1983 Ford Mustang Daily Driver Performance - Build a Killer Daily Driver

Fox Body Mustang Performance Parts Bore Mic

Since bench racing is an important part of car crafting, we had Jim Grubbs Motorsports dyno the little beast. With 350 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm and 355 hp at 6,000 rpm, we knew our light-weight Fox-body would be capable of giving the LS1 Chevy crowd a run for its money.

Baseline engine
575-cfm factory Holley carburetor OE headers, single-cat piping, dual mufflers Factory intake manifold 35 degrees total timing
RPM	RWTQ	RWHP
2,500	246	118
3,000	254	146
3,200	256	158
3,500	255	171
4,000	240	183
4,400	223	188
4,500	219	188
5,000	193	184
5,500	160	168
6,000	N/A	N/A

*Westech SuperFlow chassis dyno

Fox Body Mustang Performance Parts MSD Ignition

Clean-burning cylinders require optimum spark energy. MSD set us up with its 6AL rev-limiting ignition box, Blaster 2 coil, spiral core wires with Pro-Clamp separators, and an in-car ignition retard/advance box to promote optimum fuel mileage.

50-state smog-legal rebuilt engine
575-cfm factory Holley carburetor 1-5/8-inch FlowTech header Performer intake manifold 33 degrees total timing
RPM	RWTQ	RWHP
2,500	294	140
3,000	306	175
3,500	313	209
3,600	337	232
4,000	336	256
4,500	330	283
5,000	318	303
5,500	307	322
5,800	298	329
6,000	286	327

*Jim Grubbs SuperFlow engine dyno

Fox Body Mustang Performance Parts BBK Performance Crossover Pipe

Our 2-1/2-inch dual-cat cross-pipe from BBK Performance passed smog with flying colors while hardly affecting power at all. Remember, pre-'86 cars will require a double-hump crossmember.

Non-50-state smog-legal rebuilt engine
650-cfm HP Holley carburetor 1-5/8-inch FlowTech header Performer RPM intake manifold 33 degrees total timing
RPM	RWTQ	RWHP
2,500	281	134
3,000	302	173
3,500	331	221
4,000	350	267
4,500	342	293
5,000	328	312
5,500	322	337
6,000	309	355

*Jim Grubbs SuperFlow engine dyno

50-state smog-legal rebuilt engine
OE headers, single-cat piping, dual mufflers Jetting 62 primary, 72 secondary 33 degrees total timing
RPM	RWTQ	RWHP
2,500	259	127
3,000	266	152
3,500	275	183
4,000	273	209
4,500	262	224
5,000	253	241
5,500	241	253
6,000	216	248

*Westech SuperFlow chassis dyno

Parts Used And Tested
Description	PN	Source	Price
*Accessory kit	554-9801	ARP	$118
*Two-bolt main stud kit	154-5401	ARP	36
Rod bolts	154-6402	ARP	50
*Head bolts	154-3601	ARP	38
*Carb studs	200-2401	ARP	12
*Flywheel bolts	100-2801	ARP	8
Cross-pipe with cats	1662	BBK Exhaust	400
*Clutch housing assembly	CFT360025	Centerforce	160
*Clutch disc	280490	Centerforce	85
*Clutch release bearing	N1714	Centerforce	35
Camshaft	35-514-8	Comp Cams	246
Timing chain	2138	Comp Cams	40
Pushrods	7621-16	Comp Cams	109
Rockers	1442-16	Comp Cams	150
Performer heads	60329	Edelbrock	1,140
Performer intake w/EGR	3721	Edelbrock	186
Four-barrel EGR plate	8053	Edelbrock	60
*Water pump, std rotation	8840	Edelbrock	148
*Water pump, rev rotation	8843	Edelbrock	150
Sealed Power kit	Call Summit	Federal-Mogul	270
After-cat exhaust	17213	Flowmaster	320
1-5/8-inch shorty header	BIG-12107-FLT	FlowTech	140
Clean and mag block	N/A	JGM	80
Bore and torque-plate-hone	N/A	JGM	225
Deck	N/A	JGM	150
Install cam bearings	N/A	JGM	40
Resize crank	N/A	JGM	112
Resize rods	N/A	JGM	124
Press piston pins	N/A	JGM	48
*Rebuild service	N/A	Holley	350
*Mechanical fuel pump	12-289-11	Holley	80
*MSD -6AL box	6420	MSD	230
*Blaster 2 coil	8202	MSD	35
Wires, black	31323	MSD	79
Adjustable timing control	8680	MSD	128
*Pro-Clamp wire separators	8843	MSD	17
Balance rotating assembly	N/A	WVEB	190
Miscellaneous	silicone, oil, spark plugs, etc.		213
*Total			$4,500
All prices pulled from www.summitracing.com *Factory parts are power adequate and can be reused. Price not included in engine total.

50-state smog-legal rebuilt engine
FlowTech 1-5/8-inch short headers BBK 2-1/2-inch dual-cat cross-pipe Flowmaster 2-1/2-inch after-cat Jetting 61 primary, 69 secondary 33 degrees total timing
RPM	RWTQ	RWHP
2,500	266	130
3,000	277	158
3,500	288	191
3,800	296	214
4,000	295	225
4,500	289	248
5,000	282	269
5,500	267	279
5,600	261	282
6,000	244	278

*Westech SuperFlow chassis dyno Jetting was changed to optimize engine power with increased exhaust flow.

Fox Body Mustang Performance Parts Clutch

With more than 1 hp/ci on tap, we wanted to be sure our rear wheels saw every bit of power. A Centerforce dual-friction clutch, disc, and bearing were installed in place of the factory pieces.

Fox Body Mustang Performance Parts Exhaust

Flowmaster builds one of the nicest after-cat Fox-body systems available today. We ordered ours for an '86-'93 hatchback model with stainless steel tips and adapted it to the BBK cross-pipe dual-cat system.

Fox Body Mustang Performance Parts Chassis Dyno

The proof lies within our chassis dyno results. Our Mustang delivered a beginning peak power baseline of 256 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm and 188 rwhp at 4,400 rpm. Then, $4,500 dollars later, we went back to the dyno and rocked its rollers to the tune of 296 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 rpm and 282 rwhp at 5,600 rpm.

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