As promised, here is my laundry list of things to do to Black Sunshine

• Window Tint
  • Window Tint Pricing
• Clear Corners
  • Installing ClearCorners
  • Installing Xeon Chrom-Amber Bulbs
• Shorter Antenna
• Sequential Break Lights
• Chrome Door Handles
• Satellite Radio/iPod
• Chrome Interior Accents
• Spring Kit then Suspension
• Ventilated Breaks
• Additional Gauges
• Custom Paint / Stripes
• New Tires/rims on all fours

I will post about each of these when I install them with pictures and my shopping analysis. Of coarse I will give credit to the people I shop with (good or bad) and inform all you on the process and costs involved.

Cleaning your air filter with
K&N Recharger Filter Care Service Kit

As you can see from the image above, my air filter was in dire need of a cleaning. I have a beautiful cold air induction system in my Mustang so I decided to buy a CAI cleaning kit. This process was a lot simpler then I imagined it would be. The kit itself was around 10 bucks and the only other tool I needed was a flat head screwdriver to remove the filter. After that it was full steam ahead.

Once I had the filter removed, I removed a lot of the loose debris by lightly tapping the end of the filter. I then simply sprayed on the K&N Air Filter Cleaner (it goes on like windex). I coated the entire filter liberally and let it sit for about 20 minutes. I then ran warm water through the inside of the filter and watched the gunk fall right off. I ran low pressure tap water from the kitchen sink and it did a perfect job. I let the filter dry for an hour or so and repeated the process to make sure it was spotless. I let it dry in the sink over night. The next day when it was completely dry I applied the K&N Lubrication Oil. It went on like a thick spray paint and you can easily see the spots you miss. Do this outside over some cardboard as it is messy and will stain. The oil is very toxic as well so make sure you wash your hands. The night I applied the cleaner, I think I got food poisoning but I am not sure if I cleaned my hands very well after cleaning the air filter. Do yourself a favor and wear rubber gloves just in case. It hurt pretty bad.

Anyway, once it was all said and done, I definitely noticed a difference in my ride. A clean cold air intake makes a world of difference and I definately have to give the boys at K&N a huge thanks.

The GrubbDawg top 10 Awesome Cars

I was talking about awesomeness with a friend at work. He challenged me to come up with a post about Awesome Cars and I knew I could deliver. I love cars. I love crappy cars, old cars, new cars, busted or cherry cars. I even like stinky cars, big cars, little cars and (thanks to Dr. Seuse) red cars and blue cars. Most of all, I like awesome cars. I like them loud and fast, turning heads when you fly by. I like the rides that people can identify immediately. That is what this list is all about. This is a list of the top 10 Awesome Cars that can be identified almost anywhere.

Disclaimer: These are my own thoughts and oppinions so if you dont agree, I don’t care!

#10 - The Winnebago from Space Balls
How can you not like a rusted out winnebago that can travel through Space. The “Eagle 5″ makes me think of what red neck boys will drive in the future. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Well I say “Awesomeness is in the eye of the beholder”. And I behold this blog so it starts off at #10 in the list of Awesome Cars!

#9 - The A Team Van
“I love it when a plan comes together!” Can a van be included in this list of Awesome Cars? If a Winnebago can, then why not. This van had one badd ass look to it. It could corner like a vette and out run cop cars in any situation. Just the thought of this ride puts me back in the 80’s when gun fights would break out with 1,000 shots and no one would get hit. I don’t know anyone who did not like this van.

#8 - 1977 Pontiac Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit
When it comes to Awesome Cars, this one almost made it to the top of the list. For those who don’t know the movie, Bandit plays the ultimate wingman distracting the cops (Smokies) while his buddy transports 400 cases of Coors illegally. I remember watching that flick as a kid and thinking how awesome the car was. Fast, loud and the chicks dig it.

#7 - 2009 Camaro - Bumble Bee from Transformers
I am a Ford man but I have to give some credit to the new 2009 Camaro. I do miss the Mustangs annoying little brother a little bit. The cars came back in amazing style as a Transformer and dropped my jaw. Of coarse I like Baracade better since he was a black Mustang and evil but Bumble Bee has more fan appeal. You also can’t buy the Camaro yet so it adds to the “want one” factor. Besides, owning a car with unlimited ammo and a nack for playing the right tunes is just plain awesome!

#6 - De Lorean DMC-12 from back to the future
Time travel is awesome. I want a car with a flux capacitor and travel back in time to kick my ass. How cool would it be to fight yourself? Not to mention this car was a freekin De Lorean. I think the producers just wanted the budget to buy one for themselves. You can’t have a list of Awesome Cars and not have this car included (even in 1955).

