Gary's Full Bolt On Saleen S281 Mustang
Mr. Moore originally became our client with his son’s 280zx build that we featured in December of 2024. Nearing the completion of that build, we began discussing potentially working on his 3V powered Saleen Mustang, and what we were able to offer for that platform. When the time came for the 280zx to be picked up, he showed up with the Saleen S281 already on his trailer, and decided to drop this beauty off with us and take his 280zx back home for him and his son to enjoy.
The vision for this Mustang build was simple. Let’s do a full catalog of bolt-ons, and target 400 crank HP, which is pretty standard for the 3V series engines. We compiled a list of parts for Mr. Moore’s approval, and once approved, we got to work.
The car is a 2006 year model, and with any aging collector or classic car, it was going to need some basic mechanicals replaced, so we set him up with a set of new front lower control arms, new tie rod ends, a new power steering pump, a new set of spark plugs, some fluid changes, and a new A/C evaporator core to cross-off any repair or maintenance concerns with the vehicle.
From there, we selected a set of Ford Racing camshafts, the most aggressive profile that we could find given we wanted the car to remain street-able, and we wanted the factory VCT system to remain functional. We picked their M-6550 grind which features a very aggressive lopey idle, without sacrificing driveability. This camshaft has a lift profile of 0.472”, and duration profile of 221/240 degres. The other nice thing about this camshaft selection, is it is compatible with the OEM valve springs and valve train components. We did replace all of the rocker arms with brand new roller rocker arms from Melling for good measure, but otherwise, you could install these cams with no other mods or parts replaced.
During re-assembly, we installed a Ford Racing intake manifold, being fed by a BBK cold air intake kit. We capped the build off with a set of JBA long-tube headers, plumbed into a GRW custom built X-pipe, and a modified Borla ATAK exhaust system. Since the Saleen has a custom rear bumper, and center exit exhaust, the standard Mustang GT exhaust offerings are not a direct bolt-in. Mr. Moore wanted to retain that iconic center exit exhaust that Saleen provided, so we cut off the center exit tail pipe section, and made a custom fit splice into the ATAK muffler system. The OE supplied Saleen kit functioned in this exact same way, so we simply mimicked their design.
The final piece of the puzzle was a set of Ford Racing 4.11 gears. The Saleen series mustangs already come equipped with a 3.73 gear ratio, which is an upgrade above the standard 3.55 gear ratio offered in the standard Mustang GT from Ford. The 4.11 gears really improved the low end response and added to a quicker acceleration characteristic that Mr. Moore was looking for. The only potential downside is a higher cruising RPM at freeway speeds, which here in Texas can often times flirt with 90mph in some rural areas. This means your fuel mileage will certainly suffer, however our belief is that a full bolt-on Mustang owner is typically not targeting good fuel mileage as their #1 requirement.
After all of the bolt-ons were completed, we sent the vehicle out for a Dyno Tune with one of our trusted tuners in the area, and the vehicle put down 335whp and 287lb/ft, which is right in line with our target of 400 crank HP.
Although our primary focus in both marketing and product development are Datsun and Nissan Z cars, we love the opportunity to work on something that is not normally covered by our brand identity and marketing presence. We have an awesome team of very well trained, and well rounded individuals, between service staff and technicians, we strive to build cool cars, and at the end of the day, if we can be a part of a build that puts a smile on your face when you hit the gas, that’s what we all signed up for.
ENGINE AND DRIVETRAIN SPECS
Ford 4.6L 3v V8 Engine
Tremec TR-3650 5-Speed Transmission
Saleen Underdrive Crankshaft Pulley
Ford Performance Intake Manifold
BBK Cold Air Intake Kit
Ford Performance M-6550-3V Camshaft Kit
JBA Long Tube Headers
GRW Built Custom X-Pipe
Borla ATAK Exhaust System w/ OE Saleen center exit exhaust tip
Ford Racing 4.11 Gear Ratio Set
