All right 5.0 Nation. We're back with three lovely ladies vying for the crown of March 2010 Babe of the Month. After scouring our BOTM submission files, we came up with these three ladies for you to choose from.

All right 5.0 Nation. We're back with three lovely ladies vying for the crown of February 2010 Babe of the Month. After scouring our BOTM submission files, we came up with these three ladies for you to choose from.

All right 5.0 Nation. We're back with three lovely ladies vying for the crown of January 2010 Babe of the Month. After scouring our BOTM submission files, we came up with these three ladies for you to choose from.

March 5-8, Bradenton, FL

• NMRA Spring Break Shootout at Bradenton Motorsport Park, presented by Nitto Tire.
• All-Ford drag racing, manufacturer's midway, and car show sponsored by Mustang Monthly.
• Info: 714/444-2426; www.nmradigital.com

On The Dyno
We don't see as many centrifugal blowers on Mustangs as we did in the Fox days, but with numbers like these, it's a surprise. Rick tuned each combo for maximum performance on 93-octane pump gas, and to show he was really trying, he ran them all past the recommended supercharger redline. Rick isn't scared.inline_mediumwraptextrightWe've covered the Vortech S197 installation in the past, and it's pretty straightforward, BUT time consuming. The big V provides detailed instructions, and if you aren't comfortable doing the work yourself, you can always turn to a trained professional. Once the kit is in place, it is quite easy to change out blower head units, as the Vortech design and mounting plate works across the entire line. All Rick had to do is loosen the belt, disconnect the oil feed and drain lines, and swap out the blowers on the mounting plate.30729165/techarticles/m5lp_0912_centrifugal_s197_blower_testm5lp_0912_07_+intercooled_centrifugal_blower_test+vortech_s197_blower.jpgTrue

Looking at these three Grabber Blue Mustangs modified by Car FX in Tulsa, Oklahoma, makes it hard to choose just one. Which one is the best fit? The beauty is you can decide and build one as mild or wild as you like. Car FX's own Grabber Blue Man, Will Williams, says he has a steed for every need. He could have talked the old-school lingo of Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3. However, Car FX isn't out to build a specific series of Mustangs to sell to the public. Instead, it wants to show "the versatility of what you can do with the these cars."inline_mediumwraptextrightThe '10 turned out to be the car in the middle, the choice a street-performance aficionado would consider "just right" of the three Car FX modifieds.30723174/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0912_2010_mustang_gt_car_fxm5lp_0912_02_+2010_mustang_gt+front_angle.jpgTrue

2009 NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals Schedule

2009 Car FX #88
The Tamest: Tuned To "Jump on Vettes and Vipers."inline_mediumwraptextright31002003/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0912_2010_mustang_gt_car_fx_web_exclusivem5lp_091200_fx_8+tulsa_car_FX_grabber_blue_mustangs+88_car.jpgTrue

As you can imagine, having a Ford event in the shadows of the motor-city means there's lots of potential automotive competition in the area. From cruise nights and open-track events to street action and NASCAR races, the gasoline-fueled distractions are myriad. As such, the NMRA wisely decided to truncate its event. The main reason for the short event was NASCAR had rolled into town on the same weekend, so the NMRA thought it best to give motorsports fans an opportunity to enjoy the NMRA race on Friday and Saturday, and the NASCAR race on Sunday.

When the last Castrol Syntec Top Car Challenge participant pulled off Buttonwillow Raceway Park's road course we weren't quite sure how our Mustang challenger had performed. For sure it had lapped faster than the '60s-era Chevy Caprice that Lowrider magazine had just fielded--complete with air bag suspension, no less--but mentally tabulating where our entry finished was beyond our estimation.inline_mediumwraptextright31081845/eventcoverage/m5lp_0912_2009_castrol_syntec_top_car_challenge_web_exclusivem5lp_091200_car_10+Castrol_Syntec_Top_Car_Challenge+.jpgTrue

Despite our current race-car project (Boss 340) and our never-ending interest in late-model Mustangs that are used for drag racing, autocross/road racing, drifting, or whatever form of closed-course automotive competition, it's street performance that will always be at the top of our list of primary interests when it comes to modified Ponies.inline_mediumwraptextrightWhy would the owner of this bone-stock '04 Mach 1 that already gets great fuel mileage offer his pristine ride for our unique fuel test? As the assistant director of legislation for the Illinois Farm Bureau, Paul Cope has a vested interest in discovering and communicating the benefits of using E85 as a substitute for gasoline. Paul's Mach 1's Four-Valve engine left Ford's Romeo plant with 10.25-to-1 compression and has zero mods, making it a perfect subject for our evaluation.30724755/techarticles/m5lp_0912_2004_mustang_mach_1_e85_mileage_testm5lp_0912_01_+04_mach_1_mileage_test+2004_mustang_mach_1.jpgTrue

