All posts by David Bruno

Former club archivist as well as lead SOEC creative director, 2005-2018.

JDM 4.6L 3V 302E STROKER ROTATING ASSEMBLY SPECIAL

JDM Engineering 4.6L 3-Valve 302E Stroker Rotating Assembly Engine Rebuild Kit

Retail $2595.00

Special Price $2095.00
Priced for a limited time only!!!
Savings $500!!

Is it time to rebuild your 2005-2010 Mustang GT 4.6L 3-Valve bottom end? If your making more power than you should on your stock engine or you are looking to bring your car to the “next level,” then check this out! Team JDM now offers the same Rotating Assembly[/URL] from the popular 302E Shortblock[/URL] and will support 1000 HP. With the limited availability of New Production 4.6L blocks from Ford it is worth it to rebuild yours while you still can!

Team JDM is offering a complete packaged Forged Rotating Assembly Kit for the 4.6L 3-Valve Mustang engine. This package is based off the 302E Shortblock that JDM Engineering has assembled in-house since 2005 when the 3-Valve engine first appeared in production vehicles. JDM Engineering has used the 302 Rotating assembly in many of their own racing applications as well as hundreds of customers Street vehicles.

Increasing the displacement of your 4.6L short block from 281 to 302 cubic inches will create more power and torque. The extra displacement comes from the Kellogg Forged 8-bolt 3.800” crankshaft and Forged Manley Rods. The 302 Forged Pistons are standard (+.005”) bore and require only a light hone for assembly in any 4.6L block. For blocks that require a larger bore due to scuffing or wear, the pistons are available in +.020” and +.030” over size. Custom Piston Rings from Total Seal are file fit to the pistons and can support high boost applications. Nascar rated Speed Pro Main and Rod Bearings are included along with a complete Ford Racing Main bolt kit. A High Volume GT-500 oil pump is used to keep up with oiling demands of the 3-Valve VCT system.

JDM Engineering 4.6L 3-Valve 302E Stroker Rotating Assembly Engine Rebuild Kit benefits:
-Adds 21 Cubic inches of displacement to your engine
-Maximize your Shortblock’s power output potential
-Forged internals able to support 1000 HP
-Same rotating components used in JDM Engineering 302E Shortblock
-Custom spec pistons keep stock compression ratio

JDM Engineering 4.6L 3-Valve 302E Stroker Rotating Assembly Engine Rebuild Kit includes:
-Kellogg 3.800″ Crankshaft
-Manley H Beam Connecting Rods
-Manley Forged Aluminum Pistons (stock compression)
-Total Seal Piston Rings
-Speed Pro Main and Rod Bearings
-Ford Racing 3v Main Bolt Kit
-Ford Racing GT500 Oil Pump

JDM Engineering 4.6L 3-Valve 302 E Stroker Rotating Assembly Engine Rebuild Kit fits:
-2005 Mustang GT 4.6L 3-Valve
-2006 Mustang GT 4.6L 3-Valve
-2007 Mustang GT 4.6L 3-Valve
-2008 Mustang GT 4.6L 3-Valve
-2009 Mustang GT 4.6L 3-Valve
-2010 Mustang GT 4.6L 3-Valve

For more information or to place an order please contact us at www.TeamJDM.com or call 732-780-0770.

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DETROIT START-UPS MOVE INTO EMPTY AUTO PLANTS

By: CHRIS WOODYARD on January 29, 2013 at 4:41 am
Original Article: USA TODAY

GM, Ford and Chrysler get creative in finding buyers for the plants they closed

Mustang RTR by CDC awaits inspection.
Mustang RTR vy CDC awaits inspection.

TROY, Mich. — A stroll around the factory floor here reveals the kind of assorted automotive projects that fire imaginations.

Classic Fords and Chevrolets under restoration are parked in neat rows, including a Mustang customized for the ill-fated revival of the Knight Rider television series and another that’s a custom prototype for the Chinese market. A 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup, yet to appear in showrooms, waits to be prepped for auto show display.

So far, two small auto companies share the cavernous space in the former auto plant in this Detroit suburb. Working together as Automotive Performance Industries, the hunt is on for at least a couple more entrepreneurs who can join up to follow the same model — working on their own projects or as a team.

