The guys at Team Z Motorsports in Taylor, Michigan are busy as always with a shop full of ground-up project builds, transformations, and updates to customers rides. The crew was kind enough to share with us some updates on three of the more noteworthy cars that they have underway in the shop.

NMRA’s top tier Pro Outlaw 10.5 category will soon gain another entrant in the field, with a new 1992 Fox body Mustang Coupe owned by local Michigan racer Jeff Harrington. The car features a full 25.3 cert’ed chassis and has been built entirely in-house by the guys at Team Z. The Fox will receive power from a 440-inch small block Ford prepared by Bennett Racing fed by a pair of twin 88mm turbochargers. Harrington campaigned the car with its previous combination in Outlaw 10.5 in the area – running as quick as the 7.20 range – and decided to step up to run with the NMRA with a new combination and updated chassis.

One of the more interesting ongoing projects that Team Z has in the works is a partnership with Jason Schembri at Ford Racing, utilizing a 1990 Fox Body Coupe. Team Z has gutted completely gutted the car, and it will be sent off to be acid-dipped this week, and will then be morphed into a full 25.5 chasiss’ed race car. The goal with the car is to make it as light as possible while retaining the factory body panels. The deck lid and hood will both be composite, and the car will sport the full glass and functioning doors. Ford’s intention with the car is to find out how much power and how quick a lightweight car with a big small block can run. Under the hood will lurk a Holbrook Racing Engines-prepared 460-inch small block Ford powerplant, with a Boss 9.5” deck block, Ford ported “Z” cylinder heads, and a Callies rotating assembly. The grudge racing scene in the Detroit and Milan area has become quite popular in recent years, and as such, Schembri and Team Z actually plan on grudge racing their project upon completion.

Also underway is the S197 Mustang owned by transmission guru Craig Liberty of Liberty Gears. Team Z has constructed the car and its 25.5 backhalved chassis from the ground up, beginning with a body-in-white from Ford. Power will come from a 5.4-liter, supercharged modular engine such as found in the 2010 Cobra Jet, and will be backed by – of course – a clutchless five-speed Liberty transmission. Liberty will campaign the car in NHRA Super Stock eliminator.