The "Gray Ghost" gets a new JDM 302E Engine and more for the road course!!

[Gray Ghost GT]

Jim III said my Mustang gets "pushed" into the shop on Monday to begin the engine and transmission removal!

I've been looking forward to this project since October!!! I can't wait to receive updates on the new setup!

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

After a 3 week wait... my car is moving into the shop to begin the project!

Time to Rock and Roll!!

 

[one eyed willy]

Congrats....subbing!

 

[ILW84U]

Jim III said my Mustang gets "pushed" into the shop on Monday to begin the engine and transmission removal!

I've been looking forward to this project since October!!! I can't wait to receive updates on the new setup!

After a 3 week wait... my car is moving into the shop to begin the project!

Time to Rock and Roll!!

Be prepared for a few more of these. Just saying.

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

Be prepared for a few more of these. Just saying.

I'm hoping it's just a matter of their shop getting caught up on a couple projects since recovering from the major storm they had plus the holidays.

I plan to call Jim III this Wednesday.

 

[JimIII@JDM]

Here is a little update from our shop:

"This week we removed the engine from Mike's car and found the route of his problem. Two rods were broken, which lead to a cracked block, and damaged heads. We found about 5 lbs of metal chunks in the oil pan. Since Mike's damage occured while he was racing the car on a road coarse where he was likley at a high rate of speed and RPM it was a pretty catastrophic failure. Bits of metal were found as far up as his intake manifold."

Good news is we already have his new 302E ready and waiting to go in the car. The bad news is nothing from his engine is salvageable for a core or will ever be able to be used again. Actually the valve springs made it out unscathed! I know Mike was hoping it was a minor failure, originally suspecting it was a couple of broken valve springs. Even though it was the worse case scenario, he will be up and running in no time with a brand new JDM Engineering 302E power plant!

We decided to change the cam grind and give Mike the ability to one day supercharge the car with low boost. Originally the plan was to go with a custom grind NA cam we used in my Yellow 06 car which is a very high lift cam and requires the cams to be degreed in and the phasers locked out. Mike wanted to keep the factory Ford intake manifold intact for low RPM torque and a better feeling on the low end when he is driving his car on the street. So after some discussion we decided on a new set of custom grind cams. They are a little more street friendly and would give him the ability to run a blower with out generating too much heat. At the moment these cams are being made and we will have them next week to install in the engine before dropping it back in Mike's car.

That's it for now, we have made some good progress and changed direction a little bit but with in the next week or two we should have it running and on the dyno so Ill be back to post more up then!

Here are a few pics we took while it was in the shop this week.

Link on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151309898105139.496045.121068375138&type=1

Chunky Salsa:

JimIII

 

[BadPiggy]

DAMN!
If you're gonna grenade...grenade it right.

And this seems to be done right!

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

Hey Jim, how's my project coming along? Going back into the shop today to begin the engine install and tuning?

I'm looking forward to bringing her home soon. Thanks. Mike

 

[cipstinger]

THat is great and JDM is Awesome and Jim Jr and Sr are great guys. I already made my appointment to almost all the same engine work done.

 

[msczesny1186]

Sub'd keep us updated!

 

[Dreadknought]

Ditto on the Sub. Exciting!

 

[msczesny1186]

update?

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

update?

New 302E engine is complete! Awaiting an open bay to do the installation along with powertrain upgrades and then it's off to tuning (street and dyno).

Spoke to Jim III this morning and feel pretty good about the progress being made and appreciate all their "attention to details". Mike

 

[msczesny1186]

Nice man. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

 

[Mike K]

So how does it run?

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

So far so good. Working with JDM to get the tune right to pass state emissions, but otherwise.... good to go. The real test will be on the road course, which won't happen till September at Watkins Glen or November at VIR due to work requirements.

 

[Mike K]

Good deal. I bet its like a new car again. What did it put down?

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

390/385! Not bad through the OEM intake manifold with great drivability.

 

[A John In NJ]

What comp ratio?

 

[Gray Ghost GT]

It's a naturally aspirated setup using 93 octane fuel with a conservative CR, but could easily go FI if I decided to do so later. I don't recall the exact numbers from JDM. I'll check my buildsheet and see what I can find out.