Spec lines and variants of a car

[Ron Earp]

how do you guys/gals research to see if an item was a factory or dealer option? just curious what others do... I know the sandbox has a similar thread.

Stephen

I bought NOS Mustang brochures off Ebay for the 94-98 model years. Then I called Ford's Racing group and talked to them about what was available "back in the day" from the factory, either as legal IT options or as illegal IT parts offered via Ford racing.

I ended up taking to a fellow who has worked at Ford Racing for 20+ years and gave me the inside scoop on what Ford had planned for the 3.8L V6 but ultimately failed in doing. The idea was they could offer a base Mustang with a low specific output V6 that could be hopped up easily out of their catalog. They produced heads, intake, cams, etc. and an aluminum blocks for the motors (*EDIT - ALL ILLEGAL FOR IT*). In the end the demand never materialized because strippers living in trailers don't need fancy heads or cams for their hooptie, so the V6 program died off.

Ebay can be your friend for the brochures and other long gone informational literature. I scored some NOS factory Ford manuals there too for $25, a great deal.

[Andy Bettencourt]

I bought NOS Mustang brochures off Ebay for the 94-98 model years. Then I called Ford's Racing group and talked to them about what was available "back in the day" from the factory.

I ended up taking to a fellow who has worked at Ford Racing for 20+ years and gave me the inside scoop on what Ford had planned for the 3.8L V6 but ultimately failed in doing. The idea was they could offer a base Mustang with a low specific output V6 that could be hopped up easily out of their catalog. They produced heads, intake, cams, etc. and an aluminum blocks for the motors. In the end the demand never materialized because strippers living in trailers don't need fancy heads or cams for their hooptie, so the V6 program died off.

Ebay can be your friend for the brochures and other long gone informational literature. I scored some NOS factory Ford manuals there too for $25, a great deal.

Still not enough information here Ron. Yes, the Ford Racing catalogue is a 'Ford' document, but if those hop-ups were not installed in Michigan and sent in a box to be installed at the dealer, they would be a no-go...

[JeffYoung]

I don't think he is saying that they are legal, just that they were available from the factory.

The basic rule remains that the car had to come off of the production line for sale in the uS with the part on it for it to be legal.

Still not enough information here Ron. Yes, the Ford Racing catalogue is a 'Ford' document, but if those hop-ups were not installed in Michigan and sent in a box to be installed at the dealer, they would be a no-go...

[Ron Earp]

Still not enough information here Ron. Yes, the Ford Racing catalogue is a 'Ford' document, but if those hop-ups were not installed in Michigan and sent in a box to be installed at the dealer, they would be a no-go...

Whoa there. No, I'm not saying that stuff is legal, of course it isn't legal. I'm just relating a bit of my experience talking with the guys at Ford. Helpful bunch. Also learned about the factory V6 road race car that Griggs ran for a bit (or tried to run) and some other stuff.

I've done a lot of research and the information I have for a 10/10th build involves production lots/years for blocks, heads, intake castings, and so on. All legal 94-98 parts but there are slight advantages to using say one year over another for reliability or performance.

[Andy Bettencourt]

Whoa there. No, I'm not saying that stuff is legal, of course it isn't legal. I'm just relating a bit of my experience talking with the guys at Ford. Helpful bunch. Also learned about the factory V6 road race car that Griggs ran for a bit (or tried to run) and some other stuff.

I've done a lot of research and the information I have for a 10/10th build involves production lots/years for blocks, heads, intake castings, and so on. All legal 94-98 parts but there are slight advantages to using say one year over another for reliability or performance.

My bad. Just not sure how it was germain to the topic if it was known illegal - even if they did produce - hense my response.

[Ron Earp]

My bad. Just not sure how it was germain to the topic if it was known illegal - even if they did produce.

Maybe I should have started that story with "As an aside for the Ford nerds..."

[Andy Bettencourt]

Maybe I should have started that story with "As an aside for the Ford nerds..."

It was the wording. People who are grey on this topic read 'available from the factory' and it sends their heads spinning.

[CRallo]

Thanks for the correction Josh! I def came away from that with the wrong idea... I read the GCR three times before I ever even came to an SCCA event three years ago. Its probably time to read it again...

Regarding brochures and options and such... Some of the manufacturers have all the old stuff available online. GM has a whole "heritage" website that is incredible!!!!! It was there that I found the info to prove that the 305 ITR Camaro/Firebird was classified using the wrong horsepower. (No offense ) This was something that I "knew" but didn't have the hard evidence to show those in charge. I now currently have a letter in the works...

Also, said brochures and info are available elsewhere on the web. For example, the regional 240sxONE club that I'm a member of has all the 24sx0 stuff posted on their website in pdf form.