My Blog

Tag: Mustang

  • King Cobra: Anthony Veneziano’s Terminator-Swapped 1999 SVT Cobra

    King Cobra: Anthony Veneziano’s Terminator-Swapped 1999 SVT Cobra

     

    Certain icons stand out in history as pillars of automotive history. For Ford and Shelby, the Cobra is one of those very icons. From the original Shelby to the current GT500s, that snake has always represented one thing, unrelenting performance. 

     

     

    The key to unrelenting performance is, of course, making that performance reliable and steadfast. When building beyond the capabilities from the factory, this key becomes all the more important. 

     

    Anthony brought in his new-to-him supercharged 1999 SVT Cobra looking for a built bottom end to keep his Cobra’s performance unrelenting. On such a special build, featuring a full Terminator swap with rare parts, including some super rare euro tail lights, we knew that we would be able to make this Terminator-swapped Cobra a force to be reckoned with. 

    With the stock block not able to handle the current power efficiently and reliably, he worked with our performance consultants and build designers to figure out the best way to keep the power pumping and his motor running like a champ.

    The solution sounded simple, a new short block built to withstand the new power and more. However, the reality was much more interesting. 

     

     

    Instead of just any new short block, we sourced a MMR Romeo Short Block, cast iron but with forged I-Beam rods and Manley Forged Pistons. This new beefed up short block would be more than capable to handle the extra power and boost the twin screw blower would send through the 4.6L DOHC V8. Andrew got to work resealing the engine with Fel-Pro gaskets and ARP hardware to make sure that it was sealed and torqued properly. Process is a huge part of what makes a difference during a build and we’re always focused on doing things the right way. 

     

     

    Forged internals are a great way to make the most of any standard cast iron block. And by pairing forged internals with a short block designed specifically for forced induction, Anthony’s Cobra was stronger than ever and ready to be back in business!

    To give the Cobra some extra grunt, some PaceSetters full length headers, ceramic coated by our friends at Wild Things Powdercoating, and a custom-fabricated X-Pipe were added while the motor was out. With the engine setup ready to go, we got the car buttoned up and ready for the dyno! 

     

     

    After getting strapped in, dialed in, and a custom tune from our calibrator Vlad via SCT X4, Anthony’s Cobra put down an impressive 492whp and 450lbft of torque!

     

    We couldn’t let this one go without a full shoot out back at the shop in Wilmington. For a closer look at this build, take a look at the gallery below.

    Reach out to National Speed today to see what we can do for you!

     

    Parts List: 

    • MMR Romeo Short Block
    • Ford Racing Crankshaft
    • Forged MMR I-Beam Rods with ARP Hardware
    • Manley Forged Pistons & chromoly piston pins
    • PaceSetter Ceramic Coated Full Length Steel Headers
    • Custom Fabricated X-Pipe
    • ARP 2000 Hex Head Stud Kit

  • Bryan’s Foxbody Obsession

    Bryan’s Foxbody Obsession

    There’s always some enthusiasts who connect with a specific car and just develop a passion that brings that model to the absolute pinnacle of their vision. We’ve seen it all the time, from domestics to imports. Every car enthusiast makes this connection to some extent.

    One prime example of this is Bryan. Bryan loves Foxbody Mustangs more than almost anyone does, we’re willing to bet. When Bryan first came to us, he had a plan for not one, but two Foxbody builds, a 1989 and a 1993, with distinctly different visions for both. The best of both worlds if you will. We couldn’t have been more excited to take these on and bring this twin Foxbody vision to life.

     

     

    First up, this absolutely stunning 1989 model year, was to be a simple build with ties to the OEM nostalgic setup, but with the addition of a built transmission and some boost! Putting the pressure down on the 5.0L 302 is a Vortech Superchargers V-3 Si-Trim Supercharger System. 

    Bringing life to the motor setup, we swapped out the injectors and spark plugs, using NGK and Ford Racing parts, including Ford Racing 47lb EV6 fuel injectors with a Brian Tooley Racing EV1 to EV6 adapter for proper fitting without having to modify the factory wiring harness. 

     

     

    To beef up the drivetrain while running through the gears, we reached out to the team at Monster Transmission & Performance to help Bryan with a heavy duty 4 Speed AOD Transmission. To compliment this truly monster gearbox, we upgraded all the components surrounding, from an ATP Automotive flex plate to pedal and shift linkage bushings from Dorman Products.  All the epic parts in the world can’t do their best if the support for them is aged and worn!

