Like the car's taillights,...
Like the car's taillights, the interior has been updated to '87-'93 guts, joined by a pair of Kirkey Pro Drag seats up front, and a B&M Pro Ratchet shifter. The Big Stuff 3 and MSD Digital 7 unit reside in the cool confines of the interior within easy reach for any necessary tuning changes. Phil, his brother, Dustin, and dad, Robert, did the majority of the fabrication on the car. One area farmed out was the 12-point rollcage and subframe connectors handled by LRT Racing in Streamwood, Illinois. Alston Racing also finished the front suspension set-up on the car.
The car made its public debut at the NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl at Joliet in 2008. It wasn't in fighting shape, but it was there. It wouldn't be until the NMRA World Finals at Bowling Green that Phil would be able to make his dreams come true. Competing in True Street, Phil made the cruise with no problem, but he made a rookie mistake by not tying down a line to the map sensor (If you need any tie-wrap tips Phil, let me know!-Johnson). The result was the line came loose at about the 1,000-foot mark and the car did a nose dive. However, it still ran a 9.65 at 130 mph. "A far cry from where it should have been," Phil says.
For 2009, Phil and company made a few changes,and were rewarded with a best of 9.32 at 145 mph. For 2010, plans include an intercooler and maybe a step up to a ProCharger F-1R. Sounds like a lot of rage to me.
5.0 Tech Specs
Engine and Drivetrain
Block 351 Lightning
Displacement 383 ci
Crankshaft Rich Groh Racing steel crank
Rods 351 Lightning
Pistons RGR-spec Diamond pistons
Compression Ratio 9.5:1
Camshaft RGR, Ford Racing Performance Parts roller lifters
Heads FRPP Z304, RGR-ported, 2.08/1.60 valves, Harland Sharp roller rockers, RGR-spec valvesprings
Intake Edelbrock Super Victor, Wilson Manifolds elbow
Throttle Body Accufab
Power Adder ProCharger D-1SC supercharger, 12-rib drive belt, 25 pounds of boost
Fuel System MagnaFuel ProStar EFI fuel pump, MagnaFuel regulator, -10 Feed, -8 Return, RGR E-Flow fuel rails, Seimens-Deka 83-lb/hr injectors
Exhaust Kooks long-tube headers, Dr. Gas 3 1/2-inch X-shape crossover, DynoMax Bullet mufflers with turndowns
Transmission Fully rollerized TSI C4, w/ Pat's Performance Converters 9 1/2-inch, 4,000-rpm billet stall converter and B&M Pro Ratchet shifter
Rearend 8.8 w/reinforced housing, 9-inch ends, Motive Gear 3.73 gears, Strange Engineering 33-spline axles
Electronics
Engine Management Big Stuff 3
Ignition MSD Digital 7, Moroso Ultra 30 spark plug wires, NGK plugs
Gauges Auto Meter Sport Comp, UEGO 2000 wideband
Chassis And Suspension
Front Suspension
K-member Anthony Jones Engineering tubular
Control Arms Anthony Jones Engineering tubular
Springs Strange Engineering coilover
Struts Strange Engineering adjustable
Caster/Camber Strange Engineering
Brakes Strange Engineering disc
Wheels Weld Racing Pro Star 15x3
Tires Mickey Thompson
Rear Suspension
Springs Stock
Shocks QA1 adjustable
Control arms Behind Bars Race Cars adjustable upper control arms, Weight Jacker lowers
Brakes Stock Ford Explorer
Wheels Weld Racing Pro Stars 15x10
Tires Mickey Thompson E/T Street
Chassis Stiffening LRT Racing 12-point chrome-moly cage, subframe connectors