New Product: Shelby GT500 5.8L Aluminum Block now available from Ford Racing
Source: MustangsDaily.com

If you’ve been thinking that the 2013 Shelby GT500′s 5.8-liter V8 would make for a good engine in your project car, then there’s good news. Ford Racing Performance Parts has announced that the 5.8L aluminum block that comes standard in the Shelby is now available for individual purchase through their catalog. Part number M-6010-M58A, the block offers a 100 pound weight savings compared to the iron 5.4L unit, and provides more durability thanks to the Ford GT aluminum block thanks to its unique liner coating. While Ford Racing does leave it up to the customer to provide the internal components and accessories, the block comes pre-finished and ready to assembly. Retail pricing is listed at $5,600.

Shelby GT500 5.8L Aluminum Block Features:
• Original equipment for the 2013-2014 Shelby Mustang GT500
• Approximately a 100 lb. weight savings over the cast iron 5.4L block
• Six-bolt main bearing caps for high-performance durability
• Block features Plasma Transferred Wire Arc spray weld liner coating
• Liner coating provides improved durability and heat transfer, reduced friction, and a
   weight savings compared to the Ford GT aluminum block
• Cylinder bores are finish honed and ready to assemble
• All block features are finish machined including head deck and crank bore.
• Cylinder liner coating does not require unique piston rings or piston material

http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2013/04/16/new-product-shelby-gt500-5-8l-aluminum-block-now-available-from-ford-racing/

Photo Gallery: A closer look at Vaughn Gittin Jr’s new Formula Drift Mustang RTR
Source: MustangsDaily.com

Earlier this week we highlighted Justin Pawlak’s Falken Tire Ford Mustang built for Formula Drift, and now it’s time to feature the other pony car in contention for the series’ title. After finishing a close second in the championship last year, Vaughn Gittin Jr. is back for 2013 with a newly formed team, a new sponsor and an all-new car. Venturing away from the Falken Tire team that he’s been so successful with the past few years, Gittin has formed the RTR Drift Team and partnered with Nitto Tire with high hopes for once again becoming the Formula Drift champion. Being in charge of his own team comes with a new array of challenges, but Gittin, who we talked to shortly after he qualified 6th for Saturday’s competition, says that he enjoys the new responsibilities and everything that comes with it.



Gittin isn’t completely starting fresh, though, as the same company that built his previous Mustangs, ASD Motorsports in Charlotte, NC, was responsible for the construction of his new car. The Mustang you see here isn’t just a new version of last year’s version, either, as Gittin says it was built from the ground up. Many improvements were implemented, and even lighter materials were used. “Just when I thought they couldn’t make the Mustang any better, they went and built this car,” he told us. The engine is the same as last year, however – a 6.7L naturally aspirated V8 specially constructed by Roush Yates.



Gittin hopes to kick off the Formula Drift season in winning fashion this weekend in Long Beach, although he seems to have an up-and-down relationship with the course. After winning the event in 2010, he failed to qualify in 2011 and was knocked out in the Round of 32 in 2012. We’ll let you know how he fares after the competition, but until then you can check out his new Monster Energy /Nitto Tire Ford Mustang in the gallery below.



















http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2013/04/12/photo-gallery-a-closer-look-at-vaughn-gittin-jrs-new-formula-drift-mustang-rtr/

Formula Drift Preview: Justin Pawlak and his Falken Tire Ford Mustang
Source: MustangsDaily.com

The Formula Drift season opener is this weekend on the street of Long Beach, CA, and each of the competitors has been busy throughout the off season preparing their cars to contend for the title. As usual, two different Mustang drivers are expected to be in contention for the title: Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Justin Pawlak. While Gittin left Falken Tire this past season to form his own team and partner with Nitto, Pawlak is staying put in the Blue and Turquoise colors and looking to build on his success with the team the past two seasons. A second place finish in the 2011 season followed by a 4th place finish in 2012 has cemented Pawlak has one of the best and most consistent drivers in the series.



While there are still a few days before the official start of the season, Formula Drift held its media day yesterday and we headed down to Long Beach to talk with Pawlak and check out his Mustang. The Kalamazoo, MI native and current SoCal resident seems confident heading into the new season, although he doesn’t necessarily show it at first glance. His laid back personality and shy demeanor aren’t typical for a Formula Drift driver, but Pawlak manages to flip a switch once he gets behind the wheel. During the first practice session of the day many of the drivers were fairly tentative while drifting around the course, but Pawlak came out with guns blazing, smoke billowing from the rear tires while going full-lock around a corner.