The rebirth of a former car factory as a business incubator for small start-ups aiming to make it big someday, points to a hopeful trend in the auto industry. More of the old factories left behind by the cutbacks of Detroit’s Big 3 automakers during the recession are becoming homes to myriad new businesses. Sometimes the sites stay devoted to automotive uses, but other businesses have swooped in as well — from herb growers to shopping-center developers. They are creating jobs that can begin to replace some of the thousands lost when General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler cut back over the past decade.

“There is a lot of activity. Capital markets are flowing again, and there is a demand for space,” says Bruce Rasher, redevelopment manager for the Racer Trust, created by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in 2011 to find buyers for General Motors’ shuttered facilities. “It’s an excellent way to diversify employment.”

In some cases, the new tenants for old automotive plants are leading the way to a new kind of auto industry. Tesla Motors, maker of the $61,070 all-electric Model S sedan, has set up shop in the former GM-Toyota joint venture plant in Fremont, Calif., that once churned out Corollas and Geo Prizms. Fisker Automotive, maker of plug-in hybrid sedans, hopes to start production of its next model in a former GM plant in Wilmington, Del.

And earlier this month, another start-up, Elio Motors, announced that starting next year it will build its $6,800, 84-miles-per-gallon economy cars at the former GM plant in Shreveport, La., that once built the Hummer. “It works out well for everyone,” says founder Paul Elio of the real estate deal.

In other cases, different kinds of businesses are coming on board. Florida-based grower Sunfest Organic Herbs is taking over a former GM metal-stamping plant in Ontario, Ohio. Developers are seeking other tenants for what is now being called Ontario Business Park. Though it will demolish many of the buildings, Sunfest plans to create up to 150 jobs in an expansion that will put it closer to its customers.

Yet for all the attractiveness of the notion of entrepreneurs setting up shop amid the ruins of an evolving auto industry, it hasn’t been easy. The auto plants are often dated, with low ceilings that don’t accommodate today’s high-tech manufacturing methods or other uses, such as warehousing. Also, the facilities have, in some cases, required extensive environmental cleanups.

For Automotive Performance Industries, or API, here in Troy, the plant was tailor-made for automotive-related businesses. It had been home to Saleen Performance, the specialty vehicles customizer and maker founded by racer Steve Saleen, who has since gone on to a new automotive venture. A building is a building, but what made the place special was its paint booths, which used a special higher-heat system to paint luxury cars.

Saleen, in its role as a contract builder and backed by Ford, had invested millions in the plant to help build and paint Ford GT supercars to exacting standards. Once the building became empty around 2009, it attracted business partners S.A. “Tony” Johnson and Karl Storrie, who had long worked together as auto-parts suppliers and on other deals. “We bought a paint system, and there happened to be a building around it,” Storrie says.

It was the kind of equipment that would be out of reach of most small businesses that specialize in customizing or small-batch manufacturing.

Bryan Chambers saw the possibilities. He had been a manager at the plant when it was under Saleen, and created his own business, Alternative Automotive Technologies, after the factory closed. At first, he was living “check to check,” but he soon saw how the old building could become a great place to make smaller batches of custom vehicles. In addition, he prepares concept vehicles for public displays and even takes on individual jobs, such as adding superchargers to further soup-up performance cars for enthusiasts.

Chambers was later joined by George Huisman, founder of Classic Design Concepts, which specializes in aftermarket parts, such as custom grilles and rear trim panels for Mustangs. He is working on a project to convert Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans into disaster-relief vehicles for the American Red Cross.

While they do their own jobs, they find room to collaborate. Huisman points to a Mustang being customized to suit the tastes of Chinese automotive enthusiasts that could provide work to both companies. It’s called the RTR Mustang, for “ready to rock.”

So far, though, there are only about 30 employees at work at API. Much of the building, larger than three football fields, is unoccupied. The goal is to bring in at least a couple of other companies, putting them under the API umbrella. “We’re not interested in renting space. We’re interested in business partners,” Storrie says.

Converting big plants can be challenging

Photo: Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press
(Photo: Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press)

API should be relatively easy to fill. The bigger challenge comes with the Big 3’s former auto plants, which measure square feet in the millions. Tesla, for instance, is using only a relatively small portion of its Fremont, Calif., factory even as its production of the Model S all-electric plug-in sedan continues to ramp up.

When Ford closed its assembly plant in Atlanta, which used to make the old versions of the Taurus, Porsche took a portion and the rest is being divided up for light manufacturing or warehousing, says Jay Gardner, director of real estate for Ford Land, which is taking care of the automaker’s former plants.

