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MODERN RODDING FEATURE InTheGarageMedia com This 66 Ford Mustang Fastback Has the Ponies to Back Up its Performance BY BRIAN BRENNAN A PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN WOODWICK lot has already been written about the Ford Mustang especially the firstgeneration 64 73 American made hot rod However plenty more can be said for what individual hot rodders like Michael Newman teaming up with Tim Divers of Divers Street Rods DSR of Sultan Washington can accomplish This 66 Ford Mustang Fastback has the right elements to give it staggering performance all the while keeping those classic fastback lines At first glance this 66 Mustang gives all the appearance of the iconic Mustang GT350 with its U S international racing colors of a white body with blue stripes Upon closer examination you realize the DSR350 is its own moniker A great side story is how the original GT350 received its badging According to stories from the day The GT350 had neither 350 ci nor 350 hp According to Shelby the name was arbitrary The distance between Carroll Shelby s two shops was 350 feet Well as it turns out it s 350 feet from Divers shop to his cigar shed hence DSR350 Hey you can t make this stuff up The foundation for this fastback is based on a factory frame that DSR installed Detroit Speed subframe connectors and then an Aluma Frame front IFS The Aluma Frame is based on a cast aluminum cradle with mounting components coupled with tubular upper and lower control arms a Detroit Speed rack and pinion steering and JRi aluminum coilover shocks with 400 pound springs To this a Detroit Speed front sway bar and spindles are now used Plenty of Giddyap MODERN RODDING 66 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 31 2023 MODERN RODDING 67 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 31 2023

MODERN RODDING FEATURE InTheGarageMedia com In back the Detroit Speed QuadraLink rear suspension is used that has specific Swivel Links that allow for pinion angle and or wheelbase to be adjusted Long lasting rubber bushings are used and add to the quiet ride along with a panhard bar and JRi aluminum coilover shocks 175 pounds that feature black powdercoated components throughout A Ford 8 8 inch differential with a 3 73 gear Nitro Gear Axle shafts and a Drivelines Northwest driveshaft are all now in service At the corners is a full complement of Wilwood Superlite black powdercoated calipers and related accessories In front six piston calipers and 13 06 inch slotted rotors are used while in back fourpiston and 12 88 inch slotted rotors are pressed into service Rolling stock consists of Schott Mach V EXL 18x8 front wheels and 18x10 rear wheels wrapped with Nitto NT555 G2 rubber measuring 245 40ZR18 and 285 40ZR18 respectively All of this goodness is neatly surrounding more power than the original Mustang Fastback was ever intended to have A Ford Coyote 5 0L V 8 302 inches with aluminum block and heads provides the 500hp giddyap Internally a Comp Cams Stage 2 camshaft is used while a Holley Dominator EFI with a FAST Big Mouth LT 87mm aluminum throttle body is mounted up top The air box is another custom DSR item that is fitted with a K N air filter Firing the fuel load are stock coil packs receiving their juice from an Optima RedTop battery run through a Race Proven alternator while the spark continues within ACCEL copper core plugs Engine cooling chores falls to a Be Cool radiator Maradyne electric fan an MMR remote oil filter and a Setrab Proline trans cooler The serpentine belt system comes by way of Vintage Air which also supplied the cool indoor climes via their A C system Getting the spent gases out are a pair of Detroit Speed SS headers 1 7 8inch main tubes leading back to 3 inch exhaust pipe all welded up by Ian Chia Richards of DSR From here the exhaust runs through a pair of Hooker mufflers and Hooker Blackheart Attitude Cutouts Matched to the Coyote V 8 is a Ford 4R70W automatic with a TCS Performance Transmissions 2 000 stall speed converter with some additional improvements handled by Rick from Snohomish Transmission We did mention that this Mustang fastback retains its vintage looks but that s not to say there hasn t been a handful of well thought out modifications performed at DSR At first glance you may notice that the cold air intake and the hood scoop are tied together while the front bumpers are tucked and smoothed and the rear bumper is flush mounted The lower front air dam is fitted with a screen as are the side grilles The distinctive DSR350 badges lower front quarter panels were designed by Shane Burley and positioned over the Sig Schott bodywork and the Rich Thayer sprayed on PPG Wimbledon White and custom blue mix color used for the main body racing stripes Remember the U S international racing colors What you might not see at least not here are the DSR installed Detroit Speed gas tank and rear mini tubs to accommodate the oversized rubber MODERN RODDING 68 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 31 2023 MODERN RODDING 69 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 31 2023

MODERN RODDING FEATURE InTheGarageMedia com Now how about a visit to the inside and see what s happening here A stock dashboard with factory dashpad is used but from here a full complement of Dakota Digital VHX gauges were installed You may also notice the factory radio that comes by way of Custom Autosound It is a USA 740 that retains the classic look but at the same time comes with built in Bluetooth and is smartphone compatible It also packs 300 watt peak power along with USB input It can even control a remote CD 1 player Other interior goodies include the Vintage Air A C heating and air conditioning system Detroit Speed Selectra Speed windshield wiper system an ididit tiltcolumn topped with a reproduction wooden three spoke steering wheel All the required wiring was handled by DSR The upholstery comes by way of OEM Ford Alcantara for the seats and headliner and was realized by DSR s own Scott Divers Tim s MODERN RODDING 70 brother Alcantara is a synthetic suede material that is resistant to abuse long lasting and easy to maintain making it popular with manufacturers and gaining in popularity with hot rodders The seating is comprised of DSR modified 15 GT350 front and rear seating NRG four point belts were used Note that the rear seat folds down and has mounting provisions for the spare tire All of this and more is the handiwork from DSR Scott fabricated the rollbar and integrated it into the interior as would be found on a Shelby 500 convertible The door panels are composite pieces that house the stereo speakers as well as the door pulls and door release There s a lot to the eye when checking out this 66 Ford Mustang fastback We would like to think that early Mustang lovers would find this build just what Henry would have ordered maybe even Mr Shelby MR VOLUME 4 ISSUE 31 2023