     

    To keep this Fox breathing clear, we swapped out the headers and X-Pipe for some quality parts from the team at BBK Performance Parts. To keep everything regulated, the radiator and thermostat were replaced and upgraded with a Motorad 180 thermostat and Mishimoto aluminum radiator with a dual fan system from Ron Francis Wiring to keep the air flowing and the engine cool.

     

     

    With the mechanical work wrapped up in the shop by John, Matt strapped her down to the rollers for Vlad to perform a custom calibration via SCT Performance! With 93 octane in the tank and the Vortech V-3 Si delivering ~8psi, Vlad increased the 5.0L HO 302’s output to a solid 306.43whp & 359.59lbft!

     

    Next up is Bryan’s 1993 Foxbody Mustang SVT, getting set for an Edelbrock supercharged Coyote swap and 9 inch rear! We can’t wait to see these two together when they’re both finished. More progress coming soon, so stay tuned for updates!

     

     

    For a closer look at this build, take a look at the full gallery below.

     

    Reach out to National Speed today to see what we can do for you! 

     

     Full modification list performed by us below:

    [ngg src=”galleries” ids=”489″ display=”basic_thumbnail” thumbnail_crop=”0″]

  • VMP Superchargers – Loki and Odin – Differences Explained

    VMP Superchargers – Loki and Odin – Differences Explained

    VMP Superchargers – Loki and Odin – Differences Explained

    VMP is well known for its superchargers and offers tremendous options for Ford Mustang and F-150 models. This video dives into the Loki and Odin systems, how they are alike, and the key differences that drive additional performance through the Odin system.

     

    << Back to Mustang and F-150 Performance Packages

    Contact Us to Discuss Your Next Project

  • 2018 Mustang 1,000HP Package

    2018 Mustang 1,000HP Package

     
    ’18 Mustang // Turn-Key Package // 1,000+ Horsepower:

     

    1000hp Mustang Whipple

     
    That’s what Barry was looking for when he brought us his 2018 Ford Mustang GT A10, and that’s exactly what we delivered. It’s no secret that these Gen-III Coyotes are one of the strongest modular Ford engines ever produced. Rewind just 10 years ago, and such a power level would require built engine, reinforced/reengineered drivetrian, stand-alone engine management, etc. In this case, our 1,000+ horsepower Mustang Gen-III Coyote Package is built around a practically stock engine, transmission, rear end, all on stock ECU — comprised of the following:
     
    Whipple Superchargers 3.0L twin-screw supercharger system, upgraded heat exchanger, 10-rib pulley conversion, ATI Performance Products harmonic balancer, Stainless Works 2.00″ primary diameter long-tube headers and 3.00″ diameter exhaust system, Modular Motorsports Racing – MMR billet oil pump gears & sprocket, Fore Innovations, LLCL1E return-style fuel system, Injector Dynamics ID1050X fuel injectors, Driveshaft Shop 3.50″ chromoly driveshaft, Ford Performance driveshaft safety loop, Driveshaft Shop 1,400hp Pro-Level axles, Bmr Suspension Inc rear subframe cradle lockdown, all brought together with a custom calibration by Vlad via HP Tuners. And while Barry is going to put this beast to good use at the drag strip, this Mustang also needs to be able to hit the grocery store just as effectively. So, we gave him two calibrations, one for 93 octane, one for E85. The results? On 93 octane: a killer 814.77whp & 696.22lbft… More than enough for effective grocery store runs. On E85: a staggering 974.15whp & 791.05lbft! See video in comments.
     
    The crazy part is that number is just where we chose to stop — with more ignition timing, this setup would have easily hit ~1,050whp/850lbft. That said, after we hit the 974whp/791lbft mark, we backed it down to around 925whp/740lbft for delivery — if the extra 50whp/40lbft is ever needed, it’s just one flash away. Needless to say, Barry is going to enjoy himself out at the track and on the street alike!
     
     
     
     
     

    In short, we truly are living in the Golden Age of internal combustion performance.

    Check out a few other awesome Ford Mustang builds below

    Reach Out Today To See What We Can Do For You!
     
