#FastFriday: A Ford Mustang track car, but with LS7 power

Colin
By Colin Wood
Aug 23, 2024 | UTCC, #FastFriday, Ultimate Track Car Challenge, Tire Rack

When they say to LS-swap all the things, do you think they meant Mustangs, too?

Terry Fair, owner of Vorshalg Motorsports, has made a name for himself–and his business–by making some seriously quick Mustangs.

[S197 Ford Mustang Buyer's Guide: The best bang for the buck?]

In this case, Terry has made the Ford Mustang he’s entered into our annual search for the fastest track machine on four wheels, the Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge presented by Grassroots Motorsports, faster by doing what some may consider sacrilege: Swapping in an LS7 V8.

And not just any V8, but one built by HorsePower Research. Good for 646 horsepower and capable of revving all the way to 8500 rpm, the engine features Brodix BR 7 heads, a ported CID intake, Vorshlag LS swap headers, a Haltech R3 Nexus EFI tuned by Rapscallion Motorsports and a lightweight rotating assembly plus aftermarket valvetrain.

The mods don’t stop there, however, as the Mustang–named "Trigger" because of the triggering effect its LS7 engine often has on people, according to Terry–also features Motion Control Suspension double-adjustable coil-overs, SPL front and rear control arms, Nine Lives Racing 8.0 SF carbon rear wing and 18x13.5-inch Jongbloed wheels fitted with Hoosier A7 tires, plus carbon fiber doors, hood, truck and wide-body fenders from Anderson Composites.

Inside, Trigger is equipped with a full roll cage, Sparco Circuit II seats, Lifeline six-point harnesses and–the most important upgrade of all–an eight-track tape deck with “Willie Nelson's greatest hits stuck on repeat.”

See Terry and Trigger compete in the Ultimate Track Car Challenge, which takes place alongside the Tire Rack SCCA Time Trials Nationals Powered by Hagerty, at Kentucky’s NCM Motorsport Park October 26-27. (Though we’re not sure what you are more likely to hear first, the built LS7 or “Whiskey River.”)

Think you have the ultimate track car? Click here to register today.

For more information about the 2024 Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge presented by Grassroots Motorsports, visit ultimatetrackcarchallenge.com.

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports and Sunoco, the official fuel of the UTCC, in association with Wilwood EngineeringCRC IndustriesHMS Motorsport and XS Power, with trophies from Miller ElectricCalltoGridBimmerWorld and Falken Tire.

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Comments
racerfink
racerfink UberDork
8/23/24 2:17 p.m.

Perfectly named. 

Fair
Fair New Reader
8/23/24 3:11 p.m.

 

The Trigger name comes from Roy Rogers horse's name, but... yea the LS swap does tend to come into the name also. angel

JimS
JimS Reader
8/23/24 3:25 p.m.

Roy Rogers. 

AhBNormal
AhBNormal Reader
8/23/24 4:50 p.m.

Fastest? Faster than Kiote motor? Many people will scream. Seems like the I.C.E. Ground Hog has seen his shadow and we're in for another decade of Fords with Chevy motors in them. I can't wait until Godzilla7.3 hears about this.  
   I don't even know what this means. 

AhBNormal
AhBNormal Reader
8/23/24 4:50 p.m.

Fastest? Faster than Kiote motor? Many people will scream. Seems like the I.C.E. Ground Hog has seen his shadow and we're in for another decade of Fords with Chevy motors in them. I can't wait until Godzilla7.3 hears about this.  
   I don't even know what this means. 

rustomatic
rustomatic HalfDork
8/23/24 5:03 p.m.

There's a lot to like about the simplicity (way fewer moving parts) of the appropriately chosen LS.  There's that and the fact that it's not as wide as a football field.  Coyotes are surprisingly light, though . . .

Trigger was stuffed at some point.

Fair
Fair New Reader
8/25/24 6:08 p.m.

In reply to rustomatic :

This picture shows why LS swaps are so popular... the size difference to a Coyote is dramatic.

We do work with Coyotes, and did a Gen2 Coyote swap with a T56 Magnum XL into a 2010 GT with the drivetrain above - which we weighed.

Once we added up all of the pieces to the LS6 + T56 Magnum XL, the LS drivetrain was 95 pounds lighter. Go figure - a smaller engine is lighter. ;)

 

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
8/25/24 7:01 p.m.

It won't flip signs, but the LS6 has an aluminum bellhousing, not the SFI bellhousing made out of thick steel plate.  No headers.  No intake.  

OTOH an LS will lighten the car significantly if/when it drops a valve, causing the engine to scatter itself all over the track wink.  The Ford, of course, will be able to pass at this point.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
8/26/24 9:42 a.m.

I was thinking of the other Trigger:

 

madmrak351
madmrak351 HalfDork
9/12/24 10:03 a.m.

I tend to think of engine swaps like a USPS priority mail box, it it fits it ships. I am somewhat brand agnostic. I also own a Honda framed Kawasaki 2 stroke powered dirt bike. And yes that combination also triggers some people.

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