One of the truly amazing things about this wicked ride is the fact that all of the OEM body panels are still intact. "All I wanted was to keep the car all steel. It was Vic's idea to go with the Shelby GT500 front end," says Carl. "We also saved every piece of original drivetrain and interior that was removed." With the exception of an East Texas Race Cars fiberglass hood, the 'Stang's updated nose piece is 100-percent factory Ford, and cold air rushes through its grille directly into the always-hungry ProCharger F-3, which is mounted front-and-center. Carl says he realizes the 'Stang's heft limits its 6-second e.t. capability, but he has no interest in cutting the car for drastic changes to make it lighter, which would risk its perfect appearance.
With its menacing-looking F-3 sitting right up front, capable of churning approximately 40 pounds of boost into the 388ci terror under the GT's hood, Carl estimates more than 1,600 horses are thrown at the pavement with the current tune when he lets go of the transbrake on his Coan Powerglide. Bennett Racing assembled the mega-blown bullet, which features stout, billet everything inside; Bennett custom-ported, canted-valve heads; and an Edelbrock Victor intake manifold on top. A monster like this generates a lot of exhaust; to handle getting the gases away in a hurry, Vic designed and built a set of ginormous 2 1/4-inch stainless headers that fit the car like gloves. Using PC Anywhere link software, tuner Jason Lee manipulates the Mustang's Big Stuff 3 EFI programs from the comfort of his home, ensuring the engine will be ready for battle at all times regardless of where Carl is racing.
| 5.0 Tech Specs |
| ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN | Rearend |
| Block | 4.56 gearset, Mark Williams spool, |
| Fontana | 40-spline axles and driveshaft |
| Bore |   |
| 4.125-inch | ELECTRONICS |
| Stroke | Engine Management |
| 3.625-inch | Big Stuff 3 |
| Displacement | Ignition |
| 388ci | MSD |
| Crankshaft | Gauges |
| Scat | Auto Meter |
| Rods |   |
| GRP aluminum | SUSPENSION AND CHASSIS |
| Pistons | Front Suspension |
| CP | K-member |
| Compression Ratio | East Texas Race Cars |
| 8:01 | Control Arms |
| Camshaft | N/A |
| Custom | Springs |
| Heads | Spring Specialties |
| Bennett Canteros | Struts |
| Intake | Santhuff |
| Edelbrock Victor | Caster/Camber |
| Throttle Body | N/A |
| Accufab 105mm | Brakes |
| Mass Air | Aerospace |
| N/A | Wheels |
| Injectors | Bogart spindle-mount |
| Bosch | Tires |
| Power Adder | Goodyear |
| ProCharger F-3 | Rear Suspension |
| Intercooler | Springs |
| East Texas Race Cars water-to-air | East Texas Race Cars |
| Fuel Pump | Shocks |
| Weldon | Koni |
| Headers | Control Arms |
| East Texas Race Cars 2 1/4-inch | East Texas Race Cars |
| stainless headers | Brakes |
| Exhaust | Mark Williams |
| East Texas Race Cars collector | Wheels |
| mufflers | Weld |
| Transmission | Tires |
| Coan Powerglide | Mickey Thompson |
| Converter |   |
| Coan |   |