So things are gearing up for the race season this year, and with this early spring like weather we’re having, there’s a lot going on. Maybe you can tell for my lack of blogging, but it has been busy…and for this I won’t complain!
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I’ve been spending some time away from my shop and working over at the Technika Industries shop. As I mentioned in a previous post, I’m helping them out with their #44 GT Sprint 2008 Mustang. We’ve removed the 3v 4.6 and are in the process of installing a 2012 spec Coyote crate 5.0L motor fresh out of the box from Ford Racing.
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This will give this already dialed in car a needed bump in HP and torque, not saying that the 308HP 3v was bad, but hey, let’s face it, 420 or so naturally aspirated is much better.
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Of course, tackling this project there is a lot of research and guess work…it’s not like the older fox body mustangs where everyone and their brother has swapped in anything you can dream of…there is a lot of slow going decisions to be made. Hydraulic this, electric that, fuel system configuration options and the list goes on. Luckily though, generally everything bolts up and plugs in, but like Fort Knox…you need to find the code first.
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Although merging 2 different year pieces can be trying at times, we are having a great time doing it. Both Louis and I are learning a lot and of course, I’ll be with him at the track so building this car and knowing every piece will have an advantage when it comes to pit work on track days. The more you know the car, the quicker you can fix it.
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Louis and I have a great relationship in and out of the shop, and with our mutual love for Mustangs and of course, racing, it’s pretty natural that I ended up on this project with them. I jumped at the chance as not so many folks have done this and I don’t regret a minute of it. I love working on race cars and this Mustang is a prime example of what I like to work on. Clean, properly built cars is where it’s at…and as the WR way is…we gon’ make it better.
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We’re going to be spending a lot of time up at ICAR in Mirabel with the “twins”. The 44 and 36 car, both ’08 Black Mustang GT’s and it’s gonna make for one heck of a good time. Track days there are fun..it’s almost the other hand of racing as I know it. From it’s hectic stress induced drift, drag or other cup style racing, this sprint racing is lapping, buddy racing, so no slamming fenders, bumping doors and no 20 second pit stops. We go out, learn the track, the car and have a good time. It’s almost a perfect world as far as high performance / endurance racing goes. This is not to say that there is no racing, as the year goes on, there will be Challenge and Cup races which will turn up the steam and test both skills as drivers and mechanics…and what do we say about that?
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There is still much to do to get this car off the lift, onto the dyno and then onto the track, but I’m pretty sure we got it cased now. The fuel system through us through a loop (see what I did thar?) and thanks to Spec Clutch, they helped us solve a couple issues in a timely fashion. Hopefully from here on out, there won’t be any more hiccups and we can get this thing rolling.
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We’re super excited to start and I’m really looking forward to a summer filled with Sprint racing with my buddy. After all…that’s what it is all about…
Apr 12th by Bannon