Taking a Different Course on Engine Swapping A ’98 Mustang with a Stick Shift for Good Measure
The LS engine swap is almost assumed or commonplace on lots of rides these days, although the Ford Coyote and Mopar’s modern HEMI drivelines are starting to gain favor as well.
Granted, most of these swaps happen on classic rides, but Tyler Garlock also opted for the swap route on his 1998 Ford Mustang GT.
A car he picked up just short of a decade ago, the engine swap was literally a requirement with the purchase. “I settled on this car when I couldn't find a clean and inexpensive Fairmont,” said Tyler. “I bought it from a high school kid who didn't have the money to fix the knocking engine.”
Spending just $1100 for the Mustang gave Tyler a nearly blank canvas to work with, but instead of a few different modular Ford engines, Tyler went with a 6.4-liter Gen 3 HEMI snatched from a 2018 Challenger.
A Borg Warner-based 85/87-millimeter turbocharger provides the extra ponies Tyler desires, and he chooses gears manually with a Tremec Magnum 6-speed with a G-Force 1-4 gear set.
Sick The Mag keeps its web articles ad-free thanks to merch sales and magazine subscriptions. Thank you to all of you who wear our stuff and read our books!
With plenty of power on tap, Tyler fortified the chassis and suspension with a UPR k-member and control arms with a Merrilat upper torque box, and MAF Racing control arm mounts.
After two years of work, Tyler rolled the Mustang out of its driveway spot and onto the race track. During the next seven years, Tyler participated in several local stick shift races, as well as no prep races, some Street Car Takeover events and even a Modern Street HEMI Shootout or two.
A couple years ago, Tyler made the decision to add in some drag-and-drive action as well. “It proves that my car is in fact a street car and can complete a several hundred miles drive with multiple days of racing,” said Tyler. “I have run Midwest Drags the past two years. In 2021, I won the h pattern stick shift class. And in 2022, I broke the transmission on day 3 and was unable to finish.”
For 2023, Tyler added the inaugural Sick Summer Presented by TBM Brakes. “Sick Summer is relatively local to me, so I chose to run this event rather than Midwest Drags when it headed East,” said Tyler. “Plus, a lot of my local racing friends are attending, and it will be an awesome week.”
Jumping into the Stick Shift class, Tyler grabbed the early lead with an 8.75 at 167 mph at Cordova Dragway on day one. Tyler slowed a tad on day three at Great Lakes Dragaway, posting an 8.87 at 160 mph to slip to the second spot behind Bryan Crane.
An 8.80 at 165 mph on day four would knock him down another spot to third, as Jeremy Howell made the move into the second spot with one day to go. Back at Cordova Dragway one more time for day five, Tyler wrapped up his week in the unique Mustang with an 8.76 at 165 mph, netting him an 8.79 average for the week and a third-place finish in the Stick Shift class.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Tyler Garlock.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com