We thought you might like...
We thought you might like to see what Project Fire & Ice looked like after all the hardware went on, but before the wrap we led off with last month was applied. This is one stylish, powerful, great-handling, great-braking prize to be won.
Last issue, we began our look at this tricked-out and hot-rodded '06 Mustang GT that, after serving a year's promotional tour of duty, will be given away. Maybe to you. In case you missed last month's introduction, the whole project is the brainchild of Old World Industries, the corporate parent to such recognizable automotive names as Peak antifreeze and SplitFire. In sly reference to those two major brands, OWI has labeled the GT Project Fire & Ice. A major partner in the program is Ford Racing Performance Parts, which has essentially used the giveaway GT as a rolling showcase of just about every product it makes for the S197. Classic Design Concepts also came onboard with some, well, classic styling touches, and our friends at Nitto came through with a set of sticky NT555 rubber. We shudder to think of the total dollar value of the aftermarket parts embellishing the GT. Of course it would all still be just stacked boxes of loose parts were it not for the efforts of the crew at Paul's High Performance, whose job it was to assemble this performance puzzle, piece by piece-a task they accomplished in record time last February.
Last month, we went over some of Fire & Ice's engine/powertrain modifications; this time we'll show you the exterior, interior, and chassis goodies that round out this athletic and attractive GT. To wrap up the build, next month we'll scope out the Ford Racing/Whipple twin-screw blower installation that, believe us, puts a lot of fire in Project Fire & Ice.
Horse Sense: For a shot at winning Project Fire & Ice, go to your local AutoZone store, or tune your browser to either splitfire.com or peakantifreeze.com, for an entry form (between May 7 and July 1). It sounds as if the winner will be announced at this fall's SEMA show and will take delivery prior to the '07 Hot Rod Power Tour.
 Though many of its components...  Though many of its components are also available separately, Ford Racing has assembled a comprehensive suspension kit for the S197, called the Handling Pack (M-2005-FR3). Comprised of front and rear springs, dampers, and antiroll bars, along with the strut tower brace we installed last month-all calibrated to complement one another-the kit sharpens handling response and provides about a 1.5-inch drop. |  It might be overkill, but...  It might be overkill, but we suppose there's no such thing as too much brake. We're talking about the fact that Fire & Ice got the exact same front-brake kit (M-2300-A) as the championship-winning FR500C racer. This means two-piece 14-inch rotors, massive Brembo four-piston calipers with bolt-on caliper adapters, race-quality pads, and Teflon-coated steel flex lines. That's $3,450 worth of front binders. |  Not many rims would clear...  Not many rims would clear that brake kit's gargantuan rotor and caliper combination, so we ended up with these gorgeous 18x9 aluminum forgings as used on the front of the omnipotent Ford GT (M-1007-GTF). To wrap 'em, Fire & Ice gets a grippy set of Nitto NT555s, in 245/40ZR18 up front and 255/45ZR18 out back. |
 To keep the S197 GT's two-piece...  To keep the S197 GT's two-piece driveshaft safely encapsulated in the event of driveline failure, Ford Racing also sent along a zinc-plated, bolt-on driveshaft loop kit (M-5478-S197). |  Giving Fire & Ice a style...  Giving Fire & Ice a style all its own, Classic Design Concepts shipped a matte-black chin spoiler, a body-color ducktail rear spoiler, and a cool filler panel for between the taillights. CDC also shipped some side scoops and a Boss 429-style hoodscoop, but unfortunately we couldn't use them as they would have complicated the vehicle wrap scheme that had been designed for the project's promotional appearances. |  SplitFire-the originator of...  SplitFire-the originator of the V-shape, split-electrode spark plug-also makes a nice 5-inch tachometer with shift light (PN 5906A). But neither it nor any other auxiliary tach will work on a newer Mustang without Ford Racing's tach driver module (PN M-17361-A200). |
 Last month we put a little...  Last month we put a little bling under the project's hood; this time we'll dress up the GT's interior with Ford Racing-emblazoned floor mats (PN M-13086-C) and stainless door entry guards (PN M-13208-M100). |  We mentioned last time that...  We mentioned last time that a Hurst-manufactured short-throw shifter was included with Ford Racing's Drag Pack. Regular readers may also remember that Paul's High Performance has developed a ShiftRite shift brace for the S197 GT's peculiar shifter arrangement. So, one of PHP's ShiftRite braces has also found its way onto Fire & Ice. |  PHP's wrench men, Karl Roekle...  PHP's wrench men, Karl Roekle and Mike Sears, began their attack on the project's chassis with the strut swap, a job that begins much as it did in Fox-variant Mustangs with unbolting the spindle, or upright, from the base of the strut. Then, once the retaining nuts are removed at the tower, the coilover strut assembly drops right out. |
 The upper strut-mount plate...  The upper strut-mount plate must be transferred to the Ford Racing strut assembly, a job that requires a spring compressor, at least to remove the old spring. The new FRPP springs are short enough that they need no compression when transferring the mount plate to the new strut. |  The Ford Racing dampers were...  The Ford Racing dampers were calibrated by a Multimatic subsidiary, Dynamic Suspensions-the same crew that developed the FR500C's championship-winning suspension-to complement the kit's spring and antiroll-bar rates. |  The Handling Pack's front...  The Handling Pack's front antiroll bar is adjustable via three mounting holes for the lower end link. Karl and Mike set it up on the middle of the three, at least as a starting point. Using the rearmost hole would soften the bar's effect; the front hole is the stiffest setting. |