Bad Ass Mustangs Forums - New to BAM, but an an old Rouge Rat, from Royal Oak, MI.

I feel great about making Mustangs and bringing their joy to BAM. I worked in Dearborn Assembly Plant since 1978, starting before our changover from the Mustang II, and I watched your Mustangs being built.

Working at Ford is a fabulous experience, and it brings many benefits. There were 1,500 employees in DAP, and after working there a number of years, you can't help but make lots of friends all over the plant. Our greatest accomplishment is to buy one of our own products. In 1989 I finally gathered enough money to buy my first convertible; a 1990 GT (after raising four kids, and catching up with my bills). So I went to my dealership, and proudly ordered my GT. Then I contacted 'Scheduling’ in the plant, and had my car expedited.

Our plant manager allowed each employee to follow his car through the assembly process; it's something we call a “cigar car.” As the body is being assembled, I motioned to the workers that, “That’s my car,” then offer a cigar or a candy bar (just like having a baby). Ford workers take good care of their own.

Within two shifts, my GT convertible was finished, then I drove it to the dealership from Dearborn. I handed my salesman Ford's paperwork and said, “Hurry up and get me back on the road. This car is a BLAST!” He just stood there dumbfounded, in disbelief. I only ordered the car two days before, and there it was in front of him. It took all of five minutes to prep and I was on my way.

After turning 100,000 miles, I retrofitted a crate shortblock 351W (Edelbrock Performer RPM heads w/Crane 1.6 arms, Gen. Kinetics cam, headers, injectors, throttle body) with my AOD, Art Carr shift kit, 4.30:1 R&P, and I have been beating up everything in sight ever since.

If you see an old man in a red ’90 GT convertible, stopped at a light on Woodward Ave., look for the smile on his face and be prepared for serious embarrassment. From Day 1, it's been the greatest, most exhilarating ride I ever had.

*Side note: I could never hand the keys over to my kids and turn them loose. You might as well load a S&W and let them play with that for awhile. This 351 had HP to reckon with, commanding respect from any skilled driver. When I said, "JUMP!" It LAUNCHED and it begged to be unleashed, all day long. I drive it summer and (Michigan) winter.

Simplyconnected