1988 Lx And 1990 Lx Ssp Mustang Lx Coupes

1988 LX Coupe & 1990 LX SSP - Deuce Coupes

After breaking the first transmission, Larry Jr. called on Jeff Abbott of Transmission Techniques (Cumming, Georgia), who built a C-4 that could handle full power on the track but behave well on the street. Next, they modified a Ford 8.8-inch rearend with Moser 35-spline axles, a full spool, and C-clip eliminators to redirect the power to the 275/60-15 Mickey Thompson Drag Radials on Welds.

Once the build was complete and Larry Jr. started running the local quarter-mile in the mid-10s, Larry Sr. asked his son if he could attack the 1,320. Since he had put so much work in the car, including the paint job, Larry Jr. felt honored to let his dad drive.

The Fever, 1990 LX SSP
"I made one pass in Larry Jr.'s car, and when I got back to the pits, I said 'Find me one!' I was hooked," Larry Sr. tells us. On a whim, Larry Jr. called McClune to see if he knew anyone else with a coupe like the '88. He knew of one for sale that was quite similar, a '90 LX SSP (Special Service Package), formerly a Florida Highway Patrol cruiser. Larry Sr. bought the coupe, and with his son, began building yet another mid-10-second stallion.

In true Waters fashion, the pair attacked most of the build themselves. The previous owner included a Voss Racing Engines 408ci short-block, almost identical to Larry Jr.'s. Since the formula worked the first time, the pair decided to use similar parts on Larry Sr.'s. The same Dart Windsor Sr. heads, Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake, and AED 750-cfm carburetor sit atop the Voss short-block, and the same modifications were made to the rearend.

"I'm an old man," Larry Sr. tells us, but he still opted for a healthy 150-shot of nitrous oxide, adding that he "will be adding more as we go." The 55-year-old is still young at heart, and enjoys the time spent working on the Mustangs and racing NMRA/Tremec/MM&FF True Street with his son.

On the chassis dyno, Sr.'s Stang made 515 rwhp and 500 rwtq, and Jr.'s laid down 535 rwhp and 505 rwtq. Larry Sr. has run a best of 10.48 at 127 mph, while Larry Jr.'s best is 10.39 at 128 mph in the quarter-mile.

The hard work and competitiveness of drag racing has drawn this father and son closer than ever, and both have been able to experience things neither thought were possible. "I never dreamed I'd be asking my dad if I could borrow his nitrous bottle," Larry Jr. tells us-and Larry Sr. never dreamed he'd have one to lend.