    Contact Us

  • Greg's Dream Garage

    You know, I figured it’d be a lot easier to narrow it down to 5 cars I wish I had, but alas it seems almost impossible. I could probably narrow it down to a top 20, but that’d still be tough. Either way, I’ve tried to narrow it down to a top 5. For some reason when formulating this list, I came to the conclusion that perhaps I like European cars a bit too much. These are in no particular order, and all of them will crush Casey’s pansy list.

    [Click on all pictures to see extra sexiness.]

    First up: The Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster.

    Lamborghini LP640

    [Sure sure, hate if you will, but if you don’t like my first choosing, something makes me think you won’t like the rest of them either.]

    Hell, it’s an outrageous exotic supercar. What more can I say? I find the vehicle absolutely stunning in every way. It’s as wide as a hummer, the interior looks like a fighter plane, and it sounds like a hurricane. It’s Aesthetically pleasing, Aurally pleasing, and women find it sexually pleasing as well. Screw your hybrids, they bore me. This thing gets friggen’ 8 miles per gallon. If you can pony up the $336,000 for one, I doubt you really care about gas mileage or stereotypes. It’s powered by a 6.5 liter V12 and it has AWD and 100 miles per hour can be achieved in 2nd gear. Practical? It’s impossible to park, gets horrible gas mileage and weighs too much. I don’t care. I love this car.

    Next up is: The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione.

    National Speed - Alfa Romeo 8C

    I picked this car for no more reason than appearance. Some find it hideous, I find it beautiful. A combination of Maserati chassis with a Ferrari derived 4.7 liter, the Alfa sounds only like a Ferrari could. Rather than exhaust, pure sex emits from the tailpipes, causing many problems driving around highly populated areas. It’s no limit pusher as far as performance goes, but it was never intended to be. The 4.7 pushes out 450hp and 354lbs/ft torque and it has an LSD and a sequential gearbox, but in all honesty that’s not what’s important. Just look and listen to it. You can see that this Alfa produces pure emotion. That’s worth the price of the $200,000 admission itself. Only 84 of these will be brought stateside.

    Next is: The Brabus Rocket.

    National Speed - Brabus Rocket

    Everyone needs something a little more practical for daily driving, right? I suppose this car depends on your view of the word “practical”. With 730 horsepower and a ridiculous 970lbs/ft torque, it has more horsepower and torque than anything you’d ever need, but at least it has 4 doors. Based on the Mercedes CLS series, they took the already powerful standard CLS 600 Bi-turbo and stroked it to 6.3 liters, added cams, larger turbos, bigger intercooler, and exhaust. Brabus wanted to maintain stock manners while having a ridiculous amount of power. Walk softly and carry a big stick they say. All of this power is routed through a 5 speed automatic and maintains comfortable air suspension or coilovers, depending on what you want. Oh yeah..perhaps I forgot to mention that this thing broke the 4 door sedan speed record at a ridiculous 227 Miles Per Hour. Price to pay for super baller status for you and the family? $490,000. Ouch.

    Next up is: The Ferrari F40.

    National Speed - Ferrari F40

    Not much is needed to be said about this one. It’s a Ferrari F40. Mid-engine, Twin Turbo, Legendary. It’s the last car that Enzo Ferrari ever commissioned himself. With a 2.9L Twin turbo V8 producing 471 horsepower, it was king of it’s time. With a plastic windshield and windows, no carpet, sound system or doorhandles, the Pininfarina designed kevlar, carbon fiber and aluminum chassis was truly a racecar for the street. Many stories have been told about the F40’s almost random turbo lag. 80’s turbo technology was not quite as advanced as it is today and boost was said to hit like a hammer all at once. The F40 was the first road legal production car to break the 200MPH barrier with a speed of 201. This is truly a legendary car and a timeless classic. Current price is to be debated, but the original MSRP when the car debuted was $400,000. The F40 is simply a legend.

    Last up is: The ’03-’04 Mustang Cobra.

