So, you want to know how to get your car on the pages of PHR? Ask Rick Flores. He sent us pictures of his stunning Boss 302, and regular readers saw them in our "Hometown Hot Rodding" section last month. As was stated then, we committed to shooting the car the next time we were in Texas. Luckily for us, that time was short.
We called Rick to ask many other questions about the car prior to its shoot, and all the answers were good! This is how you get our attention, folks. Naturally, the car should be at a level of refinement comparable to where Rick's Mustang is now, and getting a car to this point is much more work than getting us to shoot it!
Rick has built several other Mustangs in the past, which has educated him on the specifics surrounding these cars. By familiarizing himself with the structure of late-'60s Mustangs so intimately, he knew how to achieve the modern look he so desired. Foremost to Flores was nailing the stance. As you can see from the photos, there is no doubt Rick hit the bullseye. This car is low, mean, and nasty looking. The tires appear to grow from the body. Minimal clearance means air gaps and shadows are minimized under the car, and these factors all contribute to its evil appearance.
Rick researched the suspension thoroughly, referring to '69-era Trans Am cars for chassis mods and inspiration. Steering was upgraded to a power rack-and-pinion setup from Total Control, and 600lb custom springs lower the nose to its optimal level while maintaining adequate clearance to the 17x9-inch American Torq-Thrusts. The tires up front are Nitto's vaunted NT555 in 255/40-17.
Filling almost all of those front wheels are Baer Racing drilled discs, and when teamed with the well-researched wheel and tire package, the rolling stock looks ready for Watkins Glen. It's a serious package complemented by the rear, where matching Torq-Thrusts (in 17x11-inch dimensions, with 315/35-17s) are also loaded with Baer discs. Flores de-arched a new pair of rear leaf springs to lose some altitude and make the car hunker down over the fat rubber.
Don't start thinking this car is all just stance. The "Boss 302" graphics are a bold-faced lie. There are actually 357 cubes of Boss-headed Henry under the flat-black hood, and this powerplant has urged the car to 10-second quarter-mile times with slicks in place. The engine is based on a 351 Cleveland block, bored .030-inch over and running a factory Boss 351 crank. The rods are Crower steel units; the pistons are from JE. The fully balanced reciprocating assembly if fed through a pair of Ford Motorsport B351 aluminum cylinder heads, worked over by engine builder Tom Hamilton of John Hamilton Racing Engines in San Antonio. A Jack Roush A-331 intake manifold lives between the heads, and relies on the fuel metering abilities of the proven 825 cfm Demon carb to properly feed it. The camshaft is an F-260 grind from Crane, measuring in at .639-inch lift with 260 degrees of duration. The lifters, pushrods, valve springs, and 1.76:1 rockers are all Crane components. Designed as a reliable powerplant with a broad horsepower curve, the healthy Cleveland mill cranked out 642 peak ponies at 6,800 rpm.
While a Toploader four-gear would have been strong enough to deal with this level of power, Flores stepped up to the overdrive excellence of a Richmond 6-speed trans behind the killer Cleveland. A McLeod paddle sintered-disc clutch mates the motor to the gearbox, and a custom-made shaft from Driveshafts Unlimited (also in San Antonio) connects the trans to the 9-inch rear axle. Armed with 4.88:1 cogs, the Boss 'Stang has the benefits of brutal off-line acceleration and the overdrive capability of the 6-gear for comfortable freeway rpm.
The cozy interior invites aggressive driving in comfort. Held securely by Corbeau CR1 seats and 3-point harnesses, the driver is met by a full array of Auto Meter gauges set into a stock-appointed office. The factory new-old stock carpeting, headliner, and trim blend seamlessly with the modern amenities, and fit perfectly with the car's overall theme toward modern technology meeting classic style. That vintage look is no more apparent than on the car's delightfully-factory exterior, featuring a bone-stock body covered in a custom red hue by Jack's Paint Place in Converse, TX. The factory reflective "Boss 302" stripes and flat-black accents are the crowning touch to this car, and make a serious statement about the way cars used to be built.
With the look of a restored classic and the performance of a modern sports car, Rick Flores has achieved what we all strive toward. It's got a great look, backed up by serious performance hardware to excel no matter where he and wife Nichole may decide to wander. On the streets, in the turns, or in a long straightaway, this Pony is fully prepared to show who's Boss.