Mustang News

Lying just north of the Florida border, off I-75, the town of Valdosta, GA, celebrated its 150th Anniversary in January this year. More recently, the Valdosta Police Department celebrated the arrival of a pair of special Ford Mustang police cars.

Photo: Steeda Autosports

Aside from official livery and the usual police car equipment, local company Steeda Autosports further modified these cars. Steeda relocated a significant portion of their operations from Pompano Beach, FL, two years ago. Well known suppliers of performance and other parts for the Ford Mustang, Steeda is also active in the community.

These two cars are the pointy edge of a program that Steeda may expand nationally. According to Valdosta City Manager, Larry Hanson, the Steeda modifications focus on safety, improved braking and better gas mileage. As part of a test program, Hanson says, “We are trying this out. We are going to evaluate the performance of the vehicles and see if the modifications really do make a difference.”

Valdosta Police Chief Frank Simons says that the modifications are expected to save up to $30,000 over five or six years. The police department will also have six Crown Victoria patrol cars upgraded as well.

Steeda’s Georgia operations are set on campus of 35 acres and include a 100,000 sq. ft. design, engineering, manufacturing and support building. In addition, a 1.2-mile test track, skid pad, brake test area and dynamic road surface area were built to assist the development of the company’s performance products.

Modular Mustang Racing sent us a sneak peak of their latest twin-turbo modular engine that’s between the frame rails of a new Outlaw 2010 GT500 Mustang project. The Ventura, California based team plans to enter the car in PSCA Outlaw and NMRA Pro Outlaw class.

Photo Credit: Modular Mustang Racing

The engine’s foundation is a MMR prepped 5.4-liter “Monster Mod” short block with aluminum connecting rods and forged pistons. The cylinder heads are four-valve Ford GT 500 units with a MMR Stage 3R port job and turbo cams. Topping the motor is a custom-built sheet metal intake manifold with eight Bosch 160lb injectors fed fuel by a Weldon high-pressure fuel pump.

Modular Mustang Racing have been racing turbo charged Ford modular engines for years, so turbos were a natural choice for this new Outlaw project. They selected two Garrett ball bearing turbos and built a custom turbo kit around the front mounted units. To direct exhaust gasses to the massive turbos, MMR selected a Tial stainless exhaust housing. To cool the air, a Deeds Performance Air/Liquid intercooler lowers the temperature of the air charge in the intake.

The ignition system has been updated from coil on plug to MMR’s modular distributor drive system. Fuel and spark are controlled by a FAST engine management system.

With all that power and 200 mph speeds, MMR did extensive updates to the 2010 Mustang GT500 steel body including a 25.2 in-house chassis built by Mark Luton Race Cars. A Strange 9 inch rear end mated to a Rossler Turbo 400 transmission transfers power to the rear wheels.

Once completed, the team plans on hitting the PSCA races on the west coast and a trip east for some NMRA action is also in the works.

Ford Racing Performance Parts has recently released their new 4.6 Liter Aluminator short block. The new short block contains the stock, 9.8:1 compression ratio, making it available as a direct replacement for stock 3-valve 2005-2010 Mustang engines.

Official Release:

Part Name: 4.6 Liter Aluminator Short Bock; 9.8:1 Compression Ratio

Part Number: M-6009-A463V

Part Description: Ford Racing’s new 4.6-liter Aluminator short block addresses the late model Mustang enthusiasts need for stock compression ratio and forged components. By maintaining the stock 9.8:1 compression ratio, the M-6009-A463V short block can be used as a direct replacement for the factory 3-valve short block without any calibration changes.
For supercharged engine builds, the short block is a great foundation when combined with a Ford Racing 400 – 550 horsepower supercharger kit.

Specifications:

• Fits 2005-2010 Mustang GT
• Forged steel 8-bolt crankshaft
• Forged steel Manley H-beam connecting rods
• Forged aluminum Mahle 7cc dish 3-valve pistons (same as production 4.6 L 3-valve pistons)
• Approximately 9.8:1 compression ratio when used with 50.3cc 3 valve heads
• New oil pump
• Uses M-6010-A46NA block without knock sensors
• Built with all NEW PARTS
• 8-bolt flywheel or flex plate required (not included)

Ford Racing Performance Parts
Web: www.fordracingparts.com
Phone: 800-367-3788

A late race crash between Joey Hand’s #97 Turner Motorsport BMW M3 and Billy Johnson’s #61 ROUSH Performance Products Ford Mustang GT put Johnson out of the lead and into fourth place with just three laps to go.