#5 - The Batmobile
I don’t care which one. The Batmobile’s history goes all the way back to 1939 (DC #30). This symbol of dark fury has seen multiple face lifts of awesomness. Of corse growing up watching Batman on the big screen, my favorite was built off of a Chevy Impala chassis. It could shoot missiles and had retractable machine guns, was bullet proof, had a jet engine and plenty of other toys. Sometimes I wish I had this ride in rush hour.

#4 - 1969 Dodge Charger - General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard
When it comes to Awesome Cars, the General Lee ranks pretty high. This american classic is as recognizable as they come. I often wondered what kind of tires they put on that car because I dont think I would ever dive that fast on dirt roads. The body structure of this car was amazing. I always thought that you could jump your car 30 feet over a creek and land it without any damage (until I tried it - it dosent work, trust me).

#3 - 1976 Shelby Mustang GT500 “Eleanor - Gone in 60 seconds
I can’t tell you how many times I have seen this movie. I get goose bumps every time I hear that engine fire up. I am giving this car the credit because of how amazing it is but the real credit for this “Awesome Cars” positioning goes to the movie itself. Here are the ladies and what part they played. These are all AWESOME CARS!

1. Alma: 1964 Bentley Continental
2. Angelina: 1999 Ferrari 550 Maranello
3. Anne: 2000 Ford F350 4×4 modified pick-up
4. Ashley: 1966 Shelby AC Cobra
5. Barbara: 1962 Aston Martin DB1
6. Bernadene: 1994 Jaguar XJ 220
7. Carol: 1999 Cadillac Escalade
8. Cathy: 2000 Toyota Landcruiser
9. Daniela: 2000 Cadillac El Dorado ETC (El Dorado Touring Coupe)
10. Deborah: 1999 Jaguar XK8 Coupe
11. Denise: 1998 Dodge Viper Coupe GTS
12. Diane: 1995 Ferrari 355 B
13. Donna: 1999 Mercedes Benz CL 500
14. Dorothy: 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL/Gullwing
15. Eleanor: 1967 Shelby Mustang GT 500
16. Ellen: 1998 Mercedes Benz SL 600
17. Erin: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
18. Gabriela: 1950 Mercury Custom
19. Gina: 1990 Lamborghini Diablo
20. Grace: 2000 Rolls Royce Stretch Limousine
21. Hillary: 1999 Lexus LS 400
22. Iris: 1997 Ferrari 355 F1
23. Jessica: 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner
24. Kate: 1971 DeTomaso Pantera
25. Kimberley: 1999 Lincoln Navigator
26. Laura: 1999 Bentley Azure
27. Lindsey: 1999 Bentley Arnage
28. Lisa: 2000 Volvo Turbo Wagon R
29. Lynn: 1998 Toyota Supra Turbo
30. Madeline: 1959 Cadillac El Dorado
31. Marsha: 2000 Porsche Boxster
32. Mary: 1999 Aston Martin DB7
33. Megan: 2000 GMC Yukon
34. Nadine: 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB4
35. Natalie: 1961 Porsche Speedster
36. Pamela: 1953 Chevrolet Corvette
37. Patricia: 1958 Cadillac El Dorado Brougham
38. Rachel: 1999 Infiniti Q45
39. Rose: 1987 Ferrari Testarosa
40. Samantha: 1999 Mercedes Benz S 600
41. Shannon: 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda
42. Sharon: 1965 Pontiac GTO
43. Stacey: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Big Block
44. Stefanie: 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
45. Susan: 1956 Ford T-Bird
46. Tanya: 1997 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo
47. Tina: 1999 Porsche 996
48. Tracy: 1999 HumVee 2-Door Pickup
49. Vanessa: 1969 Dodge Daytona
50. Virginia: 1988 Porsche 959

#2 - 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am – KITT - Knight Rider
Give me a car that can talk to me, drive for me, is bullet proof, can see through walls (or drive through them without a scratch) and I will be a happy man. People may think I am a little weird when they see me talking into my watch all day but who cares. Believe it or not, there was a point in time when David Hasselhoff was kinda cool. I put this at #2 because KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand) is not only a classic muscle car but also the leading edge of artificial intelligence. A new series of Knight Rider airs this February and is a much cooler car though (a new Shelby Mustang).

#1 Black Sunshine

When it comes to AWESOME CARS, Black Sunshine takes them all. Why? Because she is mine and I say so. 2006 Black Mustang convertible with Roush stage 1 conversion, 4.10 gears, CAI with flash programming, custom rims, shaker 1000 and red leather interion. When it comes to Awesome Cars, I wouldnt want to be driving anything else. Not even any of the cars listed above.

