Eric built the car's current 306 around a balanced and blueprinted rotating assembly featuring a turned stock crank, stock rods, TRW pistons, Federal-Mogul rod and main bearings, Speed-Pro rings, and a CAT main girdle. A Trick Flow Stage II cam actuates the valves via Ford Racing Performance Parts roller rockers atop a pair of stock Edelbrock Performer heads. A Holley SysteMAX II intake provides a path for compressed air from a Vortech S-Trim. The new combination has made a best of 524 hp on LaRocca's Performance dyno with Jimmy Chahalis at the tuning helm.
Eric has many people to thank for the car's transformation, but "most importantly," he says, "I have to thank my very understanding wife, Barbara. She never got upset when I spent lots of time in the garage working on the car." Yeah, what about that gas smell in the house?
Being an active SuperStallions of the Net member and moderator, Eric would be remiss not to thank the host of people who've helped him during the buildup of his GT, including fixing it from time to time. Key players include Jimmy Chahalis, Bob Lunner, and friends Darin Croom and Mike Euston. "Mike is responsible for turning me from a checkbook racer into someone who does all his own wrenching," Eric says. "He has been a true mentor."
5.0 Tech Specs
| ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN |
| Block | Stock |
| Bore | 4.030 |
| Stroke | 3.00 |
| Displacement | 306 ci |
| Crank | Stock |
| Rods | Stock |
| Pistons | TRW Stock Replacement |
| Cam | Trick Flow Stage II |
| Heads | Edelbrock 6037 Performer, |
| | FRPP roller rockers |
| Intake | Holley SysteMAX II |
| Throttle Body | Accufab 70mm |
| Mass Air | Pro-M 83mm |
| Fuel System | Weldon 2025-A fuel pump, |
| | Aeromotive pump controller and |
| | adjustable regulator, Ground Pounder |
| | fuel rails, MSD 50-lb/hr injectors, |
| | Rhodes Custom Auto sumped fuel tank |
| Headers | MAC 15¼8-in unequal length |
| Exhaust | MAC Pro-Chamber H-pipe, |
| | Straightline mufflers, MAC tailpipes |
| Power Adder | Vortech S-Trim, |
| | Anderson Ford Motorsport Power Pipe, Renegade crank pulley |
| Transmission | Level 10 AOD, Lentech |
| | Street Terminator valvebody, |
| | Art Carr 3,200-stall converter |
| Rearend | 8.8, F-150 31-spline differential, Moser axles, 3.55 gears |
| ELECTRONICS |
| Engine Management | Stock with FRPP |
| | Extender |
| Ignition | MSD 6AL, Crane PS-91 coil, |
| | ACCEL 300+ plug wires |
| Gauges | Auto Meter |
| SUSPENSION AND CHASSIS |
| FRONT SUSPENSION |
| K-Member | Stock |
| Control Arms | Stock |
| Springs | Four-cylinder |
| Struts | Lakewood 90/10 |
| Brakes | Stock |
| Wheels | Weld Draglite |
| Tires | Pep Boys radial |
| REAR SUSPENSION |
| Springs | Four-cylinder, airbag in |
| | right rear spring |
| Shocks | Stock |
| Traction Devices | MAC upper and lower |
| | control arms |
| Brakes | Stock |
| Wheels | Weld Draglite |
| Tires | Mickey Thompson slicks (track), |
| | Nitto Extreme drag radials (street) |
| Chassis Stiffening | Rhodes Custom Auto Works eight-point, Global West subframe connectors |