79 Foxbody Mustang FE 445

[MrRupp]

Well it's time to get the Foxbody back in the shop to get it ready for this year's race season. We're not doing anything to big this year. We're changing carburation. We've been running holley 850 double pumper, but I picked up an older 1050 dominator, so that's getting installed. The only thing that sucks is we just got the 850 dialed in. We just want to see what the dominator will do, hopefully it will make us faster. Can't wait to get to the track and see what happens. The only other upgrade is, were going change the steering column to a Motion Race works chromoly light weight steering column. The biggest reason we're going to that, is so we can remove the steering wheel. That way I can fit my Oversized (you know what) pass the roll bar. Well that's it for now, I hope everybody having a good winter.
Clint

[Stangman]

Thanks for the report. This winter is awful boring with no motor. Keep us informmed

[MrRupp]

Will do, we're headed to the Tri-State Automotive swap meet this weekend. Hopefully will find some cool stuff for the Mustang. Seem's like we always come back with 9" spool. In the last 3 year's we've pick up 2 31 splines and 1 35 spline, all under $50.00 a piece.
Clint

[MrRupp]

Hi everybody, I just thought I would give you a quick update on the Mustang. We haven't made it to the track yet, been just to busy here at the shop. But that's what pays for the racing. Last night we started getting the 1050 fitted to the intake, as you all know it's a little different set up then the old 850. Another piece we are changing is the thermostat housing. The top radiator hose came off the stock Ford thermostat housing last year in the trailer after we had made a run. Thank goodness it didn't come off during the run, that could have been very bad. I know we should have made sure the clamp was tight, but we had no indication we had a problem. The new thermostat is a Billet Specialties, its has a nice lip around it, way better then the stock housing. It's O-ringed sealed and you can adjust the angle. The one other update is we're replacing the stock steering colunm with a Motion Raceworks chromoly steering column. It should be here next week.
Well that's it for now.
Clint

[Stangman]

thanks for the update clint I hope you get out soon.

[MrRupp]

Well we finally got the Mustang down to the track Saturday. Now the only big change, was we went from an 850 double pumper to a 1050 dominator. We really didn't no what to expect. So the first run we took it kinda of easy, and it ran an 11.67 @ 117mph. So the second run, we left off the 2 step and shifted at 6000 rpm. We ran 11.57 @ 117mph. The car just kept getting better every run. We got 5 runs in all together. Made 3 elimination rounds, with breaking out on the last run with a time of 11.501 @ 117mph. The track we race at is Bandimere, the track temperature the last run was 130 and corrected altitude was 9800. All in all it was a great day at the track. Saturday was a points race, but we have one more test and tune before All fun Ford. So hopfully we can dial her in a little better. The car was a solid 11.70s with the 850, now it seems like its a pretty solid 11.50s. So the 1050 seems to be worth 2 tenths, at least we're going in the right direction.
Clint

[mbrunson427]

I'm going to miss all ford day for the 4th year in a row now, I have a trip planned again. I've been hoping to run into you at the track and watch that car run but it hasn't worked out yet.

[6667fan]

That’s cool. Sounds like a (relatively), easy way to find a couple tenths.
Nice

[Stangman]

Excellent Mr Rupp what a great feeling right. Ya know ya keep poking and prodding for a little extra and then boom 2 tenths. Glad for ya now play with that carb for another tenth. Actually your right at the 11.50 class leave it alone and go some rounds

[427LX]

Haven't followed your build but are you running a 445 cube FE in that Mustang?

[Stangman]

No a 486 but hopefully I will get it back in the car soon.

[MrRupp]

Yes that's right, we're running a 390 block, bored 40 and a Scat 4.250 stroked crank with Scat H beam rods. Heads are C4AE-G with 2.12 intake valves and 1.71 exhaust valves. The heads are mildly ported. Intake is an unported trick flow track heat. Pistons are RaceTec, right at 13.1 compression. The rockers, shafts and supports are all P.O.P. Thats the build, kinda of in a nut shell. The transmission is a C-6 with a 10" converter. The rear gear is a 9" with a 31 spline spool with 4.11.

[Stangman]

Nice build, 13 to 1 she must sound pretty good.

[MrRupp]

It sounds really strong. We went from 1-3/4" primaries going into a 3" collector, to 2" primaries going into a 3-1/2" collector. Then we sent them to Jet-Hot and had them ceramic coated. That really helped reduce engine compartment heat.

[MrRupp]

Here's an update on the 79 Foxbody racing season. It's was Fun Ford Day at Bandimere last Sunday. We raced 4 different Fords, but only the Foxbody is FE power. The other 3 were a 79 Bronco with a 545 385 series, 66 Mustang 351W and 90 short bed F-150 with a 302. The Foxbody did well, we had our fastest run ever, 11.48@ 118 mph. We ran that back to back. The track temperature was over a 100 degrees, but the car ran very good. Our first race we went up against a 64 Thunderbolt clone, not sure of the power plant. We dailed in with a 11.48 and he dailed at a 11.35. It was a good race, but the little foxbody took him from the start and never looked back. We lost the next race, because we red lighted. All in all it was a good day of racing, and the car is getting faster!!!
Clint