Horse Sense: The '05 PRI show attractedmore than 1,400 performance companies exhibiting in 3,950 booths. Thebuilding in which the PRI show was held--the North/South Building of theOrange County Convention Center--is nearly 1,000,000 square feet. Formore info, visit: www.performanceracing.com
In the past, we've had a love/hate relationship with the PerformanceRacing Industry show. Although we loved catching up on new performanceproducts and seeing our boys, at the same time we had to leave the warmconfines of the Sunshine State and travel to the frigid North, which isthe part we loathed. With the PRI show outgrowing the IndianapolisConvention Center and moving south to Orlando, Florida--until at least2010--all we had to do was hop in the Mustang and make the hour-longtrip from our Central Florida home office to Mickey Mouse's backyard.Most importantly, we didn't even have to pack a jacket in order to seethe latest go-fast equipment. What did you miss by not being there,besides the beautiful Florida weather? Check out the captions and seefor yourselves.
Ah, yes--the warm, sunny Central Florida landscape was the perfectbackdrop for the '05 Performance Racing Industry show. The Orange CountyConvention Center in Orlando, Florida, swallowed up the show. Many inattendance thought the '05 show was smaller than in previous years, butour feet begged to differ. While in Orlando, PRI has space to growwithin the convention center and into its spacious parking lot.
Aeromotive
The folks at Aeromotive [(913) 647-7300, www.aeromotiveinc.com] are always busy working on new fuel systems and products. To go withits complete line of fuel rails and kits for just about every late-modelMustang--including the '96-'04 GT and Cobra models and '05-'06 GTmodels--Aeromotive is working on this Pro-Mod fuel pump. As of thiswriting, Aeromotive was busy testing the pump for performance anddurability to meet the needs of Pro 5.0/Outlaw rides that produce morethan 2,000 hp. The Pro-Mod is designed to be an all-out pump for today'shigh-horsepower applications, and it's gasoline or alcohol compatible.
Anderson Ford Motorsport
In this latest age of keeping tabs on your 'Stang's air/fuel levels,Anderson Ford Motorsport [(217) 935-2076; www.andersonfordmotorsport.com] showed us the EF-UEGO 2000. The digital,wideband gauge and air-fuel/rpm recorder works for all gas- oralcohol-powered (EFI) 5.0s, 4.6s, and 5.4s, and doesn't require a PC todisplay data, unlike other wideband air/fuel monitors.
Boss 330 Racing
Boss 330 Racing's [(772) 299-0775; www.boss330racing.com] Al Papitto made quite the splash with this carbureted 5.4 engine atPRI. Known for his Four-Valve exploits, we'd guess Al had plenty ofshow-goers confused as to what type of engine it was. But having knownAl for a few years now, we knew it had his fingerprints all over it.Sure enough, we found his business card under the Barry Grant Demoncarburetor-topped Sullivan Racing Products intake, and Al wasn't too faraway, either. Boss 330 Racing's Chris Starnes spent roughly 200 hoursmodifying the intake to fit the '05 Ford GT block and heads, and thebottom end consists of Manley billet rods, CP pistons, a LincolnNavigator crankshaft, an Aviaid [(818) 998-8991; www.aviaid.com] dry-sumpoil pump, and an ARE Racing Engine Systems [(916) 987-7629; www.drysump.com] oil pan.
BMR Fabrication
Not long ago, we hadn't even heard of BMR Fabrication [(813) 986-9302;www.bmrfabrication.com], but we're pretty sure everyone living in 'Stang nation knows itsdeal by now. With a catalog stuffed full of '05-'06 Mustang parts, we'rebeginning to see a slant toward a few Fox and SN-95 parts. BMR's focusis still aimed at the latest Mustang, however, and its new '05-'06Mustang tubular K-member amplified that point.
