What's In ALM's Garage?

[DFB5.0]

Not quite home in the garage yet!
Another work trip to the US this week, and one more S650 "accessory" in the to-be-fitted collection.
(Postage to Australia is hideously expensive, so I'm taking advantage of being here.)

As we know, our Aussie S650 GTs now come with a strut tower brace, unlike the S550.
But, they look a little plain without a plate.
(Great job Ford for your shareholders, you probably saved 50 cents per car by not fitting a plate)

Inspired by this topic about strut tower brace plates, and from Anchor Room, I now have a strut tower plate to fit.

Arrives in a sturdy mailing tube to prevent any bends.

I forgot to pack a ruler (!) but my hand as a reference.

There are quite a few designs to choose from, but I wanted to keep it clean and simple.

Double-sided tape along the rear face.

I thought heat might be an issue for the double-sided tape, but if you read through the topic linked above, others have had no issues.

Yes, it will sit there unseen 99.9% of the time, but it's nice to know the brace will look complete.... like it should have been out of the factory, Jim.

Hurry up Titania!

I decided that I would like one of these as well. But the shipping kills that idea.

For those interested, shipping on a $50 decal will set you back at least $135.00!

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[bfets]

5

I decided that I would like one of these as well. But the shipping kills that idea.

For those interested, shipping on a $50 decal will set you back at least $135.00!

5.0ALM seems to be going to the US frequently enough. Maybe he can start a cheaper courier service

 

[5.0ALM]

Nice, wonder if there is someone locally around the capital cities who could laser etch a design into the paint. The brace seems pretty easy to remove and transport around. Might check it out once my car arrives or just pay the high postage to get a plate from the US.

I decided that I would like one of these as well. But the shipping kills that idea.

For those interested, shipping on a $50 decal will set you back at least $135.00!

It's crazy!
The mailing tube is approx 35cm long x 4cm dia and the package would weigh ~100g.
The shipping cost bears no resemblance to the volumetric weight.

These plates were on my radar a while ago, and were forgotten about due to the ridiculous shipping. But posts in that topic literally the day before I left reignited the idea, and I thought bugger it.

There would be many places in Oz that can laser etch. Small scale laser engravers have become like 3D printers in the consumer market, but you wouldn't bother for a one-off.
I can measure the thickness of the plate when I'm home next week, but it appears to be similar to card stock.

5.0ALM seems to be going to the US frequently enough. Maybe he can start a cheaper courier service

Ha!
I wish.
I'm not actually scheduled to go to the US in 2025 at all.

If there's a few of you in the area, then a group buy with one order might be worthwhile, and you can split the postage costs?

 

[5.0ALM]

Unlike metallic colours which can be more interesting under different lighting conditions, I felt my Oxford White GT would need something to help dress it up...

Back from a recent work trip to the States, and it was time to liberate these vinyl graphics from Mustang Restyled out of their shipping tube.

Coasters and UNO cards being used to help flatten out the roll on the dining room table!

Hood accent stripes in gloss black with custom text.
Gloss black was chosen due to the proximity of the hood bonnet gloss black heat extractor.

Rocker stripes hash style in matte black are supplied in four segments (as seen in first photo).

These rocker stripes have a similar look to the RTR rocker stripes, but RTR won't sell them separately, and they only come with their Spec-2 etc kits.
Stupid policy RTR, as I just spend my money elsewhere.


Josh, the owner of Mustang Restyled, has been absolutely fantastic to deal with.
By default, their website does not accommodate international shipping, but they are happy to arrange this. Just make contact with them.

Being completely ignorant on how international imports work, I checked on our end and it looks like roughly $30-40 for shipping, but that's with "duties paid on delivery"? Is that normal for Australia international shipping? Do you know how much that will cost you and is that acceptable?

We have received a few other questions regarding international shipping so perhaps we can add it as available without needing to contact us, as long as there's a notice regarding duties or other import costs that may need paid on delivery

If that's good with you, I'm happy to get this order setup and an invoice sent to complete the checkout!

So far we have been using cardboard shipping boxes roughly 10x4x2 inches with the vinyl rolled inside, as well as instruction card and squeegee (if ordered/promotional free item).

Shipping to home to was the Plan-B, as I had these delivered to my hotel in Chicago.
The above is provided for any other Aussies interested in products from Mustang Restyled.

As noted above, normal shipping is in a box, but I floated the idea with Josh about using a mailer tube.

Your order shipped out this afternoon in a tube. We do not use tubes usually and this order made us remember why. Even in a 2 inch tube, it is very snuggly packed in there for multiple stripes and gas cap

We also didn't have a tube big enough, so we had to use one from one of our vinyl vendors, but it should still be fine. My guess is your order will be delivered Monday.

Tweaking the image in post-production, and we can make out the vinyl supplier is VViViD Vinyls.

In the first photo you may have noticed the gas door cover in matte black.
I'm undecided whether I will actually fit this... but what the hell.

I cannot speak highly enough of the service level from Mustang Restyled.
It was umpteen emails over a week, and I would have been a PITA compared to a normal domestic order, but the enthusiasm and desire to please customers from a new small business really shows.

Needless to say, it's eating in front of the TV for the time being!

 

[5.0ALM]

Probably the final delivery before the delivery!

After reading horror stories about slicing fingers open when detailing around the [razor sharp] exhaust tips, these were a no-brainer.