Ford has been trying to find a buyer for its now-closed plant in Wixom, Mich. But 4 million square feet, much of it built when it opened in the 1950s, spread over 317 acres is more than most manufacturers could ever handle.

Still, Ford, which has sold nine plant sites since 2006, has had some notable successes. A dump near Allen Park, Mich., was capped and the ground allowed to settle, then it eventually became a shopping center, Gardner says. That creates more jobs than the usual use of former dumps — turning them into open space or golf courses.

The Racer Trust, which says it has completed 24 sales out of 89 facilities in 14 states, just wrapped up its deal with Elio, maker of the novel three-wheel commuter car. “We’re very encouraged by the level of interest in the properties,” says Rasher, a former mayor of Marshall, Mich., who says communities are consulted about the uses they would like to see for the former plants.

Entrepreneur Elio sounds thrilled to have gotten a turn-key auto plant on the cheap. (Just how cheap, he won’t say.)

“The assets are worth more if you use them for their intended purpose,” he says. GM had a peak workforce at its Shreveport plant of 3,200, Elio estimated. He says he guaranteed Racer Trust that he would employ 1,500 eventually, and he plans to tap the pool of veteran autoworkers still in town.

Back at API, workers are relishing the start-up feel inside the business incubator — and the opportunity to collaborate with other companies.

Paul Elizando, 34, who works on the paint line, sees the possibilities of working with others in companies that are part of API. “You can cast a wider net and help everybody,” he says. If the others have projects involving painting, “They could give it to us.”

Over in the modeling shop, working in the small operation is a big change for 34-year GM veteran Dan Bommarito. But he says he likes it.

“It’s a little more one-on-one, and you don’t have all the red tape,” Bommarito, 57, says between projects. “It’s easier on everyone.”

He is teamed with a relative newcomer, Kevin Ryszka. “Everything is really exciting,” says Ryszka, 40. “Nothing is done by an individual anymore. It’s a team. If you can bring that expertise under one roof, how can it be a bad thing?”

Contributing: Lou Whitmire, Mansfield (Ohio) News-Journal

SALEEN ANNOUNCES THE 351 MUSTANG

Enhancing the current model lineup with the specially built 351 Cubic Inch offering.

Los Angeles, CA – (November 29, 2012) Hot on the heels of Steve Saleen regaining his namesake brand comes the first model announcement since the news was released. Making his announcement at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the well known man of Mustangs announced the Saleen 351 Mustang.

“Since regaining the Saleen brand, I really want to bring it all together with the heritage that Saleen is known for”, said Steve Saleen. “With the current Saleen [302] Mustang model it provides all the right features to bring back and update the S351 model.”

After nearly 13 years since a Saleen production vehicle has been powered by a 351 c.i.d. powerplant, this new model debut has an exciting list of technological and design offerings under the Saleen 351 model name.

Power

The most notable component in the 351 is the Saleen engineered 351 cubic inch V8 engine which will produce 700 hp and 655 ft-lb of torque when paired with theSaleen 296 supercharger system.

“Everything about this project has been mindful of the goal to create the most potent Mustang on the market”, said Al Wagner, V.P. of Engineering. “I think we have certainly pushed the bar in the production Mustang segment with our 351 offering. Once the project came together I couldn’t help but thinking; if the 302 mustang is using a coyote engine, the 351 is definitely the gray wolf of the class.”

Transferring all of that power requires the use of some specialized equipment as well. The Saleen 351 will utilize a 6-speed transmission equipped with a high performance Saleen clutch system, and a 3.73:1 final drive ratio to ensure that the power will be where its most required, on the ground.

Brakes, Wheels and Tires

Working in conjunction to the wheel, tire, and Saleen S4 suspension are the Saleen 15″ brake package which are a well-placed component of this 700 hp Saleen vehicle. “A multi-piston brake caliper setup is critical to a high performance vehicle of this caliber”, added Wagner. “The amount of power that this vehicle can deliver is astounding and needed to have a well composed counterpart allowing it comparable stopping power.”

Rounding out the performance system on the 351 are the Saleen 5-spoke alloy wheels wrapped with high performance tires. Setup in a staggered formation of 20×9 front and 20×10 rear, the slalom performance times and corning capabilities are set to be on-par with levels approaching those of pure bred racecars.

