In 1966, Ford introduced a beefy three-speed automatic transmission that was stuffed into anything that required a strong transmission including trucks, high-performance Mustangs, and sedans. The Ford C6 transmission would go on to enjoy a 30-year service life as Ford phased it out in 1996 to make room for overdrive versions of its big transmission line-up. Today, the C6 is still the go-to Blue Oval piece when you are looking to harness big horsepower. Credit the beefy guts and many aftermarket upgrades for the tough label.

Photo Gallery: Ford C6 Transmission Upgrades – Built Tough – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: Ford C6 Transmission Upgrades – Built Tough – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

The crate engine craze is nothing new–smart builders have been shipping ready-to-go engine combinations for years. Packaged engines have become a legitimate way to get your horsepower fix–someone’s already figured out the combination, ordered the parts, done the machining, and handled the assembly.

Photo Gallery: Roush Yates NASCAR V8 Crate Engine – Ultimate Crate – Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: Roush Yates NASCAR V8 Crate Engine – Ultimate Crate – Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Magazine

Last month you read about a naturally aspirated Two-Valve engine that gained 28 rwhp without sacrificing any of the car’s street manners. The Trick Flow Specialties camshafts made the idle sound healthy but not overly aggressive, and there wasn’t any bucking at low rpm. We return this issue to chart the gains while the same engine is exposed to boost.

Photo Gallery: Trick Flow Camshaft Install – Things That Go Bump In The Valve Cover, Part 2 – Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: Trick Flow Camshaft Install – Things That Go Bump In The Valve Cover, Part 2 – Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Magazine

Loyal readers of MM&FF will no doubt remember that we started our “Mods for Coyote Mods” in the last issue. Ford Racing was kind enough to offer up not only a new 5.0L Coyote crate motor (PN M-6007-M50), but also a complete stand-alone Controls Pack. The pair essentially gives you everything to swap the 412hp 5.0L into just about anything and get it up and running.

Photo Gallery: Mods for Coyote Mods, Part 2 – The Perfect 10 – Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: Mods for Coyote Mods, Part 2 – The Perfect 10 – Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords Magazine

It’s so easy for enthusiasts to get excited about horsepower numbers, rpm levels, and sound, while skipping some very key factors of a well-designed engine. Some build requests are realistic while others are not even close. And it’s actually just as important for the engine builder to clarify the needs of the customer, as a totally mismatched engine can easily be an embarrassment to the builder and to the driver/owner.

Photo Gallery: Engine Building Part 1 – Power Principles – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: Engine Building Part 1 – Power Principles – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Like Rodney Dangerfield, a driveshaft gets no respect. Or even much thought, for that matter. Until we exceed its design limits, that is, at which point the extreme importance of this delicately balanced, high-revving power transmitter comes suddenly, and sometimes frighteningly, to the forefront. Consider this: the factory driveshaft under your vintage Ford was engineered to withstand the rigors of OEM power levels, traction limits, and speed/rpm capabilities for many years, which it likely has. But we’d never go broke by betting that all those factory power, grip, and speed parameters have long since been exceeded in most of our readers’ rides, ’cause we don’t call this Modified Mustangs & Fords for nothing.

Photo Gallery: Dynotech Driveshaft Install – The Straight Skinny – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: Dynotech Driveshaft Install – The Straight Skinny – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine