Progress on our 1986 Mustang T-top coupe remains on course and at a pace that should have us firing the engine and taking a maiden voyage soon. For those just getting up to speed with this build, HOT ROD Senior Editor KJ Jones recently reintroduced a former 5.0 Mustang and Super Fords project car that has been out of commission for the last 10 years. Since the reveal, KJ and Saul "The Surgeon" Gutierrez have revamped the coupe's fuel system, and during that process, started disassembling the Paxton Novi 2500-supercharged, 350ci Ford engine.
Yes, the blown small-block really measures 350 cubes. The combination was achieved with a 4.145-inch bore size, with a 3.250-inch stroker crankshaft and 5.400-inch rods. We opted for the horsepower and torque of a big-bore stroker 302, which is also considerably lighter than a 351 Windsor-based engine.
For this installment, we dismantled the stroker to inspect its internals. We were acting on the possibility that, despite the coupe's storage in a dry Southern California garage, the valvesprings might be fatigued and the timing belt may be dried out and cracking after 10 years of dormancy.
Upon disassembly, we found problems that immediately confirmed our decision. Read closely as we take you inside Project T-Top Coupe's powerplant, detailing our findings and offering pro tips on how to correct the damage.
RELEASE THE PRESSURE
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Denne historien er fra January 2024-utgaven av Hot Rod.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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What Is Pro Street?
You know it when you see it.
Pro Street in Pure Vision
Builder Steve Strope weighs in on the Pro Street look and what he would build today.
THE GAS ERA LIVES ON
These vintage race cars chart the evolution of technology in the early days of drag racing.
MOTOR HEAD FOR LIFE
Scott Sullivan is one of the original Pro Street pioneers. He still builds cars today out of a small shop in Dayton, Ohio.
BRINGING BACK PRO STREET!
David Freiburger and Roadkill Garage built a Pro Street Nova.
SWEET ASPIRATIONS
Jerry and Matthew Sweet added an 800ci Pro Stock mountain motor to chase HOT ROD Drag Week's Pro Street NA Record.
Making Bad Decisions Badder
Bradley Gray's 1970 Nova is a Hybrid! It's a streetable Funny Car.
ART PROJECT
This Rad Rides by Troy-built '63 split-window Corvette went from restaurant prop to ripping up the street!
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
THE PRO STREET ERA PEAKED IN THE '80S. ARE WE IN THE BEGINNING OF A RESURGENCE?
Making Connections
Project T-top Coupe: We install a Terminator X Max for big power.