Dynatech has been making waves with their new 2011 Mustang headers that have been picking up over 20 horsepower to the rear wheels. Also, AFCO’s GT500 heat exchanger is one of the biggest units you can fit on your 2007+ GT500 and boasts a 350% increase in cooling area over the stock exchanger.
Mark Gearhart StangTV & DragZine Editor
Mark has been a big fan of drag racing, going to his first NHRA race in the late 80s. In 1995 he started photographing drag races at his once local track, Bradenton Motorsports Park. He became hooked and shot virtually every series that ever visited the track until 2007 when he moved to California to begin working for powerTV Media.
AFCO’s 2007+ GT500 Heat Exchanger; 2011+ 5.0 Headers
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 01/31/12
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Biting the Bullitt ’65 Mustang Update: Installing the Drivetrain
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 01/04/12
Our 1,000 horsepower, Paxton supercharged 427ci ’65 Mustang project is really beginning to take shape. With the front and rear suspension installed, we move on to fitting the engine and transmission, along with a few other pieces as we get close to starting it for the first time.
Mark Gearhart: We Need a Uniform Set of Rules in Heads Up Racing
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 12/27/11
The problem is that a lot of these racing sanctions have relationships like Iran and Iraq, when they need to be working together. The doorslammer racing world needs standardized rules for these big categories that everyone uses.
PRI 2011: Stainless Steel Brakes Adds Front Drag Brakes, Billet Hub
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 12/23/11
It’s all about lightweight now-a-days. Not only are people concerned about saving weight on their race cars, but also street cars as well. Stainless Steel Brakes has introduced a new line of Competition front brakes (to compliment their race rear brake kits) designed for performance race and street vehicles.
PRI 2011: Kooks Custom Headers Adds 5.4 and 6.2L Raptor Applications
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 12/22/11
If you are looking for more horsepower for getting around, or just want to hear that ‘big block’ purr, then you should take a look at Kook’s Custom Headers. Offered in 1-3/4 or 1-7/8ths inch primaries and for the 5.4 and 6.2-liter engines, Kooks boasts up to a 40 horsepower gain to the rear wheels.
By the Numbers – Looking at the Leaders of Nitto’s Fan Sweepstakes
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 12/08/11
Who DOESN’T want a free car? We are heading down to the wire with the Nitto Fan Drive sweepstakes with only about three weeks left to vote and we are here to let you know how things stand. Come inside to see how your favorite vehicle is doing!
PRI 2011: Garrett’s New GTX Line of Turbos Boost Wider Applications
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 12/08/11
While there are traditional GT series turbos with similar specifications built with the same name, the GTX turbos boast an array of upgrades that allow them to be more efficient on the bottom and top of the boost map to better compliment small and large displacement motors.
One of the coolest products we saw at PRI had to be Davis Racing Technologies’ all axis sensor. This product, still without a name and in the prototype stage, has the ability to detect exactly what your vehicle is doing through a quarter mile pass.
PRI 2011: Strange Introduces Street/Strip Aluminum Center Section
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 12/07/11
There has been a longing for an aluminum center section that can hold up to the rigors of street driving. Strange Engineering has listened to the cries and has released a center section with thru-studs, meaning there are no bolt heads on the end caps and only on the differential’s front face.
PRI 2011: Flowmaster Backs NMCA on West Coast Series; Drag Mufflers
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 12/07/11
Back in full force for 2012, with the help from Flowmaster Mufflers, is the NMCA’s West Coast Racing Series. Also, with nearly a dozen different race mufflers on tap, Flowmaster can help reduce decibels while not sacrificing horsepower.
PRI 2011: ProCharger’s New 1800 HP+ Capable Supercharger Line Up
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 12/07/11
Looking to make 1,800 to over 3,000 horsepower through a single supercharger? Then you have to take a look at ProCharger’s redesigned F-3A-121, F-3R-130 and the F-3R-136. With new emerging technology, ProCharger has been able to update their blowers to be more efficient over previous generations.