Dale Jarrett Ford Warranty Service
Ford Service Adviser Dominick Santevecchi

I took my baby in for her first check up last week. When she dropped her top,all I heard was a squeaky hinge noise unless I cranked up that shaker 1000. I love the sound of the Roush Exhaust to mush to listen to music 100% of the time. Besides, I never know if the Shaker 1000 head unit is going to sound like a broken record or not. That being said, I had to bite the bullet and turn my keys over to a complete stranger for the first time. The most important thing for me was knowing it would be serviced at a high end dealership that is used to taking care of high performance machines. I have been to many Ford dealerships in NC and SC and had no problems driving just over an hour if needed.

I first visited the dealership on my way to the beach many years ago. The last time I stepped into the showroom at Dale Jarrett Ford, I was in staring in the grille of multiple high end mustangs including a new 2007 Shelby and a couple custom eXtreme conversions. The people there were real nice and the showroom was more impressive then any I had seen. I knew at that moment that when I got my Mustang, I would make the trip to Indian Trail, NC for my maintenance. Heck, I drive 70 miles for new tires because I like the tire service (a blog post for another day). You can all call me crazy for driving any distance just for basic maintenance, but why the hell do you think I bought this car in the first place? I bought it to chill out and enjoy the open road.

So I hold my breath and call some stranger and tell him I want to give him my keys. I was connected with Dominick Santevecchi, a Ford Service Adviser at Dale Jarrett Ford. Dominick’s team has seen plenty of high performance cars go down their line, including a Ford GT just a week before. I explained my situation and he was more then happy to help even though he was potentially going to have to test drive the car with the top down in 40 degree weather. I left the house early and got there right when the service department opened. Dominick knew he was taking my baby and had one of the technicians park it in the garage instead of outside. I guess you can say he had me at hello. Mr. Santevecchi put up with my multiple concerns with a friendly jab or two that left me feeling perfectly comfortable that my car was in good hands. He also followed up with me throughout the day on the status.

Knowing that I had just bought the car, he had his team give my baby a once over to see if anything was in need of some maintenance. Usually, you would think this is a dealerships way of finding a few hundred dollars worth of quickies to do for some extra cash. As that was my expectations, I was quite surprised to find out that all I needed was a new fuel filter (no big deal) and suggested that I clean my cold air intake. The filter was nasty - I should have been so embarrassed. Dominick went into great detail on what I needed to do in order to clean it. I went straight to the auto parts store after picking her up to get the kit (explained in my next post). Jim Lewis, one of Dominick’s service technicians, handled my care with the utmost care. I will definately continue to say good things about these two and the dealership.

At the end of the day, the service team at Dale Jarrett Ford exceeded my expectations and was well worth the drive to be serviced by the best. I cannot emphasize enough on how amazing everyone there was to work with. From Dominick all the way to the people at Enterprise and the nice lady who checked me out when I picked my baby up. If you ever need service to your ride make sure to call Dominick Santevecchi, Ford Service Adviser at Dale Jarrett Ford. Tell him “Big Dawg” sent you!

Dominick Santevecchi
Ford Service Adviser
Dale Jarrett Ford
88 Dale Jarrett Boulevard
Indian Trail, NC 28079
704.261.8822
800.849.8521

I would love to hear about your experience with Dale Jarrett Ford.  Please comment.

2006 Mustang - Roush Exhaust

Here is my baby. I dont know what else to say other then I love the way the 2006 Roush Exhaust sounds. Each gear sings it’s own note.  I have to apologize personally for Roush Performance for waking up my neighbors every morning.  Most of the time when the top is down, I keep the radio of so the 2006 Roush Exhaust can sing me its song.  I must have personally played this clip a hundred times.

The Mustang Forums Discussion Board

Like I often do, I want to make mention of a site I consider valuable and an important source of information. The Mustang Forums is a community of thousands of Mustang enthusiasts who openly share their thoughts and experiences with this icon of American Muscle Cars. The forum discussions are broken into sub forums for just about everything you can think of. From frame structure down to audio and electrical modifications. They even have a special discussion group for owners of ROUSH, Saleen and Boss Mustangs as well as breaking up the 6 and 8 cylinder models. There is constant traffic and everyone is real fast to provide feedback. Unlike most discussion groups, the Mustang Forums contains very few egos. There is also no lack of Mustang pictures to droll over for those fanatics as well.

