1,200 Horsepower Twin-Turbo Foxbody Has A Surprising Engine Swap
In a world where Coyote and LS swaps rule the Foxbody platform, this twin-turbo Terminator swap is a breath of SVT-scented fresh air.
It’s crazy to think how commonplace it is to hear about a twin-turbo Foxbody Mustang build in this day and age. So, for one to really stand out, it has to feature a level of uniqueness that puts it apart from the rest of the crowd. When four-digit horsepower is commonplace, that’s a tough bar to reach. This gorgeous late model Foxbody featured on the YouTube channel LamboDEB doesn’t just reach the bar; it surpasses it handily.
Dwight Barr, the creator of the channel, starts off the video showcasing the outside of the car followed by a couple of startup clips. Some key details worth noting on this monster is the incredible placement of the turbochargers that utilize the foglight openings in the bumper as intakes. It’s a phenomenal blend of modern and old school, wherein the classic cowl-induction hood blends perfectly with its modern wheels and air-ride fitment. This thing truly is a work of art. Interestingly, it’s got an equally beautiful history.
A Long-Time Project
Barr reveals that the owner, Jonathan Catapano, has had this car for quite some time.
“Alright, so the story behind this. I think you said it was your first car?” asks Barr.
“This is my very first car, yep. I bought it when I was 16 years old,” replies Catapano
After driving the car through high school and college, Catapano had it in storage for over ten years. According to a Ford Muscle article outlining the build, he bought a wrecked Terminator Cobra for the engine. After that, he decided it was time to get this project on the road.
Much More than Just an Old Terminator Engine
The supercharged Terminator 4.6 is, in its own right, a fantastic engine. However, Catapano didn’t quite leave it alone. He had a machine shop stroke it out to five liters with a Kellog crankshaft, Manley rods, Diamond Race pistons, and some serious porting done to the cylinder heads with Kurgan blower cams to boot. On top of its 9.5:1 compression ratio, it has a pair of turbochargers ramming air through a Hogan Racing intake. It’s all managed by Holley EFI. On 26 pounds of boost, it’s making just shy of 1,200 horsepower.
“There was a point there I got a little bit scared there, I’m not going to lie,” says Barr.
The end result is a fire-breathing and absolutely evil-sounding exhaust note. It’s almost hard to believe that something that looks this great could sound this evil. Combining the roaring V8 with the forceful induction sound through the turbochargers is nothing short of an automotive enthusiast’s fantasy.
“That’s easily the craziest car I’ve ever ridden in,” says Barr.
Be sure to check out the video to really get a grasp of how awesome this build is. While you’re there, be sure to subscribe to LamboDEB and check out his other videos on extremely high-horsepower performance builds!