All-New Small-Block Ford - The Legend Grows

As tradition continues, an old Ford with new Ford power

From the May, 2011 issue of Street Rodder

By Gerry Burger

We can’t think of a better platform for the new Coyote 5.0, dual-overhead cam, 32-valve Ford motor than a low-slung ’33 Ford Tudor. This is Bryan Fuller’s own hot rod. The Coyote motor rests between a set of hand-formed framerails.

It is the great hot rod tradition. It began when hot rodders eagerly snatched up the new Ford V-8 and stuffed it between the framerails of their Model T and A Fords. That occurred in 1932 and the modern motor in a vintage Ford has become the very definition of traditional hot rodding. As newer, better, and more powerful motors were introduced, hot rodders were quick to install them in hot rods.

Today that tradition continues, but like all technology it seems to be happening at breakneck speed. New motors, more horsepower, better fuel mileage, it all seems to be streaming out of Detroit faster than ever before.

One of the latest in this stream of performance motors was introduced by the Ford Motor Company. After 45 years of Mustang production Ford decided it was time to build a V-8 specifically designed for the Mustang. The motor was developed under the code name Coyote, a suitable name since this Blue Oval was designed to howl.

As the motor reached production it is a modern motor marvel, a powerplant that produces over 80 hp per liter (61 ci), a motor that’s compact in size, modern in every way, and carries the famous Mustang 5.0 displacement. From the crank fire ignition to the 32-valve, dual-overhead cam design, the motor is everything a hot rodder could desire; components such as forged rods, cross-drilled crankshaft, hollow camshafts, and much more. Ti-VCT is engineer speak for the twin independent variable cam timing that is key in the production of both horsepower and fuel economy. The end result is a motor that delivers 412 hp at 6,500 rpm and a whopping 390 lb-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm on premium pump gas; the aluminum block motor weighs in at a trim 444 pounds.

This all-new small-block Ford may have been built for the new Mustang, but it’s also destined to find a home in a lot of old Ford hot rods. Since the motor doesn’t use direct injection, much of the hassles of super high-pressure fuel lines are eliminated. The engine may be supercharged in the future, but for the average hot rod application a small-block engine that produces 412 hp and good fuel economy without a blower or turbo is just what the hot rod doctor ordered.

In the looks department this is one of the better looking modular motors. The Mustang 5.0 engine cover kit is a handsome assembly that covers things like coils, wiring, and plumbing. The engine cover does a great job of looking like a high-performance motor but you can bet hot rodders will find unique ways to cover the Coyote. Transmission options for the new motor include the all-new MT-82 six-speed manual or an updated six-speed automatic.

The more we learned about this new Ford motor the more anxious we became to see one slipped between some early Ford rails. And so when Editor Brennan received the call that a new ’11 Coyote (officially known as the 5.0 4V Ti-VCT V-8) was being installed at Bryan Fuller’s hot rod shop we jumped at the chance to check it out.

The name Bryan Fuller is recognizable to most hot rodders through his years of working with the likes of SO-CAL Speed Shop, GMT, and Chip Foose, which led to his initial TV appearances. Today his time is equally divided between the Two Guys Garage TV show and running his shop in Atlanta. Fuller Hot Rods is busy building everything from a ’61 Chevrolet to a ’59 Caddy Hearse, but the project that piqued our interest was Fuller’s personal ride, a radical ’33 Ford Tudor. Good old East Coast rust had already removed most of the floor, but that was just fine, as this car would be completely custom fabricated from the ground up and deeply channeled in the process.

Starting with the proverbial clean sheet of paper, Fuller rolled a Tiger quick-change and a SO-CAL frontend up on the fabricating jig, and then positioned the body between the axles. Next the final BFGoodrich tires were put on the jig to check for proportions and location before he set about fabricating his own frame now that the final ride height had been determined.

The framerails are deceivingly simple, but not easy to fabricate. After laser cutting four sets of side plates from sheet stock, a top piece of flat stock was formed and tack-welded to the top of two plates, effectively forming a three-sided framerail. Sounds easy enough, but keeping things square and true required lots of clamping, spacers, and stagger welding in different areas to prevent warping. Of course anyone can make a three-piece framerail, but like Fuller creations these carry some very cool details. First the width of the framerail narrows as it progresses forward, the framerails from the firewall forward are sleek and thin looking, while in the rear the spacing between the inner and outer plates is wide enough to accommodate hefty four bars. After plumbing and electric conduits are installed inside the ’rails, the bottom piece will be welded in place making the ’rails completely boxed. The entire chassis follows suit, with cool details on every bracket and a great mix of rod, race, and plain ol’ artistry involved in the build.

In keeping with this building style it only made sense to use a modern motor wrapped in vintage tin. After all isn’t that the definition of a hot rod? When it comes to new motors, none are newer than the ’11 Mustang 5.0 Coyote motor. The new motor and six-speed transmission are both available from Ford Racing Performance. We will take a closer look at Bryan Fuller’s ’33 sedan in a future issue, so stay tuned.

If that oil filter happens to interfere with anything on your installation, fear not, Ford Performance Racing offers a remote oil filter kit for this motor. Even the alternator mounting seems to work well in street rods.