TWO-HOUR TECH
December 9, 2022
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
SOMETHING OLD WITH SOMETHING NEW
Here’s a question that ought to neatly divide our reading audience in two: Which Camaro is better, the ’68 or the ’98?
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
There’s a lot to like about vintage engines. Just the sheer fact that it isn’t a small-block Chevy is enough to inspire many hot rodders. Now, don’t get us wrong; the small-block Chevrolet is nothing less than awesome, but it is also the default engine of most hot rodders. Often, there is no thought involved as many rodders simply want the 350/350 treatment. That’s probably fine for most hot rodders, but there has been a real resurgence in putting vintage motors in vintage hot rods, and we love the concept. The Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Buick Nailhead and Hemi are all great candidates for powering a vintage hot rod. Parts are still available for most of these engines, some being tougher to find than others. A surprising amount of speed equipment survives for these engines, too, and companies like Offenhauser still produce a lot of vintage speed equipment.
The Heart of GNRS 2026: Highlights from the ARP Booth
At GNRS 2026, the ARP Booth was a centerpiece of precision, passion, and performance. Automotive Racing Products (ARP Fasteners) has long been a cornerstone of the Grand National Roadster Show, sponsoring iconic awards like the America’s Most Beautiful Roadster (AMBR) Award and the Al Slonaker Memorial Award. Each award offers $12,500 in prize money, and during the show, the Al Slonaker Memorial Trophy is proudly displayed at the ARP Booth, symbolizing ARP’s commitment to hot rod craftsmanship, innovation, and community.
Spotlighter
ALMOST NEW
Having Owned It Since 1970, Mike Overly Considers This Hurst Edition Mustang Part Of The Family
Some folks talk about the great muscle car wars of the ‘60s and early ‘70s, but it’s hard to find a car guy who experienced it, enjoyed it and still owns the same car. At 66 years of age, Mike Overly was able to experience the muscle car era during his twenties, which is the perfect time to go fast in a cool car. The car seen on these pages is a ’70 Mustang, one that Overly has owned since 1970. Less than a year old, the Mustang sat at a used car lot in Indianapolis, Indiana, wearing black paint and an asking price of $2,300. From his inspection, Overly knew the original owner had already upgraded to a Boss 429 hood and scoop, so it may have been raced in its short life—the 2,000 miles on the odometer were probably not the easiest of miles.
Author
Tommy Lee Byrd
Words & Photography
Mach 1 Roots With 351 Cleveland Power
It was actually a Mustang Mach 1, fit with a 351 Cleveland engine, so it still ran strong, but it didn’t have the sheer bragging rights of a 429 car. Overly laid down the cash and drove his practically new Mustang for many years. After having a slight mishap with the car, Overly took it to Larry and P.J. Burchett, owners of B Rod or Custom in Knoxville, Tennessee, to perform the repairs. Overly told us, “Stop me if this sounds familiar, but one thing led to another and a total restoration was started.”
Stripped Down to Reveal Its True Colors
We’ve heard it time and time again, but the stories generally have a happy ending, much like this one. The car was due for a restoration, even though it served Overly well through the years. Before being transported to the B Rod shop, the Mustang was hauled to Strip Technologies, Larry Burchett’s other business. There, it was stripped to the bare metal, and they found an interesting part of this cars history during the blasting process. As the layer of black paint was removed, an underlying coat of paint was discovered. Having bought the car less than a year after it rolled off the showroom floor, Overly just assumed that black was its original color, when it was actually Calypso Coral Vermilion.
Built, Not Overbuilt: Keeping the 351 Cleveland Alive
After the car was stripped to the original tin, P.J. Burchett dug into the project with intentions of retaining the stock appearance, rather than performing drastic body modifications. The 351ci engine would be retained, but it would only be cleaned and detailed, rather than rebuilt. In its life, the engine had only been rebuilt once, and Overly intended to keep it that way. When it was rebuilt, the cylinders were bored .030-inch over, and a forged rotating assembly was installed, but most of the engine remained stock. Overly did install a new cam during the rebuild, and chose a Crane Hi-Intensity hydraulic shaft with matching Crane lifters.
Modern Performance Upgrades
Overly updated the engine with an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold and a Holley carburetor, and then dressed the engine in Ford Racing valve covers. A Mallory distributor replaces the stock unit, while the Sanderson headers certainly out-flow the stock manifolds. Originally, a top-loader four-speed transmission rode behind the 351 Cleveland, but Overly’s car now features a Tremec T56 six-speed. This was originally a Hurst Equipped Mustang, so it was a no-brainer to fit the new six-speed with a Hurst stick. Power transfer is taken care of with a Zoom clutch set, which is surrounded by a Quick Time bell housing.
Total Control Suspension and Wilwood Brakes
A custom-built drive shaft sends power to the Strange center section, which features 4.11 gears and rides in a Fab 9 housing from Total Control Products. In fact the entire rear suspension system came from Total Control and consists of a canted four-bar setup, sprung by VariShock coilovers. This kit comes with a tubular cradle that mounts the new suspension design and rids the car of leaf springs all together. Impressed with what Total Control had to offer, Overly wanted the whole package, so he opted for the Coilover Conversion kit for the front, as well. Made up of tubular control arms and completely different suspension geometry, the conversion is used in conjunction with another pair of VariShock coilovers to provide excellent handling and the low-down stance everyone wants.
While he had Total Control on the line, Larry Burchett also ordered a complete brake kit for Overly’s Mustang, which contains Wilwood disc brakes all around. Measuring 14 inches in front and 13 inches out back, the drilled and slotted rotors are a huge upgrade over stock equipment and the four-piston calipers are fed by an aluminum Wilwood master cylinder. Outside of those new brakes are a set of Raceline wheels, measuring 17×8 inches in front and 18×10 inches in back. The large-diameter wheels feature a split five-spoke design with a cast center section for an aggressive look, and wear sticky Nitto rubber on all four corners.
Custom “Overly Green” Finish
For the exterior, Overly wanted it simple and clean, so the crew at B Rod or Custom concentrated on making the panels perfectly straight. This also included aligning the panels to perfection, and disassembling it again to trim out the edges and doorjambs. When the car was deemed ready to paint, P.J. Burchett mixed a custom color he calls “Overly Green”, using Dupont Hot Hues materials and blasted several coats onto the body. After a thorough inspection of the base coat, P.J. then applied enough Dupont clear to facilitate lots of color sanding and buffing. The finishing touches consist of satin black stripes, with Mach 1 and Hurst Equipped lettering on the lower portion of the front fenders.
Factory Look, Custom Interior
Inside, you’ll find a factory-appearing interior, but P.J. and the rest of the B Rod crew can attest to the custom features. The dash, for example, looks stock, but it’s been modified for a deeper look and a custom cluster houses the Classic Instrument gauges. Also, the bucket seats look to be original, but they’re fit with lumbar support and recovered with NPD covers. The black interior looks great in combination with the Overly Green exterior, and the Hot Rod Air A/C system keeps the cockpit cool. A Flaming River steering column mounts a Billet Specialties wheel, while a Pioneer CD player rides in the dash.
Better Than New
All in all, Mike Overly made a great decision when he chose to completely restore this old Mustang. The car has been his since it was almost new, but now it’s way better than new. It handles great, has plenty of power with the 351 Cleveland engine and it looks awesome. Overly is very happy with the results, especially considering the makeover only took one year to complete. Now, he can relive the muscle car days with a car that looks the part, but certainly outperforms Detroit’s finest from the era.
