When we last left our FRPP Competition Kit body-in-white racer, it was well on its way to stardom, but there is some critical work yet to be done. While running respectable numbers is important for any race car, performing with a sharp appearance is also a must, especially when you are representin'. With that, we handed our MM&FF/Micro Strategies Cobra Jet clone Mustang to Bob Gonier, who laid on a multitude of hues to bring our Pony to life.
As you can see, the Carroll's Rod & Racecraft rollcage has also been completed and painted, and the colors have been applied. As we speak, the 5.0L CJ engine is being dyno tested; we're hoping it will make upwards of 550 hp without the use of a power adder. The plan is to back it with a five-speed manual from G-Force Racing Transmissions, lots of gear in the Strange 9-inch, and hit the track running.
Along with laying on the Micro Strategies paint scheme, we also installed Strange front struts and brakes, along with a Flaming River rack and steering shaft. After a few months of work, we have our Mustang rolling, and soon it will be under it's own power.
When we last left our FRPP...
When we last left our FRPP body-in-white drag racer project, it was ready for paint. In the hands of Bob Gonier, this Cobra Jet-clone will look the part once it's finished.
1 Anytime you paint a car,...
1 Anytime you paint a car, especially with a custom design, having a plan is extremely important. Gonier uses pictures and measurements from the other Micro Strategies team CJs to ensure the design is identical to the others in this camp.
2a After some precise me...
2a After some precise measurements...
2b ...Gonier laid out the...
2b...Gonier laid out the stripes...
2c ...and painted each co...
2c...and painted each color.
3 The finished product is...
3 The finished product is in line with the rest of the Micro Strategies fleet--only the top color is changed, making it unique from the rest.
1 Check out the Strange Engineering...
1 Check out the Strange Engineering front drag brake kit we got from Racecraft. This kit is complete with everything you need to bolt up a wheel, including hubs with screw-in wheel studs, calipers, caliper brackets, pads, rotors, and all the hardware necessary for installation. These will work perfectly and match our Strange Engineering rear-suspension setup we went with out back.
2 Strange Engineering also...
2 Strange Engineering also supplied a set of double-adjustable coilovers. Coilovers generally save weight and space, and they give you the ability to easily adjust ride height.
3 Maximum Motorsports supplied...
3 Maximum Motorsports supplied the bumpsteer kit.
4 The front suspension of...
4 The front suspension of our '12 Cobra Jet begins with the factory control arms, which must be utilized according to the NHRA Stock Eliminator rules. The body-in-white cars from Ford Racing arrive with most of the necessary hardware to bolt the factory pieces together.
5a Our manual rack-and-pinion...
5a Our manual rack-and-pinion steering unit is from Flaming River and is an acceptable replacement for the factory power unit. This is going to save us about 15 pounds of front-end weight, plus it will clean up the engine bay.
5b Flaming River has also...
5b Flaming River has also built in a two-piece assembly that allows you to change the geometry of the steering arm to avoid header clearance issues and align the steering arm as straight as possible off the column.
6 We got this bumpsteer kit...
6 We got this bumpsteer kit from Maximum Motorsports on the recommendation of Flaming River. It's designed to eliminate bumpsteer by changing the front-end steering geometry. This may not sound like something essential in a drag car, but one of the advantages of this kit is that is greatly reduces wheel wobble when the car comes down from a wheelie. This bolts up to our rack and pinion, and then through the hole on the spindle.
7a The front suspension begins...
7a The front suspension begins with the installation of the spindle to the lower control arm. We purchased these from our local Ford dealer and they bolted right in place, as they should.
7b The use of drop spindles...
7b The use of drop spindles is also not allowed according to the rules, but I’m not sure we would have used them anyway as we are seeking maximum front-end rebound or separation.
8 The Maximum Motorsports...
8 The Maximum Motorsports bumpsteer kit connects to the spindle once installed on the Flaming River rack. The spacers allow you to change the angle of the tie rod at ride height. As the suspension is compressed and extended, it allows you to minimize toe changes.
9a Next we installed our...
9a Next we installed our Strange Engineering coilover shock/spring along with the caster/camber plate we picked up from Racecraft...
9b ...which will allow us...
9b...which will allow us to adjust the caster of the front wheels unlike from the factory. Strange Engineering's coilovers allow us maximum adjustment in terms of ride height and rebound.
10a This setup from Strange...
10a This setup from Strange installed stupid-fast. We shimmed the calipers as best as we could to get the rotor centered between the two, and tightened everything. These hubs are pre-greased and sealed so we never have to worry about them again.
10b One option from Strange...
10b One option from Strange is a dual-caliper setup for the rear, but being that this car is a stick it is not necessary. The basic setup will give us more than enough stopping power on the other end of the track.
11a The heart and soul of...
11a The heart and soul of this NHRA racer...
11b ...is a naturally aspirated...
11b...is a naturally aspirated Coyote...
11c ...Keep an eye out for...
11c...Keep an eye out for dyno results in next month's issue.