TECH NOTES
Who: Bob Leenstra
What: 1969 Mustang Ultra Stock
Where: Kent, WA
Engine: As in 1969, the foundation for
the engine is a Sam Auxier Jr.–built
cross-bolted ’65 427 side-oiler, now
filled with a stock stroke Crower crank
and aluminum rods. Pistons are Ross
forgings with a net compression ratio
of nearly 14:1. A Crane solid-roller with
0.739-inch lift and 276/286 degrees
duration at 0.050-inch lifts 2.25-/1.72-
inch Manley valves in Larry Ladd–pre-
pared iron Tunnel Port heads. Induction
consists of a factory single-plane intake
with 780-cfm Holleys. Performance in
the day was “10-teens” at nearly 140
mph.
Exhaust: The original set of Gebler
headers used in 1969 were located in
the possession of a prior owner and
restored for use again.
Transmission: Then and now, a close-
ratio Toploader is the four-speed of
choice, prepped by Sam himself with
Doug Nash straight-cut gears and
shifted by a Hurst Super Shifter. Con-
nection to the rest of the drivetrain is
via a McLeod flywheel and hydraulic
clutch assembly, and a Lakewood
scattershield.
Fuel System: Moon 3-gallon fuel tank,
twin Stewart-Warner electric pumps,(^1) ⁄ 2 -inch line.
Rearend: Sam says the team replaced
a 9-inch with a Dana 60 back in the
day, due to the limited strength of
9-inch axles at the time. It seems that
8,000-rpm launches were quite a
shock to the system! Evolution of the
9-inch has long since put such con-
cerns to bed, and thus the Ford manu-
factured rearend was chosen again for
round two. This one features a factory
nodular case with 5.14s, a Strange
spool, and Strange 35-spline axles.
Chassis/Suspension: The front is a
straight-axle arrangement with custom
leaf springs, steering arms, and Econo-
line spindles. Out back are more cus-
tom leaves, Air Lift airbags, 32-inch
Thunderbolt-style traction bars, and
wheelie bars built from a leaf spring.
Vintage Cure Ride drag shocks are
found at all four corners.
Wheels/Tires: The front wheels are
spindle-mounted magnesium Ansens
shod with 28x4.5-15 Goodyear front-
runners. The rear features 15x10 Key-
stone Klassics with 30x11.5-15
Goodyear Dragway Specials. As origi-
nal, only rear brakes are in place, along
with a Deist chute.
Interior: The cabin is typical ’60s
racer—nothing nonessential. The alu-
minum dash features Stewart-Warner
gauges and toggle switches for the
electric fuel pump and ignition.
Exterior: R&M Performance in Cam-
bridge, MD, performed the restoration
of the Sam Auxier Jr. ’69 Mustang,
including the colorful paint originally
applied by C.T. Brewer. The R&M crew
did substantial rehab work on the origi-
nal one-piece ’glass frontend and
sprayed the entire job using PPG
products.
Sam and owner Bob Leenstra (right)
displayed the restored ’69 Mustang in
2008 at both the Carlisle Ford Nationals
and SEMA.
52 CAR CRAFT NOVEMBER 2019
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