What happened next was a whirlwind of custom-built parts, late nights, and hard work performed by the entire staff at Evolution Performance. The adventure ended with the shop knocking down every major barrier and basically writing the script for GT500 performance that many others would follow. The modifications focused on exhaust, serious boost, suspension upgrades, and naturally, a lot of computer tuning.
Much has changed since we spoke of Whitlock's adventure in the Mar. '07 issue. His shop, led by Fred Cook, has yanked the factory engine and replaced it with a fortified piece by Al Papitto. It boasts more cubes, ported Four-Valve heads, and custom camshafts. The factory blower was ditched in favor of a Kenne Bell 3.4 supercharger. It now makes approximately 856 hp at the wheels with a torque rating of 920 lb-ft. They have since dropped the best time on the full-weight GT500 to an impressive 9.86 at 145 mph, still with the factory six-speed transmission. More refinement to the suspension system and a little hit of nitrous should push this Shelby to low-9s and possibly high-8s.
Jon Huber, '79 Mustang To the untrained eye, Jon Huber's '79 Mustang looks like any other high-9-second car with a parachute hanging off the back and race gas in the tank. Those sentiments change once Huber pops the hood and reveals a four-cylinder engine. We photographed this car at the '06 World Ford Challenge where it stood straight up on the bumper virtually every time down the track. The car has been around a while, and Huber is well known for his prowess in the four-cylinder realm. Last year, he turned up the wick and ultimately ran 8.80s. He competed in both Wild Street and Open Comp at the '07 WFC event, a feat that required him swapping back and forth between slicks and DOT tires.
Going 8s seems easy these days, but to do it with a 2.3L engine is quite an accomplishment. The buzzing little four-banger relies on a Ford Racing Performance Parts tall-deck engine block that is normally found on circle tracks. An ARCA cylinder head has been ported to the max and a custom camshaft installed in the engine. Final displacement is a scant 179 ci, but that all changes once a Precision PT-74 turbocharger huffs approximately 30 psi of boost into the engine. Huber's Mustang has been the test vehicle for Spectre Performance's latest EFI system. This car is every bit a street ride as well, and Huber reports that it regularly gets 17 mpg on the street-yes, it's a street car. There are a lot of V-8 owners shaking their heads in disbelief over Huber's accomplishments on and off the dragstrip.
Ford Motor Company, '08 Mustang Shelby GT500KRWhile the other American-car manufacturers talk about building modern musclecars, Ford Motor Company is actually doing it. The GT500KR is proof that Ford wants to continue setting the bar in the performance segment of new-car sales. Coming off the highly popular Shelby GT500 platform, the GT500KR offers a little more power and a lot more intimidation. The car debuted at the New York Auto Show in 2007 and is set to hit dealers in spring 2008.
The GT500KR will hunt Corvette Z06s thanks to a host of upgrades that were sourced from the Ford Racing Performance Parts division. Boost output remains the same, but the engine inhales and exhales much easier. FRPP cold-air induction helps eliminate any inlet restrictions, and an FRPP axle-back exhaust system frees up the backpressure. Horsepower is said to be 540, while torque checks in at a lofty 510 lb-ft. The biggest jump in performance is the addition of 3.73:1 rear cogs. It's said the GT500KR will run in the low four-second zone (0-60 mph) in street trim. Team Mustang added a host of interior and exterior upgrades as well-including carbon-fiber pieces in various places. Production will be limited, but an exact amount had not been announced at press time.