One thing we can say about Chris (Boss245) is he just doesent quit!   This guy will keep pounding and pounding until he reaches his goal.   He just broke another sound barrier, by being the first privately owned 4.0 centrifical supercharger powered car to break into the 11’s.   Adding a 75 shot, and coming out of the hole hard with a 1.61 60ft, Chris shows the cast iron 4.0 can get it done.

An impressive, 11.96@111MPH!  Read about it here:

http://www.mustangcollective.com/showthread.php?t=21570

Cheer’s Chris!  Thanks for keeping at it.

History in the making yet again!   Larry Jewett@Mustang Enthusiast team’s up with Mustang Collective members to collaborate on the top 10 modifications for the S197 4.0l V6 mustang.

Watch it unfold here:

http://www.mustangcollective.com/showthread.php?t=15229&highlight=mustang+enthusiast

And read the artcile here:

http://www.mustangcollective.com/showthread.php?t=21087

Thanks to our members and Larry for another job well done.

One thing about our members…they love breaking records.   Joe Armstrong (Droptop6) is no exception to the rule.   Joe loves a car that looks good, and that threatens to rip the asphalt up with some serious power.   After trying relentlessly last season to crack 12’s with his convertible, Joe decided to get medieval on his build up…

Obtaining some shorty headers, a new 3k rpm stall, and heads and cams’s provided by Powerhouse, Joe set the world on fire by being the first convertable to crack 12’s, In Style!  He did this on his sweet 20 inch rims, on street tires at only 10lbs of boost!   Going 12.92@102 with a 1.9 60ft.  Wow.   Once he gets some gears, a shorter belt and some DR’s, low 12’s are in his future, even 11’s.   More details can be found here:

http://www.mustangcollective.com/showthread.php?t=18113

Here’s to another pioneer!  Congrats Joe!

The age old dilemea, building a car for the road course/autox, or for the drag strip.   Can you do both?   While its definitely the road less traveled, Tino (A_sixer) does just that, takes the road less traveled.   Anyone that has met Tino can easily say “This guy likes a challenge”.   

Tino set his car up for AutoX, while still able to configure it for the drag strip when he needs to lay some smack on other straight line cars.   In addition to this accomplishment, he’s done a Vortech install, a Twister Turbo install and Tino is the first that we know of to swap a 4.6 3V and transmission into a 4.0.   You can read about it here:

http://www.mustangcollective.com/showthread.php?t=13216

And thats not all, not only is Tino doing this work himself.   Another great write up by Tino is his GT40 fuel pump swap.  

Thanks Tino!

Mike (greaser) loves his Pony Package Black 4.0 mustang.   And in 2006, he attended Ford Fever at Maryland International Raceway to check out his fellow Ford comrades.   Not planning to, Mike entered his car and won “Best in class” at FF 2006.   That’s getting it done right there.   Read more about it here:

http://www.mustangcollective.com/showthread.php?t=3462

Nice work Mike!

…let’s face it.  It’s hard enough to win a car show these days, but to do it at a non-Ford event.   Talk about the impossible.   Well, that’s just Paul’s (Torch_Vert) style.   Things worth having are never going to be easy.   A long time Ford Mustang veteran, and winner of CSOTM twice now at the Collective, Paul attended the 2007 Cruise for a Cause show in VT.  

Showing what it takes to build a gorgeous car with “show” and “go”, Paul won “First Place Modern”.   This is simply astonishing, as this show is run, and judged by a Dodge car club, where only 5% of the cars were non-Dodge.  

Way to go Paul!

02PnyGt’s wife’s 4.0 V6 helped bring a set of quality long tube headers to the market.   Providing the test mule to Stainless Works, the 4.0 V6 market now enjoys offerings from the company in the form of..

• Long tube headers
• X Pipe

This is for both single and dual exhaust setups.  In addition to this, both 02pnygt and his wife have enjoyed the following car show wins:

• 2007 Cortland Lions Club - Mustang Class Top 3
• 2007 Mahoning Valley Mustang Club Car Cruise - 2nd Place
• 2007 Ox Roast - Top car in class 64-07

Thanks for working with Stainless Works, and thanks for getting out there!

Eddie (4Liter6) is no stranger to building a well rounded car, with the right blend of “show” and “go”.   On May 4th, 2008, Eddie continued to represent by airing his car on TV, ESPN2 with his 4.0 X-Charged Mustang.   The feature was called Bidding Wars, where a segment covered Mothers Polish, using his car to cover the chrome portion of the feature.  

Thanks for getting out there Eddie.   We appreciate it!

