Magazine page with teal Ford Mustang II Cobra II track test phot…

enough to accomplish a previous best quars tar-mile time of T398 for the 2,950-pound 'Stang. The old C4 automatic transmission was ditched in favor ol a T5 world-class maria ual box with stock ratios. The short-throw shifter is from Steeda and the clutch is lrom Pep Boys, Power travels through a Ford Motorspons aluminum driveshatt and into the Ford 8-inch rear end with Dutchman 28- sprrne axles, 3.55 gears, and a Posr locker, The Spartan interior leatures Corbeau CR1 seas and Crow rpotnl harnesses to hold occupants hrmly in place at the track. A lew Autometer gauges were added to keep 84 www.poput.ritornuiagm so we? track oi the engine vitals and a Grant steers rng wheel keeps the driver in control There is a radio in the car but its nothing to write home about and since it doesnt make the car faster its on the bottom of the list in regards to upgrading We were stoked when Alcino agreed to drive his car lhe feels that trailers are for bros ken cars) the too miles to our test location at the California Speedway in Fontana, California. The test involved four parts: quarr ter-rnrie, slalom, skrdpad, and braking Alcirto had driven his car quite a bit in SOLO ll and autocross events as well as the occasional drag stnp romp, but he was unsure how his Mustang would perform. ln our drag test, he managed to destroy his previous best time by knocking down a 13.50 at ms 58 mph. Not bad lor a mostly stock motor in a car not designed tor the 1320 Aiterwards, we meandered over to the 420-ft slalom course for a few quick trips through the cones The car maneuvered through the cones like a go cart and when our test driver, Nick Licata, pulled up to check his times, he had a huge smile across his face and remarked that the car was a blast to drive. The best time attained through the 420 was 5.95 seconds. That corresponds to an unheard oi 48.1 mph. ray comparison, PHRs own 9/28 75 Camera could only muster 46 48 mph with a high-tech triangulated touriink rear and arr suspension.) Thls lowebuck g-Machirie oi- cially became the iastest car weve ever test~ ed in the slalom in fact, Licata commented that it was the lastest time he had ever seen and he tese lor quite a tew magazines including Super Chevy and Street Rodder. Next up was the skidpad to check the lateral grip. This test is run clockwise and counterclockwrse, and then the two best cits cuits are averaged together. The Toyo Re compound tires really got it done and the Cobra managed an average score or ,99g, yust shy of the magical 19 mark. Alcino has never had his ears suspensron protessronaiiy setup and we think that with a little tuning we couldve hit ig. Still, .999 is a number to be proud at, and one oi the best we have ever seen. For the 60-0 braking test, the Ford managed a stopping distance of 145.65 leet Not exoticar short, but very respectable. Keep in mind, those ultra-short distances you see published in snooty sportscar books are the result of some high- tech ABS systems, and Alcino's nonsABS oar is about as low-tech as there is. So how much cash did Alcino drop into hrs crusherbound Mustang ll? How about $6,000, including the cost of the car (which was exactly zero) Count on laying out another two or three grand (for a car) to duplicate Alcino's effort. In today's age of mega-dollar machines, its relreshing to see someone able to build such a capable car without going into hock. it goes back to what this hobby is all about: using ingenuity and sweat equity to build a ion car that puts asrnrie on your iaeei m. .. genrpaoilfv e an