In completing the car's transformation,...
In completing the car's transformation, Jeff had quite a bit of help from family and friends, including his wife, Angie; his uncle Bill; and Marty Ochs. You can often catch Jeff and his killer coupe at True Street events all over the South.
Jeff utilized an EFI Spyder intake with a FAST 2,000-cfm throttle body, all controlled by the factory electronics. "I like to datalog the engine while we're going down the track," he says, "so we switched the computer to a FAST XFI system. That alone picked up 6 mph." Expelling the combustion remnants is a set of Joey Bell-built custom headers that dump into a custom x pipe-style 3.5-inch exhaust system that Jeff constructed in his Pro Speed Performance shop. The 418 is quite the thumper, pounding out 565 rwhp and 528 lb-ft of torque on motor alone. Jeff installed a single-plate system but never engaged it.
Handling that much power requires serious suspension upgrades, so the front suspension features UPR Products upper and lower tubular control arms that work with a Lakewood/QA1 coil and shock pairing. Out back, a Racetek antiroll bar was installed along with UPR's upper and lower control arms, and QA1 adjustable coilover rear shocks.
 With the added room that mini...  With the added room that mini tubs provide, Jeff was able to narrow the 8.8 by 2 inches and run 325/50/15 Mickey Thompson drag radial tires, which not only provide outstanding traction on the street, but also at the track once he drops the tire pressure. With slicks, however, the coupe has charged to a best elapsed time of 10.18 seconds. |  The polished Weld Magnum Drag...  The polished Weld Magnum Drag 2.0 wheels measure 15x3.5 inches up front and 15x10 at the rear. Polo Green paint comes by way of Jason Duggan of Pro Speed Performance in Powder Springs, Georgia. Three coats of PPG base and three coats of clear were used to produce the deep, dark hue. |  Despite its monstrous output,...  Despite its monstrous output, this car started off as a street beater and continues to cave the concrete, so amenities like the comfy stock seats and an upgraded stereo have been retained. Joey Bell installed the eight-point rollbar so the car can be raced at the strip. It's also good insurance on the street. |
With over 600 naturally aspirated horse-power at the flywheel, Jeff never bothered to visit the juice bar even though it was open for business. On slicks, the stallion covered the quarter-mile in a best elapsed time of 10.18 seconds at 138 mph. "It has had a bunch of different combinations; it has definitely been a workhorse," Jeff says.
A few months prior to writing this feature, Jeff came across a buyer for the coupe, sans motor, which went to another person with cash. "I bought a Nova with a 377ci motor and put a stick in it," Jeff says, "but I just had to have a Mustang, so I picked up another four-cylinder coupe." Future plans call for a turbocharged small-block along with a stick shift so Jeff can drive it on the street.