This Mustang came to us with a crate 302 motor and an automatic transmission. The carburetor needed work, but otherwise it generally ran well. Given the vision for the final product, we needed to go a different direction.

The Bullitt Mustang was famously powered by Max Balchowsky’s 390ci V8. Since it wasn’t a factory engine in the movie car, we decided to take some liberties as well. The motor was replaced with a Phoenix Engine 302 V8 that puts out the SAME horsepower as a factory Ford 390 from 1968 with a 4bbl carburetor. The performance coupled with a block that’s 80 lbs lighter makes this car so much fun to drive. Also, this actually fits well between the shock towers and there’s enough room to work on the engine! (Sorry to rub it in, 390 owners!) Bruce Prunk shown unwrapping the new engine.

Bruce (in car) and Don Porth (over engine) starting the Phoenix Engine 302 V8 for the first time after its installation.

A Bullitt Mustang tribute with a factory automatic transmission just didn’t feel right. So to accompany the performance from the Phoenix Engine 302, we paired this with a T5 “Cobra” World Class transmission. This was accompanied by a 5-speed conversion kit from Modern Driveline in Caldwell, Idaho. The final product is a really smooth clutch and transmission that outperforms the factory 4-speeds.

A custom 8” 3.55:1 rear end was made for this car by Holbrook Specialties, Inc in Gladstone, Oregon. The factory rear end wasn’t suited to handle the rest of the running gear, but this performs like a beast.

Moving under its own power for the first time, Bruce (driver) drives the fully-assembled powertrain while Don (right) spots him.