FAST BACK - Steve Willingham's '67 All Ford Mustang puts the FAST in FASTBACK!

54 54

october 2020 | RPM Magazine

Story by George Pich Photos by David Gates

www.rpmmag.com

|

october 2020

55 55

Sometimes you see a car that has that combination of all things good, and it leaves a lasting impression.

For us power junkies here at RPM, it’s not usually because it’s a mega-award winning show car that rarely (if ever) sees driving duty. Instead, we like ‘em to look good, have the power to match those good looks, and most importantly, have some level of “cred” (be it street or strip) to back it all up. Well, Steve Willingham’s ’67 Mustang has all of the above, and then some!

First, let’s talk about the car.

Sure, it’s an iconic first generation Mustang, but it’s more than that, it’s a Fastback Mustang! No

56 56

october 2020 | RPM Magazine

The deep black paint on this wicked ’67 Fastback Mustang fades into the surroundings as night falls during our photo shoot.

www.rpmmag.com

|

october 2020

57 57

[Top] This car runs fast on a small radial tire. Actually, the Mustang is campaigned in a number of radial tire classes, plus any other type of class it will fit in at Willingham’s local track, MIR. 58 58

october 2020 | RPM Magazine

[Above] The chute and wing are necessary for the dragstrip and the plate makes the car legal for street driving, which Steve does often.

www.rpmmag.com

|

october 2020

59 59

disrespect whatsoever to other brand accomplishments, but it’s a fact that the success of the Mustang led to the development of the Camaro, Challenger, Firebird, and even the AMC AMX and Javelin.

“Fastback” just sounds, well, fast. It’s hard to say with 100% certainty who it was that actually came up with that single word that changed the way we looked at cars forever, but I am sure they had no idea of the scope of the movement they started. In 1965 it was labeled a Fastback 2+2 but would soon become simply “Fastback”. Not only did the term sound fast, but the car itself was given a sweeping rear body design and rear window that looked fast and wowed the automobile world, especially those interested in the emerging North American performance car market.

Willingham’s car may not get any “most original muscle car” awards, but it’s got a whole fistful of other ways to kick ass and take names. Like maybe the twin turbo 521 big block Ford mill between the rails…yeah, that would do it!

The Mustang is a factory body tub, floor and front framerail car, that just happens to run sixes in the ¼-mile!

A well fortified Ford 9” is suspended by a wishbone 4-link and adjustable coilover shocks.

60 60

october 2020 | RPM Magazine

Side ground effects and side exit exhaust were added to the Mustang a year or so ago.

The big block and twin turbos makes for a tight fit when it comes to trying to find a place for the radiator and fans.

www.rpmmag.com

|

october 2020

61 61

Trick photo work of photographer David Gates gives a cool transparent effect.

moserengineering.com

62 62

october 2020 | RPM Magazine

A trick custom one-off v-shaped radiator sits front and center under the hood.

KINSLER NEW

Up front tubular control arms and coilover shocks control the ride for race and street.

Patent Pending

TOUGH

®

PUMP

Steady Flow at EXTREME RPM

Excellent Durability

Kinsler.com

248 362-1145 www.rpmmag.com

|

october 2020

63 63

That there is what 512 inches of Ford big block power looks like. A 4.5” bore C&C Motorsports block houses a forged crank, aluminum rods and Diamond 10:1 pistons.

64 64

october 2020 | RPM Magazine

Twin canons in the form of 88mm Gen 2 Precision Pro Mod turbochargers flank the big block Ford mill.

It’s easy to miss the twin turbos behind the grill at first glance. www.rpmmag.com

|

october 2020

65 65

Two 500lb injectors per cylinder inject a healthy amount of alcohol into the big block. Air travels via an Accufab throttle body and custom hat to join the party before the mixture reaches the massive cylinder heads that flow 530cfm.

66 66

october 2020 | RPM Magazine

The cool factor of having original interior components in a six-second street car blows our minds.

And an original GT350 wood steering wheel is icing on the cake.

It was back in 2003 when this Fastback would find a home with Steve, first as a street driver and a bit later as a bracket car after it was back-halved

by Ken Kier Race Cars. Not too long after that, Willingham would put together a BBF nitrous combo to compete in the early days of Pump Gas Drags and Friday night Drags at MIR. Next up was a rear suspension re-do for drag radial classes and a trunk-mounted turbo setup which eventually led to the big block Ford alcohol twin turbo combination (mounted up front) now being used to run Limited and Outlaw Drag Radial along

www.rpmmag.com

|

october 2020

67 67

It’s a family effort on Steve’s Mustang, from left to right: Grandchildren Jordyn, Gage and Andrew, wife Teresa, and Steve.

68 68

october 2020 | RPM Magazine

We’re sure Steve has proven this on more than one occasion. with Pro 275 and any other class the car can fit into. And since this isn’t a no-time or grudge car, we can safely (without having a contract put out on us) say that this Fastback is fast! How fast you ask?

How about 6.56 @ 218 mph in the ¼-mile fast. Now that’s fast!

The slick, miles deep Dupont 99K base coat clear coat black skin was applied by Tim Brooks at Surefit after he tackled the bodywork, of course. The car is an original survivor steel body and floor plans with factory firewall and stock front framerails. Various lightweight bolt-on and pin-on panels have been added in the interest of weight savings, in particular the

Aftermarket gauges and controls have been worked into the original dash face which is covered by an original pad. www.rpmmag.com

|

october 2020

69 69

Sunoco style scoop hood that intentionally hides the true potential of this horse.