…and we have to say etc on this one.  Chris (Flapjack) lives to turn wrenches on cars, motorcycles, trucks, whatever he can get his hands on.  If his toaster had a bolt, chances are Chris has turned it.   Coming from a mechanical background, Chris has paved the way for the S197 in the following areas:

• First head and cammed 4.0 mustang
• First 5.4 3V swap for a 4.0 mustang
• Test mule for the GT500 twin turbo kit for TurboHP

That’s not all, Flapjack loves the write up section of the club.  He has done exceptional install guides for the following:

• J&M LCA/UCA
• Head & Cam Swap
• Steeda Short Throw Shifter
• Detroit TruTrac

And at the pace he’s going, we doubt he is done yet.   For sure we will see more from Chris in the years to come.

Collective member Brad (Temugen) loved his auto 4.0 V6 mustang, but just needed the feeling of rowing through the gears of a manual transmission.   Let’s face it, most would just trade in the car, and get one with a manual transmission, but not Brad…

…he chose the path less traveled, and frankly earned some serious props for doing a swap and tuning some wrenches.   Brad did the first documented S197 4.0 auto to manual transmission swap.   No easy task, but he now has the perma-grin on his face as he rows through the gears in his Mustang.   He provided an excellent in-depth write up of his project here:

http://www.mustangcollective.com/showthread.php?t=15949

Dom (Race This) is no stranger to racing and turning a wrench on a car.   On May 25th, 2007, Dom made history, he pushed his 4.0 V6 mustang into the 12’s with a 125 shot of Nitrous.  Netting an amazing 12.9@104 with a 1.8 60ft time, Dom proved that the 4.0 had the stuff.   And that’s on an auto to boot.  

In addition to showing Nitrous owners how to net some insane ET’s, Dom has also contributed a lot to the Collective to include:

• Guide to DIY 5r55S Preventive Maintenance
• Nitrous how to threads and answers to members
• Extensive research on weight reduction for the S197

In addition to this, Dom is also a regular track runner that is no stranger to FFW, NMRA and NHRA events.  His input and contributions are a huge value to the community.   Here’s to you Dom…cheers!

Jenna (Turbo_J) is a well known entity at the Collective.  Already an established force in the SVO world, Jenna sought to build another ass-kicking “underdog” mustang based on the S197 4.0 platform.  Jenna developed the first do-it-yourself turbo for the 4.0, documented on the Collective.   Details on the TQ Twister kit can be found here:

http://www.forced4.com/v6turbokit.html

In addition to bringing the first DIY 4.0 turbo to market, Jenna is also responsible for a plethora of write ups on the Collective, to include but not limited to:

• The basics of Turbocharging a 4.0 Mustang
• Valve Cover Evac Oil Separator Install
• 8.8 Rear End Swap

Plus countless contributions in the 4.0 Tech section, along overall on the site.  Thanks Jenna!

The old saying holds true, even today….

…if you want something done right, then do it yourself.   After multiple seasons on the street, road course, autox and drag racing tracks, 4.0 owners struggled with the same thing.  Breaking what is considered the over sized “paper weight” T5 transmission.   Be in NA, FI or full on build up, breaking this transmission can be done by virtually anyone.   After others have tried T5 build ups and other unsuccessful solutions, Collective member Gaylon (Nice Pony) finally had enough.

Gaylon single handed developed a conversion kit for the 4.0 that allows you to utilize a TR3650 or TR6060 for the 4.0.   Truly a effort that is simply amazing, our hat’s off to Gaylon for doing what a lot of manufacturers would not.   You can read about it here:

http://www.mustangcollective.com/showthread.php?t=17014

http://www.mustangcollective.com/showthread.php?t=17592

http://www.mustangcollective.com/showthread.php?t=17300

And the test drive details here:

http://www.mustangcollective.com/showthread.php?t=17896

Thats right, another record broken on the Collective.  Ron Martin (navbtcret) was the first X-Charged 4.0 V6 to crack 12’s, and thats without an intercooler!   An amazing 12.9@101 with a 1.69 60ft.   Details can be found here:

http://www.mustangcollective.com/showthread.php?t=17207

And, to take it to the next level, Ron returns to the BB2 with a bottle using a 75 shot to rip out an amazing 12.1@1067 with a 1.6 60ft.   11’s are definitely in his future.

Fin1 (Brad) has one amazing machine. A Powerhouse (Mike Bowen) built 4.6 V8 S197 mustang, equipped with the works, built block, cage, Powerhouse turbo, drag suspension, etc, this car invokes terror at the track. In 2007, the car broke the 9 second barrier, and can run low 10’s all day long even when Brad doesn’t try.

A simply amazing car, doing this on a single power adder, not to mention it took a win from Pittsburgh World of Wheels in 2007. We are honored to have Brad here and look forward to seeing more of his car.

Well, not quite, but close. Scrming (John) continues to representing the 4.0 V6 by participating in the Souther V6 Challenge. Not only did he drive part way across the country from Michigan….

…he took the runner up award in the brackets. Way to go John.

