1972 Mustang CJ pure

[IanM]

I'm new to the forum. I have a 1972 mustang cj that I'm working on and would like an opinion as to whether this car would work in pure stock.
Thanks,
IanM

[Bobby Zlatkin]

Yes, that could be made into a good IHRA pure stocker. Would probably run C or D pure stock.

But, you would be restricted to IHRA only until you really got serious and were willing to spend to bucks to become a real stocker. Then you could run both IHRA & NHRA. Would probably run E or F stock.

I am assuming your CJ is a 351 Clevland.

[IanM]

This is the low compression cleveland 351 cj. Does anyone run this combo in either stock or pure stock?

[Bobby Zlatkin]

Two running stock that I can think of off the top of my head are Tex Miller & Gary
Glazner (sp?). Both have been running the same combo for many years.

[Bill Harris]

Is your engine the factory rated 266HP or 275?

There are several guys that are running various 351C combos in stock. Garry Glazener in Div 2 has beat on this combo for years. Also Bill McClister in Div 4 has run this combo and has gone a second under this year. Nitro Joes stats also show Steve Kathary in Div 7 running this engine. All of these are in E/SA although Garry runs his in F/SA occasionally too.

I think Tex Miller used to run his Mustang as a '72 with this engine, but it is listed as a '71 recently, but still with the 351C. He has also beat on this combo for a long time.

Note that this engine has been hit with a lot of HP over the years. The 266HP engine is now at 328Hp with an automatic, 319 with a stick. The 275 engine is rated at 325 for the automatic and 330Hp with a stick. It is interesting that the 275/325 engine with an additional point of compression and a bigger, mechanical cam is rated lower than the 266/328 for automatics.

[Dave Turner]

Originally Posted by Bill Harris

It is interesting that the 275/325 engine with an additional point of compression and a bigger, mechanical cam is rated lower than the 266/328 for automatics.

.....and as a result, it is the version favored by most.

[IanM]

The car is the 266HP with and auto therefore factored at 328HP.
I'm wondering if this is now over rated and therefore not going to be competitve. If other class racer are converting from 72' to 71' or running
this an HO, maybe I need more information before I continue?

[Mike Graham]

You might want to consider converting it to a 73 cj. By far the softest combination.
Bumper and grill for the car. Heads (D3-aa),intake and carb. The spreadbore is a little tricky
at first.but it works.

[Bill Harris]

Since McClister has it going a second under, it surely is competitive! I would think the issue with going to the 275HP from your 266 would be finding the heads. They are probably pretty rare, especially ones that haven't been messed with making them illegal for stock (ported).

It appears the 71 280hp engine is identical to the 72 266, and they both have the 328hp NHRA factor.

It looks to me like the best 351C combo might be the '71 285/305 which is the high compression 4V. Same heads as the Boss 351 but with an unusually small cam. That is probably the reason the HP is so low for it.

If you want to run your car as a '71 and not have to deal with the hard to find and expensive 351C stuff, put a 429 in it. I have everything you would need if your interested. There is a lot of potential in that combo and only Vic Guilmino has really tried to tap it.

[Dave Turner]

Also, be mindful of the carb & intake restriction in Pure Stock. You will need to be happy with the Autolite carb and cast iron intake. A Stocker benefits from the optional Holley/aluminum intake swap.

Good luck Ian!!