Baer Braking Systems
With the availability of the superior C5 Corvette caliper from PBR, Baer [(602) 233-1411; www.baer.com] has updated its late-model Mustang offerings with this stiffer, larger-padded caliper that uses pin drives to dispense with the pesky spring-clip pad attachments. It bolts directly to the '95-and-later SN-95 spindle-no bracket necessary-and clears nearly all 17-inch wheels. Sold as a front pair with slotted, drilled, and zinc'd rotors, the brakes cost $895. Deduct $100 if you can live with plain rotors. Another late-model product is a 13.250-inch rear Eradispeed +1 rotor for 17-inch wheels. Complete with two rotors, brackets, and hardware (no calipers) the kit is $245. Baer also reported its PBR caliper and rotor system for early Mustangs with 15-inch wheels is selling like crazy at $1,195 (add $250 for two-piece rotors).
Bassani Xhaust
Bassani [(866) 782-3283; www.bassani.com] has already nearly exhausted the Ford scene in header, X-pipe, H-pipe, and after-cat coverage, so the company has been updating its designs. To reduce leaks at the head flange, Bassani now machines a small groove at the flange and uses four individual seals instead of a typical gasket. This eases installation and reduces leakage. The big news we've hinted at in these pages before is the company's new metallic catalytic converters. Said to be more efficient from an emissions and power standpoint, these cats are also quite compact. The units took home Primedia's tech-nology award for Best Street Performance product.
BBK Performance
We showed you BBK's [(909) 735-2400; www.bbkperformance.com] new $499 5.0 intake manifold last month ("Early Warning," p.130) ; the company showed it to the rest of the world at SEMA (along with Honda and Chevy LS1 intakes). There still was no upper casting at the show, however. BBK also debuted its short-tube 4.6 header that we detailed last month. These headers use a cast-steel section for better placement of the 151/48-inch primary tubes, and preliminary testing indicates these are short-tube 4.6 headers that really make power. They are $299 chromed or $399 with a polished ceramic coating.
Borla Performance Industries
Borla [(805) 986-8600; www.borla .com] showed off a trick, FR500-style exhaust system for '03 Cobras. The S-Type system is designed specifically for the Cobra's supercharged engine. The company is also promising a Cat-Back system for the new Ford GT. We certainly wouldn't put anything short of a stainless steel system on our $150,000 supercar.
Carrillo Rods
Now owned by the giant Dover Corporation, Carrillo Rods [(949) 498-1800; www.carrilloind.com] is looking to broaden its market from its typical Formula One, Winston Cup, and extreme high-end amateur race market. So, in addition to its time-honored H-beam rods, Carrillo released slightly less expensive ($160 per rod) A-beam units in popular small-block and 4.6 modular sizes.
Comp Cams
With 4.6 Xtreme Energy cams new in its catalog last year, Comp Cams [(901) 795-2400; www.compcams.com] stepped up its modular game this year with a fresh, beehive-style 4.6 valve-spring. It's rated to 0.550-inch valve lift and will fit the stock spring pocket without machining. Four-Valve V-8 springs have also been developed, but obtaining cam cores has been problematic. Expect to see Cobra cams from Comp soon, however. Another new item is a slip-in 351W roller cam for flat tappet blocks (six part numbers here for street, strip, 4x4, road course, and so on). Comp also debuted an XR line of Focus 2.0 Zetec cams at SEMA. Ranging from mild street to wild race, the cams span 220 to 236 duration at 0.050 inch of valve lift. Nitrided for durability, the Zetec cams work with the stock valvetrain and are designed as "drop-in" pieces.