Lethal 1993 Turbo LS1 Foxbody Mustang LX

Populating the Strips

The third generation 'Fox-body' Ford Mustang (1979-1993) is arguably the most popular platform for enthusiast drag racers as there are more of these 'Stangs sprinting down the drag strip each weekend compared to any other car. The Fox-body has a following of Ford purists and speed enthusiasts alike, and as a result, we've seen just about every style of American V8 swapped into them. That said, the Chevy LS engine series seems to be the hot setup, and Michael Bunton's LS-swapped 1993 Mustang proves it. 

Diesel Drags

Bunton originally started drag racing with his 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 diesel pickup which was able to run a respectable 6.90 in the 1/8th mile. The faster you go; however, the more strain it puts on various components and Michael found that out himself with heavy repair bills each time the truck broke down. 

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Finding a Fox-Body

Michael eventually found himself at a crossroad with the truck, and instead of putting any more money into this heavyweight bruiser, he purchased a lightweight Fox-body Mustang with an LS1 engine already installed. Coming in several thousand pounds lighter than the truck, the Mustang would surely be faster out of the box. 

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The Fire Starter

After installing a nitrous kit, Bunton hit the strip in the 93 LS1 Mustang and was immediately collecting six-second timeslips. Unfortunately, an accident that resulted in a fire would see Bunton rethinking the Mustang powertrain. In hindsight, this would lead him down a slippery slope of modifications to turn the car into one of the fastest street cars at the strip as well as launching his own performance shop. 

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From N2O to Turbo

During the rebuild, Michael ditched the junkyard LS1 and nitrous setup in favor of a new 383 stroker LS boosted by an 84mm Borg Warner turbocharger that would quickly see him making five second passes. As is typically the case, Bunton craved more power and teamed up with Pro-Line Racing and Brian Tooley Racing for his next round of mods. 

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Building a Brute

Pro-Line, BTR, and Bunton opted for a new 388 stroker build utilizing a Chevrolet Performance LSX Bowtie block, a set of ported Trick Flow 245 cylinder heads setup for use with a hydraulic roller cam, and an even larger 94mm Precision Pro Mod turbo. Bunton would also work directly with FuelTech USA and their FT600 system for his engine management needs. 

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Street-driven Shenanigans

The new engine setup would net 4.70 seconds in the eighth-mile with trap speeds of 150 mph. Mind you this was still a street-driven car on 275 radials tires! Further improvements would continue by switching from E85 to methanol (eliminating the air-to-water intercooler) and adding an even larger 98mm GTX turbocharger courtesy of Garrett. Times would dip as low as 4.45 at 165mph before starting to explore chassis and lightening modifications. 

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Track-Focused Mods

Next, with the help of Matt Ryan at MattFab, Bunton completely gutted the car to make way for an NHRA-spec SFI 25.3 cage. Torque boxes from Marcus Warrick Racing were added to stiffen the chassis in addition to a narrowed Ford 8.8 rear end, a five-lug conversion, 2" lowered powertrain, and carbon fiber doors & deck. 

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Never-ending Need for Speed

The end result is a car that weighs in at 2,830 lbs and is pushing over 2,000 horsepower. Word is that Bunton has a new engine in the works that will be paired with a new two-speed TH400 transmission instead of the Powerglide he has been running. 

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Tearing up the Track

Keep an eye out for Michael Bunton and his ever-evolving 1993 LSX Mustang as they terrorize racing events throughout the Southeastern United States in an effort to dip below that four-second barrier.

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