June 2010 Winner

Paul's (306gt) 1985 Ford Mustang GT

 Written by Paul

I bought it back in October of 1992 for the paltry sum of $1,000. At the time, it was an original GT but it had the 302/CFI setup on it with an Automatic transmission. I knew that I would be changing it so the setup didn't affect me at all. The body was in mint condition but I decided to change the color to 1993 Ford Ranger Splash Blue. As for the interior, I decided to keep it in stock condition because I love the way that Ford designed it.

Over the course of the next 5 years, I changed a lot of things on the car and besides the paint, I tried to retain the stock appearance on both the interior and the exterior as much as possible. I built a healthy 306 with '69 351W heads that I ported, polished and installed Chevy 1.94/1.60 valves. I also added a solid flat tappet camshaft and a Dual Quad setup. After that, I rebuilt and installed a World Class T-5 and an 8.8 rear end with a Detroit Locker setup and 4.33 gears. This engine had 10:3:1 compression and I began to run consistent 12.50's @ 110 mph. On the dyno, this combo made 311 rwhp @ 6,400 rpms and 287 rwt @ 4,600 rpms.

I ran this setup for 8 solid years and made over 250 passes at the track before I began to notice that the engine was using a fair amount of oil. In 2006, I began my next engine build and decided to assemble a 331 stroker kit from D.S.S. After the build and installation, I took it to the dyno and it made 390 rwhp @ 6,400 rpms and 362 rwt @ 4,200 rpms. Instantly, I went from 12.50's @ 110 to 11.50's @ 120! All of this added power cost me my T-5 though, as I sheared off the teeth of 3rd gear. I then purchased a Tremec 3550 and it's been rock solid for me (it doesn't have the issues that most people have with them.) The car is insanely fun to drive now!

As far as awards and accolades, I've won over 30 trophies with it and it's been featured in two magazines (Mustangs Illustrated - Feb.2000 & Modified Mustangs - July 2007).

Here's some specs and some more pic's (thanks to my brother Hissing Cobra for helping me post them)!

Engine:

1971 302 Block
Bore: 4.060
Stroke: 3.250
Compression ratio: 10:86.1
337 C.I.D.(bored .060 over)
D.S.S. 331 Rotating Assembly with flat top forged pistons, I-Beam rods, cast crankshaft, moly rings, (zero deck).

Competition Camshafts:

Solid flat tappet (Duration @ .050 = 250 degrees for both intake & exhaust, Lift .569 for both intake & exhaust. It's a single pattern cam). ICL is 110 degrees installed at 106 degrees.

Heads:

AFR 185's (58 cc's)

Exhaust:

Mac 1-3/4" Longtubes, Mac 2-1/2" Off Road H-Pipe, Dynamax Ultraflo Mufflers with CVX tailpipes.

Ignition:

MSD 6AL, MSD Billet Distributor

I've tried 3 different intake setups which include my old Offenhauser dual quad intake with dual 500 cfm Edelbrock carburetors (currently on it right now), a Victor Jr. intake with a Holley 650 dp, and an Edelbrock Performer RPM AirGap with a Holley 650 dp. I've found that the Victor Jr. setup seems to make the most power in the upper rpms while the Offenhauser dual quad setup seems to make the most power in the lower rpms. It looks better too, so that's what I currently have on it.

Clutch:

Centerforce Dual Friction, Ford Motorsport Steel Flywheel

Transmission:

Tremec 3550 with a Hurst Billet Comp Plus shifter and Hurst shift ball, Hurst Roll Control

Driveshaft:

Aluminum Ford Motorsport

Rearend:

8.8 with 31 spline axles, 4.33 gears, Detroit Locker setup, girdle cover.

Suspension:

Southside Machine Lower Lift Bars, Steeda Adjustable Upper control arms, Air Lift's rear airbag kit, Competiton Engineering 90/10 front struts and 3 Way adjustable rear shocks, Stock GT rear springs, 4 cylinder front springs, PST urethane bushing kit.

Exterior:

1993 Ford Ranger Splash Blue, Satin Black Trim, LX taillights, early style hoodscoop.

Interior:

Stock interior with the exception of an Autometer 5" Tachometer and Autogage 2" gauges mounted in a custom plate in the front of the center console where the idiot lights used to reside.