Design

Building on the design elements from the Saleen 302 Mustang, the 351 will feature the Red Butterfly Center Ram Air Induction system which has become a signature of the Saleen brand. A truly functional system, the Red Butterfly hood allows cold air to intake through the butterfly scoop design as they open-up under throttle. Once the air passes through the butterfly openings it is directed through the engine compartment to the 351’s powerplant where it becomes a tributary to the air intake system. Additional design components include full carbon fiber front and side splitters, as well as a carbon fiber rear diffuser which houses the F-1 style tail lamp. A complete treatment of Saleen 351 badging and graphics will also be included to complement any one of the standard or custom Saleen paint schemes available on all Saleen vehicles.

Saleen – Born of Racing

Steve Saleen’s high-performance history delves beyond the first Saleen Mustangs that went on sale in 1984. As a race car driver, Steve launched his racing career in 1969, where he competed in his first time trial. He then proceeded to win the first race he entered in 1970, and then moved to a professional racing career from the 1970’s through the 1980’s and 1990’s ranging from the Formula Super Vee, to the Formula Atlantic, and later to sports cars, truck and Indy car series. Based on his racing and manufacturing successes, Steve catapulted the company to new heights by entering the luxury supercar niche in 2000 with the Saleen S7, at the famous Pebble Beach Concours de Elegance in Monterey, California. By the following year in 2001, the race version was introduced – the S7R, and was quick to dominate racetracks around the world, including a Win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2010.

Saleen – The Specialty Vehicle Manufacturer

As a Specialty Vehicle Manufacturer since 1984, Saleen offers a range of White, Yellow, and Black Label high-performance vehicles: The Saleen 302 & 351 Mustang,Saleen 570 & 570X Challenger, and Saleen 620 and 620X Camaro. Everything at Saleen is literally built from the ground-up, by skillful hands. The Saleen staff consists of a wide range of designers, R & D engineers and production team members that works together pushing the envelope of development, manufacturing, and certification of high-performance specialty vehicles.

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[Source: Saleen Automotive]

FUEL SYSTEM & ENGINE UPGRADES FOR BASF SPEEDSTER (95-0010)

PHOTOS & TEXT: RICHARD DMYTRYSHYM

life_2012_95-0010_001.jpg

All 1994-99 S351Rs came with the base Vortech 351 Supercharger kit pieces which included the T-Rex Boost-A-Pump (External) located in front of the fuel tank (between tank and axle) and an inline 255 in the tank (Internal) hence the Dual Fuel Pumps designation from Saleen as on S351R MSRPs. They came with the Vortech Boost Retard Ignition box and the “Dial-A-Retard” knob. They also all had the FMU running off of Vacuum Boost. The set up was standard fare in the day but complete junk now.

When we just finished re-working and retuning the Mystic S351R, which has a 408 Eagle Forged Stroker Kit in it now, we got rid of a lot of this crap and boy am I glad we did.

In the end, we went with:
* Aeromotive 304 lph In-Tank Fuel Pump (#A-11140)
* Anderson Big Pump In-Line Fuel Kit (#KITAF-6294)

Replaced all the Fuel Lines front to back with Aero-Quip properly sized units.

* High-Flow Saleen/Vortech (Just Use Vortech) Fuel Rails
* Siemens/Deka High Impedance 60 lb Fuel Injectors (#MTN-SD60)
* Aeromotive Fuel Pressure Regulator (External not rail mounted since Vortech Rails do not have Regulator mount)

* MSD 6AL CD Ignition (#MSD-6420)
* MSD Universal Ignition Wiring Harness (#MSD-8874)
* MSD Blaster TFI Coil (#MSD-8227)
* MSD Pro Billet Ready to Run EFI Distributor (#MSD-8451)
* MSD Extra Duty Distributor Cap (Black) (#MSD-84083)
* Taylor 10.4mm 409 Pro Race Spiro-Wound Spark Plug Wires (Red) (#TAY-79267)

* Anderson Power Pipe Vortech Induction Kit (1995 – 5.8L) (#AF-0102C)
* Anderson Air-Filter and Mass Air

* Moates Quarterhorse Computer Tuning Chip (#QH1)
* Moates Binary Editor 2010 + EEC Analyzer
* Moates EEC Editor Software from Paul Booth EEC4 DEF+DLM (#EEC4 DEF+DLM)