Matt Bell had placed the #6 Sunoco Chevrolet Camaro on the pole, breaking the track record in the process, and led the opening laps of the EMCO Gears Classic at Mid-Ohio. Jack Roush Jr. started from fifth in the #61 ROUSH Performance Mustang GT. Roush made his way through the traffic and got past Bell on Lap 14.

Photos: Grand Am

“It was definitely a handful trying to keep Jack (Roush) behind me for awhile. Considering all those things with the Sunoco Camaro, Stevenson Motorsports did an awesome job giving us a competitive car, even though it had a bit of a handicap,” commented Bell.

A total of seven full course cautions slowed the race significantly. Both Roush and Johnson consistently recovered position after pit stops and would likely have grabbed the top podium spot, barring the late race incident. Race winners Spencer Pumpelly and Steve Bertheau were not handed a freebie, having moved up from 27th place at the start, in their #41 Sargent & Lundy Porsche 997.

“We hate to win that way,” Pumpelly said. “We’ve really gotten our program together. We’ve always been there, but you still need a little luck and we got there today.”

Photos: Wes Duenkel/Mustang Challenge

In Ford Racing Mustang Challenge action, Jason von Kluge of Ann Arbor, MI, lead the race from green flag to the checkers, taking his fourth race of the season. The 45-minute sprint saw von Kluge and Tony Buffomante leave the herd behind as they both appeared to have dialed in the right settings for the Mid-Ohio track. The nose-to-tail action continued through the entire race.

“Tony was right there the whole time, he never cut me a break,” said von Kluge. “I made a mistake early on in and power slid through the Keyhole and I was really worried about that. I just managed to hold him back. He pushed me right to the end.”

Buffomante and von Kluge are now separated by only five points in the Championship points race, leaving a 24 point gap back to the third place competitor, Pratt Cole.

“In the middle I just backed up a little bit to see if I could get a run on him and get by and save the tires a little bit, but I had nothing for him,” said Buffomante. “Out of the Keyhole, he was killing me. We just have to get the car better out of the short stuff. Classic Mid-Ohio. You catch them up in the back of the track and then get out of the Keyhole and it’s over again, so that was a frustrating race.”

Ben Crosland started from third and finished there in his #25 RP Motorsports Mustang. Both series takes a bit of a break until getting together again at New Jersey Motorsports Park, on July 17-18.

Stainless Works has a new header design for the new 2011 Ford Mustang. The 304L stainless headers consist of 3/8″ laser cut flanges, and mandrel-bent 1-7/8″ header tubes which flow to a 3″ slip-fit collector. For more information, please read the release below:

Official Release:

Stainless Works headers are built from high quality 304L stainless steel. We use state of the art technology and years of experience in building exhaust systems to create the best products for your Mustang.

Our headers start off with 3/8″ laser cut flanges that are TIG welded to CNC mandrel bent 1-7/8″ primaries. This tubing is then welded to 3″ slip fit formed collectors w/ merge spikes for our final product. If you are looking for the best headers for your brand new Mustang, look no further than Stainless Works!

• 304L stainless steel
• available with leads & high flow cats
• available with off-road lead pipes

Stainless Works
Web: www.stainlessworks.net
Phone: 800-878-3635

Just the sound of it is odd, a 2JZ-GTE Toyota power-plant in Ford’s iconic muscle car? It might be labeled a bastard child by just about every common definition of the phrase, but will running some respectable 8’s over the weekend at Famoso be good enough to keep the critics quiet? Whether that’s the case or not, it’s plenty enough to make us want to learn more about this unique ride.

Read more into Jeff Wilson and the Jaw’s Gear crew’s experience at the SCE Summer Nationals on Titan Motorsports Blog page.

Photos: Titan Motorsports Blog

The muscle car roots within a lot of us might start to cringe already, but Wilson told us not only was he tired of conventional blue oval setups becoming commonplace, he felt that a single turbo 2JZ engine would be the most reliable, toughest and cost-efficient over time, provided you don’t mind the ‘unique’ sound it emits. It looks just a wee bit obscure in that Stang’s engine bay, but we can’t argue that it seems to be working well. The event wasn’t an instant success by a longshot, as tuning and new chassis gremlins gave the team trouble all throughout pre-race testing and qualifying, but luckily they were able to just barely squeak into the field with a 9.63 at 145, which slid them into the last qualifying slot.

