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2009 Performance Racing Industry ShowThe Hottest Parts For Your Ford In 2009 From the May, 2009 issue of Modified Mustangs & Fords By Mark Houlahan Photography by Mark Houlahan
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There's nothing like saving your hard-earned cash for a little splurging on your pride and joy. No, we mean the other one, out in the garage. From more horsepower to better handling, and even perhaps a little bling, we're always looking for the hottest new parts for our rides. There's no better place to see what's coming down the pike than the annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) trade show held in Orlando, Florida, each December. While the show covers hard-core racing on many levels (shifter carts, dirt track, and so on) there's plenty of street performance parts for our favorite Fords and Ford engines to warrant the tired feet we get after walking every aisle and the lost voice after talking to all of the vendors. See how much we love our readers? So check out these great new parts we've found and start saving that hard-earned cash for your next upgrade.  The boys at Ford Racing Performance...  The boys at Ford Racing Performance Parts (FRPP) had everything from the FR500CJ and Andrew Cadell's FR500S to their latest crate engine offerings on display. The crowd-stopper was the brand-new 2010 Mustang, already wearing a full complement of such FRPP go-fast goodies as a supercharger, exhaust, and more.  Abaco MAF AdaptWe've told...  Abaco MAF AdaptWe've told you about the great air meters from Abaco Performance [www.abacoperformance.com; (877) 693-9269] in the past. At this year's PRI show, Abaco shared its latest product, the Abaco MAF Adapt. The MAF Adapt allows you to have the same great tuning ability as the company's line of DBX meters while still utilizing the meter you are using now. Simply download the free software and start tuning. Just like Abaco's meters, the MAF Adapt can store 10 different calibrations.  ACCEL Thruster ICMACCEL [www.accel-dfi.com;...  ACCEL Thruster ICMACCEL [www.accel-dfi.com; (248) 380-2780] has been on the cutting edge of aftermarket fuel injection for many years, and now its DFI division has released the Thruster Ignition Control Module (ICM). The Thruster ICM was designed from the ground up to control any ignition system you can bolt on your ride. It doesn't matter if it's carbureted or fuel-injected, coil-on-plug, waste spark, EDIS, and so on. From two to eight-cylinder engines, the Thruster ICM can handle any engine under your Ford's hood and even has inputs and outputs to support various functions such as nitrous, converter lockup, fans, knock sensors, and more with four mapping strategies that can be switched on the fly. The Thruster ICM even includes built-in 64-channel data logging and is fully programmable with the included dashboard software.  Anderson Power PipeAnderson...  Anderson Power PipeAnderson Ford Motorsport [www.andersonfordmotorsport.com; (888) 715-6487] is known for its Power Pipe. It seems like every time we look under the hood of a car we see yet another one. For those of you who are into good looks as much as making power, the guys at Anderson now offer their famous Power Pipe in a fully polished version. So give them a call for your polished Power Pipe today.  Auto Meter Elite GaugesKeeping...  Auto Meter Elite GaugesKeeping tabs on your engine's critical pressures and temperatures is important if you want to ensure your crate engine or high-dollar engine build doesn't go up in smoke and bad noises. Auto Meter [www.autometer.com; (866) 248-6356] is known throughout our hobby as the top gauge manufacturer, staying on top by constantly bringing out new designs and innovations. Its pride and joy at the PRI show was the new line of Elite Series gauges for street and track use. The Elite Series consists of full-sweep electric gauges that feature Auto Meter's Pro Control and data acquisition output. Each gauge has seven user-selectable LED illumination choices and can be programmed to give a full-face flashing warning for any user-set high or low warning.  BBK 4.6L Three-Valve Cam CoversWhen...  BBK 4.6L Three-Valve Cam CoversWhen it comes to Ford's modular engine, there are a few areas that lack the aftermarket support that the small-block Ford does, such as valve covers (or in the case of the modular, they're technically cam covers). BBK [www.bbkperformance.com; (951) 296-1771] adds Three-Valve cam covers to its vast line of Ford valve covers and cam covers, which even include V-6 offerings. The BBK covers are die-cast for low weight and are available in three finishes, including chrome. BBK also showed off its new GT500 throttle body and long-tube headers.  Bessel Motorsports Block SupportIt's...  Bessel Motorsports Block SupportIt's a well-known fact that the small-block Ford is notorious for splitting down the middle as it reaches north of 500 hp. While Bessel Motorsports [www.strokerkits.com; (636) 946-4747] is known for its splayed main cap upgrade system, the small-block Ford's top end has been addressed with the company's block support system. Designed to complement the splayed main caps, but still very effective on its own, the block support is installed by your machinist. When installed it effectively preloads the block, making it much stronger and allowing it to take higher power levels.  Cool Juice From Be CoolWhen...  Cool Juice From Be CoolWhen it comes to your ride's cooling system, a big, efficient radiator with an electric cooling fan is often on the top of most people's wish lists. Be Cool [www.becool.com; (800) 691-2667] has been making those wishes come true for many years now and introduced its new Cool Juice pre-mixed high-performance antifreeze at the PRI show. Designed for performance engines and aluminum cooling systems (radiators, water pumps, cylinder heads), it can be mixed with any color/type of coolant, too.  Clear View Paint ProtectionWhile...  Clear View Paint ProtectionWhile the PRI show is all about performance (and racing), we were intrigued by Clear View Vision Armor's [www.clearviewvisionarmorllc.com; (704) 528-7795] demonstration of its paint protection film. While Clear View caters to the motorsports market with paint protection and huge tear-off windshield protectors (think of giant helmet lens tear-offs) the company also offers pre-cut paint protection film packages for hundreds of models of cars, including many Ford products. The high-strength protection film easily handles curves and compound surfaces, and you can purchase pre-cut kits or bulk material for custom jobs.  CPR GT500 Fuel RailsWe see...  CPR GT500 Fuel RailsWe see a lot of modular Mustangs with Creative Performance Racing's fuel rails on them, both on the street and at the track. CPR [www.cprracing.com; (248) 398-2397] had the latest addition to its ever-growing list of modular rails at the PRI show-fuel rails for the '07-'08 GT500. Like the rest of the CPR fuel rail family, these rails have a full 5/8-inch inside diameter, a built-in fuel pressure sensor mounting boss, welded mounting tabs, O-ring end fittings, and a lifetime warranty.  CSR Modular FillerWhen it...  CSR Modular FillerWhen it comes to cooling systems and engine swaps, many builders often run into issues with hose sizing. The engine they just swapped may have a water fitting that doesn't match the radiator, or perhaps the engine's hose fitting or radiator doesn't have a filler opening. The folks at CSR [www.csr-performance.com; (800) 226-1274] have solved these problems with their new modular inline filler assembly. The inline filler, first and foremost, gives you a location to fill your cooling system-which should be the highest point in your system-but also allows you to mix and match hose diameters or utilize AN hose attachments. Just order the inlet and outlet fitting your setup requires and you'll be off and running in no time flat.  DEI Titanium Exhaust WrapThe...  DEI Titanium Exhaust WrapThe folks at Design Engineering [www.designengineering.com; (800) 264-9472] know a thing or two about thermal protection, which is why we used their products on our FFR Roadster (built last year). From header and plug wire solutions to adhesive-backed thermal barrier sheets, DEI has a product for your project car. Now DEI has come out with its Titanium exhaust wrap, which uses pulverized lava rock to increase heat handling-up to a whopping 1,800 degrees of direct contact and 2,800 degrees of radiant heat protection. The product is available in two widths and 15 or 50-foot rolls and has a killer carbon-fiber look to it as well.
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