Ford Stuff

I really should have gone to the SEMA show this year. I am a Chevy guy but I find these two announcements from Ford interesting.
Jack Roush introduced what is being called the "Drag Pack Mustang". This will be the first factory built drag race ready Mustang in nearly 30 years. This car is similar to the purpose built 69 and 70 Super Cobra Jet cars that were an instant sucess in the drag racing world. You will be able to walk into a dealership and but this complete race car and drive it to the track. I wonder if the average guy will be able to afford one!!
The other item I found interesting is the Ford is going to produce a new Boss 302 block. This name will be familiar to anyone who paid attention to racing back in 1969 and 1970. The original Boss 302 engine was quite different from the 302 small block offered in Ford cars and trucks, primarily because it used canted valve cylinder heads and other features aimed and making it bulletproof for racing..
The new Boss is designed to be compatible with standard small block, Windsor style cylinder heads since that is where nearly all of the performance development has been done over the past couple of decades. The new block features four bolt mains, screw in freeze plugs, siamesed bores, cast from high grade iron, and because it was designed for both street and strip, the Boss name was revived. Other features include a one piece rear main seal, hydraulic roller lifter compatibility, improved oiling and enough cylinder bore meat to accommodate a .124 overbore. This calculates to 363 cid. Ford says the M.S.R.P will be $1759, which is over $200 cheaper than the Ford Racing R302 racing block. More inf can be found at http://www.fordracing.com.
Wow!! Good stuff! C'mon GM, how about something for us Chevy guys?
partdoctor

Fuel Injection Rocks

I actually started my Malibu project back in 1994. This is when I started collecting parts. I first bought the body, minus engine and transmission. Then came the engine. My friend in Iowa was involved in the old Corvette Challenge series and had just totaled the race car. He then decided to get out fo the race business so I bought one of their backup engines. It came with the 90 Corvette tuned port intake.
Next came the transmission. I decided to go for an electronic trans out of a truck. I found a source in the Detroit area that handles new car take out parts. In other words, this company buys salvage parts from the big three. It took awhile but they finally got a 4L80E that I purchased.
Now that I have all this stuff, how do I make it work! I was in Indiana visiting my friend John Lingenfelter and he convinced me to get rid of the stock TPI and install what he called a "SuperRam" induction system that he had designed. Ok. Long story short, I decided to make a 383 stroker out of this so I brought the whole thing to Lingenfelter Performance Engineering and had the machine work done, including the "killer port" job on the heads.
Now the challenge--make this thing run. Installation was really a piece of cake. I decided to use the stock computer to control the engine and a diesel transmission controller to control the trans. (diesel uses a stand alone controller)
Here's where the real fun starts. I started out using a 90 Corvette chip and a stock chip for the transmission.
In 1997 I had to travel to the LA area on business so I stopped to visit my buddy Steve Cole who owns TTS Power Systems. I soon realized had had another piece of my puzzle. From him I purchased engine and transmission tuning software.
Fast forward. The first time down the drag strip the car ran 14.20 @ 99 mph. After many chips, I finally got it to run 13.50 @ 102 mph. Much better!
Now the frustrating part. It's new millenium and the damn car is going slower! Im pulling my hair out burning chips trying to get my 13's back!
Finally, one day at the track, the car would not start so we had to push it on the trailer! Diagnostics revealed a failed coil! New coil and we're running good again.
The last modification I made was to change thr torque converter to a 3000 stall. My 60' times went from 2.3 to 1.79! Final result, in October of this year the car went 12.89 @ 104 mph! Now that's where it should be. I know there is more to be had but I have run out of good weather here in MI.
partdoctor

What's a Hot Rod?

What is a hot rod? Like they say in the 2006 SEMA Hot Rod Industry Report (It can be found on the SEMA website or if you can't find it, let me know & I'll be glad to get you one), if you ask 10 different people you'll get 10 different answers.
I guess my cars don't exactly fit any of the definitions. My "cruiser" is a 1974 Caprice convertible (too new) complete with LS6 big block, dual quads, 3000 stall converter and a 3:73-1 rear gear. This makes for a fun, tire smokin', HOT ROD. Of course I get comments like "why" and my and my standard answer is "cause I can".
My other car is a 1980 Malibu (also too new) I built this car for the drag strip! It has a fuel injected 383 cid V8 that started life in a 1990 Corvette. It also has a 4L80E electronic transmission out of a truck and a Ford 9" from a 77 Lincoln Versaille. I burn my own chips for both the engine and the transmission. After taking a lot of teasing about "putting a carb on that thing and make it run" I recently ran a 12.89 @ 104 mph and suddenly my buds quit all the noise! I finally got some respect!
I guess you could call the Malibu a "rat rod", kinda, sorta, cause it's black primer.

I guess the bottom line is if you enjoy your toys who cares if it fits any definition!