5.0's T-top Coupe Goes Racing

[evlgt85]

Now that's an interesting cage setup. Any difficulties, confusion, or amusing comments from any tech guys on that?

[mmb617]

I really like the car, and it's nice to watch a professional quality video for a change instead of the jerky, out of focus ones that most people seem to post!

[KJ Jones Racing]

More info on the wheels please

That's been a hot question from everyone asked by everyone that has seen the car! The wheels Weld Racing's 17-inch AlumiStar 2.0s. The fronts are 17" x 4.5" and the rears are 17" x 9". To keep it simple, they're '05-up Mustang wheels. Obviously, they fit on a Fox 'Stang--with an 1/8" spacer and we needed to modify the lug-nut holes on the rears just a little, but it's really not a big deal. The rear tires are 275/40 17s by Mickey Thompson (Nittos are pictured in this photo). The fronts aren't traditional "racing" skinnies. Hoosier is the only company I could find that makes a 17-inch, narrow front tire that works/gives up the right "look." I forget the size, but they're used by street rodders and they worked perfectly on the coupe.

[KJ Jones Racing]

Now that's an interesting cage setup. Any difficulties, confusion, or amusing comments from any tech guys on that?

Nothing really, Skye. I guess the only thing I thought was amusing in Tech was that the inspector was kind of passing the car off to be a lot less than what it is (supercharged, etc). He never looked at anything under the hood, and didn't realize the cage is NHRA certified until he saw that I had written the certification number on the Tech card. He had to go back and check it.

Actually, I'm not trying to throw the guy under a bus or anything, but the car wasn't scrutinized nearly as much as I thought it might be. Dude checked belts, battery/battery switch and that was pretty-much it, and this was at Fontana, so I'm sort of surprised it wasn't a deeper inspection. Glad my ride is safe nonetheless!

[evlgt85]

I'd love to watch some of the guys I've dealt with at Firebird be bamboozled by it. One thing I've noticed with tech guys is the cleaner and better presented the car is, the less scrutiny it seems to get. Since it's blatanty obvious that your car isn't suffering from shortcuts or shoddy work, that's probably a good part of why they didn't get out the fine tooth comb on it.


Definitely like the cage, it's a cool and unexpected detail to the car to set it off just a bit more. Not like the car is lacking in that department, though.

[srad2drag]

Are the wheels much lighter than stock because they look really good..I have pro-stars now and looking at those wheels makes me want to change up again..

[KJ Jones Racing]

Are the wheels much lighter than stock because they look really good..I have pro-stars now and looking at those wheels makes me want to change up again..

The wheels are feather light. I'm talkin', really, really light, and they're embossed with "For Drag Race Use Only" around the outside ring. I'm pretty much going to adhere to the advisory and run the bigger "street" wheels I've got for the coupe, even though the car's "look" is killer with the Weld wheels mounted. I'll be absolutely sick if I taco one of these wheels by accidently hitting a hole or something in the street while cruising. Don't get me wrong, I'll maybe take a chance here or there when driving around the neighborhood or out to the Friday night cruise spot that's a few blocks away, but if I take the car to work or something or really go for a trip that stretches some miles, these street wheels/tires (Shelby GT 500 replica and Nittos) will be on the car!

[IEATLT1]

I wanna work for 5.0

[ram360]

looks great but I'd have to paint the mirrors, 1/4 window trim and door handles black.....

[srad2drag]

That's been a hot question from everyone asked by everyone that has seen the car! The wheels Weld Racing's 17-inch AlumiStar 2.0s. The fronts are 17" x 4.5" and the rears are 17" x 9". To keep it simple, they're '05-up Mustang wheels. Obviously, they fit on a Fox 'Stang--with an 1/8" spacer and we needed to modify the lug-nut holes on the rears just a little, but it's really not a big deal. The rear tires are 275/40 17s by Mickey Thompson (Nittos are pictured in this photo). The fronts aren't traditional "racing" skinnies. Hoosier is the only company I could find that makes a 17-inch, narrow front tire that works/gives up the right "look." I forget the size, but they're used by street rodders and they worked perfectly on the coupe.

