Taking A 10-Speed Automatic to New Levels with A Supercharged Mustang
Despite some of the pending futures for the modern muscle cars, we are truly living in a unique time. Cars that can run close to single digits off the showroom floor, 7-10 speed automatic transmissions to make them cruise down the highway at calm rpms, and with all the creature comforts one could want.
So, it’s no surprise that we not only see the late model drivelines swapped into older rides, but also witnessing people push those drivelines to new heights.
The 2003-2004 Ford Mustang Cobra (a.k.a. Terminator Cobra) was a quick ride in its time. A few choices changes, and 10-11 second time slips could be in hand. Rob Little had one, and after a few too many run-ins with Coyote-powered Mustangs, he wanted a change. “My previous car had a built set up, and I was getting ran over by coyotes with a sleeved short block and a bolt on blower,” said Rob.
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Enter the current car, a 2003 Mustang Mach 1 that has been Coyote swapped, and also gotten the 10R80 automatic transferred in as well. “I wanted to be the first to do a 10-speed swap,” Rob admitted. “I started the build in late 2018, and finished it in May of 2021.”
The first chapter of the Coyote swap was with a stock motor and a VMP Performance supercharger, getting Rob to 8.50 passes within half a dozen runs on the combination. “Then I did a sleeved motor with a 3.0-liter Whipple supercharger, and went 8.00 at 175 mph,” Rob said.
Then the third, and current, set-up was devised. A 5.2-liter TKM-built sleeved Coyote got its place between the frame rails, with Gen 3 ported cylinder heads sporting Camp Cams blower cams and RGR lockouts clamped on. A race ported 3.8-liter Whipple supercharger boosts the air quantity down the Coyote’s throat, and an RSA race solutions-built 1500R 10R80 automatic with a billet bolt together Suncoast converter backs it all.
The rear end is a stock length 8.8-inch with KellTrac coil overs to get the power down. Palm Beach Dyno and Rob Shoemaker tune the ride on E-85 fuel.
Previously holding the Supercharged Coyote 10R80 automatic record with a 7.89 at 175 mph, Rob decided to make a trip to Bradenton Motorsports Park to try things out. “Things got a little spicy,” said Rob. (Crossing the) 60 foot on the back tires was not part of the plan, but we got it dialed in and reset the record to a 7.74 at 184 mph!”
With the Mach 1 still having all the street equipment, Rob has considered doing a drag-and-drive event in the future. “I have thought about doing Sick Week for sure,” he admits. “I’m going to get some upgrades done over the summer, so I can make the car more consistent. I want to go 7.50’s the way it sits, and then make it lighter and see how close to a 6-second pass we can go.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Rob Little and 1320 Video.