Gone In 5 Seconds: Breaking Records With A 3,500hp Small Block Ford V8
Have you ever wondered what the world’s fastest Ford small block V8-powered car looks like? I’ll tell you – it resembles a blue Mustang GT500.
‘Resembles’ is a key word here, because clearly I’m showing you a dragster. Well, technically it’s a Doorslammer, which is very similar to a Pro Mod machine.
Andres Arnover, owner of the Fast Ford Racing Team and driver of this Mustang is well known in European drag racing circles. The Estonian races all around the continent, and has previously competed in the USA. It was there, at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida, that Andres became the first to run a 5-second quarter-mile ET using a Ford small block V8. His time: 5.999 at 245.49mph (395.077km/h)
What does it take to achieve that level of performance with a small block Ford? About 3,500hp, I’m told. The engine is a 430ci unit built to support 4,000hp at the crank with a Weston Machine billet block, Dave Visner Pro-X billet heads, twin 88mm Precision Pro Mod turbochargers, and M1 methanol fuel. (Check out the full engine spec below)
It should come as no surprise that Andres and his team were only able to achieve this record in the USA, where drag racing culture has existed for more than 70 years. The facilities are just so much better stateside, and those managing the top drag strips have immense knowledge when it comes to setting up and maintaining their tracks.
I shot the Mustang at a local event here in Estonia, where Fast Ford Racing participated purely for demonstration. The strip was just a closed-down airfield runway without any PJ1 TrackBite on the ground. So even with the power turned right down – we’re talking just 4.35psi of boost here – the back tyres were spinning, but it was impressive to watch nonetheless.
For 2021, Andres is making a move to the FIA Pro Modified class with a brand new chassis and a HEMI engine. He feels that the job has done with the Ford small block, but given Fast Ford Racing’s success with the engine, I guess we should never say never.
Originally published on Speedhunters on 25 February 2021.