When Ford debuted the modular engine family in the early '90s, the overhead cam V-8 was quite a technological advancement compared to the cam-in-block small-block that had been around for decades. But, the Two-Valve layout doesn't work as well with the engine's smaller 100mm bore spacing. The cylinder heads just couldn't pull in enough air for high-performance applications.inline_mediumwraptextrightNo matter if you are talking about the 4.6- or the 5.4-liter versions, Ford's Four-Valve modular engines are technological beasts capable of making big power. Degreeing in the camshafts, however, can leave you scratching your head if you don't know the tricks.26536852/techarticles/m5lp_0912_degreeing_our_four_valve_modular_motor_camshaftsm5lp_0912_01_+degree_four_valve_motor_cams+four_valve_modular_motor.jpgTrue

Let's begin with the obvious: OEM and aftermarket companies dream up show cars all the time. We've shown you plenty and we'll no doubt feature many, many more because, well, they're usually pretty darn bitchin' and can offer ideas for the rest of us. Truth be told, they're built to tempt us, and usually do. This S197, for example, belongs to Connecticut-based Moroso Performance Products and has that sort of understated aggression that resonates with us every time. More important, though, it also wears plenty of trick new components that might just interest you for your own project.inline_mediumwraptextrightSubtly badged and embellished, Moroso's GTM show car was also the com-pany's research and development tool for a whole whack of unique S197 offerings. They'll clone one for you, if you'd like.30718995/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0912_2008_mustang_gt_morosom5lp_0912_01_+2008_mustang_gt+front_angle.jpgTrue

It's difficult to think of mid-600 hp at the rear tires as routine, but around Kenne Bell, it's become that. Since the introduction of the modern Three- and Four-Valve modular V-8s Kenne Bell has developed the formula for making such power on 91-octane pump gas, so when the '10 GT500 hit the showrooms there was no doubt the latest Shelby would join the mid-600 club.inline_mediumwraptextrightUsing the same supercharger and Ford mechanicals as the '07-'09 GT500, the '10 Shelby with a Kenne Bell supercharger delivers between 635- and 645-rear-wheel horsepower on pump gas-the same as its predecessor. The '10 Shelby dyno mule Ken Christley is adjusting here is owned by off-road racer B. J. Baldwin (Baja, Dakar). Originally silver, it now sports a flat-black scheme.30730737/techarticles/m5lp_0912_installing_kenne_bell_supercharger_kit_in_2010_mustang_gt500m5lp_0912_01_+kenne_bell_supercharger_kit+2010_mustang_shelby_gt500.jpgTrue

When steering the conversation to the odometer in our rides, it's usually to boast about how few digits have been tallied on it. Not so with Jim Buehler, who gleefully points out that his '88 GT has racked up more than 300,000 miles. And he should know: He bought it brand-new in November 1988 after a glancing head-on collision had written off his first Fox-an '80 Mercury Capri RS-a few days prior (on Halloween). At the time, Jim was based at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, where he was in flight training. Now a retired lieutenant commander living in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, he and his GT have each travelled great distances, no doubt at pretty good velocities, in their respective careers.inline_mediumwraptextrightNo, he doesn't drive it at this height, but Air Ride's CoolRide airbags can really bring the hatchback down to earth for show duty. And the Mineral Gray hue is really set off by those '01 Bullitt hoops.26514631/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0912_1988_mustang_gtm5lp_0912_01+1988_mustang_gt+front_angle.jpgTrue

Horse Sense:
The electronic returnless fuel system found on Mustang GTs has been around since 1999. It's comprised of a high-pressure pump that delivers fuel directly to the fuel rail, which effectively eliminates two of the most important components of a power-adder Mustang's fuel system: the bypass fuel-pressure regulator and return line. While the move to this type of fuel system came about because of mandates made by the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board that required new vehicle manufacturers to meet ever more stringent levels of evaporative emissions control, its result dealt yet another blow to modern high-performance and left 'Stangbangers searching for a remedy. See More At 50mustangandsuperfords.Cominline_mediumwraptextrightAeromotive's proposed new On-Demand-a supplement for returnless fuel systems-might open the door to street driveability with big-time horsepower and a stock fuel system in '99-'04 Mustangs. The kit features Aeromotive's products exclusively, including a fuel-pressure regulator, a fuel-pressure-sensor adapter (PN 15112), a one-way check valve, a Y-block, an Eliminator fuel pump and filter (PN 11104 and PN 12304), and a Ford fuel-pressure line "T" adapter (that mates the stock fuel system with On-Demand's fuel output). Various Aeromotive fittings and connectors are required in order to properly plumb the system for each unique engine/power-adder configuration, and are sold separately. The On-Demand setup shown here was installed on a daily driven '00 Mustang GT sporting an F-1A ProCharger and churns 22 pounds of boost. Aeromotive's Bret Clow and Rick Anderson of AFM agree this supplemental fuel system will "be there" when it's needed and will easily support 700 rear-wheel horsepower using race fuel.31196259/techarticles/m5lp_0602_mustang_gt_fuel_system0602_m5lp_01_+mustang_gt_fuel_system+fuel_system.jpgTrue

Horse Sense: Modular GTs have come a long way since 1996, but considering the 4.6 debuted in the Crown Vic in 1991, it's taken the aftermarket quite a long time to get excited about modular performance. Of course, most of that blame should be shouldered by the asthmatic, 215hp Two-Valves found in the '96-'98 GTs. Those certainly slowed down the excitement. Since 1999, however, these babies have been cranking out 260 horses, and it's time to get with it.