The Titan Motorsports sponsored pony was facing almost certain elimination first round going after the #1 qualifier, but to the team’s delight the other car redlit. After running a 9.159 in the second round to also flip on the win light, Jeff set himself up for an interesting final against Gary Brandt who was running consistent 8.7’s all evening. While Brandt came out on top, Jeff did manage to get down the 1/4 mile at 8.962 seconds, trapping 159 mph – a far cry from where they started the day. While Jeff, all the Jaw’s Gear guys and Titan would have loved to see a final round win, it’ll be marked up as some solid advancements that this team is in need of.

Rest assured this pony will be back hoping to improve on the already impressive times, planning to hit most of the WCHRA races, along with the PSCA Street Car Super Nat’s in November.

Since his first IHRA experience all the way back to 2004, Matt Maxsom has gained almost everything it takes to be at the top of his game every time he gets behind the wheel of the M&M Motorsports ‘89 Ford Mustang. After this ‘Stang got the powerplant she needed to be competitive, it was time for Matt to make an IHRA licensing pass at Grand Bend, which went off without a hitch – clicking the 1/4 mile off with a 8.65 at 156 mph while peddling to keep it straight. Starting off as a good day, things went haywire on their last run when the 400″ SBF kicked a rod out at the 1000′ mark, though they still got down with an 8.70, which was good enough to get the license.

Checkout Maxsom.net for more news on the M&M Motorsports team.

Photos: M&M Motorsports

A week after the troubles, the motor was yanked and the culprit seems to be oil starvation that caused a spun bearing, which resulted in 1 broken connecting rod, 2 damaged pistons, a bent valve and a cracked crankshaft. While the pictures located here give us an idea of how nasty the damage is, Matt was astonished that the hole in the piston was caused by a connecting rod bolt, that they found embedded into the exhaust valve. It’ll be marked up as a heck of an expensive debut for M&M, but the new parts are on their way and Matt assures us that this team will be back out soon and on the hunt for some wins. As for the rest of the combo, Matt’s 400″ SBF runs with an F2 Procharger, MSD Ignition and a custom ground camshaft.

M&M’s other ride, a ‘70 Monte Carlo piloted by Kris Parker in the Semi Pro ranks also had a tough weekend, grenading the TH-400 transmission on just their second pass out. The target E/T the team is shooting for with the Monte is 7.50’s in the eighth mile. Here’s to hoping the team’s next event goes off a bit smoother.

Later this month, Barrett-Jackson will hold a Collector Car “event” in Orange County. If you have only ever seen their auctions on TV, you can be forgiven for assuming that the cars presented are only for retired Texas oil patch people and transplanted Hollywood production dudes.

Photos: Barrett-Jackson

We went snooping in the Orange County catalog and found a number of notable cars that won’t go for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Ordinary people like you and I could easily participate in one of these auctions and might even come home with a bargain.

For example, Lot 45.6 is a 1966 Mustang convertible, with a 289 and 4-speed transmission. The car has a new top, top boot, center console and tires on GT rims. According to the owner, the chrome and trim are in outstanding condition and the car has had one high quality repaint in 2005. That paint, however, is Sahara Beige and the interior is Tan, which makes for a quite soft-spoken appearance.

This is very likely an excellent “runner” – a car that you can buy and enjoy driving to shows, events and perhaps even on vacation. You’re not going to worry about a stone chip here or there and it will never see the inside of a show trailer. Unless the Orange County location has an undue impact on general pricing, expect this car to go out somewhere in the $14K to $18K range.

Another find is Lot 105, a 1965 Ford Ranchero pickup. These were Falcons that had the rear sheet metal changed over into a pickup bed, leaving only two seats up front. With a 200-cid, inline 6-cylinder engine, this particular example isn’t going to be pulling out any stumps. However, the driveline has been rebuilt and the car sports a number of custom touches, including a leather interior and 14″ Centerline wheels.

Were this example more original, it might have potential as a representative example of the early Rancheros. The understated paint will fail to excite a casual buyer, while the inline-6 engine will keep the performance enthusiasts moving on by. I’ll go out on a bit of a limb here and suggest that a five-figure final bid for this one is possible… barely. For the right person with a sense of adventure, this Ranchero could be a dream car and a bargain, all together in one set of wheels.

