Northern Raider- Pictures

Northern Raider is the name given to my 1987 Mustang Convertible by the editor of a Mustang Magazine that did a feature of the car.  (See Magazine Features).  This is my show car and former race car.  It has been featured in 6 magazines and is the winner of over 50 awards including two at the World of Wheels in 1996 and one in 2007.  I retired it from racing when I built the 1982 Mustang.  (Click on thumbnail for larger picture)  In summer I drive this car to work as many days as I can.  It is NOT a trailer-queen!

On this page: Drag Racing

                        Show Car

                        Engine Bay

                        Body and Interior

                        Stereo System

Go here for Historical Overview (4 pictures)  Major changes in 1987, 1993, 1996, and 2007

Go here for Body Work buildup pictures

Go here for World of Wheels 2007 pictures

Drag Racing

I raced the 1987 Mustang for about 5 years.  I went from 15.7 seconds @ 87mph in stock form to 12.3 @ 113 mph.  I raced in a number of shoot-outs and did a a number of stints bracket racing.

 Burnout in the water box (1999)  
 Another burnout, different view    Northern Raider in race dress
 Racing under the lights 505 HP on the dyno !
 

Broken wheel, fell off in pits after 115 mph run in Spokane.  I won the race, got a trophy for lowest Mustang ET.  Read Poem

    Street shot with trophies

Show Car

I showed the car in a number of Mustang International Meets (USA and Canada), and many Show 'n Shines between drag-racing and when I got my other race car.  I have done up to 15 car shows in one year.

Car at AMAC Presidential Show 'n Shine Car at indoor mall.  Yes those are Camaros I'm with.
Car at another car show.  Over 50 first prize trophies Hood on chrome stands.
3 trophies from Spokane International meet

Low ET (see broken wheel above), best of Class and BEST OF SHOW!

 

 Here it is at the Body Shop - finished!  February 2007

World of Wheels Pictures

Engine Bay

It was unbelievable how rusty the engine got, considering I never drove the car in winter and rarely when it rained.  Regardless, when it was time to detail the engine bay, the engine had to come out.  I took the engine out 3 times JUST to detail it or around it.

Before chroming  Chromed Engine, looks good, goes  good
  Phase 1 of the engine chrome laying on the floor   Engine chrome before blower installed
  Engine chrome, close up   And another picture of the engine
  Vortec B-trim Supercharger, 9 pound boost Billet aluminum battery top
Polished aluminum cover to hide the wires and other crap Custom polished aluminum coil cover
Custom stainless steel custom blower inlet Blower inlet tubing installed to fender (filter is in fender well)
Top view of installed blower inlet tubing. Piece on left not polished, piece on right is polished. It took 6 hours but it's only "okay", not perfect.  More work to do.

Body and Interior

I didn't do much with the interior until this year.  A few years ago I took the backseat out for good in order to put the stereo in, but the rest was stock until 2006 when I did the seats, carpet, stereo and console

First attempt at a solid tonneau cover Another shot, from rear
Cardboard mock up of second attempt Another shot
Here it is made out of aluminum.  Blind rivets This is the inside of the cover
Edges fibreglassed, ready for sanding Primed, ready for clear-coat and polishing
Mock up of console Console installed
Another shot of the console And another
Switches for alarm, garage door, and 2 other things Custom raised and polished aluminum door-sill  panels, lightning bolt design
Look ma, no door handles.  Shaved! The aluminum horse is backlit with red lights

Stereo System

It was my significant other that said "the car looks good but the sound is crap" (and I had Ford's "supreme sound" system!).  I put in a 500 watt Alpine system that I had for about 5 years, then upgraded 2-3 years ago to what you see here- 2400 watt stereo system.

Fiberglass box for subs Dynamat sound-absorbing material, used 2 rolls in the doors.

 Subs being installed
  Look at the size of that power cable! 

Fused for 250 A

 Amps are MA Audio, 1200 watts each
Battery power is on the two bolts in the orange fabric.  They connect to the capacitors in front. Lighting bolt conductors were plasticized and painted.  Visonek Sub, 1000W, dual-cone
Lightning bolts made out of aluminum, carry the current to and from the big caps (1.2 F each)  

Archive and Miscellaneous

Stock,  Parked in front of Lieutenant Governor's Mansion in Edmonton old) at Lieutenant Governors' Mansion Getting towed out of my work parking lot after I blew 3rd gear on Memorial Drive
   

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