We have a ton more stuff on the car from Snow Boost Methanol Injection, smaller Boost Pulleys, etc., etc. various other fine tuning things.

life_2012_95-0010_019.jpgYou have to understand that in the mid-90s, what Saleen put out was all there was. You could not put larger injectors on without drivers, etc. We put the Moates chip in because it gets rid of the stupid FMU and Retard box set-ups. In the end, if all your internals are strong and in great working order, concentrate on the weak-points of the S351R, which are ignition, fuel and tuning. Well heat can be a problem too, but sounds like you have that liked already. We put in a Busch Grand National Spec Griffin Dual Pass Aluminum Radiator in the Mystic S351R (ala 1999 S351R spec) Cured the heat problem right there.

Basically the problems on the early cars were they did not have forged internals and running as lean as they were, “Kaploowy”. 99s had Forged Internals which in addition to the new edge body style is why people want them. However they too had problems with ignition, fuel and tuning to get the most out. All Saleen S351Rs did.

The good thing is when you get the balance right, the right parts installed and get them tuned for your altitude and location, they are downright awesome. Nothing else like it out there. However without the right guy to work on them and dyno tune them properly, it is very hard to get them running optimally so do not be hard on yourself.

On our re-work we had to send some parts back to the manufacturers because they were not in spec to work properly. The perfect balance makes all the difference.

This winter I am doing a major detailed write up on everything we did to the Mystic S351R with part numbers, etc. to get 579 RW HP and 648 RW ftlbs out of it at 91 degF and over 6,000 ft altitude with zero detonation or issues. It can be done but the big thing is do NOT cheap out on the parts you out on it to make this work and you have to go with the right tuner with patience to dyno tune it properly.

Hope some of this write up helps.

Thanks,
Rick

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INVESTORS PARK THEIR CAR BIZ IN EX-SALEEN DIGS

By: MEGHANA KESHAVAN on July 30, 2012
Original Article: CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS, VOL. 28, ISSUE 31

Plan Is To Be Hub For Performance

A group of former auto executives is taking advantage of a real estate deal to create a hub for high-performance vehicle businesses in metro Detroit.

It’s an idea from a group of self-proclaimed gearheads to turn their hobby into a viable business, and who last month bought a vacant Saleen Special Vehicles manufacturing facility in Troy.

Automotive Performance Industries LLC was formed in January by a group of three investors, led by Karl Storrie, former CEO of Rochester Hills-based auto supplier Dura Automotive Systems Inc., and Tony Johnson, founder of Minneapolis-based Hidden Creek Industries. The third partner did not want to be named.

In the building, they plan to organize a stable of businesses that create high-performance vehicles, show cars and specialty fleets.

The API investors, through 1225 Maple Road Holdings LLC, paid $3.75 million last month for the 183,000-square-foot manufacturing space at 1225 Maple Road. The building has offices, a showroom and, notably, a “high-bake” vehicle painting system.

Storrie said that 35,000-square-foot painting facility cost $7 million when it was installed a decade ago by Saleen, the building’s former owner. Known for its work on the Saleen Mustang and the Ford GT, the firm moved its Troy operations to its headquarters in Irvine, Calif., in 2009.

“We have very clear expansion plans because of the unique capabilities we have with this building — particularly the high-bake paint system,” Storrie said. “One of our partners told me, ‘Get us the Saleen building, and we’ll triple our business.’ “

High-performance vehicle development will be a fast-growing industry as the economy and the auto industry rebound, Storrie said. It’s a $28 billion industry, according to the Specialty Equipment Market Association.

Storrie said API had to compete against several bidders over a year to buy the Saleen building out of foreclosure from the original lender, Chicago-based PPM America Inc.

But it’s a deal that will give API an advantage, said Stephen Chue, president of Katech Inc., a Clinton Township-based company that builds high-performance motorsports engines.

“Honestly, finding deals like that today is what makes competition very stiff,” he said. “Because if somebody is in the body paint business and they have to compete against a company that bought a $7 million machine for a fraction of the price and can charge people at a much discounted rate, how do you compete against that?”

API’s plan is to use the building to host other companies in the high-performance, show car and specialty fleet market. Smaller companies can use space and grow in the building.