For the last five years, the neo-retro interior/exterior styling of the '05-'09 Mustang has been a landslide "hit" characteristic of the latest-generation Pony. Enthusiasts sing high praises of the S197 'Stang's front appearance, and its body lines and tail section, which all strongly resemble late-'60s fastback Mustangs.inline_mediumwraptextright30553038/techarticles/m5lp_0911_installing_led_taillightsm5lp_0911_02+installing_led_taillights+taillight_removal.jpgTrue

2006 Ford Mustang GT
5.0 Tech Specs Engine and Drivetrain
Block
Aluminum 4.6-liter
Bore
3.55-inch
Stroke
3.54-inch
Displacement
281ci
Rods
Cracked powdered metal with floating wristpins
Pistons
Hypereutectic aluminum
Crankshaft
Stock
Camshafts
Stock
Heads
SOHC, three valves per cylinder, variable camshaft timing
Intake
Composite shell-welded single-runner, charge motion control valves Throttle Body
Dual 60mm GT500
Mass Air
90mm Lightning
Power Adder
Saleen Series VI twin-screw supercharger
Fuel System
GT500 fuel pumps, 39-lb/hr injectors
Headers
Bassani long-tube headers
Exhaust
Bassani X-shape crossover w/high-flow cats, and Bassani after-cat with race mufflers
Transmission
Stock five-speed with JPC aluminum driveshaft and Hurst short-throw shifter
Clutch
RPS clutch and flywheel
Rearend
Stock 8.8 with Detroit Locker, Mag-Hytec differential cover, 3.73 gears, and 31-spline Strange axlesinline_mediumwraptextright30550482/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0911_2006_mustang_gtm5lp_0911_04+2006_mustang_gt_s197+left_rear_rolling.jpgTrue

Mustangs continued their march on the 24th Annual Fabulous Fords Forever show April 19, muscling their way out of their traditional late-model parking lot and into "other" parking lot. Once exclusively the domain of Model T's, A's, Torinos, and such, the other of the two main parking lots had rows of newer Mustangs standing proud.inline_mediumwraptextright30554061/eventcoverage/m5lp_0911_2009_fabulous_fords_foreverm5lp_0911_01+2009_fabulous_fords_forever+2003_mustang_gt.jpgTrue

Yes, the subject matter is territory that we've visited many times before with 5.0 Mustangs and their younger, modular-powered siblings. This exercise in installing and testing S197 bolt-ons covers the simple air-efficiency upgrades (cold-air intake, larger throttle-body, free-flow mufflers, and tuning) that we believe are excellent first-step performance modifications for '05-'10 'Stangs. However, in each instance we like to experiment with components that are made by different manufacturers, to see exactly how well certain parts work on a stock Pony, both individually and when combined with each other for evaluation as affordable, bolt-on performance packages for Three-Valve-powered, '05-present Mustang GTs.inline_mediumwraptextrightHorse Sense: In what has become a standard practice when I make my annual trip to the East Coast (for our coverage of the NMRA event at Atco Raceway in New Jersey), a tech project is included in the journey. For this year's exercise, an evaluation of basic bolt-ons for '05-'09 Mustang GTs, installation and dyno tests are being handled at Realspeed Automotive of Bohemia, New York; a hard-core Mustang center on Long Island that caters exclusively to all of the modern-day Pony platforms ('79-'93, '94-'98, '99-'04 and '05-'10).26404900/techarticles/m5lp_0911_installing_cold_air_intake_systemm5lp_091000_s197_01_o+cold_air_install+.jpgTrue

Roberts recalls the XT head flowing about 270 cfm at .600-inch lift, with a peak exhaust flow of maybe 220 cfm. Perhaps more importantly, "It's not just peak numbers, the valve job is better than before. We put four or five angles on the intake, two and a radius on the exhaust; it's a more modern valve job," says Roberts. In other words, the mid-lift flow are substantially better than the Performer RPM cylinder head. Or, as Roberts added, "It takes a flat-tappet cam and makes it look like a roller, and makes a roller just that much better."inline_mediumwraptextrightXT Plus with its laptop interface is all the electronic engine control most of us will ever need. This screen shot of an XT Plus spark table illustrates its intuitive combination of charts and graphs.30772107/techarticles/m5lp_0911_upgrading_347_crate_engine_with_edelbrock_gearsm5lp_091100_347_05_o+edelbrock_engine_upgrades+.jpgTrue