Wheeler paid particular attention to the stance of his Pony, and he got it right thanks to a set of mini-tubs, Granatelli rear suspension components, and UPR front K-member and A-arms. This Stang gets up and goes using a 393ci Windsor engine that produces 456 rwhp and 417 rwtq. The engine, too, was highly detailed. A Ford Racing Sportsman block houses an FRPP billet crank (3.90-inch stroke), Eagle rods, Ross Pistons (4.00-inch bore), and a custom hydraulic roller Comp camshaft. Breathing air into the cylinders is the job of a TFS head and intake package. Wheeler uses a DFI Gen 7 computer to tune his beast. Transferring the power to the Pirelli rear tires is the job of an Art Carr-prepped AOD transmission. The combination of looks and performance is what earned Wheeler's Stang a spot on this Top 10 list.
J.J. Frederick, '02 Saleen MustangA street car boasting 540 rwhp from a Two-Valve modular engine displacing a mere 281 ci is quite impressive. J.J. Frederick's has just that as he has been on the Mustang scene for many years. Some longtime readers might recognize his name from the True Street ranks, particularly the FFW event in Commerce, Georgia. His latest street machine has been built using some of Georgia's best speed shops. For the engine, he turned to Steve Petty of Pro Line Race Engines-the shop powering some of the quickest Outlaw 10.5 cars in the world, including Tim Lynch's.
Petty took a Mach 1 aluminum block and dropped in an '03-'04 Cobra crankshaft, Eagle H-beam rods, and a set of a CP Pistons. The engine then went to Modular Powerhouse to get a set of its Stage 3-ported heads and custom Comp camshafts, designed for turbo use. Topping off the bulletproof engine is a Reichard Racing intake manifold.
Frederick had a custom single-turbo system built using a Precision T-76 Q-Trim turbocharger. He has limited boost to 15 psi at this point, and a Snow Performance meth kit keeps things cool and allows him to run pump gas in the tank. The result is the 540-rwhp rating on Modular Powerhouse's dyno. Backing the powerplant is a Performance Automatic 4R70W transmission with manual valvebody and 3,000-stall torque converter.
Sheer grunt in a great looking package, like Frederick's New Edge Saleen, is a sure way to make it on to our list. We love its subtle looks combined with its brutal engine combination.
Dan Saitz, '07 Mustang Shelby GT500Racing is a tough gig, and today's Pro 5.0 cars are arguably some of the coolest and most radical door-slammers in the world. We've seen plenty of neat Pro cars over the years, but none have impressed us more than Dan Saitz's latest entry in the mid-6-second slugfest. Impressive might be too light of a description for this GT500 replica. Jerry Haas is responsible for building the car, and Saitz's Hyperformance Motorsports handled the twin-turbo system, plumbing, and wiring. The car's best time has been a 6.51 at a stellar 223.85 mph, and it sees action in FFW, NMRA, WFC, NOPI, and various Pro Street events.
Haas built this car with a Pro Mod-style chassis that features double framerails and a long wheelbase. It's designed to withstand the rigors of the 2,400 hp small-block Ford engine sitting up front. A pair of Precision 88mm turbos blow into a Kuntz and Company-built 434ci engine. Hyperformance Motorsports handled the amazing series of tubes that connect the turbos to the Precision aftercooler and the engine. Saitz pulls the levers on a Lenco four-speed clutchless transmission. Expect him to push the limits of the small-block Ford engine once he gets more runs under his belt in the new car.