PRI 2011: Tremec’s New 700 lb/ft Capable T-56 Magnum For S197 Stangs
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 12/07/11
Tremec understands that people want to modify their Mustang’s beyond the OEM transmission’s capabilities which is why they have designed their brute T-56 Magnum to work on 2005+ Mustangs, including 2011+ 5.0s. This double-overdrive 6-speed transmission takes the very best from Tremec’s current OEM technology.
Anytime a new Mustang comes out, there is always that lag to get performance parts. Ford Racing though is trying to keep that from happening on the 2013 Mustang with the 5o for 5.0 promotion that promises 50 new Ford Racing parts to be delivered over the next year.
Building 5-inch bore space engines use to require a fat wallet, and while it still isn’t exactly cheap, Dart is helping the racer build these huge engines at a better price point. For example is Dart’s 14 degree Big Chief cast head, along with their billet block and head offerings.
Want to know what is going on exactly with your car via video while checking your datalogs? Did you get out of the groove, spin the tires slightly, etc? Well, now you can know with Racepak’s Data Link Software! Want brag with your friends or need tuning advice? Racepak will soon have that as an option as well.
Moser Engineering and the Driveshaft Shop has stepped up to the game to create a complete rear driveline conversion targeted for these late-model 12-bolt rear ends that has the capability to handle up to 1400 hp.
The ProCharger RaceDrive design is an exclusive integrated gear drive that’s combined with the recently redesigned family of powerful, high-end F3 superchargers. The compact RaceDrive unit centrifugally mounts the blower closer to the engine and higher up for easier installation.
Beginning with the caliper, Moser Engineering designed a competition race series four piston aluminum anodized forged billet caliper made of 6061 T6 billet aluminum instead of cast. Stainless steel piston and Teflon coated one piece bleeder screws are included in the design with dual crossover ports.
It is one thing to watch the progress of a vehicle build unfold online, it’s something else to see a piece of automotive art when it’s still fresh, before it makes its first passes down the track. This is the case for Mike Moran’s twin turbo Pro Mod Mustang; it’s simply a work of art.
To help combat those tight engine bays, Turbosmart has introduced a redesigned, smaller version of their Race Port blow off valve, called the Vee-Port PRO. Designed for motors up to 300 hp (or 600 hp if you add two) these Vee-Port PRO BOVs were re-designed from the ground up, and are 20% smaller and 33% lighter.
PRI 2011: Dart Expands SHP Line With Small Block Ford/Chevy Heads
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 12/02/11
Dart Heads rolled out their massive booth at PRI filled with street and race parts for all budgets, and for this segment, we are all about the Sportsman and Street products. New offerings include a budget SHP aluminum small block Chevy head, as well as a 200cc iron small block Ford head plus more!
The 10.5W’s sidewall profile works; it just flattens the tire out on the launch, hooks, and it goes. The current Pro Mod tire can sometimes act like a spring on launch, and M/T is redesigning it to work more like the 10.5W. Also in development is a new drag radial designed specifically for the X275 racing classes
PRI 2011: Aeromotive Cuts Fuel Cell Pricing Thanks to 340 Stealth
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 12/01/11
Now to help cut the costs of their fuel cells for people that don’t need a pump that can handle 1000 hp, Aeromotive will begin to option the cells with a 340 Stealth pump as well. The 340 Stealth pump should support 500-600 hp, depending on induction type.
Just when you think the drag racing season was over, Bradenton Motorsports gets in the last hurrah with the last major heads up drag race of the year at the Snowbird Nationals. With all the popular heads up racing classes all in one place, plan for a snow-free race weekend in Bradenton, Florida!
Livernois Motorsports, owned by ADRL Extreme 10.5 champion Dan Millen, has been on a tare to produce a vast array of parts for the new 2011 Mustang 5.0 engine as well as the Raptor 6.2L. This includes everything from head studs to oil pump gears. Check them out inside!