    National Speed - Terminator Cobra

    Do whaaaaaat? Out of all of these other cars, this one is mild. I’ve always loved the Terminators, and it’s the only one of these cars on my list that is attainable in any realistic mindset. With a factory blown forged 4.6L making 390HP (Underrated from the factory!) and routed through a Tremec T56 6 speed, the Cobra was nothing to mess around with. Ditching the archaic live axle, Ford threw in Independent Rear Suspension and Bilstien struts. In stock form with a good driver, they are good for mid 12’s and the Eaton blower sounds nasty. With minor bolt-ons you can easily have a reliable 500 horsepower car that not only looks good, but performs just as well (or you could just whipple it and be done with it). People definitely recognize one when they see it and I think a Cobra would make a really good daily driver (as opposed to everything else on my list.). This is the only car that you can modify on my list without paying out the ass or getting killed by a fanboy. They only made around 19,000 of these between ’03-’04 so good luck finding one. Price for a Termie Cobra? It depends, but expect a little under 30k for a nice example.

  • Missing Mustang Junkyard Discovered in Rhode Island

    For all of you domestic owners out there, this is as close to heaven on earth as you’re likely to get.

    Imagine this: you’re walking through the woods clutching your hunting rifle and six pack (because if you’re anything like me that’s what you do in the wilderness) and you come upon an amazing discovery the likes of which has never been seen.

    What is it you ask? Jimmy Hoffa? Big foot? Nope. This is so much cooler than missing teamsters and mythical bipedal fur balls.

    Heaven is a Rustang on Cinder Blocks

    An undiscovered junkyard from the 70’s loaded with more classic Rustangs than you can shake a Hemi at (not that you can shake a Hemi, but you get the point) was recently discovered in Rhode Island.

    This is great news for fans of classic cars and old Detroit muscle, but unfortunately there’s a catch: the Rhode Island Authorities, in all of their infinite wisdom, have decreed from upon high that the cars are to be crushed.

    Gearheads seeking to make a pilgrimage to this automotive mecca will need to move fast and say a prayer for the Rhode Island Police Department to have mercy. Screw saving the trees, won’t somebody please think of the cars???

    Hat tip to Jalopnik for originally breaking the story.

  • National Speed's Favorite Bond Cars

    You know the name, you know the number. In what is cinema’s longest running and arguably most loved franchise, James Bond has become synonymous with high-octane adventure, gorgeous women, and exotic cars. Ever since Sean Connery ripped up the road with his modified 1963 Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger, automotive enthusiasts have been foaming at the mouth to see what the British super spy will be driving next. In anticipation of the upcoming awkwardly titled Bond adventure, Quantum of Solace, National Speed has compiled a list of its favorite Bond cars for your eyes only.

    5) 1971 Ford Mustang Mach-1 from Diamonds are Forever. Driven by Sean Connery in a chase through the Vegas Strip, the Mach-1 was the first vehicle to ever be filmed doing the “driving on only two wheels” stunt. Now everybody drives their cars like that (my mom goes to the grocery store on two wheels just for kicks) but remember Bond did it first, and nobody does it better.

    4) 2002 Aston Martin Vanquish from Die Another Day. While it may be featured in the worst Bond movie since Moonraker, the Aston Martin Vanquish is an amazing car deserving of a better Bond than Pierce Brosnan. Capable of turning invisible, flipping upside down, and launching rockets (in the movie of course), the Vanquish was a fitting automobile to celebrate Bond’s 20th cinematic outing.

    3) 1977 Lotus Espirit from The Spy Who Loved Me. Why stick to the roads when you can drive underwater? In one of the best chase sequences in Bond history, Roger Moore outruns a group of really bad guys by driving his white Lotus Espirit into the water, which then turns into a heavily armed submarine. What I wouldn’t give to be able to do that during Hurricane evacuation traffic in Wilmington.

    2) 1979 Gondola from Moonraker. Anybody can drive a car, but it takes a highly trained super spy to drive a Gondola. Featured in Roger Moore’s embarrassing Moonraker, Bond rampages through the streets of some exotic country I’m too lazy to wiki in a seemingly innocuous Gondola. However, this is James Bond we’re talking about, so of course the seemingly innocuous Gondola transforms into a hovercraft. Ridiculous? Of course. Would we want to drive one? Absolutely.

    1) 1963 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger. Sure, it’s the obvious choice, but that’s because it’s the only choice. Anyone that doesn’t think this is one of the most beautiful cars on the planet obviously left their brain in their other pants (I’m not sure what that means but it sounded good). Not only does the DB5 come stock with 282 bhp, you also have the option of installing an oil slick, tire shredders, dual front mounted machine guns, and the infamous ejector seat. Quite possibly the coolest car ever made.

