Trick Flow Specialties will have a special guest in its booth at this year’s SEMA Show—a 1966 Mustang packing 557 cubic inches of big block Ford horsepower.
Built by Chris “Kiwi” Slee of Kiwi Classics and Customs in Franklin, Tennessee, the Mustang features some radical custom modifications. The car has been lowered six inches and widened six inches to accommodate 17 inch Bullet-style on 275 front/315 rear series rubber. The front suspension is from Heidts; Slee used Heidt’s wide universal rear crossmember to mount a custom-built five-link rear suspension. Torque boxes and integrated subframe connectors fabricated by Kiwi Classics eliminate the flex that early Mustangs suffer from, making the car more responsive and safer to drive. Kiwi also got a windshield & glass repair in Spartanburg SC providing him with the best and clearest vision from the interior of his car, giving a very nice and unique experience while driving.
The KV9000 name comes from the big block Ford under the hood (557 C.I.D. is just over 9,000cc or nine liters). Built by John Bouchard of Bouchard Engines in Hendersonville, Tennessee, the engine features many Trick Flow components:
• PowerPort® 325 aluminum cylinder heads
• R-Series intake manifold
• Trick Flow by Quick Fuel Technologies 1,050 cfm carburetor
• 1.73 ratio roller rocker arms
• Hydraulic roller lifters and 3/8 inch diameter chromoly pushrods
• Harmonic damper, timing chain set, intake and exhaust gaskets
Bouchard rates the engine at 750 horsepower and 750 pounds-feet of torque with a very streetable 6,000 rpm redline. The engine is mated to a Tremec T-56 six-speed transmission that sends power to a modified Ford 8.8 inch rear axle with Yukon Gear and Axle 3.55 gears, an Auburn positraction differential, and a Trick Flow differential cover.
According to Slee, virtually every body panel has been modified in some way; all of the work is in metal, with no fiberglass or other composite materials used. “I didn’t want to do another “cookie cutter” Mustang, so everything is one of kind,” Slee explained. ”That includes the rear valance with built in air diffusers, functional side air intakes, the three inch cowl hood, and the intricate front splitter.”
Custom painter Kevin Tetz painted the car using Matrix paints in colors made specifically for the KSV9000. Get close enough and you’ll see the “ghost” warrior graphics hiding deep in the paint.
The interior got the “Kiwi” treatment as well. Up front are late model Mustang eight-way power seats, and a wraparound bench seat from a late 1960s Ford Thunderbird has been squeezed into the back. Elite Upholstery of Nolansville, Tenessee did the interior upholstery, and TMI Products supplied the custom door panels and one piece headliner.
SEMA Show attendees can see the Kiwi Customs KV9000 Mustang in person at the Trick Flow Specialties display, booth #23025.
Enthusiasts can see the KV90000 engine build in a future issue of Mustang Monthly Magazine and a full feature story on the car in a future issue of Mustang Driver Magazine.
