Building For Power
Many of us put the cart before the horse with our car projects. We build powerful engines and plunk them into vehicles with lame brakes and suspension. A good rule of thumb is to build a car that's ready for horsepower and torque. This is what Winterboer had in mind when he came to us with his '69 SportsRoof. What does it take to build a hot six-cylinder Mustang that's safe and reliable?
OpenTracker Racing Products control arms Adjustable sway bars fore and aft from Stam Bar Edelbrock gas shocks from Mustangs Plus Adjustable Global West strut rods from Mustangs Plus Grab-A-Trak 620 coils from Mustangs Plus Five-leaf mid-eye Grab-A-Trak leaf springs from Mustangs Plus Power rack-and-pinion steering from The Mustang Shop Subframe connectors from The Mustang Shop Baer disc brakes in all four corners American Racing Torq-Thrust D five-spoke wheels Yokohama radials from Discount Tire Grant steering wheel Maaco Screaming Yellow single-stage budget paint job Mach 1 hoodscoopThis is how we began a terrific turbo-six Mustang special from Classic Inlines and The Mustang Shop. Winterboer hauled the decrepit SportsRoof to Maaco in Phoenix for budget bodywork and paint. The car turned out better than we ever imagined. With tacky paint and masking tape hanging from the body, Winterboer hauled the car to The Mustang Shop in Phoenix for special preparation.
 No street/track Mustang ride...  No street/track Mustang ride should be without an adjustable Stam Bar sway-bar system. Adjust it for hard cornering or tweak it down for street use. Urethane bushings make it a super-tough antiroll system for any condition. This is one of the best sway-bar systems we've ever installed. |  Because factory Mustang strut...  Because factory Mustang strut rods are prone to failure under harsh conditions with urethane bushings, we suggest the articulating Global West strut rod from Mustangs Plus. Have your front-end alignment guy adjust these, and watch what happens in the twisties. You'll feel the difference even on the street. |  To improve structural integrity,...  To improve structural integrity, Winterboer chose MPG Head Service's shock-tower brace kit, which is an easy bolt-in once engine installation is complete. Fitted with adjustable Heim joints, you don't need a Port-A-Power to install this kit. |
 The Mustang Shop installed...  The Mustang Shop installed our power rack-and-pinion steering in about two hours, with no leaks and nothing getting in the way. |  Power-steering hoses route...  Power-steering hoses route easily to a Ford or aftermarket pump. An adjustable steering shaft installs with minor modifications. |  We received five-leaf mid-eye...  We received five-leaf mid-eye Grab-A-Trak springs from Mustangs Plus. Because Winterboer wanted lower ride height, he installed 1-inch lowering blocks. |
Meet Mr. Inline
Winterboer began his passion for inline buzz saws in the Blue Oval camp, teaching us how to build and enjoy hot small and large Ford sixes. His hobby became a business recently when he turned Classic Inlines into a full-time operation. There's plenty available for those who'd rather build a hot inline six. What's more, Winterboer has plans for the rest of Detroit, with performance goodies available for Chrysler, Chevrolet, and even American Motors. Expect to see more in Mustang & Fords.
Built For Durability
When we discussed the rear axle, Winterboer had to do a lot of thinking about what he wanted from his Mustang. We talked about building a strong 9-inch rearend. The discussion then led to cost. Winterboer was interested in both speed and cost. To build an entire 9-inch Ford rear wouldn't happen quickly. He needed a strong differential quickly-overnight. We called Randy's Ring & Pinion and asked if they had an 8-inch limited-slip with 3.55 cogs. This is a blueprinted piece that arrived ready for installation with all hardware and gaskets.
 The Mustang Shop removed Mike's...  The Mustang Shop removed Mike's 2.79 8-inch chunk, cleaned the housing, and prepared the surfaces for the new Randy's unit. |  |  Randy's 8-inch center with...  Randy's 8-inch center with 3.55 gears is installed using a new gasket and hardware. Standard 90W-140 gear lube is used, as well as a friction modifier for limited-slip operation. Always use new copper washers on the center chunk mounting studs for proper sealing. |