If you have any love for Mustang at all, I would highly suggest checking out these forums. I have been browsing through the Mustang Forums for years while I anxiously waited to get my next Mustang. They are an invaluable resource for me. Thanks guys!

Here is the GrubbDawg profile for anyone interested.

A black convertible Mustang with the ROUSH Stage 1 conversion and rims that scream “LOOK AT ME” coupled with rich red leather interior shouldn’t be lacking anything in styling. One look at her and I am sure you would agree. I just see things a little different them most. I see the car with Black Red and White (and that annoying yellow corner that will be addressed another day). I also see through the rims and notice the gun metal grey calipers hidden within. The calipers absolutely HAD to be painted red to bring out the accents in the interior, side reflector and that beautiful ROUSH badge.

Obviously the first step to any project is to make sure you have all the tools. I stopped by NAPA and grabbed everything I needed for about $40. The Paint itself is only about 20 bucks but I picked up a set of jack stands for some added piece of mind.

Resources Needed
Dupli-Color High Performance Caliper Paint
Detail Brush
Wire Brush
Jack / Jack Stand
Basic tools for tire removal
6 pack of Sam Adams
A better paint brush
Painters Tape

Obviously the first thing you need to do is jack up the car, remove the tire and place the jack stand. Now that you have the caliper right in front of you, liberally spray it with the break cleaner included with the Dupli-Color Caliper Paint kit. Scrub it down good with the wire brush and detail brush. Use an old towel to wipe it down and help remove the break dust. It is always good to drop some cardboard under your work area (like you needed a reminder). Be careful not to scrub the rubber protectors that surround the pistons for the caliper. Once this is done simply tape around the area you are about to paint. The tape they give you in th Caliper Painter kit is narrow and small. I suggest using that for the tight place and use standard painters tape for the rest.

Now for the easy part. Paint the calipers with the paint. Sounds easy right? It is. The paint is thick and dries real fast. You can get 2 coats on before even switching to the next tire. One major tip. DO NOT USE THE PAINT BRUSH SUPPLIED WITH THE DUPLI-COLOR CALIPER PAINT KIT. The brush is cheep and you will be going insane pulling out the tiny bristles it leaves behind. Play safe and trash it immediately.

Take your time and the results will be well worth it. If you don’t want to paint the back of the calipers then you can cut that corner. No one is going to see the back of them anyway. All in all each caliper took approximately 45 minutes. Check out the results.

Pete from McAdams Cars was right. The red calipers look awesome with that ROUCH badge!

McAdams Car Dealership in West Allis WI

Let me start by saying that I have spent the last 2 years browsing for my dream car on Cars.com, AutoTrader.com and CarMax.com. I have been wanting a convertible Mustang since I was 15 years old. This car has eluded me for the last 18 years. I thought I had found my dream car last August but decided my marriage was more important. That being said, my lovely wife promised we could look into getting the car in February of 2008 (2 years earlier then she promised me over 5 years ago).

Right before we left for vacation, I found my dream car again. This car had almost every modification I wanted to make to my Mustang over the years. The only problem was the price. It was way lower then I was expecting. I did see price reductions on the convertibles in northern states during the winters over the years so I decided to do some more research if it was still available when I got home.

I contacted McAdams car dealership in West Allis WI (just outside of Milwaukee WI). Steve at McAdams was amazing to work with. He provided me with additional pictures that covered what was missed in the original 15 photos on Cars.com. Everyone at McAdams was amazing to work with. I had never bought a car from a dealership out of state let alone buying a car I had never test driven. The pictures looked to good to be true. The body is in mint condition without a single scratch or door ding at 1.5 years old. The guys at McAdams Cars detailed it so well that you could see reflections in the paint.

It turns out that the car belonged to Pete of McAdams and was obviously his baby. When I told him of the 70 degree weather we were having down here in December he told me to take a picture of me with the top down in “his” car (they just got hit with a foot of snow). With only owning it for a short time now, I can see how he fell in love with it. Don’t worry Pete, she is in good hands down here in the Carolinas and has had the top down many times already. It is like having a dog in a small one bedroom apartment and then moving to a 100 acre farm where she can run free.

McAdams cars delivered the car to Indianapolis (as far south as they could go) so I flew up there and drove it to its new home. What an amazing road trip it was. Me and “Black Sunshine” bonded and got real close. She is an instant part of the family. I just want to take the time to thank the guys at McAdams Cars in West Allis WI. They are serious with their motto “Where you don’t have to pay big dealer prices”. You guys rock and I would highly recommend you guys to anyone no matter where in the US they live.

Check out their inventory. Their web site could use a little work but that is not their line of business. They are in the business of selling cars and they do a great job at that.