Another classic that will go home with a new owner, is a 1965 Mustang convertible with a 225-hp, A-code 289 V8 engine and 4-speed manual transmission. Lot 34 is a classic red on black convertible that draws eyes from a mile away. While the paint was redone on 2009, the interior is said to be original. While the sheet metal is original, the chrome, trim, moldings and tires were replaced after the painting was finished.

This would be a fun car as a driver and for regional shows. Sure to be well considered in any participant-voting exercise, this classic Mustang is likely to hold up well. Someone attending the Orange Country event is likely to pick up this Mustang in the low $20K range.

Sure, this show is also going to see its share of fifty and sixty and hundred thousand dollar plus cars, but there are some good deals and perhaps even a few bargains to be found. You won’t know unless you try.

PlasmaCAM has introduced a new CNC cutting system designed to operate from a personal computer. The new DHC2 cuts any metal with detail unmatched by hand. This machine enables increased production capability and a higher level of detail and precision. The CNC plasma cutter can be assembled and running within 4 hours of shipment. This thing is great for making your own brackets, or anything you want from medal.

Official Release:

PlasmaCAM has developed a fully integrated CNC cutting system that will operate from a personal computer. The PlasmaCAM DHC2 CNC plasma cutting system enables you to cut any metal with precision, achieving detail not possible by hand. The computer-controlled robotic arm can guide the plasma torch over the surface of the work to create intricate and complex cutting patterns.

With the ability to cut so precisely, the moneymaking possibilities are endless. This is why more and more shop owners are deciding that CNC plasma-cutting tables are great additions to their shops. Budget-oriented shops can acquire this versatile and powerful CNC plasma cutting machine that can cut highly specialized shapes and reproduce virtually any metal part with relative ease. These machines can be acquired inexpensively and can be up and running in less than a day.

PlasmaCAM’s 4’x4’ CNC plasma cutting table ships complete in one box, weighing in at roughly 380 pounds, and can be assembled in about four hours. PlasmaCAM has developed excellent instructional DVDs to guide the assembly process and teach users to become operational.

The machine consists of a rugged frame with an integral cutting grate, drive components with servo motors, a controller, and high-tech Digital Height Control. The PlasmaCAM software includes CAD functions that let you quickly draw or import shapes. The software also features the ability to nest parts, for getting the most out of your materials. The machine and software will cut pieces up to 4ft by 20ft. Cutting as fast as 1000 inches/minute, giving you a whole new level of production capability.

The opportunity to own such a machine enables shops to increase production capability and gain new abilities to make highly customized parts. This system, easy to learn, operate, and maintain, will keep operations up and running through critical production schedules.

• CNC cutting system
• Operates from personal computer
• Cuts any metal with precision
• Assembled and running in less than a day
• Cuts pieces up to 4′x20′ at 1,000″ per minute

PlasmaCAM
Web: www.plasmacam.com
Phone: (719) 676-2700

I was wondering if anyone here has installed and used this shifter in their ’05 up stang. I have an ’05 GT and considering this shifter. Any comments or thoughts are welcome.

Every single day we search long and hard for something different in the racing and automotive world to bring to the viewers. All to often a lot of cars can look alike over time and the same modifications tend to get old. But every once in a while we get lucky and find something that is truly unique and gets our heart rate up as we bring it to you the viewer. Enjoy a look at this awesome 2005 Roush Mustang.

Check out RacingJunk for more great classifieds.

The name “Roush” alone is synonymous with racing for years as Jack Roush cut his teeth in the drag racing world and eventually made the transition to NASCAR. But still his name is quite popular with Mustang enthusiasts and we have come across a 2005 Roush Mustang that not even Mr. Roush himself could have envisioned. This one resides in California and pumps out a massive 1200 horsepower from the 3-valve mod motor. A twin turbo setup has been fabricated to fit the 2005 with 67mm turbos. The inside of the engine is not stock though and has been outfitted with billet rods and crank.

Topping off the engine is the cylinder heads that have received a set of Stage 4 camshafts as well as all the appropriate springs and retainers. The chassis has also been extensively worked to handle all the horsepower. It is certified to run 7.60’s in the quarter mile and has all current SFI certifications which means this one is legal and ready to go. All you have to do is make that call and you will have the opportunity to buy the car and trailer as a package for a mere $50,000.

