Project Street Legal Stocker

Welcome to my Mustang stock eliminator project. I grew up always drooling over the 1960's and 1970's NHRA stock and super stock race cars. Needless to say, I've been hooked on the prospect of class racing since I was very young. Finally, in 2003, I was able to spend some time and money working towards my goal.

My goal: Build an NHRA stock eliminator legal mustang that can be driven to the track and run under the class index.

I've got a long way to meeting my goal. However, I've got some great help available to me.

The Car:

It is a 1988 Ford Mustang LX notchback with a 5.0 EFI and an AOD automatic. The only options originally on the car are A/C and cruise control. The car has undergone some minor changes over the past 5 years. Current upgrades include:

4.10 Richmond gears
rebuild traction-lok
Transgo HP AOD shift kit (shifted in D)
Dead stock 5.0 motor
MAC underdrive pulleys
180 degree thermostat
upgraded plug wires, plugs, cap & rotor
Flexalite Electric fan
130AMP alternator
Lakewood 70/30 struts and 4 cyl springs
Lakewood 50/50 shocks and GT springs
Removed sway bar
BFG 275/60 drag radials
Flowmaster 40 series mufflers with dumps
190lph fuel pump
Removed the A/C system
Removed front sway bar
K&N

History:

I originally purchases the car in the summer of 2003 with 180,000km. The car was completely stock - including the original plug wires and silencer. As any AOD owner knows, the car barely could spin the tires. Especially due to the fact it had 2.73 gears. As with any high mileage car, I've done endless maintenance ranging from brakes, suspension, to heater core(s) (Argh), and countless leaks.

Time slip History
Date	Time	Mods
Sept 2007	14.38 @ 95.1 mph	Electric fan installed, ok air, and still shifting in D @ 4500rpm
Aug 2007	14.42 @ 94.8 mph	No changes
Aug 2007	14.44 @ 95.5 mph	14 degrees, 45psi fronts, wheel alignment done up front (tail wind at this race helped the mph), drag suspension, no sway bar, removed A/C
July 2007	14.62 @ 90.5 mph	Better air, 13 degrees of timing
July 2007	14.69 @ 91.9 mph	4.10's rock
Aug 2006	15.25 @ 91.7 mph	Better air, more air in front tires
July 2006	15.32 @ 92.3 mph	BFG drag radials, leave at 1200rpm verge of creeping, cooler air , shift kit
July 2006	15.50 @ 91.5 mph	Better air, more timing, need drag tires
July 2005	15.59 @ 91.1 mph	More timing and a good tune
Sept 2003	15.89 @ 88.6mph	First time ever down the track. Shifted in D. Front tires 40psi / rears 32psi.

My plans for the car to near the M/SA or N/SA index (currently low 13's) with the AOD are:

Rebuilt motor with stockish bottom end, stocker cam, upgraded valve springs, and a hell of a lot of attention to the small details
3400+ converter, big tranny cooler, manual VB
Lightweight wheels & tires (26 by 9 slicks)
Holley SD management system or Ford Extender
Electric water pump drive
Long tube headers
Manual steering

Have any advice? Feel free to contact me at fiveohfever@gmail.com

Tips and Tricks:

I've been fortunate to have a very consistent car. In fact, on many race dates I've varied as little as 5 /100ths all day long. These are my thoughts on how to be successful at drag racing and making a consistent starter bracket car.

Be a robot: the driver is a massive variable that gets affected by ever little thing - much more so than the car itself. So, do everything the same - make a ritual about how you enter the car, enter the burnout, do the burnout, and approach the tree
Listen, listen, and listen more! Other racers are the real source of knowledge. Listen to what they are saying to each other and make sure to ask every question you may have...even the stupid ones. I know as I've asked tons of them :)
Pay attention: Racers are an extremely competitive bunch of people. They'll spend thousands of dollars and hours just to gain a small advantage. Don't forget that.
Put your time and energy where you can make a difference: My mantra has been make the car consistent and learn to cut good lights. I'm sure I could wring another 3-4 tenths out of my car at the cost of some consistency. The car can take years to get dialed in. However, for $99 you can buy a practice tree.
Be alone at the tree: Ignore you opponent until your near the last 200ft. It is you vs. the tree.
Cutting good lights = Win lights
Do the maintenance: If you hear a squeak or rattle or something seems amiss - it probably is! Spend the time and money needed to rectify the problem before it begins. It is no fun losing first round but it's even worse to lose in the final because your your starter just died.
Know your car: Make changes one at a time until you find out what works for your car. Don't jack the fuel pressure, timing, adjust the tires, etc.. all at once. You need a planned approach for understanding what works best for your car. Make changes that make your car more consistent not necessarily faster. In my case, I often tell people I'm running about 90% - and I'm not referring to nitro - by taking out some timing and rpm my car responds by being more predictable.

Sponsors:

My quest for success would not be possible without supports of friends. Thank you to:

Racing Accomplishments:

2006 & 2007 SIR Street Legal Points Champion
2007 SIR 2nd Place Overall Sportsman Class
2007 - 5 Street Legal Class Wins, 1 Runner-Up
2007 - 2 Sportsman Class Wins, 1 Runner-Up
2006 - SIR Most Improved Racer Award
2006 - 3 Street Legal Class Wins, 1 Runner- Up
2006 - 1 Sportsman Class Runner-Up
2003 - 1 Street Legal Class Win

1988 Ford Mustang launch