I just seen the price for those wheels. Gulp.......I almost passed out.
the fronts are 547.00 ea. the rears are 623.00 ea.

[Marz]

KJ... love the car... you did good man! You make us all proud!

[LSxnotch]

saw the car on SBP.com KJ, looks incredible...

[Clarko]

I have seen this car in person and it it definitely awesome!

[Hissing Cobra]

WOW! KJ, the car looks AWESOME! I love the wheels too. I applaud your efforts to build it the way that you wanted it. Your taste really shows. I'm also jealous of those 11 second timeslips!

[jleews6]

The car turned out real nice and we NEED more pics of the car with the welds on it. That is by far the best looking wheel on the market.Nice car.

[KJ Jones Racing]

The car turned out real nice and we NEED more pics of the car with the welds on it. That is by far the best looking wheel on the market.Nice car.

Sorry, but from this point forward, you'll have to get your fix for pics by checking out the remaining articles in 5.0 Mustang & Super Fords. You may have noticed, there really haven't been any photos of the "whole car" in any of the stories in this build series. Consider the pics of the car (and those Welds) that have been posted on the 'Net as a treat to all of you guys. I believe there are two more Tech stories to go (Jul and Aug '07), and a full-on feature article (with shots of those wheels) will appear in the Oct '07 issue. Thanks for following along.

It almost goes without saying that folks will be taking pictures of the coupe at the Knott's show in a couple of weeks, so you'll almost certainly be able to see more photos of the wheels by the time people get home and start posting on the 'Net...I just can't post any more. Buy the book!

[82HATCH]

Nice ride!

[83-88T-Bird Guy]

Great job K.J. ! Outstanding !!!

I want to work for 5.0 magazine when I grow up.

[Anlushac11]

I like it, has that resto-mod look.

Gives me ideas for my 81 T-top coupe though Im planning more of a autocross-roadrace car and Im planning to keep the I6 motor.

[KJ Jones Racing]

I like it, has that resto-mod look.

Gives me ideas for my '81 T-top coupe though I'm planning more of a autocross-road race car and I'm planning to keep the I6 motor.

Thanks, man. We like to refer to the look as, "Fox-rod," but it's all good.

Feel free to take the ideas...just don't forget where you got the ideas from!

Good luck with your coupe, man!

[flyin5-o]

The car looks SWEET! Great job!

What's up with the Mav in the background?

[86GT2go]

Dang nice coupe, and glad this site was able to help out. With the car getting national exposure, I'm sure the 4eyes will be getting just a little more respect now. Maybe we could get a shameless plug in 5.0; kind-of like an "If you would like to see more of these types of cars, check out www.foureyedpride.com; they are a big help for those with early foxes." sort of thing. Nonetheless....outstanding car!

[Clarko]

Unfortunately, there probably will be some enthusiasts who are just set on the idea that the car should have been restored to its 100% original flavor, and a roll cage should not have been installed, and a supercharged 347 should have been spared in favor of a stock 5.0.

cough... cough... MOCC cough... cough...

[KJ Jones Racing]

cough... cough... MOCC cough... cough...

Hahahahahahahahaha! Good one, Brian! I got the paperwork for that outfit's June show. Since it's just down the street from the house, I guess I'll roll the couptie out there and sit in the sun for a day. It'll be interesting to see how many "votes" the car gets. I swear, it seems like some'a the folks in that group would have their classic 'Stang sit down at the dinner table with them and eat, if there was any way possible for it to happen. Hahahahahaha!

I'm gonna call you guys next week and make the appointment for that alignment, etc. Need to get that handled before the "big show" in Anaheim!

[Clarko]

I got to work on it. at all of you!
J/k!
The car is super super super nice underneath with the subframe connectors and the tubular k-member looks great. The electric waterpump that's in the radiator is trick. Buy the mag and go to the show!