The Ford Mustang has enjoyed uninterrupted production since its debut as 1964 1/2 model and Ford recently (April) celebrated the Ford Mustangs 49th birthday and the one millionth Mustang a 2014 GT convertible in ruby red and black interior produced at the Flatrock Plant. Ford have produced and sold more than 8.5 million mustangs since the original car went on sale in 1964. Some more note able cars built at the Flatrock facility include the Shelby GT-H, The Bullitt Mustang, the Boss 302 and the powerful Shelby GT500. So what’s next for the Ford Mustang? How about a Boss 351 as a final Cobra R successor? What are they saying in the forums? Well we found a Ford Social Media representative that posted on a Mustang forum site about the coming of a 2014 1/2 model. The rep says "The 2014 ½ will be the 50th Anniversary edition. It will be added to production for a limited run sometime during the year." Now as a limited edition this makes it seem that it could either be the swan-song for the current model Mustang or the debut of the brand-new, global car. The Ford representative also says that "2014MY order banks are open now...they won’t build until the middle of first quarter 2013." This puts 2014 Mustangs on dealer lots by spring of 2013. Continue reading →
In case you missed it this year, you can take another look here at our Fabulous Ford Forever Gallery.
This years Fabulous Fords For Ever car show held at Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park Southern California was off the hook with over 2000 cars in attendance and there were tens of thousands of spectators that showed up to see all the amazing Ford cars and trucks along with the usual slew of celebrities from the automotive industry associated with Ford. This year autograph sessions were held with Vaughn Gittin Jr. ( who was also working the Long beach grand prix ) Steve Saleen and Linda Vaughn whose great personality and friendliness is always a crowd pleaser.
There were alot of significant anniversaries to celebrate this year, including Ford Motor Company’s 110th birthday, plus 85 years of the all-important Ford Model A. The Torino turns 45 this year, and the Ford Special Vehicle Team celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2013. (Has it really been two decades since that first SVT F-150 Lighting pickup truck and SVT Mustang Cobra hit the showrooms? – Yes it has!) Continue reading →
How many of you would like to win a Ford Mustang just for going to work every day?
Well an Ohio man is now the proud owner of a brand new 2013 Ford Mustang thanks to his perfect attendance at work for the year. Michael Thompson, an employee of Owens and Minor in Hebron, OH, claimed his prize, a base 2013 Mustang V6, after being randomly selected among five coworkers who hadn’t missed a single day of work for an entire year. The giveaway has been a company tradition since 2005, with an hourly worker with perfect attendance from each region taking home a new vehicle. Sweetening the deal and as an added bonus, Owens and Minor also pays all of the taxes and fees associated with the car! After taking delivery of the Mustang Thompson said he was “very excited,” and that he could not wait to drive it. The new 2013 Ford Mustang V6 is an impressive car with a base 3.7Liter V6 double over head camshaft engine that pushes out 305 horsepower at 3500 rpm and 280 ft/lbs of torque at 4250 rpm – quite impressive numbers considering that 10 years ago the V6 Mustang put out 190 horsepower and 220 ft/lbs of torque.
We bet that he will start modifying the car very soon with all the great performance parts that are available for it. On the performance side we think he should start off with an AirAid Cold air intake kit and a BBK 73mm power plus performance throttle body to add some good horsepower, along with a Magnaflow axleback back exhaust system to make it sound great and a few more ponies. Then on the outside install a set of Eibach lowering springs to get it to handle and look better and install a set of Ford Racing Boss 302 wheels to give it an awesome look. This is just for starters there are a ton of great modifications that can be done to any Ford Mustang V6 or GT - Long Tube Exhaust Headers, X Pipes and so much more and we have all the parts to make your car look great – What would you modify first?
Ford Racing Performance Parts takes you on a tour of our 5.0L Aluminator crate engine build line in Livonia Michigan. These hand assembled crate engines are available in naturally aspirated or supercharged versions. Applications include 2011-2014 Mustang GT or any Ford "resto-mod" or street rod build using our Coyote Crate Engine Controls Pack.
Here at the Ford Racing PAS (Performance Assembly Solutions) engine plant in Livonia Michigan – engineers take time and pride in building some of the most powerful and reliable Ford engines available to the aftermarket. After the engine is dissembled, cleaned and de burred it is jet washed and a dried with compressed air. The block is then gauged and all measurements and clearances are noted and recorded against the engine serial number for future reference.
The engine is assembled using Manley H beam forged Rods, Mahle Pistons with graphal low friction coatings dished 9.5:1compression for supercharged and 11:1compression for naturally aspirated applications. All components are assembled with ARP performance fasteners and bolts.
Main bearings are installed and sized for each individual engines measurements and specifications
The rebalanced crankshaft is installed next and then the main bearing caps are installed in their correct positions and torqued in sequence to spec with an electronic torque gun.
The crankshaft is then rotated with a special tool to measure average roll away and peak break away torque and the measurements are recorded again to the engines serial number.
Next the piston and rod assemblies are lubricated with oil and installed into the block, the rod caps are installed and then all torqued to spec with the electronic torque gun
The engine assembly is then rotated again and torque to turn is measured and recorded again for peak break away and average turning torque.
Now on the underside of the engine, it’s time to install the oil pan baffle (windage tray) and gasket, followed by the oil pump pick up tube. On the top of the engine its time to install the multi layered steel cylinder head gaskets and then the Ford cylinder heads.
The intake and exhaust camshafts are then lubricated and installed followed by the cam caps ensuring correct placement and orientation
Timing chains are next along with the VCT phasers and the engine is then timed using the ID marks on the gears with those on the chains.
All that’s left now is to install the engine covers – valve covers, timing covers and intake manifold and the engine then moves onto a series of final tests.
First is the coolant leak pressure test, then the engine is primed with heated oil to test oil pressure and torque to turn. The final cold stand function is to measure and test individual cylinder pressures and record them against the engine serial number.
Now the Ford racing Aluminator engine is complete and ready to race – What engine would you like to put in your ford Mustang or resto mod? Leave your comments below.