Pawlak has reason to be self assured on the course. A Mustang driver has won the Long Beach event the last three years, Gittin in 2010 and Pawlak the last two years. He’s also more comfortable with the car than ever before, he tells us. While it’s essentially the same chassis, the Mustang has received several updates and revisions to the suspension system. The Falken team have finally seemed to figure out a good powertrain combination as well, sticking with a Roush Yates V8 producing well beyond 800 horsepower. You might also notice Pawlak’s Mustang has a new look, with a 3dCarbon body kit constructed of lightweight carbon fiber and redesigned HRE wheels wrapped with Falken Azenis RT-615K tires.



We’ll bring you a full report of how Pawlak fares at the Formula Drift opener in Long Beach this weekend, but until then check out his Falken Tire Mustang in detail in the gallery below.





















http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2013/04/10/formula-drift-justin-pawlak-falken-tire-ford-mustang/

Five reasons why Ford should have built a 2014 Mustang Boss 351
Source: Mustangsdaily.com

Things have been a little quiet around the Mustang camp lately, if you haven’t noticed. After a steady barrage of updates the past few years, from the design refresh in 2010 to the powertrain updates in 2011 and another styling change in 2013, Ford hasn’t uttered a peep about the Mustang for quite some time. It’s quite understandable, considering they’ve got their hands full prepping the launch of the all new Mustang for 2015, but that doesn’t mean many Mustang fans, including ourselves, wouldn’t love to see something new with the current lineup. That feeling was never stronger when Chevy introduced the Camaro Z/28 at the New York Auto Show earlier this month. It got us thinking. What if Ford built one last Mustang on the S197 platform? One last special edition. The Boss 351. Here’s five reasons why we think Ford should have built it.

5. Heritage.

The S197 platform is retro by nature, and Ford loves calling on the Mustang’s storied past. This was never more true with the Boss 302. Ford repeated history in more ways than one, building the Boss 302 for only two years and following the styling cues of both the 1969 and 1970 models. Just like decades ago, Ford built a racing version (two actually) and won a championship. And what did Ford do the following year back in 1971? They built a Boss 351. Yes, the car isn’t as famous, beautiful or as desirable as the Boss 302, but that doesn’t necessarily matter. If Ford wanted to truly follow the Mustangs history and continue the Boss name, they could have gone to the 351 and done a single year production run just like they did in 1971.

4. A ready-to-go powertrain.

Assuming Ford did want to build a Mustang Boss 351, then what engine would they use? The answer is relatively simple. The current Shelby GT500′s 5.8-liter V8 measures out at 354.6 cubic inches of displacement. To us, that’s close enough, and we’re sure Ford could get the V8 down to 351cid if they wanted to. Converted to a high-revving naturally aspirated setup, the engine could easily produce north of 500 horsepower and 450 lb-ft torque.

3. The Camaro Z/28 needs a competitor.

Both the Mustang and Camaro have always competed, and the two have usually maintained fairly similar models. Historically the Boss 302 and Z/28 were fierce rivals, both on and off the track, but the same can’t be said today. Unfortunately the Z/28 is entering production just as the Boss 302 is ending, and the two are fairly different cars anyway. In reality the Boss 302 faces off with the Camaro 1LE and the Shelby GT500 goes toe-to-toe with the ZL1. That leaves nothing to face off with the Z/28. Enter the Boss 351. A naturally aspirated 5.8-liter V8 could produce similar horsepower and torque numbers to the Z/28′s LS7.

2. A Cobra R successor

This somewhat builds on the reasoning of the last point. If Ford decided to do a Camaro Z/28 competitor, it wouldn’t be the first time they built a large displacement, naturally aspirated Mustang specifically for the track. The Cobra R models of the 1990s and 2000 have become legendary. With the Cobra name currently not in use, a Boss 351 would be a perfect way to continue the brand under a different moniker. The focus would be on reducing weight weight and track performance. It’s been nearly a decade and a half since Ford built the Cobra R, so it would be great to see its return, even under a different name.

1. The S197 needs a good send-off.

With the Boss 302 ending production for 2013, that leaves the Mustang lineup without a special edition. Yes, we have the GT500, but it’s been in production long enough to be considered a standard model now, and the California Special isn’t anything more than a trim package. Being the last year of the platform, it’s sad to see the S197 go out with little fanfare. Sales are dwindling, and all eyes are on 2015. What the S197 needs is a good send-off in the form of a special car. A Boss 351 would serve as a final tribute to the current Mustang platform.

