Once the reincarnation started, he and Johnny Riddling, Mike's brother, welded in a pair of subframe connectors, strengthening the factory torque boxes while they were at it. Remember Johnny's brother's '95 GT? Also, thanks to MV Performance, that car had a Four-Valve modular under the hood, but the car's former powerplant was no slouch, either. The car had a supercharged 306 prior to going modular, so that combination, along with many other parts and pieces from the '95, found its way under the hood of Johnny's coupe, but not before being freshened up by Johnny Adkins Machine Shop in Bogart, Georgia. The Metco Motorsports-armed 8.8 from Jason's GT also found its way under the LX.
All this time, Johnny and his girlfriend, Dru, were trying to decide on a color for the car. Finally they settled on Dupont Sunset Orange. Since Johnny is co-owner of a body shop, that part would be easy, or so he thought. The passenger-side quarter-panel turned out to be full of bondo, and that side's rocker panel wasn't any good, either. "I realized I would have to cut out the quarter-panel and rocker panel, and replace both panels," Johnny says. "After the endless hours of body work, it was time to lay down that beautiful Sunset Orange.
"With a fresh coat of paint blazing in front of me, I was anxious to finish the job," Johnny says. The engine was carefully dropped into place to keep from scratching the fresh paint, and a Tremec 3550 was sourced from MPS Auto Salvage in nearby Winder, Georgia, with an aluminum driveshaft between it and the fresh 8.8. Shane was able to set Johnny up with a Titanium interior to replace the ratty red guts. "Last but not least," Johnny says, "the car made its debut on a trip to MV Performance for a dyno tune, and then to the rim shop for some nice shoes."
It's fitting that the car would be rescued from MV only to make its first noises right back where its journey started. Johnny says the project took about a year and three months from when it left MV to return under its own power. "It was definitely a fun obstacle to overcome," Johnny says.
5.0 Tech Specs
Engine And Drivetrain
Block '95 GT
Displacement 306ci
Crankshaft Stock '95 GT
Rods Stock '95 GT
Pistons Speed Pro 0.030-in over
Camshaft Ford Racing Performance Parts F303
Cylinder Heads Edelbrock Performer RPM, FRPP 1.6-ratio roller rockers
Intake Manifold Edelbrock Performer RPM
Throttle Body BBK 70mm
Power Adder Powerdyne supercharger, 9 pounds of boost
Fuel System 255-lph in-tank pump, stock fuel lines and rails, 42-lb/hr injectors
Exhaust BBK Performance long-tube headers and X-shape crossover exhaust system, Flowmaster after-cat exhaust
Transmission Tremec 3550, FRPP King Cobra clutch, Steeda Autosports Tri-Ax shifter, aluminum driveshaft
Rearend '95 Mustang GT 8.8, FRPP 3.73 gears, Moser Engineering spool, 33-spline axles, and rear cover
Electronics
Engine Management Stock '95 Mustang GT computer, DiabloSport/MV Performance tuned
Ignition MSD, FRPP spark plug wires, Autolite spark plugs
Gauges '95 Mustang GT dash cluster and gauges
Chassis and Suspension
Front Suspension
K-Member Stock
Springs QA1
Struts Lakewood 90/10
Caster/Camber QA1
Brakes 13-inch, '01 Mustang Bullitt, Hawk brake pads
Wheels Foose 20x8½-in
Tires 255/35-20
Rear Suspension
Springs Stock four-cylinder Mustang
Shocks Lakewood 50/50
Control Arms Metco Motorsports upper and lower, antiroll bar
Brakes Cobra calipers, Powerslot rotors, Hawk brake pads
Wheels Foose 20x10-in
Tires 285/30-20
Chassis Stiffening Maximum Motorsports subframe connectors, reinforced and welded torque boxes