Canton Racing Products
It's come to our attention that even NHRA Stock Eliminator racers read5.0 Mustang & Super Fords. The Fox-bodied Mustang is a widely popularchoice of race car in Stock, so this is for those who play on that sideof the drag-racing fence. Canton Racing Products [(203) 481-9460); www.cantonracingproducts.com] introduced this Stock Eliminator rear-sump302 oil pan at PRI. Unlike a factory piece, this stock-appearing(required by NHRA rules) oil pan features a slosh baffle, a crankscraper, and magnetic drain plugs. The pan is also notched for thetwo-bolt rear mains of SVO blocks.
CFE Racing
Can you believe it--a new small-block Ford head? CFE Racing Products'[(586) 773-6310, www.cferacing.com] newProKing small-block head sports either drag-race- orcircle-track-specific five-axis CNC programs. These heads feature raisedintake runners, a 10-degree valve angle, 32-58cc chambers, 274-286intake ports, four-angle intake-valve geometry, and a full-radiusexhaust-valve job. The heads are available assembled with titaniumvalvetrain components and triple valvesprings.
Classic Tube
If your '05-'06 Mustang needs better braking capabilities, check outClassic Tube's [(800) 882-3711; www.classictube.com]new Stop Flex brake lines. These stainless steel braided brake hoseseliminate volumetric expansion, which causes a mushy brake pedal as aresult of the expansion of rubber brake hoses. Stop Flex brake linespromise immediate brake response and are corrosion resistant. Theselines are also available for Fox, SN-95, and New-Edge Mustangs.
Competition Clutch
Competition Clutch [(800) 809-6598, www.competitionclutch.com] had its Mustang clutch offerings at PRI,including the Stage 1 and Stage 3 clutches shown with a Ford RacingPerformance Parts pressure plate. Competition Clutch manufacturesclutches ranging from the Stage 1--which is ideal for Mustangs with upto 450 rwhp--to the Stage 5 clutch disc that's rated for cars boastingover 650 hp.
Direct Natural Airflow
Most of us don't think too much about muffler design. We just wantsomething that sounds good, but Direct Natural Airflow [(905) 683-3785;www.dnamufflers.com]thinks there's more to a muffler than just sound. DNA's patented sounddiffusers within its mufflers allow exhaust gases to move through themuffler virtually unrestricted, which is ideal for performance. Thediffusers deflect sound, which kelps quiet the exhaust noise, but DNAstill reports a deep, throaty sound. That's what we all want from ourMustangs, right?
Dynatech
If you're looking to open up your '05-'06 Mustang GT's exhaust, checkout Dynatech's [(800) 848-5850, www.dynatechheaders.com] SuperMaxx system. You can get Dynatech's headers by themselves,but pairing them with the SuperMaxx system reportedly results in adramatic horsepower and torque increase, not to mention a more muscularsound. Manufactured from T304 stainless steel, the SuperMaxx systempromises a 54 percent exhaust-flow increase, which is huge for thosescoring at home. The SuperMaxx system features PowerCAT converters tokeep your 'Stang environmentally friendly.
Ford Performance Solutions
When the people at Ford Performance Solutions [(714) 773-9027; www.f-p-s.com] aren't toobusy building engines for TV shows, they're working in the R&D roomcreating new Ford engine components. At PRI, FPS had both big- andsmall-block stroker crankshafts under its Pacific Performance Productsline. FPS also featured its new Pacific roller rockers atop FPS Avengerheads, which are available in a variety of runner sizes.
Ford Racing Performance Parts
The Boss is back! Ford Racing Performance Parts gave 'Stangfreaks afirst look at its new Boss 302 engine block. The Boss--a much stronger,Siamese-bore, 8.2-deck legacy of the block that helped Mustangs dominateTrans-Am racing in the early '70s--features a splayed four-bolt-main capon the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 mains, revised oil- and cooling-systempassages, including crossover holes for improved cooling, "screw-in"core plugs, and the big deal: enough meat to easily support the 4.125bore size that's currently the latest rage for mega-inch, small-blockFord builds. We have some pretty big plans in the works for the Boss302, so be on the lookout for more on this legend's triumphant return.