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Don’t think of installing aluminum pedal pads/covers as a “ricer” or “bling” upgrade for your classic Mustang. Why? Because once you do some spirited driving with a quality designed pedal pad set, you’ll see that they are actually quite beneficial for increased pedal grip and better heel-and-toe down shifting. Notice we said “quality” in that statement. There are multitudes of pedal pad kits out there that are, shall we say, flea market quality. These inferior products are indeed more for looks than anything else. But if you take the time to install something like these billet aluminum/magnesium alloy pedal pads from Total Control Products (TCP), you’ll immediately feel the difference the first time you shift or grab some brake for an upcoming corner. Installation couldn’t be much easier than carefully measuring pad location, drilling a few mounting holes, and installing the included flush-fit hardware. Check out this new Quick Tech where we ditch the slippery rubber pads and upgrade this early Mustang with TCP’s pedal pad kit.

Photo Gallery: Total Control Products – Billet Pedal Pads – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: Total Control Products – Billet Pedal Pads – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Tech | Engine ID
Back in the beginning of our classic Ford madness we used to wonder, “How can you tell the difference between a Ford 427, 428, and 429?” Also lurking in our mind was some confusion about the 351 Ford engine because there were two types, the Windsor and the Cleveland. When you’re walking the rows at a swap meet how is it possible to tell them apart? When it came to big-blocks there was also some confusion because there were really two varieties, the FE and the 385-series. The FE was introduced to replace the Y-block, and began at 352 cubic inches. However, the FE also came in 390, 406, 410, 427, and 428 cubic-inch displacements. Is it possible to tell a 427 from a 428 just by looking at it? The 385-series 429 and 460 engines were certainly big-blocks from the beginning, and, as you will see, it is possible to distinguish them from the earlier FE series at a glance.inline_mediumwraptextrightLet’s begin our discussion with the Fairlane V-8 series, sometimes called the short-deck engines. Originally offered in a 221 displacement and then in the 260 size, these two early displacements of the engine are fine in original applications, but the smaller bore size make most modern equipment not transferable. These two early displacements of the Fairlane V-8 have a five-bolt bellhousing pattern. The more popular 289-302 engines have a six-bolt bellhousing pattern. The engine in this photo, while it has a non-stock distributor from Davis Unified Ignition, shows a six-bolt valve cover pattern and horizontal orientation of the water outlet, which is part of the intake manifold. These characteristics are also shared by the 351 Windsor engine. The valve covers used are identical and the exterior architecture is very similar. The dimensions of an assembled 289 or 302 engine are 29Lx24Wx27 1/2H.26854781/techarticles/engine/mdmp_1004_how_to_identify_classic_ford_v8_enginesmdmp_1004_02_+classic_ford_engines+fairlane_v8.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: How To Identify Classic Ford V-8 Engines – Modified Mustangs & Fords

Photo Gallery: How To Identify Classic Ford V-8 Engines – Modified Mustangs & Fords