Ford Mustang Race Car
The only thing better than a race car is another race car. After a slight mishap with our MkII Supra at Daytona, we needed another race car while it was in the shop. So, enter the forgotten race car in a barn meme.
This particular Mustang spent a good decade in various race shops in the Carolinas being turned into a race car, and when we found it, it had good bones but no heart-- meaning it was a roller with no driveline. Fortunately, it came with a Ford 9" and a Super Late Model-style rear suspension, so we were off to a good start.
We knocked the ugly off and decided that the best way to make an old Ford fast was with new Ford parts-- so enter a 2nd gen Coyote and a Tremec 3160 transmission out of a Shelby GT350. The Coyote is the obvious choice-- they're light, make good power, and rev to the moon. The transmission comes with a cooler pump from the factory, so that was also a no-brainer.
One of the goals with this build was to retain the Coyote Ti-VCT variable valve timing, so we went with another Holley Dominator and the associated Ti-VCT box to "just work". After a few months of "this is undocumented and I hate my life", it does in fact just work.
Engine mods include a FRPP Cobra Jet intake and custom shorty headers, resulting in 375 hp and an undisclosed hilarous amount of torque thanks to a F-150 cam and firing order setup. While not a typical configuration, this torque-happy setup gives the car utterly ridiculous corner exit speeds even at low RPMs.
Suspension comes in the form of Moton Control coilovers, and very large Wilwood 6-piston brakes help keep us alive. As does the huge carbon wing that helps keep the rear end on the ground.
The whole car is run via an ECUMaster PDU, and telemetry makes it to the pits via Starlink.
This particular Mustang spent a good decade in various race shops in the Carolinas being turned into a race car, and when we found it, it had good bones but no heart-- meaning it was a roller with no driveline. Fortunately, it came with a Ford 9" and a Super Late Model-style rear suspension, so we were off to a good start.
We knocked the ugly off and decided that the best way to make an old Ford fast was with new Ford parts-- so enter a 2nd gen Coyote and a Tremec 3160 transmission out of a Shelby GT350. The Coyote is the obvious choice-- they're light, make good power, and rev to the moon. The transmission comes with a cooler pump from the factory, so that was also a no-brainer.
One of the goals with this build was to retain the Coyote Ti-VCT variable valve timing, so we went with another Holley Dominator and the associated Ti-VCT box to "just work". After a few months of "this is undocumented and I hate my life", it does in fact just work.
Engine mods include a FRPP Cobra Jet intake and custom shorty headers, resulting in 375 hp and an undisclosed hilarous amount of torque thanks to a F-150 cam and firing order setup. While not a typical configuration, this torque-happy setup gives the car utterly ridiculous corner exit speeds even at low RPMs.
Suspension comes in the form of Moton Control coilovers, and very large Wilwood 6-piston brakes help keep us alive. As does the huge carbon wing that helps keep the rear end on the ground.
The whole car is run via an ECUMaster PDU, and telemetry makes it to the pits via Starlink.