Mike also wanted to make a few suspension changes, and upgraded the current Grab-A-Trak's Chassis and Handling kit, to include new 1.5 inch lowering springs, sway bars, and polyurethane bushings. KYB gas shocks keep the wheels in close contact with the asphalt, and factory power steering adds a degree of new millennium sophistication to the vintage Pony. Oversize 12.19-inch Wilwood disc brakes on all four wheels are visible through the larger 18-inch, American Torque Thrust wheels, wrapped in Nitto rubber. The new brakes haul the car down from speed while the combination of new rims and lowered springs fill the wheelwells. Mike personalized the Pony interior by adding a new center console, a GT350-style steering wheel, and Classic Auto Air A/C. A custom stereo upgrade is scheduled for the future.
Thanks to this pair of dedicated owners, the "Shelby" that Shelby never built is still rolling down the highway and creating smiles were ever it goes. Mike and his wife, Sandy, enjoy cruising in their "new" '64, but one of the biggest smiles comes from Mike's 7-year-old grandson, Seth, who loves to ride in Grandaddy's Pony, galloping off together to shows on the Southeast circuit.
The Details
Mike Palmer's '64 1/2 Mustang
Engine
- 347 Stroker
- Late-model 5.0L factory block
- 4.030-inch bore
- 3.400-inch stroke
- Forged steel crankshaft, H-Beam connecting rods, and forged aluminum pistons
- Edelbrock 750-cfm carburetor
- Edelbrock Performer Air Gap intake
- MSD Ignition
Exhaust
- JBA long-tube headers
- 2 1/2-inch dual exhaust
- Flowmaster Mufflers
Transmission
- TCI AOD four-speed automatic overdrive
- TCI 2,200-rpm stall converter
Rearend
- 9-inch housing
- 3.50 gears
- Strange 28-spline axles
Suspension
- Front: New upper and lower control arms, KYB gas shocks, Monte Carlo bar, strut tower brace, Grab-A-Trak springs, antisway bar, polyurethane bushings
- Rear: New leaf springs and KYB gas shocks
Brakes
- Front: Wilwood 12.19-inch disc, four-piston aluminum calipers
- Rear: Wilwood 12.19-inch disc, four-piston aluminum calipers
Wheels
- Front: American Torque Thrust II, 18x8-inch
- Rear: American Torque Thrust II, 18x8-inch
Tires
- Front: Nitto NT555, P235/45R18
- Rear: Nitto NT555, P235/45R18
Interior
- Pony interior with new center console, GT350 steering wheel, Classic Auto Air air-conditioning, and Auto Meter gauges
Exterior
- Shelby-style hood and rear spoiler, Cougar sequential taillights, bullet mirrors, and custom, Eleanor-themed silver and gray paintjob