1968 Mustang Coupe
This Photo was taken in 1988 from the top of Badger Mountain overlooking
the Columbia River. My hometown, Richland Washington, is to the left
in the background.
This was my own car that I had owned since high school (1981). It started
life as a 1968 mustang coupe with a 289 V8 and a 3 speed manual transmission.
It now has a modified 1969 351 Windsor engine and a 4 speed top-loader
transmission. In its current form, based on similar configurations and
analysis by Engine Analyzer and Dragplus software, I estimate the engine
horsepower to be between 375hp and 430hp without nitrous. Quarter Jr. software
estimated the ET at 12.40@110mph using 10x26 slicks and a 4.11 gear without
nitrous (11.40@122 with nitrous). I installed all of the factory airconditioning
dash-work into the car from another similar mustang. I sold this car in
1997 to a co-worker at the dealer I worked at then (when I say currently
I actually mean at the time of sale).
The major engine modifications include:
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World Products Dart II cylinder heads with stainless steel 2.02" intake
and 1.60" exhaust valves.
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Holley Street Dominator single plane intake manifold. I cut out vent holes
in the manifold between the runners and installed a valley pan style gasket
set to reduce heat transfer into the manifold.
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Holley 750CFM dual feed vacuum secondary carburetor.
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1.65:1 full roller rocker arms with screw-in studs and guide plates.
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TRW flat top forged pistons.
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Crane Commander split profile hydraulic camshaft. Lift is .494"/.520" (with
1.6:1 rockers) and advertised duration is 294°/320° and @.050 duration
is 225°/238°.
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1 5/8" diameter long tube headers connected to a 2.5 foot long 3" diameter
"H" pipe then Walker Super Turbo mufflers.
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Rotating assembly computer balanced.
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NOS Power Shot 120hp nitrous oxide system.
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Ford Duraspark ignition system which has been recurved.
Drivetrain improvements include:
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Ford Top-Loader 4 speed manual transmission.
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Ford 9" rear end (currently has 3.00:1 ratio).
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Hurst short-throw shifter with straight shift rods and reverse lock-out.
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Driveshaft safety loop.
Other improvements include:
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Dual fuel systems using a Carter high flow mechanical fuel pump and a Holley
electric fuel pump in parallel.
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Battery relocated into the trunk for weight transfer (will accept dual
batteries).
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360° mechanical oil and temperature gauges mounted in factory locations.
Tachometer, vacuum and amp gauges also added.
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Functional hood scoop.
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Custom power windows using Ford parts.
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Factory airconditioning system dash-work installed.
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Ford cruise control system (factory type).