Dan Millen has been at the game for a long time and has quite the track record for winning races in his career. While he has primarily been a turbo guy while campaigning his Outlaw 10.5 Mustang in the NMRA, there always comes time for change. The Mustang made the trip to Dubai last winter and ultimately stayed after being purchased. This struck a wildfire of chatter as to what he would do next and with being only a few days away from the ADRL event at US131 Dragway which is right in Dan’s neck of the woods.

Check out YellowBullet for more details on the pre-race testing.

A flourish of talk has popped up today and when you see the pictures it is pretty obvious. Millen is out and testing his new XTF Mustang that is sponsored by Al-Anabi Racing. Dan has made the trip to Milan Dragway with Billy Glidden to do some pre-race testing in preparation for this weekend’s event. Early on the track appears to be good as Glidden made a nice hit with a 4.22 @ 171mph. We have yet to hear of any numbers out of the screw blown Mustang of Millen but you can be sure that the crew will get a handle on things and be ready to run with the best of them in the ADRL.

Millen’s new Mustang consists of a flat black finish that has a mean Brad Anderson Hemi settled in between the frame rails. The screw blower has been the most popular way of making power in the XTF ranks over the past year and with the success of Chuck Ulsch it is evident why. Can Millen be the next man in the 3’s? The official 3-second club may be full but there is always records to be broken, and from the looks of this Al-Anabi sponsored machine, things may get shook up a bit.

FOR SALE:

Screaming Yellow 2006 Mustang GT Coupe in manual with 36,000 miles.

Original owner, have all paperwork, 1 minor accident which was fully repaired, well maintained, pristine interior and exterior, frequently washed and always garage kept. Located in New Jersey.

Hurst short throw shifter, MMR cai, BBK long tube headers, o/r x-pipe, borla axle-back, 4.10 gears, 20” Axis rims, black accents on the body, and more!
Looking for around $15,500. Willing to negotiate to an extent.
PM me or call 732-325-8659 with questions/offers.

-Nick
Check out the pictures:

K&N has introduced an intake system dedicated to the 2010 4.0 Liter V6 Ford Mustang. The kit comes with an aluminum mandrel-bent silver powder-coated intake tube, a powder-coated metal heat shield, and an oversized high-flow air filter. Dyno tests proved an additional 5.16 horsepower with the new K&N air filter. Also available are K&N’s Drycharger filter wrap which will repel water and trap small dirt particles, yet maintain high airflow.

Official Release:

Ford Mustang owners are generally passionate about their car and its performance. 2010 Ford Mustang owners who have the 4.0L V6 can enhance their engine’s power with the installation of a K&N high-flow intake system. K&N offers a high performance air intake system that guarantees your 4.0L V6 Mustang will pick up extra power.

K&N intake system 69-3525TS replaces your factory air filter and air intake housing with a custom intake tube and an oversized High-Flow Air Filter™ (RC-4381). This conical shaped chrome top air filter captures harmful particles, provides a large surface area and high air flow. RC-4381 can go up to 100,000 miles, depending on driving conditions, before it needs service.

K&N part number 69-3525TS includes a silver powder coated mandrel-bent aluminum intake tube. Our powder coated aluminum intake tubes offer power and a stylish appearance. This kit also includes a black powder coated metal heat shield to help isolate cooler air from the warm air inside your Mustang’s engine bay.

K&N dyno tested the 69-3525TS air intake on the 2010 Ford Mustang with a 4.0L V6 engine. Dyno tests show an increase of 5.16 horsepower at 4,700 rpm. A K&N intake system will provide your Mustang with outstanding engine protection and a power increase you can feel.

Customized 2010 Ford Mustang with a 4.0L V6 engine.
In addition, K&N offers a Drycharger® filter wrap that can be used in conjunction with part number 69-3525TS. Drycharger® filter wraps are made from a durable polyester material containing uniform micron openings which will stop small dirt particles and repel water; yet add little restriction to the airflow of your filter. Available in a variety of colors, K&N Drycharger® filter wraps can be color coordinated with your car’s finish or your favorite race team.

Installation of 69-3525TS can typically be done in 90 minutes or less using common hand tools. K&N provides detailed instructions that are designed to guide you through the installation process.

This 2010 Ford Mustang air intake system is designed to last the life of your car. 69-3525TS comes with the K&N Million Mile Limited Warranty® and offers an easy bolt-on performance increase for your Ford Mustang.

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

Features:

• Aluminum powder-coated intake tube
• Oversized high-flow air filter
• Additional 5 horsepower

K&N
Web: www.knfilters.com
Phone: (800) 858-3333