2000 Ford Mustang Roush Stage 2 Supercharged - The Final Stage

Bill added some personal flavor...        read full caption Bill added some personal flavor to the specialty-built Stang by having Jorgy's Customs stitch in the Roush Racing logo to the headrest of the Pony. Jack Roush himself would be mighty proud of the finished product.

Bill Abendschein enhanced...        read full caption Bill Abendschein enhanced the visual appeal of his '00 Roush Stage 2 with a set of APC clear rear taillights. The license plate should serve as a warning to all who even consider messing with the Mustang.

As a siding contractor, Bill knows that before you put on the finishing touches to a house, you need to have a solid foundation. He kept that in mind as he took care of the suspension and brake portions of the specialty Mustang before throwing some more power at the 4.6 mod motor. While the Roush suspension and brake upgrades perform well, Bill wanted the Mustang to corner like a slot car, sit in the weeds, and stop outright. Air Ride Technologies shipped out an airbag suspension kit, and while the bags were being bolted in, Bill had a set of Bilstein shocks swapped in along with 3.55 gears in the rearend. A car will only handle as good as the components that complement it, so Baer 13-inch rotors were bolted on up front and 12-inch stoppers were placed on the rear axles. The big brakes are hidden from view by the Roush-specific chrome rims shod in BFGoodrich 265/35/18s up front and 295/35/18s out back.

The foundation was laid and it was time for the final stage of construction. Bill kept the modular engine's long-block just as it came from Dearborn. Instead of putting his effort into refining the engine components, Bill decided to go the forced-induction route. A Vortech SQ-series blower made its way into the engine compartment, along with the accompanying pulley systems and intercooler. Coinciding with the 10 pounds of air being pushed into the engine is the corresponding amount of fuel being pumped in, courtesy of 30-pound fuel injectors and a Holley fuel pump. Filtering the incoming air is a K&N filter, and backing the powerful small-block Ford is the stock five-speed.

"The ride is great considering it's a sports car," Bill says. "The handling is superb. I started out with a Stage 2, and now I have a car that I love everything about."

Maybe Bill has reached the final stage of construction with his Roush. But if he's like the rest of us, sooner or later he'll be back for more.

Conley's Upholstery handled...        read full caption Conley's Upholstery handled the chore of adding looks to the interior portion of the car. The crew at Conley's came up with the killer-looking threads and custom door panels that offset the exterior color choice of the Roush.