$10K Drag Shootout 3: Inside Team MAK And The “Gap Train” S-10

Many viewers have chosen a favorite team to follow during the build episodes during this season of the $10K Drag Shootout No Prep Edition, presented by Lucas Oil. Even those viewers cheering for other teams also concede a soft-spot for Team Mid America Kustoms. The group of Central Indiana no-prep racers have endeared themselves not only to the show viewers but also to their fellow competitors.

“We were ready for anything from the start. When the covers were rolled from the four donor cars, we knew we could make any of them work,” said Hodson.

Team Leader Adam Hodson is joined by his business partner and team driver, Nick Taylor. The other team members offering varied talents include fab-man Wesley Butler, engine specialist Mick Bodigan, overall assembly and wiring talent Tod Gunder, and comprehensive assembly craftsman Matt Donovan.

The Truck & Chassis

All teams went into rapid disassembly mode. With the S-10 offered minus the engine and transmission, Team MAK began with a significant advantage. “With a few bolts, the bed was removed, and it appeared to the other teams that we had a big head start,” described Hodson. “And that was fine with us (chuckles).”

Their game plan split the team in two at this point, with some going after the mods necessary to the front suspension and 5.3 LS engine mounts; meanwhile, other team members went after perfecting that leaf rear suspension.

The team knew they needed the most adjustable shocks imaginable to hold horsepower to this S-10 suspension. With QA1 High Performance shocks supporting the teams, its new MOD Series twin-tube coilover shocks were included with the S-10 — these feature 24-valving selections for ultra fine adjustments.

Their Summit Racing Equipment Speed Card started getting a workout when replacing the original control arms with Dorman and Moog replacement hardware. The gameplan entailed stripping the factory leaf spring down to only the main leaf and one secondary leaf. They ordered Calvert Racing leaf spring sliders and CalTracs low profile traction bars.

Team forces then joined to complete a Chris Alston Chassisworks X-brace style, 10-point cage assembly. A BMR Suspension driveshaft loop went in underneath, along with a team-fabricated transmission mount. The interior also has a complete Ron Francis Express Series Switch Panel and Bare Bonz Race Wiring Kit.

Summit brand leaf spring perches and Calvert U-bolt kits buttoned their rear suspension onto their self-narrowed Ford 8.8 housing. The differential received a host of Moser Engineering and Spicer internals, including Moser Engineering 35-spline axles, spool, housing ends, and much more. The team chose a 4:10 ratio Spicer ring and pinion and blue-coated U-joints to complete the assembly.

Wheels & Tires

 The S-10 rolling stock is filled out with support by Mickey Thompson Tires. The rear slicks are 3005s (28/10.5/15R) and 30071 front tires. Hodson detailed some of the massive ballast installed over the rear end to get the truck to plant these tires under the leaf spring suspension.

“With the required 3,550-lb minimum base weight, we knew the lightweight S-10 would be way under that,” Hodson explained. “With the truck together and Nick in the seat, we still had 550-pounds to add. We ran to a surplus metal store not far away and got some metal and concrete mix to make a big-honkin’ weight box.”

Wilwood drag racing brake kits were installed front and rear. A Wilwood aluminum compact master cylinder is in the stock firewall location. A Wilwood brake line kit and a Summit Racing staging line-lock handle the remainder of their braking duties.

The Powerplant & Transmission

With pretty severe valvetrain damage inside of what they thought was a good, 140,000-mile aluminum 5.3 LS engine, they were not slowed down in the slightest. Making big power with high-mile LS-engines is what these Hoosiers do, and it’s not their first rodeo at getting scorched equipment to live just a little longer and win a few additional races.

We had a backup engine in the trailer that had lived through a lot of race week-style competition. The other teams thought we were sneaking in a ringer, but we showed them multiple bent and twisted connecting rods inside the block, to their astonishment. We were going to get another 12 passes or so out of her. It’s  what we do – Adam Hodson

With this engine approved by Tech Director Lonnie Grim, a used-engine value was re-established against their budget, and the MAK guys moved forward. The block is now held together with a fresh grouping of ARP fasteners — Pro Series head and main studs, a balancer bolt, header bolts, and transmission bellhousing bolts were all added from the Summit budget. Various gaskets were provided by Victor Reinz for the cylinder heads and other sealing needs.

Lucas Oil supplied all of the lubricant needs, including Lucas SYN SAE 10W-40 racing oil, Sure Shift ATF fluid and SYN L9 racing gear oil. The teams also had plenty of Lucas Oil racing engine assembly grease, brake parts cleaner, and contact cleaner to use.

A GM Turbo 400 came out with the team. Inspectors derived it was a stock piece with the addition of a new forward clutch hub, direct drum, and sprag. Their setup is mated to a Precision torque convertor and PRW Industries Xtreme Duty SFI Hi Inertia Quick Launch flexplate. A new B&M/Hurst Stealth Magnum Grip Pro shifter will control the gear changes.

Induction, Power Adder, and Fuel Supply

With the 80mm BorgWarner sitting high for all to see, getting the exhaust and intake sides plumbed to and from the engine needed a large selection of various tubing from Summit Racing and Vibrant Performance. A VS Racing 60mm wastegate is controlled by an Innovate Motorsports High Resolution Solenoid.

A Holley Terminator X engine control unit is the master control of all boost, timing, and fuel parameters for the engine combo. E3 Spark Plugs, E3 ultra-high output LSX coils, and E3 plug wires rounded out the ignition. More than 35-different part numbers were chosen from Summit Racing, Vibrant Performance, Earls, and Russell Performance to plumb hoses, fittings, and hose ends.

Safety Equipment

Impact Racing Products outfitted each team driver with proper safety equipment. Nick Taylor fitted up with a multi-layer Nomex jacket and pants, Impact Draft TS helmet, and G6 SFI 3.35 gloves. A Summit Racing transmission blanket and an Impact five-point, latch/link safety harness fulfill the safety equipment list.

The Dyno

The MAK team rolled onto the chassis dyno for their test with ample time. During the first pull, they could only achieve 331 horsepower due to wastegate issues. They began moving in the right direction with a 551 peak horsepower pull with their remaining dyno time, but still, not even close to the numbers they wanted.

Summary

Team Mid America Kustoms has some gremlins to sort out before eliminations take place out at Barona Dragstrip. What makes it most interesting is that every team is heading out to the track with technical problems of their own.

It is an amazing season-three competition to see the hurdles every team has had to overcome during the 10 day build. It’s not just a matter of what team is quickest, but can fundamentally overcome the hurdles each car faces between finishing their builds and raceday.

Make sure you tune into the conclusion of season three of the $10K Drag Shootout No Prep Edition aired on the MAVTV network, HorsepowerWars.com as well as on Facebook and Instagram.