PRI 2011: Ford Racing Releases 2013 Cobra Jet With NA and FI Engines
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 12/01/11
Racers may choose a naturally aspirated engine with Cobra Jet induction system, CNC ported heads, high lift cams and low-drag accessory drive, or a 2.9L Whipple supercharged version with CNC port matched manifold and heads.
Think back…remember all the gauges? It was like sitting in the cockpit of a commercial airliner. Between the tuning and gauges cost, you were knee deep in a second mortgage on your house. Finally (thank god) technology has caught up, and being a muscle car enthusiasts in the 21st century is the best place to be
Snow Performance Picks Up Two Tenths On Laguna Seca Water/Meth Kit
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 11/23/11
This is Matt Snow’s personal vehicle and they started off at the track with the water/meth off during a 90 degree day, where they were netting 12.8s @ 103- 106 mph in the quarter. With water/methanol activated, they were hitting 12.6s at 110-111 mph, at 5900 feet elevation and bad air.
SCT has revolutionized the market with the introduction of their new SCT iTSX tuner. It works with iPhones, iPads, and iPods and has a bunch of new features that include tuning, performance calculators, data logging, and trouble code detection! Plus custom tune loading gets easier.
Another instance where California sucks, are their vehicle length basic laws. Some race teams pulling full size trailers along with trucks containing campers are having problems with CalTrans.
Installing short shifters in cars is something muscle car enthusiasts have been doing since the dawn of motoring time. We wanted to add some additional flare to Coyote’s relatively stock-looking interior while updating the problem-prone stock shifter assembly.
SEMA 2011: Weld’s Expands Line of Racing Wheels, Late Model Bead-loc
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 11/10/11
First up is Weld’s new Sportsman Drag Series wheel. The cost savings comes with Weld’s welded modular construction versus the typical bolt together style found in the Pro Drag Series. Also for you higher offset wheel guys, like F-body Camaros and S197 Mustangs, Weld now has a bead-loc wheel for you.
SEMA 2011: DiabloSport inTune and Trinity Touch Screen Programmer
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 11/08/11
DiabloSport had their tuner designed to replace the Predator, the InTune, on display at SEMA. This product looks like a mini iPhone and features one part number for all applications, 1GB of internal memory for datalogging, scanner, and custom tuning capability. Also on display was their top shelf tuner – Trinity
New to Dart’s SHP line is a cast A356-T6 aluminum small block Chevy cylinder head that is designed to work with most off the shelf components, and features 180cc or 200cc intake runners. Also, Dart’s High Performance Assembly Lube is designed for mechanics and technicians to pre-lube bearings, cams, lifters, etc.
A lesser known fact is that the BOSS 302 Mustangs actually contain three more pressure plate bolts than the normal GT. SPEC Clutch is on top of what is going on though, and will be making BOSS-specific clutch kits. They will be offering them with their traditional Stage 1-5 upgrades as well as their twin disc.
For the enthusiast who wants to be heard, Flowmaster introduces the Outlaw Axle-back exhaust system for popular late-model muscle car applications. This Outlaw Axle-back system is the most aggressive sounding system to date, even louder than the American Thunder series.
One of the biggest gripes for BOSS 302 owners is loosing their factory side pipes when they install an aftermarket performance exhaust. Well, now Kooks Custom Headers makes a center section that keeps the factory side pipes in both long and short tube configurations, plus possible factory GT retrofitting…
SEMA 2011: Ford Racing’s Super Cobra Jet Concept 5.0 Coyote Engine
Posted by
Mark Gearhart
on 11/07/11
Looking to make around 1,000 hp from a Ford Racing manufactured crate engine? Well, look no further than the new low compression 5.0 Aluminator long block and Whipple 2.9L 10-rib drive kit. The crate engine is essentially a Aluminator long block with a different set of headers, 2.9L supercharger, and BOSS heads.
When it comes to monitoring and tuning high performance vehicles, you can never have enough sensors. AEM Electronics is one of those companies that have been making standalones for over a decade, and they just released their baddest EMS ever – the Infinity-10.
