Stang Pit

Drool all you want… Ford has updated their website to include a “Build Your Own” 2011 Mustang page.  Take your best shot at configuring the car of your dreams and tell us about it!  Are you getting the spoiler-delete option to install your own aftermarket one?  What’s your favorite color?

Build A Better Beast

Take on the challenge and see how many combinations you can come up with.  I have mine planned out; a black GT Premium, 6-speed (either auto or manual!), 18″ chrome Bullitt wheels, probably spoiler-delete… now if I could only cough up abuot $35,000, I’d be all set.  Mess around, see what happens.  Print it out and stick it on your wall as inspiration to try to make more money or save up for one!

I have a feeling, it will be well worth it.

In a time when Earth is experiencing a downtrodden economy and a “green” revolution, intergalactic space pirates from nearby Centauri are earning more booty by the minute.  They’ve recently discovered Earth after China and other countries tested missiles in space, which led them to investigate our solar system.  Though they despise all Earthlings more than Michael Moore does, they admit to seeing a “new hope” with the release of the latest pony by Ford, the 2011 Mustang.

Mustang-Hungry Aliens

There has been quibbling on a stellar scale about whether the V6 or the V8 is more fun, but all Centaurians agree that Ford has a winner on their hands.  Qaxar hasn’t driven a Mustang since the 1969 Boss 429, which he stated, “…got me a lot of chicks, but was more nose-heavy than W.C. Fields.”  Never one to live in the past, Qaxar has already planned his pirate mission to obtain the first delivery of the new Mustangs.

He won’t release all of his secrets, but “it’s a mix of bait ‘n’ switch coupled with good ol’ tractor beam technology”, Qaxar explained.  He plans to sell all but one of the Stangs for twice over sticker in Centaurian dollars which, with Earth’s troubled economy, makes this quite a home-run profit for Q and his minions, considering the going conversion rate.

“It’s actually more economical to use Earth dollars as toilet-paper than to go to our local CentMart and pay top-dollar for HindClean”, Qaxar admitted.  You see, Centauris are similar anatomically speaking, but their diet leaves them with a tar-like substance on their…”hind-quarters”.  Most Centauris use HindClean, which is nearly identical to 600-grit sandpaper on Earth.

Qaxar almost feels bad about the Mustang booty, saying that he will try to leave a few for us, but it all depends on supply and demand.  He leaves us with this, “Earth-dollars, or ‘squibs’ as we like to call them, are not quite rough enough, but they’re such a good value for the bathroom!”

Who said 540-hp was enough to satisfy everyone?  Chances are if you opted for a Shelby GT500, you’re power-hungry, and someday you’re gonna look for more.  Without even opening up the motor, you can unlock 612 rear-wheel horsies on your beast.

The mods will cost about $5900, and more like $8200 installed.  But don’t you want 621-rwtq ripping your pants off?  Just slap on some American Racing full-length headers at 1 7/8 inch with a 3-inch crosspipe, a Magnaflow after-cat 3-inch exhaust, C&L cold air intake, a larger single blade throttle body, C&R heat exchanger, Ford Racing 3.73:1 gears, and get a custom tune.

2007 Shelby GT500

Some shops have clocked the aforementioned mods at the track at 10.43 seconds in the quarter-mile at 133 mph, using a 2007 GT500 strapped with drag radials on wider-than-factory rear-wheels.  Parts $5869, installed $8169.  612 rwhp and 621 rwtq.  Nice.

Trick Flow recently announced their new Cylinder Heads for 2-valve Ford modular motors.  There hasn’t been much out there on the aftermarket for 2V heads, until now!

From their website:

“AKRON, OH—Twenty years ago, Trick Flow Specialties revolutionized late-model Mustang performance with the introduction of the legendary High Port® cylinder heads, and did it again in 1996 with the release of the innovative Twisted Wedge® heads. In 2009, Trick Flow will revolutionize the Mustang scene once more with the debut of its newest high performance heads–the Twisted Wedge Street/Strip Cylinder Heads for Ford 4.6L/5.4L 2V engines!

Trick Flow 2V Heads

The heads feature Trick Flow’s patented Twisted Wedge combustion chamber design coupled with an intake valve moved to the opposite side of the camshaft–just like the 3V heads on 2005 and later 4.6L/5.4L engines. The benefit is a dramatic increase in mid-lift airflow, plus increased piston-to-valve and valve-to-bore clearance that allows the use of higher lift cams and larger diameter valves without having to alter the bore size or flycutting the pistons.”

Performance buffs have been taking classic Boss 429 engines and boring them out to 4.375″, which are are .015 larger than the original, and adding some modern technology know-how to pump out over 670-hp from these beastly motors.

The grinding out will offer up 432 ci displacement, but this block can support up to 598 inches!  Then they coat the forged aluminum diamond pistons with high-temp magic-sauce, install a new, stronger crankshaft, a modern belt-drive timing system, extra-deep oil pan to keep everything running cool and well-lubed, beehive springs on the valves, a new carb and an aluminum intake manifold.

Sought-After Boss 429 Engine

You don’t always need a new motor to soar above stellar horsepower numbers.  But a little modern technology can help.

Ford Racing recently released two new crate motors with very competitve pricing.   First is the X-302, which features forged pistons, boost-friendly 9:1 compression, hydraulic-roller E303  cam, and X-306 heads.  This adds up to 306-ci of displacement pumping out a very respectable 340-hp.

For those longing for dangerously dazzling displacement, Ford also has a 535-hp monster with 10.5:1 compression, a meaty 427-ci featuring a steel crank, H-beam rods, and forged pistons topped with Z heads.  Both come without a distributer, wires, intake, carb, or a fuel system, headers, or flywheel.

New Ol' 427 Crate Motor

Sweet 306-ci Crate Motor

$3495 for the 306, $8800 for the 427.

The picture is what Chicago looks like from I-90 at 2:30 AM on a Thursday morning, on tax day.  Why is this a cool picture?  It’s not.

You know it’s going to be a bad day when you never went to sleep, but wanted to, then you find out at 1:00 AM that you have to go to work, 40 miles away.  The only saving grace was I got to take the Stanger out for a roadtrip, albeit unplanned, though I suppose most of mine aren’t planned.

Ugh. It's 2am Chicago!

Not cool.  Then I got back in the Stanger thinking I could go home at 4:00 AM, just to find out I had to go right back in.  And it’s tax day.  What a sucky day.  Hey, at least it’ll be warm in Chicago today!

Mustang Depot has a new billet grille for 1969 Mustangs for that horizontal look.  From their site:

“These beautifully designed Billet Grills mount in the existing grill locations and add an awesome, custom look to your early model Mustang. Our grills are welded and utilize 30-40% more billet bars than the average billet grills on the market. This feature provides each grill with tight spacing, a near perfect fit, and a stronger more durable product.” 

Mustang Depot's 1969 Grille