427ci LS, TH400, And Nitrous: This Marketplace Mustang Means Business

Not every serious race car looks the part from the outside. This 1981 Ford Mustang LX is a prime example of that. It wears its original paint and factory interior panels while hiding one of the more thorough Fox Body drag builds you are likely to come across. The builder started with a stock six-cylinder car and touched nearly every system on the vehicle. The result is a machine that can run with a sleeper look or go full drag car depending on which set of wheels goes on.

From Mustang LX To LS Mustang

Naturally, the engine is the centerpiece of the whole build. Displacing 427 cubic inches, the mill is an iron Dart LS Next block that’s bored to 4.125 inches. A Dart CCW crank on a 4.00-inch stroke, Wiseco Boostline rods, and Mahle custom gas-ported nitrous pistons at 14:1 compression make up the internals. A Cam Motion custom nitrous cam, BAM solid roller lifters, Manton pushrods, and Jesel roller rockers handle valvetrain duties. The heads are Frankenstein F715 units with softened chambers, titanium intake valves, Inconel exhaust valves, PAC 1238X springs, and wrinkle black valve covers.

On top sits a Holley Sniper intake with a nitrous outlet dry fogger. Holley 220-pound injectors, a Holley regulator, and Holley fuel rails handle fuel delivery. An ATI balancer, OEM LS7 coilpacks with Firecore wires, Cosmetic MLS head gaskets, and a Lokar dipstick finish the engine. A Holley Dominator ECU handles tuning. Inside, Dakota Digital gauges and a custom wiring panel tie into a Holley harness. Three 15-pound nitrous bottles and one 10-pound bottle round out the power adder setup, with a full range of jets on hand.

Drivetrain, Chassis, And Suspension

Behind the engine, a two-speed TH400 from RPM Transmissions carries a 1.48 first gear, a transbrake with Biondo button, an SFi bell housing, and a TCI SFi flex plate. A Greg Slack converter and PST chromoly driveshaft on a 1350 U-joint send power rearward. The rear end is a Performance Fab 8.8, heavily braced, with nine-inch ends, heavy-duty ARB, 35-spline Strange axles, 5/8 studs, a spool, 4.30 gears, a Ford Racing aluminum cover, Strange drag brakes, and Menscer 5.5-inch-stroke coilovers.

Up front, the suspension runs all Team Z chromoly components. That includes a K-member, short A-arms, two-inch drop spindles, caster camber plates, Strange drag brakes, Menscer struts, a Flaming River manual steering rack, and Motion Raceworks travel limiters with custom wheelie skis. The chassis is built around a Team Z chromoly 8.50 cage. Additional chassis work includes Team Z subframe connectors, a Rock Solid Motorsports chromoly tube front end, Detroit Speed mini tubs, Performance Fab upper and lower torque boxes, a custom trunk floor, motor plate, mid plate, custom fuel cell, and a tubular rear bumper support prepped for a parachute. Kirkey 16-inch drag seats painted to match the cage finish off the interior.

Despite everything done underneath, the body still looks like a stock Fox body. All factory interior panels and glass remain in place, the factory vinyl top is still present, and the metal work has been seam sealed, primed, and painted throughout. The car weighs 2,755 pounds without a driver, which is remarkably lean given everything packed into it.

The best part about this build is that it doesn’t scream for attention. Underneath, it’s a legitimate race car capable of serious performance, yet it still wears its original paint, factory glass, vinyl top, and stock interior panels. And hey, you can even throw on steel wheels if you’d like.