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It Takes II
Mike Yacubic's Precedent-Setting '77 Mustang II.
by Don Emmons
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Things started out simple enough - on the surface it appeared to be your basic camshaft and carburetor swap, but for Mike Yacubics, an engine repairman for Ford in the Strongsville, Ohio, engine assembly plant, and his wife, Teri, one thing lead to another with their '77 Mustang II. While tailoring it to their own satisfaction, two key elements were kept in mind: Stay within their allotted budget and make modification one step at a time.
The stock engine was upgraded with a set of forged, flat-top TRW pistons that are wrapped in Speed Pro rings. The assembly is set in motion by the stock shotpeened and assembly balanced crank. A pair of 390cfm Holley four-barrel carburetors sit atop the Weiand tunnel ram intake that delivers a potent mixture to the pair of surfaced, ported, and polished cylinder heads. A Crower hydraulic flat-tappet camshaft with .477-inch lift set the Crower/Ford combination valvetrain in motion.
The stock four-speed was modified with syncros and bearings, and it's controlled by a Hurst shifter. Out back, the Ford 8-inch rearend is normally equipped with a 3.55:1 differential, but Mike has available two other sets of gears already installed in the carriers. The 3.00:1 and 4.10:1 carriers constitute Mike's "poor man's quick change" set.
The functional characteristics of Mike and Teri's Mustang II are offset by a host of cosmetic modifications as well. Russell braided hoses, chrome dress-up parts, a four-point rollbar, and polished Auto/Drag Center Lines make this mid-13-second performer a handsome two-arena show and strip competitor. Whiles it's take more than 13 years to arrive at this stage, the ending still isn't in sight. Future plans include a T-5 trans and additional revisions to the interior. With another winter of modifications under their belts, the amassed collection of 41 trophies is certain to keep growing by leaps and bounds.
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