if they can either 🤣🤣🤣

 

[Bigayal]

Really nice looking st 500 good start on the mods too, are you planning on going down the polybush route when you get the suspension parts done?.

thankyou ☺ Yes I will but I probably wont do the arb bushes with polys Ill just get new oem ones , I did them on one of my cozzies and it really annoyed me so I changed it back after a month 👍

 

[Bigayal]

It might be worth considering Hardrace bushes as they are not as hard as poly bushes but are a little stiffer than OEM. Plus they don't squeak like Poly ones can do!

the poly ones felt really crashy on the Sierra for very little gain , would you recommend doing all of the bushes in hardrace?

 

[Bigayal]

My arb bushes are poly ones but i will be swapping out my anti roll bars for the whiteline anti roll bars and they come with there own bushes.

Ill do the rear arb as it does get a bit loose sometimes but I like the way the front feels I think some hard races and see what thats like 👍 then decide on a front arb at a later date as its not a massive mission to change the front arb

 

[Bigayal]

And tbh I havent really thought about the underneath yet wheels and callipers are getting done tomorrow then I need to do the ceramic coating and drivers seat and exhaust then Ill do some research and decide what to do think its going to be fairly expensive to do all the underneath with new parts 🤔

 

[Bigayal]

I would just check on the current ones & swap as required as otherwise it's an expensive job to just swap out en-mass! However given the age of the 500's now I would unfortunately expect most of the original bushes are past their sell by date. I know mine were on my car!
Thankfully you can swap them out in stages. On my car I did the front end first as it was the worst - wishbones & ARB/drop links etc. The back got sorted with a replacement ARB, bushes, & links. Plus I swapped out the toe & caster arms for adjustables. Then finally I went round & replaced the smaller bits & pieces. Results were amazing & the car cornered like it was on rails but it took some time & wasn't cheap!

Plus don't forget the engine mounts & gearbox/rear torque mount as they will likely be worn as well - my engine mounts especially were completely shot!

The bushes are quite sound nothing is excessively loose or worn ,Ill do the engine mounts and torque mount soon , and then just start buying bits and pieces as I go and then just do it all in one go as I want to under seal too so will be easier to drop the lot and do that then rebuild with new bushes 👍 have been emailing mountune today they wont supply the 290 as a kit anymore I have to buy the exhaust and intercooler and plenum seperate from the chip and then pay for it all to be installed so that can deffo wait till underneath is completely done , the gap in my driveway is annoying me now I just want her back 😢

 

[Bigayal]

Are Mountune back up & running then? My only issue with them is that you pay a premium on anything of theirs - if it is in stock! - for it being Ford approved & warranty 'friendly' - even for cars like the 500 which are well out of any warranty!!
Personally I would try Collins for upgrades - plus you might even get a bit of a discount with them mentioning this club!!

I wouldnt exactly say up and running it took them well over a week to reply to an email 🙄 and he was quite evasive about what could be done and what parts I would need to supply tbh from those emails I probably wouldnt have used them , that was just a probing enquiry though , exhaust and seat fixed are next on my purchase list 👍

 

[Bigayal]

In that case Mongoose/Collins exhausts are thoroughly recommended as I have one on my car. It is nice & fairly OEM at tickover, no droning, & all hell breaks loose when you stand on the loud pedal! I had the same on my 500 & it was spot on - hence why I got one for the new car.

I have already priced one from a and k , just waiting for the funds to be released by her indoors apparently Ive spent enough on that stupid car Im not allowed to drive already 🤣🤣🤣

 

[Bigayal]

wheels and callipers are done , seat is now booked in 👍