This project started as a fixup of a fairly rough, mostly stock 1978 Ford Mustang II King Cobra – 5.0 4bbl automatic. The rear main seal was found to be bad after purchase, and the engine pulled. The goals began with a simple manual trans conversion, and replace of seals to get the car back driveable. Upon inspection, the engine was fairly worn, the chassis rough with several holes in the floorpan, and the goals changed to building up a road race car. Using the drivetrain from a donor 89 Mustang GT – 5.0HO EFI 5 speed, the project took shape. The goals became as follows:Transplant a fuel injected 5.0HO and 5 speed manual transmission into a car that was originally carburated and built for a 4 speed manual.While remaining street legal, design suspension and chassis setup for road racing.Install necessary safety equipment for racing.Be able to drive the car to the track, and then race it.
List of Installed/Completed Mods
Car Mods:
— Custom accessory brackets for alternator and PS pump, using 89 waterpump with serpentine belt setup.
— Stripped interior to install roll cage. Dynamat and interior will be mostly reinstalled after (no dash).
— Custom Gauge panel with new mounts, shortened to fit with the cage
— Cleaned engine bay and trunk mounted battery
— RCI 15 gallon fuel cell with sender; dual AN8 sump outlets, AN8 return, and AN8 rollover vent ports
— Holley High flow fuel pump, Accel fine grade fuel filter, all AN8 line and fittings from fuel cell to fuel rail.
— Removed spare tire well to install fuel cell; Accel filter, Holley pump, and aluminum housing racing fuel filter installed under fuel cell plate.
— Ford 9″ full floater rear axle with large studs and Curri Trac Loc Posi unit and 373 gears
— Rear disc brakes with adjustable rear brake bias proportioning valve in driver reach
— 15×8 standard dirt racing wheels with 215/60 Firestone tires
Engine Upgrades, forced induction ready:
— Ported stock heads, gasket matched intake ports and plugged EGR/Smog passages
— Ford F303 Cam
— Chromoly 5/16″ pushrods
— 1.7:1 Crane Cames Roller Rockers
— Higher lift/stronger valve springs/retainers
— TrickFlow Track Heat black powder coated intake
— 42lb/hr FRPP fuel injectors
— Professional Products 75mm throttle body
— C&L 80mm Mass air
— Anodized aluminum fuel rails and AN8 lines and fittings to connect
— Aftermarket high end pressure regulator and guage
— Ford Racing tall aluminum valve covers (black with red highlights)
— Stock 4 bolt main bottom end
— Hedman Long Tube Headers
— AEM 30-4100 UEGO Wideband O2 sensor
— Moates QuaterHorse chip (plugs onto ford ECU, USB port for real time monitoring/datalogging/tuning, dash mount switch for selecting between 4 different tunes)
Upcoming Goals:
— Install Poly motor mounts
— Install 5 lug drilled/slotted front rotors
— Add turbocharger/intercooler to induction system
— Complete engine tuning and secure chassis dyno time
