Silver Stealth Stang screamed on the chassis dyno, and its initial output was 279 rwhp with low timing. Radovich dialed in the air/fuel ratio and tried various timing settings. He started at 22 degrees and went as high as 27 degrees. "The car produced the best power with 24 degrees. Going higher or lower resulted in a loss of horsepower. It was a minimal loss, but still a loss," stated Radovich. He also noted that the stock injectors were providing enough fuel, but if we were to add an intake and full-length headers, then a larger injector would be required. The 19-pounders were nearing their capacity in the upper rpm range. As for power, the car registered a best of 285 rwhp and 294.31 rwtq--impressive for a Two-Valve engine that doesn't benefit from forced induction.
As with all of Silver Stealth Stang's horsepower mods, dragstrip testing was required to finish off the article. Englishtown awakened from its winter slumber, and the track management applied a healthy dose of traction compound for our private track rental. The looser torque converter and extra power under the hood forced us to add some sticky tires out back. The Nitto 555 tires barely worked on the street just leaving from idle. We bolted on a pair of Mickey Thompson 26x12.50-inch ET Street DOT slicks. The tires are mounted on 17-inch wheels and tire pressure was set at 12 psi. The temperature at race time was a spring-like 63 degrees. Miele performed a smoky burnout for the cameras and brought Silver Stealth Stang to the starting line. The green light popped and Miele left cleanly, covering the first 60 feet in only 1.81 seconds. On the top end, the silver Stang streaked to the finish line with a 12.85 at 106 mph. Launch rpm was 2,000 rpm and Miele simply matted the throttle at the green. "The transmission shifted early on the 2-3 upshift," was his comment immediately following the run. He backed up the 12.85 with a 12.87 and a 12.90, all at 106 mph. Miele continued: "I think the car could have gone in the high 12.70s if the 2-3 shift was a few hundred rpm higher." Amidst the excitement over the 12-second runs, Miele forgot to drive over the scales. The car is hefty thanks to the spare tire in the trunk, large front brakes, and heavy 18-inch front wheels.
The steel crank-trigger from...
The steel crank-trigger from our '99 engine wouldn't fit the crank sprockets due to a step on the sprocket. A thin steel trigger was procured from a discarded engine that had the rods blown out of it. Double check everything--initially we thought the '99's trigger fit on properly, but after some inspection, its contact with the front cover was quite apparent.
From the outset, Lutton told us the engine was capable of making similar power to the '03-'04 Cobra Terminator. Armed with that information, those cars regularly put down 340 rwhp on the Radical Racing dyno in bone-stock trim. Why didn't Silver Stealth Stang achieve that mark? The answer lies in the slushbox Ford nicknamed the 4R70W. Using the popular 15-percent conversion from stick to auto, our calculator showed a Terminator engine should make 289 rwhp if backed by an auto. The engine barely has 150 miles on the odometer, so we think once it's broken in, the power will rise about another 5-10 rwhp, bringing it inline with our estimate. Editor Smitty told us that he has personally compared the auto and stick transmission in a back-to-back test with an old project car. He saw a loss of 50-60 rwhp, which backs up our guesstimate.
The final tally after several long days and a trip to Englishtown netted us near 300 rwhp and solid 12-second runs. There is certainly more power lurking under the hood, and in the coming months, we plan on adding bolt-on parts such as a larger intake manifold, a MAF sensor, a throttle body, 30-pound injectors, and whatever else we can in order to get more out of Silver Stealth Stang. Our work on the modular family's red-headed stepchild isn't done yet. Stay tuned.
 The front cover didn't fit...  The front cover didn't fit correctly, as we needed to get larger bolts. Downs Ford provided a set so we could bolt the cover on properly. |  We tried to remove the water...  We tried to remove the water passage nipple in the valley. Unfortunately, its rusty nature (due to high mileage) prevented its removal. Downs Ford hooked us up with a new one. Radovich warns enthusiasts attempting to reuse the nipple--preserving the O-rings is crucial. |  Radovich pointed out a spot...  Radovich pointed out a spot where an oil leak can occur if not properly sealed with gasket sealer. This is where the head meets the front cover. |
 The Ford Racing short-tube...  The Ford Racing short-tube headers were bolted on the new engine. It probably needs a set of long-tube headers to get the most out the extra cubes, ported heads, and upgraded cams. |  The stock transmission was...  The stock transmission was reused, and we crossed our fingers in the hopes that it would live behind the new engine. We plan on having Performance Automatic rebuild the unit for longevity and performance. |  Pat's Performance Converters...  Pat's Performance Converters built us a 10-inch torque converter that stalls around 3,200 rpm. It was a little loose for our stock engine, but it's perfect for the new bullet. |
 The stock water pump was working...  The stock water pump was working fine, but Radovich added a new one due to the high mileage. |  It took a day for us to realize...  It took a day for us to realize we needed a lot of parts from Downs Ford Motorsport; then another day to make a list and order them all. On the third day, Radovich said "let there be horsepower." And there was: 285 rwhp to be exact, and a maximum reading of 294.31 rwtq. |  "You gotta have some patience...  "You gotta have some patience with this type of swap. There are so many variations of the Two-Valve that this is common," said Radovich as the clock struck midnight. He was right: Don't expect a swap to go easy. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. |
 We used the stock oil pan,...  We used the stock oil pan, which fit fine but we had to get another dipstick. Radovich said the dipstick tube can and will get stuck in the pan. They break easily so be gentle when attempting to remove it. |  Miele swapped over to a set...  Miele swapped over to a set of Mickey Thompson ET Street tires for dragstrip testing at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park (Englishtown, New Jersey). | |