While a stock 460 is plenty stout from the factory, Jeff knew he wouldnt be satisfied unless it was slightly upgraded to the stroked 506-cube monster you see here. The forged Eagle crank and I-beams connect to a set of 11.5:1 JE pistons, while the custom Isky mechanical roller cam pushes the enormous 2.23/1.85 intake/exhaust valves in the Cobra Jet aluminum heads. Topping off the package is a Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake and a Holley 850 to produce 646 hp and 539 lb-ft of torque.
Radio-deletes are cool, but seeing an eight-track of Andy Gibbs Shadow Dancing is pretty hard to beat.
Amazingly, the interior is all original except for the carpet and the four-point rollbar, which Jeff installed himself. To shift the brutal big-block, he replaced the sloppy factory shifter with a Cheetah SCS to allow for crisp gear changes with the manual- valvebodied C6. CC
Some people find their project cars in corn fields or abandoned barns. of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, found his in the hands of the military. The original owners bought the 71 Mach 1 while serving on active duty in Honolulu, Hawaii. It shipped out with them to California and went on to provide years of loyal service. Three decades and 150,000 miles later, the couple was ready to retire, but their car wasnt.
Many of our first beloved musclecar projects come with spiderwebs, beat interiors, and fragged drivelines, but for a paltry $2,500, Jeff acquired a Pony that was still in fantastic shape. It had a beautiful interior, receipts for oil changes, and only a trace of rust (the car was stored during winters). Two weeks later, in true gearhead fashion, Jeff put the mild-mannered Pony into his garage for a wicked year-and-a-half transformation.
Anyone who thinks that early-70s Mustangs make questionable project cars should listen to the thunderous idle, witness the brash stance, and see the brilliant Torch Red paint on this 71. We bet it will quickly win their hearts and minds.