One of the more potent cars in the Project forums is the 1983 Ford Mustang GT owned by James Pringle, better known as “BBR”. The nickname stands for his first project, a big-blocked Ford Ranger pickup truck from many years ago. And back in 2009, the Mustang became the new home for the Ranger’s 460-based 552 cubic inch mill. Since that point in time, the car has competed in Drag Week, has been driven around and has hit the track often, clipping close enough to the nine-second zone to count.
All of the fun of over nine liters of rompin’ stompin’ Fox body is about to come to a close, however. Don’t be sad…yeah, we like the idea of a 460 Fox, but that is a whole hell of a lot of weight in the nose of an already tail-happy car. That, and there is a Ford pickup truck in the wings that could make better use of the 552, so back in August the call was made to prepare the Mustang’s old 302 for a return to duty, possibly with a bit of spray on board. It’s going to be a low-buck deal (if the temptation to not throw the kitchen sink in can be avoided) and has become a kind of in-house hot rodding lesson plan for his sons.
Part of us is going to miss the monster motor Mustang, but part of us is excited to see the GT’s next chapter. Be sure to check in on the build as it progresses!
still decidedly cool
Rock on!