It’s also not the first deal for either Storrie or Johnson. Both have a history of building companies through calculated acquisitions. Between 1991 and 2003, Storrie grew Dura Automotive from $120 million in annual revenue to $2.5 billion, he said. Through Hidden Creek Industries, Johnson oversaw the acquisition of 55 companies through his five portfolio companies between 1989 and 2003.

The API investors plan to take equity stakes in the companies that use the building. They’ve started by taking an investment in the two anchor companies that have leased space in the building.

Alternative Automotive Technologies LLC moved in last month from its Troy location on Executive Drive. About 50 employees are working in the building, using 75,000 square feet. AAT’s 2011 revenue was about $3 million.

Wixom-based Classic Design Concepts Inc., which designs and builds vehicles for TV, movies and charity raffles, is moving in. Its 2011 revenue was about $2.8 million.

API’s equity stake will grow over time as the companies increase in value, Storrie said. API’s investors also loaned money to the two companies so they could have a minority stake in the building itself.

Through that structure, the goal is draw more companies and create 300 jobs by the end of 2014, with a revenue target of $30 million.

“The immediate goal is to consolidate a couple of companies and substantially grow their business by providing the building space and the management help that these smaller companies might need,” Johnson said. “But ultimately it may involve acquiring several other companies that are in high-performance and specialty vehicle markets.”

CV NORTHWEST: PHIL FRANK INTERVIEW

By: STAN PERRET
Original Article: CV Northwest
Issue: June, 2012

In-depth Interview with the designer of the Saleen Mustang, Mr. Phil Frank:
CV Northwest - June 2012
CV Northwest – June 2012

What is your design background?

My degree and profession is called Industrial Design, which basically addresses every consumer, medical or transportation product that we interact with in our daily lives, from phones, computers, watches, ovens, chairs, cars, power tools, etc. you name it and there is an Industrial Designer behind it at some point.

I see you worked at Nike, how did that prepare you for your future?

Nike was a great learning experience from a design, marketing and branding standpoint. They focus on great product with the end consumer in mind. I was in the Equipment group which was a new business and as such was somewhat independent of the big mother ship, se we were able to experiment in many different categories. I worked on sport, training and lifestyle equipment, watches, bags and eyewear, with eyewear being the most sensitive consumer product any designer can work on, as you are asking someone to wear something you design on their face, which is a bit different from a mobile phone or refrigerator.

How did you get into automobile design?

Well my dad was a car guy and an artist / cartoonist and so O inherited his automotive passion and artist capabilities. He was always restoring Ford Model A’s, MG TC’s or weird old Jaguars which were a bit too old and slow for my tastes so I leaned toward the future of what was next.

During high school I took some drafting classes but found the T-square, straight edge and #4H pencils were not the creative challenge I was after. For one birthday my dad got me a book about Raymond Lowey, the designer famous for beginning to define what an Industrial Designer should be. Lowey had also designed the Studebaker Lark and Avanti, which further peaked my interest into the field, so I began to look into getting a proper design education. I looked at Art Center down in Pasadena, California which was the main school for car design at the time, but the tuition was more than we were able to afford, so it was a State school for me. San Jose State University has an Industrial Design program, so I applied and got in.

The first two years were spent learning the design fundamentals pf perspective, sketching, problem solving, etc. Product Design at the time was pretty boring boxy stuff, so I took the Transportation Design elective with instructor Del Coats, who had worked at Ford back in the 1960’s. For the next two years I took the course over and over with a group of five or six buddies, but I’m the only Transpo guy who ended up following through on part of the car dream, though they have all done extremely well in the Product Design field.

How did you decide to get into working with Steve Saleen?

Well, what I’ve found over my years is that everything and everyone is connected to your path in life. While I was at SJSU I was granted an internship for the spring semester in the Ford Advanced Design Studio. While I was in Michigan, Ford sponsored a design program with the SJSU Transportation Design class. The project was for each student to design and hand model a one-fifth scale semi-tractor and trailer rig, which ends up being about 8’ long! To accomplish this Ford sent an actual trailer full of 8” x 16” x 8’ bricks of beautiful urethane foam, which is every starving design student’s dream when a two foot section could pay for a month’s worth of food! Along the way the class decided they would rather do more manageable one-tenth scale models, so what I got back to San Jose in June I found a huge mountain of pristine foam blocks looking to be exploited.