From Burg Design in Melbourne, a set of quad exhaust tips in "Titanium Black".

There is a paint defect on the tip that came out of the box which wasn't plastic wrapped.
No big deal, as it won't be seen.

I'm not sure why they include the hex head grub screws, as they are already fitted to the tips.
Spares, perhaps.

 

[Deano1978]

Def getting a set, on their website now. Will go well with the black pack.

 

[5.0ALM]

Def getting a set, on their website now. Will go well with the black pack.

Order them direct from Burg.
Other places resell these, but they're more expensive AND they charge more for postage.

 

[Deano1978]

Order them direct from Burg.
Other places resell these, but they're more expensive AND they charge more for postage.

Burg has "sold out". I rang him this morn not realising its a public holiday in Melb but he answered anyway, lovely bloke (Ray).

"Sold out" means he wasn't happy with the batch he received from the manufacturer cause the underside of the tips had some blemishes in the finish so he decided to discount them on his own website even though his distributors probably aren't (like Mustang motorsport).

He's tossing up whether to get the remaining stock powder coated locally and then selling those instead.

Anyhow I just ordered a set via MM ($383 inc postage), they'll have the same blemish but the only time anyone will see it s when it's up on a hoist and I'm ok with that. MM is overpriced compared to Burg Design but reckon that's ok price considering not many ppl make these tips in a material that doesn't yellow over time and they are a no weld solution.

 

[5.0ALM]

Burg has "sold out". I rang him this morn not realising its a public holiday in Melb but he answered anyway, lovely bloke (Ray).

"Sold out" means he wasn't happy with the batch he received from the manufacturer cause the underside of the tips had some blemishes in the finish so he decided to discount them on his own website even though his distributors probably aren't (like Mustang motorsport).

He's tossing up whether to get the remaining stock powder coated locally and then selling those instead.

Anyhow I just ordered a set via MM ($383 inc postage), they'll have the same blemish but the only time anyone will see it s when it's up on a hoist and I'm ok with that. MM is overpriced compared to Burg Design but reckon that's ok price considering not many ppl make these tips in a material that doesn't yellow over time and they are a no weld solution.

Ahh!
That explains why my tip with the paint defect was unwrapped - Burg were inspecting.
It also explains why the URL I posted now returns a 404.
Total from Burg was $342.95 including postage.

It's good that they are continually seeking to improve products.
As you say, the small blemish will never normally be seen, so it doesn't bother me one iota.

For anyone following who is interested, make contact with Burg.
The more that request, the more chance of getting these available again.


Edit: The number of iotas was left out!

 

[5.0ALM]

Did I say the exhaust tips would be the last delivery before the delivery?
Never mind!

Purchased off Amazon AU: OBDLinkEX OBD2 USB adapter.

AUD$99.95 delivered.
Ordered Sunday, and on my door this morning (yesterday was a public holiday here).

This is the adapter recommended by Forscan themselves, and claims 100% network coverage.

Let the data sniffing begin!

 

[5.0ALM]

Typical.
We, down under in the colonies, seem to wait an eternity for things.

I was about to get a Viofo A229 Pro 2-ch dash cam for the Mustang, but discovered the about-to-be released Viofo A329. This new unit is in the hands of various beta testers right now, some of whom have been posting about it on dash cam forums and uploading sample videos to Youtube.

Despite already being available on pre-order in USA (and shipping started yesterday), I contacted Viofo Australia for an ETA down under.

Dear Adam,

Thank you for reaching out and we appreciate your interest in VIOFO A329.
Unfortunately, we haven't got an ETA yet but can only estimate that it will be released in AU market at the end of this year/early next year.

Kind Regards,

Support Team
--
VIOFO AUSTRALIA

I think I'll still get the A229 Pro for the Mustang, and the A329 for the RAV4 when it becomes available. The RAV4 will continue to be the daily driver, and will most likely benefit more from the A329 incremental improvements.


Decisions, decisions.
#1stWorldProblems


The Dash Cam Thread on 7G.
A329 sample footage from p12 onwards of The Dash Cam Thread

 

[VB50GT]

Time to clean out ALM's garage to make room for the most important delivery...

 

[5.0ALM]

Time to clean out ALM's garage to make room for the most important delivery...

Tell me about it!

I had to shift 6 bags of concrete out of the way this afternoon, unable to do a pour because of the storms and crap weather yesterday and today.

Not only that, couldn't finish re-paving across the driveway.
In preparation for a new parcel letterbox, I needed to run some conduit in a trench under the pavers. (Letterbox has sensors and home-brew geeky stuff in it, so needed some connectivity back to the house.)

Driveways on an incline are a PITA.
Pavers and weeds are a bigger PITA.

Hopefully it won't be pissing down tomorrow, and I can get half of it done.

 

[Deano1978]

As the owner of a paved driveway I can confirm they are a PITA.

 

[Deano1978]

Ahh!
That explains why my tip with the paint defect was unwrapped - Burg were inspecting.
It also explains why the URL I posted now returns a 404.
Total from Burg was $342.95 including postage.

It's good that they are continually seeking to improve products.
As you say, the small blemish will never normally be seen, so it doesn't bother me one iota.

For anyone following who is interested, make contact with Burg.
The more that request, the more chance of getting these available again.


Edit: The number of iotas was left out!

Got my new tips the other day from MM, they don't have the blemish.

Now, just gotta wait 10 weeks for something to fit them too!

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