Capaldi Racing gearing up for SCCA World Challenge season opener
Source: MustangsDaily.com

Capaldi Racing is heading to St. Petersburg, FL, for the 2013 Pirelli World Challenge season opener this weekend with Mustang veteran, Brad Adams, and Mustang newcomer, Ardee Toppe – both piloting brand new Mustang Boss 302Ss. Brad, who has raced with Capaldi Racing in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, will be driving an updated version of his familiar bright green “Who Dat!?” Mustang while Ardee will be making his Mustang debut in the Toppe Motorsport, Texas-livered Mustang.

“We’re really excited to have Brad and Ardee on the team this year,” said Leo Capaldi. “Brad has been great to have on the team over the years and Ardee is a great addition. We have a lot of history with the Pirelli World Challenge, going back to 1999, and I’m really happy to be back for another year. Campaigning Brad’s and Ardee’s Mustangs and supporting Alec Udell in the Motorsport Development Group Mustang Boss 302R is fantastic. Having my son, Chris, running the Wolverine Bronze Co. Fiesta in the TCB class makes things even better!”

Coverage of rounds one and two from St. Petersburg will be live streamed on www.world-challengetv.com on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. EST and on Sunday at 10:25 a.m. EST.

http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2013/03/21/capaldi-racing-gearing-up-for-scca-world-challenge-season-opener/

Drew Skillman wins second annual Cobra Jet Showdown at Bradenton
Source: MustangsDaily.com

The second annual NMRA Cobra Jet Showdown presented by Jackie Jones Ford was once again held at Bradenton Motorsports Park in sunny Bradenton, Florida. The 2013 season-opening Cobra Jet showdown is always a good race as many Cobra Jet owners use it as a shakedown event for the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida. Twenty two Cobra Jets were on the property running in seven different index classes.



Leading the qualifying pack in the 9.95 index class was Livonia, Michigan engine builder Chris Holbrook, with an astounding 8.504 second pass at 160 miles per hour. This qualifying pass was the quickest and fastest NHRA stock eliminator legal Cobra Jet pass to date. For the 2013 season, Holbrook shelved his reliable 5.4L engine and is running the new 5.0L Ti-VCT Supercharged Cobra Jet engine with impressive results. Following close behind Holbrook was Mike Harris from Telford, PA. This was Mike’s first race in his 2013 Cobra Jet since wrecking the new car last year at Cecil County Dragway. Over the winter Mike had the car repaired and is ready to compete at select NHRA and NMRA events in 2013. While Harris is still learning the 2013 car, in eliminations he managed to beat Chris Agee in round one and Frank Maiolo in round two before losing to Holbrook in round three.



In the 9.3 index class Rand Hopkins had an impressive qualifying run of 8.236 seconds at 149 miles per hour. Randy is a past NHRA National Event winner with his 2010 Cobra Jet but he lost in the first round to Bo Butner’s new 428-powered 2013 Cobra Jet.



On the other side of the ladder Drew Skillman defeated his grandfather Ray Skillman (first round), Gary Richard (second round) and Bo Butner (third round) to meet Holbrook in the Cobra Jet Showdown finals. Skillman chopped down the tree on Holbrook and took the win light on a holeshot victory.

The next NMRA Cobra Jet Showdown will be held June 14-16th at the NMRA Nationals in Norwalk Ohio.



http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2013/03/15/drew-skillman-wins-second-annual-cobra-jet-showdown-at-bradenton/

Video: Watch Creations n’ Chrome’s Top Notch Mustang put down 855 rwhp on the dyno
Source: MustangsDaily.com

Very few shops are taking on extensive Fox Body Mustang projects these days, but Creations n’ Chrome, is used to bucking the trend. After building S197 Mustangs for the SEMA Show in 2010 and 2011 as well as creating the aviation-based Mustangs that were auctioned off at EAA AirVenture the past two years, the Valencia, CA-based company decided to build the ultimate Fox Body Mustang. Their “Top Notch” Mustang was first announced a little over a year ago, with a mostly-finished car debuting at the SEMA Show less than ten months later.

Since its first public showing in November Creations n’ Chrome has been wrapping up all the details on the car including the final tuning of its Vortech-supercharged 5.0L V8. We recently went over to the CnC shop to see the car in action during a dyno tuning session, as we were curious as to exactly how much power Top Notch was putting down. The answer? An astounding 855 horsepower and 667 lb-ft torque at the rear wheels. That’s a lot for any car, but considering Top Notch weighs in at a little over 2,500 pounds, it should be one fast Fox Body.

For those of you worried the car will never see action, don’t fret. Creations n’ Chrome plans on entering Top Notch in a variety of standing mile and time attack competitions, meaning we should be seeing plenty of the car in the coming months.

To see and hear the Top Notch Mustang on the dyno, just hit the play button below.