So, the following semester I decided I was going to do a full-size model for my senior project, which is a Shakespeare like story to fill another article someday. Anyway, the model didn’t land me a car design position as I happened to graduate during a down swing in the industry, but it did get a bit of magazine press. From that I ended up being invited to bring it to the SEMA show in Las Vegas for a design display, and this is where I met Steve on the last hour of the last day, which basically led to our collaboration over the last 20 years.

After the demise of Saleen, did you have any concerns about joining SMS Supercars?

Not as much as I should have, my wife took care of that. In 2005 I took a six month leave of absence from Nike to begin the design of the Saleen S5, that was to be based upon the GT chassis (neither Steve or I were involved in the ASC/Saleen S5 Raptor concept from 2008), unfortunately this project never started for whatever business reason, so in place of the S5 pro-gram I ended up designing and managed the construction of The Saleen Store in Irvine, California, which was a huge success for Saleen, Inc. Almost the day after its completion my leave was over so I went back to Nike, for one day, which was a bit like going back to live with your parents after ten years on your own, I made the call to Saleen that I was ready to work full time for them.

A day later I resigned from Nike and Saleen, Inc. hired me as the VP of Design. The honeymoon lasted all of six months be-fore the Great Recession rained down upon us and I got laid off with a bunch of other people. At this point the writing was on the wall for Saleen, Inc. as the VC owners/investors were pouring gasoline on the fire. After my lay-off Steve and I began our behind the scenes collaboration on creating our new company, about three months later he resigned and we moved to officially start the new endeavor as SMS Supercars.

SMS Supercars was built from my visionary direction for Saleen, Inc., that the business needed to address the resurgent American Muscle Car opportunities with ultra-high performance derivatives of the Challenger, Camaro and Mustang. This plan would help ease the up and down single model cycle that was always a challenge.

The trouble with SMS Supercars, which has now been rebranded as Saleen as Steve has supposedly gained the naming rights back, is that his business model has not evolved from the Fox Body days which is unfortunate. It was easy to throw on some springs, shocks, brakes, body work and stickers on a Fox, SN-95 or S-197 and make it handle and look much better than the stock version, but today’s reality is that the OEM’s are not leaving the performance segment to the aftermarket, you can buy a GT500 Mustang with 622 HP that does 202 MPH for under $60k with full dealer support and warrantee! How can a niche manufacturer compete with that with zero engineering, development or marketing resources? There is an old saying that I think is unfortunately fitting to the current situation with the company, “those who don’t like change are really going to hate irrelevance.” That is just my point of view.”

When you design automobiles, what is your philosophy and focus?

Well performance cars are the ultimate extensions of our extroverted personalities and as such any time I’m working on a design for one of these I focus on creating the right attitude. My “Illicit” full size show car from SJSU was inspired by the predatory attitude of a shark, this show car influenced the entire design language of all the Saleen vehicles I’ve been involved in. Basically it you are cruising in the fast lane and you see one of my cars closing on you in your rear view mirror your basic fight or flight instinct kicks in and you get the hell out of its way as “that thing is going t kill me” flashes in your mind! I guess that would answer it.

Do you prefer performance over aesthetics, or vis-versa?

I like to create what I call objects of desire, and it they happen to go fast even better. I’ve always been a spirited driver, but the performance threshold of today’s cars is so high it’s hard to take advantage of them safely or legally on the streets. To give me the dose of speed filled adrenaline I require I started a 24 Hours of LeMons and Chump Car team three years ago and I am having a blast! All I can say is EVERYONE reading this needs to do this. It is real racing on a viable budget. As Jay Lamm creator of LeMons says “Racing is not just for rich idiots anymore, it’s for all idiots.” Where else can you race with over 100 cars on some of the best tracks in the USA? That and it’s a lot less expensive to put your $500.00 race car into the tire wall at turn nine than your daily driver.

What do you use as your inner inspiration for your design work?

I look outside the category that I’m designing for, so if I’m designing a car I don’t look at other cars, for the Saleen S7 I looked to aerodynamic objects such as turbines, wind tunnels and also a bit of the predatory shark genre. The same can be said for the products I design, though these are typically problem solving exercises first and then aesthetic come into play, typically I draw from my diverse experiences to bring something new to the table and I generally try to avoid looking at the other have done with comparable products.

What are you most proud of, what do you feel is you biggest accomplishment?