Bscottie (Bill) shows us what a father and son duo can really do. Being one of the first X-Charged 4.0 V6’s, Bill quickly established himself as an asphalt ripping nightmare at the drag strip.  The first 13 second Xcharged 4.0 netting a 13.2 on the stock block with the X-Charger.

In addition to impressive track times. Bill shows us what a beautiful mustang is, and honors us with a full spread in the March 2008 issue of Mustang Enthusiast.

Navbtcret (Ron), shows us how to kick ass and take names. In his Xcharged 4.0 V6 (the first one to crack  12’s), Ron shows how to take down the competition. Over the past two track seasons, Ron has established himself as an exceptional drag racer, with reflexes comparable to a ninja.

At the Ford World Challenge 10, 2007, Ron took 2nd place as the official runner up, and he did it without sand bagging. Simply amazing.  His win also got him a mention and picture in Mustang Enthusiast magazine. Here’s to you Ron, thanks for leading the way.

But that’s not all, he continued his success at FFW Orlando 2008 to take the win in the Ultrastang class.   Not only did he win Ultrastang, but he also took the win in Street Fords as well.   With a heavily modified 4.0 V6, Ron took out Dyno Joe for the Ultrastang win.   Watching the video, you would have thought the competition was standing still!   Details here…

http://www.mustangcollective.com/showthread.php?t=16210

Way to go Ron! 

In an automatic to boot! Ranebowcyxx (Tony) is a veteran drag racer, and it shows in his 4.0 V6. In his cammed, ported heads and valve job 4.0, procharged, Tony showed us how to hook on street tires, and run a 12 flat. Simply amazing. And now hes determined to break 12’s with this car…NA! We wish him luck.

Also known as the Godfather, he was the first Explorer Express X-Charged car, and was also the test mule for AFE and Street Scene. Tom has lead the way in appearance and performance modificatons for the 4.0 V6.

He has a slew of magazine coverage for his car, along with car show wins while still showing us that you can have a car that looks good and goes fast down the track.

Thanks Tom!

Buckman got his 4.0 V6 mustang, and slapped a Powerhouse Turbo on it. After his first run down the track, he was hooked! It was all about the need for speed after that. This guy simply wasnt happy unless he was pushing the 4.0 for every ounce of performance it had…and he did it…

He was the first to get 11’s on single power adder and the stock block for the 4.0 V6. He was also the first to think outside the box with the 4.0 and nitrous and turbo his 4.0, netting him flat 11 second runs, and also clinching the best MPH to date for the car on the stock block.

Rygen owned the 1st Powerhouse kit to be sold, and was determined to prove that his car at just 8.5lbs of boost can indeed run 12’s. This was in the early days of the S197 4.0’s and there were many that said it couldn’t be done in his auto equpmed 05 mustang. He later proved the car could go 12’s (3 back to back runs) and ending up with a 12.8.

He later went to take the first privately owned 4.0 V6 in the 11’s, and the 10’s.

Thats right, Boss245 (Chris) proved that the 4.0 had what it takes to go 13’s, without a power adder. This is an amazing feat, getting a NA 4.0 motor to ET at what you would expect a 75 shot nitrous 4.0 would run. Running 13.8, his car defys the odds, and really does show you what it means to “open-a-can-o-whip-ass”.

One of the early pioneers of the 4.0 V6 and the Collective, Scrming (John) paved the path. Running nitrous long before there were any boosted options for the car, John propelled his 4.0 V6 Steed to 13.1’s.

John paved the way for a lot of S197 owners, with detailed tech write ups, heavy forum participation and features in Mustang publicatons.

Later, be became the first privately owned Vortech to run 12’s.

Fitbikeco, an established member of the Collective and 4.0 community shows that you can do a lot, with a little. And in this case, with just the following modifications, Nick shows us that mid-14’s are doable with the TQ’y 4.0….

-MMR CAI
-XCAL2 w/Bamachips Tune
-MRT Aero Turbine Muffler

And this is on street tires, stock 7.5 and 3.31 gears with NO posi! Wow.

In January 2007, the Collective made 4.0 V6 history with Explorer Express. Working jointly with Explorer Express, a group buy of 19 super chargers were sold in just about 1 weeks time. Setting a record for the 4.0 V6 and Mustang online group buys for a product of this dollar value.

Then to take it to the next level, the Collective did a follow up group buy that sold 13 more units in April 2008.   We are estimating around 60 X-chargers sold that are linked to the collective either via group buys, tech write ups or inquiry threads.

The Collective made history at the 1st Annual Buckeye Brawl held in April 2007, thanks to our members, and with some much appreciated help from Mustang Enthusiast. Larry Jewett with Mustang Ehtusiast was there to document this historic event.  You can download a copy of the article here:

http://www.mustangcollective.com/cpg/albums/userpics/lbuck.pdf