Chassis wise, we’ve already covered that it’s stock firewall and front framerails, but it’s the SFI Spec 25.5 chromoly back-half/4-link by Drummond Race Cars that enables the Fastback to bang off 6-second ETs at the drop of a hat, or lights for that matter. A wish bone setup and Pro Mod anti roll bar with Menscer canister double adjustable coil over shocks suspend a braced Ford 9” with Mark Williams aluminum bolt through center section, 9.5” 3.90

70 70

october 2020 | RPM Magazine

Pro gears and 40 splined Mark Williams axles and spool. Up front, tubular a-arms with double adjustable coil over shocks were used with rack and pinion steering.

Now for the fun stuff….

The 521-inch big block Ford (yes Steve bleeds Ford blue) is also a product of Drummond Race Cars and started with a 10.3-deck aluminum C&C Motorsports block with 4-1/2” bore. A 4.125” stroke Valasco crank with hemi style rod journals swings monster 6.90 aluminum MGP rods pinned to 4.5” Diamond

The sweeping “Fastback” was a Mustang design feature that started a revolution in the automotive industry that still exist to today.

Steve Willingham Track Burnout and Pass

The car has a large fuel cell installed that enables street cruising in the Mustang. Aside from that, there’s room for a battery and cooler tank.

www.rpmmag.com

|

october 2020

71 71

Steve Willingham 1967 Ford Mustang Street/Strip

Chassis Type & Mods:

Power Adder:

Suspension:

Electronics:

SFI Spec 25.5 chromoly, half tubbed, back-half, 4-link.

Stock firewall, stock front frame rails, steel floor pans.

Work completed by Drummond Race Cars.

Front A-Arm with stock frame rails and Mark Menscer double adjustable coilover shocks. Rear 4-link with a wish bone style, Pro Mod anti roll bar with Menscer canister double adjustable coilover shocks. Completed by Drummond Race Cars.

Body & Paint:

Paint is Dupont 99K base coat clear coat black. All body & paint is done by Tim Brooks at Surefit.

Engine:

521 cu BBF - 10.3 Deck aluminum C&C Motorsports block with 4-1/2” bore. 4-1/8” Stroke Valasco crank hemi style rod journals. Aluminum MGP rods 6.90 length, 4-1/2” Diamond pistons with 10.1 compression ratio. Ford Motorsports aluminum C heads that flow 530 cfm with Manley custom exhaust valves & Victory titanium intake valves. Bullet custom grind tool steel turbo cam. Jezel 937 roller lifters, Trend 9/16” double wall push rods and T&D aluminum, 1.80 ratio rocker arms. Built by Steve Drummond at Drummond Race Cars.

Induction and Fuel Delivery:

Accufab throttle body. Atomizer 500 lbs injectors for alcohol. Intake is Ford Motorsports cast iron.

72 72

october 2020 | RPM Magazine

Twin 88 mm Gen2 Precision Pro Mod turbos that are good for 1650 hp each. No intercooler as it runs on alcohol.

Big Stuff 3, MSD Grid, MSD HVC-2 coil, MSD BBF distributor, MSD crank trigger. Boost controller is an AMS2000. Racepak for recording runs.

Transmission & Converter:

Proformance Turbo 400 2-speed with high gear leave starting line option. Also, their Billet dump valve system for easy spooling on the starting line was used.

Converter is a Pro Torque billet aluminum bolt-together Ev-1R.

Rear Differential:

Braced Ford 9” with Mark Williams aluminum bolt through center section with a 9-1/2” 3.90 Pro gear and 40 splined Mark Williams axles and spool.

Thanks To:

I need to thank my crew as I could not run my car without them - Andrew Willingham, Harry Welch, Dickie Smith, Tim Brooks, and my wife and grandkids, Teresa, Jordyn & Gage.

Vehicle Owner/Driver Info/History: Racing since 1983.

Best ET & MPH:

6.56 @ 218 mph in the 1/4 mile @ World Cup event.

10.1 compression pistons. Cylinder heads are heavily massaged Ford Motorsport aluminum C heads that flow 530 cfm with Manley custom exhaust valves & Victory titanium intake valves. A Bullet custom grind tool steel turbo cam activates Jesel 937 roller lifters and Trend 9/16” double wall push rods. The heads are topped off with T&D aluminum 1.80 ratio rocker arms.

Added power comes via twins. To be exact, twin Precision 88mm Gen2 turbochargers. Running alcohol, there’s no need for a cooler and the intake manifold is actually a cast Ford piece modified to accept two (500lb) injectors per cylinder. All that air is jammed through an Accufab

throttle body and a custom hat.

Backing the extreme torque produced by the boosted big block is an extreme duty trans from Proformance Transmissions. Steve chose one of their Turbo 400 2-speeds with high gear leave starting line option along with their billet dump valve system for easy spooling on the starting line.

Steve Willingham’s potent twin turbo big block Fastback street car easily buries the needle on the RPM MAG cool-o-meter, and we’ve already told you the good news – 6.56 at 218mph! So here’s the bad news; wait, there is no bad news, unless you’re in the other lane, of course.

RPM

www.rpmmag.com

|

october 2020

73 73