Power for the truck also came from the record-setting Mustang. The 4.6L Cammer motor was already strong, but the team bored and stroked it from its original 261ci to 306ci. Additional horsepower comes from a long list of traditional hot-rod parts, the most notable of which is an '03 Cobra Eaton supercharger that was ported and polished for optimum airflow and fitted with Metco under-drive pulleys. A mass air sensor from a Lightning truck, Accufab 100mm throttle-body, and a carbon-fiber air induction system from Razors Edge join forces to increase the velocity of the incoming air. Keeping the explosive charge cool is the job of the Fluidyne intercooler, working with the OEM Bosch pump and Autorad high-efficiency radiator. Bosch 55 pound injectors ensure plenty of juice in the air/fuel mixture and the OEM ignition from the Mustang create the series of precisely timed explosions. The final link in the performance chain is the Bassani headers with 2-1/2-inch ceramic-coated exhaust and Borla mufflers. Engine builder Tim Matherly of MV Performance in Statham, Georgia, completed the build, using a Diablo tuner to coax 510 hp to the rear wheels, a dramatic change from the original 290 hp at the flywheel. A Tremec T-56 six-speed transmission with an iconic Hurst shifter gets all the asphalt-buckling torque to the ground.
With the power needs attended to, creature comforts were next. The interior continues the Mustang theme using a complete Cobra instrument panel blended into the '55 dash and fitted with Auto Meter instruments. The original, through-the-floor '55 pedals now work a Mustang Cobra Hydra-Boost braking system and a new hydraulic clutch. The beautiful red leather interior, accomplished by Tim's Auto Upholstery in Gainesville, Georgia, is patterned after the elegance of a '55 Bentley with carefully wrapped hides and very few seams. Door panels were stitched to match. Vintage Air with electrically actuated, drop-down air vents keep the dash clean and the cab cool, while the Valentine radar detector mounted in the overhead console keeps John's license safe. A Sony CD player shares space in the console and the 6x9 speakers behind the seats fill the cab with music, assisted by Quiet Ride Solutions sound-deadening equipment.
How does the completed package work? Even with its legendary aerodynamics, which are just slightly more advanced than a brick, the truck turned 133 mph at the Monster Mile at Maxton, North Carolina; the East Coast Timing Association's version of the Salt Flats. John soft-pedaled the truck, because speeds more than 135 miles an hour need a roll cage; but his goal is to eventually take the truck somewhere in the mid-170s. However, straight-line performance is only part of this truck's accomplishments. The independent rear, fitted with 3.55 gears, is so effective the F-100 can outperform most vehicles designed for autocross. At the Goodguys show in Nashville, there were 720 passes made on the course with two classes, one for hot rods and the other for muscle cars. The truck posted the fastest time in the hot-rod class and was only 0.7 seconds slower than the overall winner, a twin turbo Camaro! But wait, there's more.
Not only does John drive it on a daily basis, this truck is equipped with a trailer hitch. It came in handy when John's motor-home broke down when he was towing the truck and trailer back from Maxton. The wrecker picked up the big motor-home and the F-100 towed its own trailer home. This multifaceted Ford will soon become a full-time tow truck, hauling John's next Bonneville Mustang to the Salt Flats. The energetic Effie has also become a regular on the show circuit and usually walks off with the top prize, even capturing two Best of Show trophies at Mustang events. As a work truck, a tow truck, a Best of Show winner, an autocross winner, and Land Speed record holder, you can't ask for much more than that. Henry would be proud.
The heart of the truck is the Eaton supercharged 4.6L Cammer motor, punched out to just over 5.0L. Producing more than 500 hp at the rear wheels, the engine has already pushed the truck to a land speed record of more than 135 miles an hour, but according to the owner, that is just the beginning. | 
The elegant lipstick-red Porsche leather interior was patterned after a '55 Bentley with the custom-made bench seat coddling driver and passenger. Following tradition, a Hurst shifter controls the six-speed Tremec trans and the Mustang gauge cluster keeps track of all the under-hood activity. |
The Lexan bed floor shows off the meticulously crafted, powdercoated chassis, complete with a Ford independent rear suspension. Teaming up with the Heidt's independent front suspension and big V-8, the upgrades make the truck a surprisingly competent autocross competitor. | |