Bell Chassis' Joey Bell and Joseph Lawrence also spent some quality time under Mike's GT. The guys added mini-tubs, welded stainless steel S-plates to strengthen the torque boxes, and fortified the previously installed Kenny Brown Performance subframe connectors. To make sure the rear could handle the power, a 9-inch with a Strange Engineering spool, Moser 35-spline axles, and 3.73 gears joined the party. Up front resides a D&D Motorsports tubular K-member and A-arms, lowered spindles, coilover struts, and a Flaming River manual steering conversion. Aerospace Components double throwdown disc brakes take up residence inside SSR GT3 wheels.
Mike says he made a lot of mistakes during the car's build, and someone else currently owns the GT. Mike now owns a different Mustang and he's trying not to make the same mistakes twice-which is exactly why we ditched the tight-rolled look a long time ago.
5.0 Tech Specs
Engine and Drivetrain
Block Ford Racing Performance Parts R block
Bore 4.030-in
Stroke 3.250-in
Displacement 331ci
Rotating Assembly Scat crankshaft and H-beam connecting rods, JE pistons
Compression Ratio 8.5:1
Camshaft Comp Cams hydraulic roller
Heads Edelbrock Victor Jr., Jon Kaase Racing Engines-ported and polished, 2.02/1.60 valves, Lunati valvesprings, Crane lifters, 1.6 roller rockers
Intake Holley SysteMAX II, chrome upper, powdercoated lower
Throttle Body 75mm
Power Adder Turbonetics twin 67mm turbochargers, Precision Turbo air-to-air intercooler
Fuel System Barry Grant King Sumo fuel pump, braided fuel lines, Best Products fuel rails, Siemens-Deka 160-lb/hr fuel injectors
Exhaust System Bell Chassis & Fabrication custom-built manifolds and pipes with Magnaflow mufflers
Transmission Powerglide with transbrake, line-lock and PTC 4,600-rpm stall converter, Pistol Grip Hurst shifter, aluminum driveshaft
Rearend Ford 9-inch, Moser Engineering 35-spline axles, Strange Engineering spool, 3.73 gears
Electronics
Engine Management Fast
Ignition MSD 7AL2, HVC II coil, 10mm spark plug wires, NGK TR6 spark plugs
Gauges Florida 5.0 gauge package
Chassis and Suspension
Front Suspension
K-member D&D Motorsports tubular
Control arms D&D Motorsports tubular
Struts D&D Motorsports
Springs D&D Motorsports
Caster/Camber D&D Motorsports
Brakes Aerospace Components
Wheels SSR GT3 18x8
Tires General 215/35-18
Rear Suspension
Springs QA-1
Shocks QA-1
Brakes Aerospace Components
Wheels SSR GT3 18x12
Tires Nitto 305/35-18 Extreme Drag radial
Chassis Stiffening Bell Chassis & Fabrication 10-point rollcage and torque box S-plates, Wolfe Racecraft mini-tubs, Kenny Brown Performance subframe connectors
Mike's GT left Dearborn with...
Mike's GT left Dearborn with a much-maligned red interior. Through much searching, Mike was able to piece together a black interior, gathering more than one set of black door panels before he came upon the perfect pair. The seats are Corbeau, the gauge cluster from Florida 5.0, the switch panel is from Painless Wiring, and the removable steering wheel is from Grant. The rear seat was deleted since there wasn't any room for it after the mini-tub installation. Tony Upshaw redid the interior upholstery work while Bell Chassis & Fabrication added the 10-point rollcage and mini-tubs.
When Mike first bought the...
When Mike first bought the car it had a Paxton Novi-fed 331, but lengthy talks with legendary Mustang racer and champion of turbochargers Tim Lynch, Mike went the hairdryer route with a pair of Turbonetics 67mm turbochargers. This was after Mike had the Novi parts coated and polished. The Keith Craft-built powerplant is based on a Ford Racing Performance Parts R-block with a Scat crankshaft and rods, JE pistons, and a Comp Cams hydraulic camshaft. Jon Kaase Racing Engines ported a pair of Edelbrock Victor Jr. heads, to which was added a Holley SysteMAX II intake with a 75mm throttle body. With a FAST engine management system, Proline Racing Engines' Steve Petty tuned the beast to make 680 streetable horsepower at 14 pounds of boost. With a Powerglide in the tunnel, the car runs 10.30s on the Nitto Extreme drag radials. Notice the engine compartment is also two-toned!