That is a tough one, the Saleen S7 is definitely a major achievement for an independent designer, though I would have liked to have been able to have more time to refine both the exterior and interior, but we were just working so fast. The 1994 Saleen Mustang was great as I took the design from sketch to hand model and it was my first paying automotive consulting gig. The 2005 S281 was great as it was the first fully 3D CAD driven aftermarket design where I was able to do everything I wanted at the level of refinement that I am accustomed to, the PJ and S331 that followed from there were to the same level.

The Saleen Store was an entirely new genre for me to work in so that was an important learning experience, it was also very successful for the business as it introduced the brand to a more mainstream consumer, but at a very high level. The building of the entire SMS brand, facility, vehicles, supercharger, products, marketing, etc., was a huge accomplishment, made even more challenging with little to no budget other than my sweat equity, which unfortunately is still a point of contention.

I enjoyed all of the design opportunities at Nike, as the products I did there embody the same lifestyle passion I have for car design, just in watches, eyewear or high-end bags. I even designed the Nike ONE 2022, a purely digital concept car for the Nike/Sony Gran Turismo 4 Collaboration. Defining what a Nike car could, should and would be was a completely groundbreaking project, and in the end it will stand the test of time doe innovation and aesthetics.

So to answer your question I would have to say I’m most proud of all the opportunities I’ve been involved in, as each one has taught me something for the next one.

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CARLISLE FORD NATIONALS 2012 COVERAGE

Here are the 2012 Ford Carlisle Event winners. Congrats to Charles with placing his N20 Saleen in the Focus class.
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R151 – 1984 – 1993 SALEEN
HITESHUE, JIM – 1993 FORD MUSTANG SALEEN – FIRST PLACE
GLASMIRE, JAMES – 988 MUSTANG SALEEN – SECOND PLACE
SANTOS, JOSE – 1986 FORD SALEEN – THIRD PLACE

R152 – 1994 – 2004 SALEEN
BEYER, RUDY & BETSY – 1997 MUSTANG SALEEN – FIRST PLACE
DEBELLA, JOHN – 2002 FORD SALEEN – SECOND PLACE
NELEPOVITZ, MARK – 1997 FORD MUSTANG – THIRD PLACE

R153 – 2005 & UP SALEEN
HLUBEN, DAWN – 2007 FORD MUSTANG – FIRST PLACE
FOULK, JEFFREY & CHRISTOPHER – 2006 FORD MUSTANG – SECOND PLACE
FALK, THEODORE – 2011 SALEEN S302 – THIRD PLACE

NIFTY FIFTY
MOLLMAN, JASON – 2006 FORD MUSTANG SALEEN – *NIFTY FIFTY*
SNYDER, MARCELLA – 2008 FORD MUSTANG – *NIFTY FIFTY*

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B314 – FOCUS ZX3 & SVT – STOCK
JONES, MICHAEL – 2005 FORD FOCUS – FIRST PLACE
SHAPPELL JR, CHARLES – 2005 FORD FOCUS – SECOND PLACE
KUCHAVIK, MICHAEL – 2005 FORD FOCUS – THIRD PLACE

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Event coverage by 281 Motorsports: Click here.

SAM PACK FIVE STAR FORD CAR SHOW

From Jarred Williams.

Today, Sam Pack Five Star Ford of Plano (Formerly Middlekauff Ford), held a car show benefitting Holy Angel’s. We had a few Saleens there including a 1 of 1 Liquid Mercury Saleen Extreme, Saleen S281SC Speedster, Saleen Mustang, Saleen Supershaker Heritage 302, Saleen S281E and other cars.

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CLOSER LOOK: 2003 S281 EXTREME (03-0015E)

A closer look at Jarred Williams’ 2003 S281 Extreme #15.

03-0015 S281 Extreme
03-0015 S281 Extreme

2003 Saleen S281E

2003 S281E #15 manufactured in Irvine, CA
4.6 2V 445 HP Engine
Supercharged 6-Spd
Zinc Yellow
10,700 miles

Options
3.73:1 Gears
+ Extreme Options

Production
1 of 14 S281E vehicles
1 of 4 S281E coupes
1 of 1 S281E coupes in Zinc Yellow

Modifications
Cobra Tank
Focus Pumps
Kenne Bell Boost-a-pump
Siemens 60lb Injectors
SCT 90MM Mass Air Meter
Chicane Sport Intercooler
Bassani X-pipe
3.73 Gears
Raptor Shift-light

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