1996 Ford Mustang Saleen - Six Sense of Frenzy

You're rolling along the highway and pull up next to this drop-top '96 Mustang that is innocently cruising. The tip-off that this Stang has been heavily modded is its aggressive appearance and muscular exhaust tone. Just as you get a good look at the car-bam, the driver drops the hammer and the red rocket walks away from the Corvettes, Camaros, and even the Vipers that surround it. It's not surprising, since most serious Mustangs feature that capability.

While that scenario is fabricated, it isn't out of the realm of possibility. Andrew Carver's Mustang kicks out 500 hp to the rear tires. Surprisingly, chilling under the Saleen hood is a 3.8-liter V-6. This Stang has gone through a metamorphosis from stocker to shocker per-formed by Performance Autowerks (Plainfield, Illinois), and it is more than just a powerful engine in a great-looking package. David Gilbert of Performance Autowerks started in the front of the car and worked his way to the rear, upgrading everything in between. This car can handle, accelerate, stop, and has a show-car-like presence.

A few years ago, this Stang was a daily driver for Andrew's wife. It was a simple purchase-a fun car that was a convertible. But Andrew couldn't keep his hands off it, and the modifica-tions began. After the basic upgrades came a supercharger and then suspension upgrades. At that point, Andrew's wife wanted something a bit more sedate for her daily commute. Finally, Andrew had full reign with the Mustang.

The chassis modifications are the usual repertoire of parts, but residing in the engine bay is a motor that is two cylinders shy of normalcy. The 3.8 engine took a vacation in Canada at a resort commonly known as Morana V6 Racing. The buzzin' half-dozen was pulled apart and built up to handle a serious concoction of boost and nitrous. There isn't an aftermarket, four-bolt style block available in a V-6 configuration, so Morana did what it could with the factory piece. The stripped-down block was decked and bored 0.030 inch. A Morana Stage 3 crankshaft, Eagle H-beam rods, and Diamond custom pistons make up the major components in the rotating assembly.

Compression ratio is pegged at 8.5:1. A stud girdle helps keep the main caps from moving around when the rotating assembly is whipping around under a severe load of boost and nitrous. The OEM cylinder heads have been heavily ported and polished. Valves open and close at a rhythm set by a custom roller camshaft, with lift in the 0.538-inch range on the intake and exhaust side. Rounding off the valvetrain is a set of 1.73:1-ratio Comp Cams rocker arms. A multi-layer head gasket keeps the heads sealed to the block under boost, while a custom Morana intake manifold was hogged-out to complement the cylinder heads.

A ProCharger D1SC (set at 13 psi) delivers the boost, and a Nitrous Express system squirts 75 hp worth of the giggle gas. Reichard Racing pulleys help prevent the eight-rib belt from slipping. A giant ProCharger three-core intercooler is mounted behind the front lower valance. Performance Autowerks used SCT software to tune the EEC-V computer system. Keeping up the fuel demands is a Walbro 225-lph fuel pump, an Aeromotive fuel-pressure regulator, larger fuel lines, and 62-pound injectors.

The shade of red makes this Saleen look-alike stand out, and it's the original factory color. A few years ago, Auto Body by Daniels applied a fresh coat when it added the Saleen body kit. The car is finished off visually with a set of SSR GT-3 wheels that check in at 18 inches. BFG rubber is used as the contact patch for this demented six-banger.

This convertible's owner feels that his car could well be the most powerful street-legal V-6 Stang on public roads. Just be sure to think twice if you challenge a Saleen look-alike-it could be packing more then 500 to the tires. A lot of feelings can and will get hurt when Andrew drops the hammer on the drop-top.