  • National Speed Quickies: 2010 Mustang, 125 rwhp Golf Cart, and New Lambo Concept

    It’s boring to read the news, that’s why National Speed is cutting out all the fat and giving you only the stuff that matters. No politics, sports, or world events — unless its automotive related. We understand that you’re busy people and don’t want to read boring introductory paragraphs (irony!) so let’s cut to the chase and give you all the news that’s fit to print and probably some that’s not…

    The 2010 Ford Mustang has made another appearance, this time getting snapped by the guys over at Jalopnik. Judging from the pics little has changed since the last iteration. Seems that Ford is sticking to the old axiom, “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.” While that may be true, there’s only so long the current crop of Mustangs will hold people’s interest until they start to get a little bored…if they aren’t already.

    Navarez Racing Products mounted a four cylinder Yamaha R1 rocket bike engine to a golf cart — and it generates 125 rear wheel horsepower! Loyal readers of our blog will realize that I have a slight obsession with golf carts, especially ridiculously powered ones like this one. Check out the vid below to see it in action.

    Edmunds Inside Line is reporting that Lamborghini will unveil something completely different than what they’re known for at the 2008 Paris Auto Show. What could it possibly be? A High-performance luxury mini-van? Flying Hybrids? Rumors abound but sources close to Lamborghini say that the grand unveiling will most likely be a four-door super sedan. No word on if it flies.

    And that concludes this week’s quickie. Was it as good for you as it was for us? As usual if you have any news to submit leave us a comment or send us an email and we’ll post it in a future blog. Stay Classy!

  • Scott Goes to Mustang Week

    From July 22nd to July 26th a massive herd of Mustang enthusiasts got together for Mustang Week. Here at National Speed we do a significant amount of work on Mustangs so we decided to participate by attending the car show on Friday and the “cruise-in” on Saturday. I couldn’t imagine these events taking place in a more appropriate town than good ole Myrtle Beach, so with National Speed’s Chief Technician Bobby along for the ride, we headed out to the Vegas of the south.

    Waking up at 6am on a Friday was a little rough for me, but I eventually managed to fall out of bed and get ready for the car show at Colonial Mall. We were there early, VERY EARLY (Myra instructed us to be there at 7, so we had no other choice) so we set up our tent, sat back in the chairs, and waited. We didn’t have long to wait though, within a couple hours the parking lot went from this:

    To this:

    At the National Speed tent we chatted up hundreds of Mustang enthusiasts and passed out info about the shop. We also gave away free t-shirts and raffle tickets for the chance to win an SCT tuner. A few of our customers/friends were at the show and we got them into the “restricted” area to park their cars next to our booth. I’d like to thank Dave Crawford, Chris and Crystal Durham, and Dave Tilley for displaying their cars at our booth and helping us out all weekend at the tent!

    At the end of Friday an estimated 4,000 people had attended the event and over 500 mustangs were present in the show area. I’ve never seen a group of a specific model cars that size in my life.

    After a very long day in the sun, we packed up the tent and prepared for a night on the town. We kicked things off by meeting up with Chris and his wife Crystal for dinner at Joe’s Crab Shack where we ate some delicious seafood and drank some exquisite brewed beverages. From there Bobby and I decided to stop by a random restaurant on the beach. It had seating right off of the strip so we of course sat there to watch the Mustangs drive by while quenching our thirst and chatting with some tourists.

    Saturday morning came entirely too early and we were off to the Colonial Mall to do it all over again. This day was not a judged show, but a “cruise-in,” which is where everyone parks their cars and walks around checking out each other’s sweet Stangs. All of the vendors were set up again in full force and we passed out another 75 free t-shirts within the first couple of hours. Saturday topped Friday’s numbers; there were an estimated 5,000 people and 750+ mustangs at the Colonial Mall!

    To top it all off Steve Saleen made an appearance and signed autographs. Although I‘m not a Mustang owner, I do have a lot of respect for Mr. Saleen so I had to get an autograph. But even better than getting the autograph was the debut of the new Mustang Saleen prototype. Between Mr. Saleen making an appearance, and the revealing of a never-seen-before Mustang, I realized how big an event Mustang Week has become. Not only did Mustang Week exceed my expectations, but I had an absolute BLAST and we here at National Speed look forward to being involved even more in the event next year.

    Disclaimer: this post was edited because Scott is too awesome. All records of his night life activities have been deleted to protect the innocent.