Blog | Anderson Ford Motorsport

Manuals may be praised by car enthusiasts, but if you visit your local drag strip, you’ll find most people are running automatics. What is it that makes these transmissions so popular, and how can you use one to cut your ETs? When You Think “Automatic,” Think “Planetary” Most automatic transmissions are built around a planetary gearset. Even “manual” transmissions used on top fuel dragsters use this design, allowing the driver to operate the clutches to shift gears instead of using …

Why do turbo engines have low compression ratios? Why does altitude have less effect on a turbo motor than a naturally aspirated one? What fuel should you use? Here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking about turbocharging your Mustang or upgrading the turbo on your Ecoboost. Boost Compression Ratio The same rules of thumb for compression ratio on a naturally aspirated engine can be applied to a turbocharged engine if boost is considered. This formula provides the boost compressi …

The Mustang receives a mid-cycle refresh for 2018, and that means two things: some of us will be buying one, while others will be looking out for wrecked and damaged cars to harvest parts for our projects. Here’s what has changed for this model. No More V6 To the surprise of no one, Ford has dropped this rental car staple. While this engine had some fans who prefer naturally aspirated power, the tunability of the Ecoboost makes it a much better performance platform. Updated V8 …

Weighing in at around 150 lbs. less than the V8-equipped GT, the recent Ecoboost-powered Mustangs are a surprisingly good option for building a track car. Of course, with the right Ford Mustang performance parts, this engine can be made better, delivering better response and raising output to match or exceed the stock Coyote. The Stock Engine The Ecoboost 2.3l comes with Ford’s Ti-VCT variable timing system that alters the relation of the cams to the crankshaft position. A direct in …

The Mod V8 may have been looked down on when it first reached the Mustang in 1996, but over 14 years, engineers found new ways to squeeze more power out of this overhead cam engine. What’s the differences between these versions of the engine, and which ones are best for building a project car? Why is it called a “Mod” motor? The nickname is short for “modular.” The overhead cam V8s used in the Mustang were part of a new way for Ford to build different engines ranging from Duratec V6’ …