Up next on our Fastest 50 list is Matt Kubik from northern Oklahoma. Kubik’s diesel-powered machine is probably a little different than what you’re expecting but in the same sense, probably cooler than you’re expecting. In 1998, when that year model Mustang came out, I can almost guarantee that the engineers had no idea guys like Kubick would shove a diesel engine under the hood only a few years later.
With the recent closing of the National Hot Rod Diesel Association, it’s been tough for Kubik and Co. to go racing as their location isn’t central to the up and running Outlaw Diesel Super Series. But, that doesn’t mean they don’t have future plans and current goals. “Our current goal that we’re working towards is that four-second pass in the eighth-mile,” said Kubik. “We have worked hard and gotten our sixty-foot time down in the 1.1-second range which should put us very close to achieving this goal.”
Right now, the engine is currently apart undergoing maintenance. Kubik says once this powerplant is back together, they will be back to racing and testing with hopes of competing in the Outlaw Diesel race whenever it is possible.
This Mustang is powered by a Hypermax Engineering P-Pump Conversion 7.3-liter Power Stroke. That’s right, a mechanical Scheid Diesel Service injection pump on an eight-cylinder diesel engine. The Hypermax conversion uses an inline injection pump and replaces the HEUI electronic system. Basically, it’s an eight-cylinder P7100 pump you would see on the older 12-valve Cummins engines.
Hypermax supplied the p-pump conversion, a bedplate, CGI engine block, connecting rods, and their solid roller valvetrain. The cylinder heads are actually factory configuration and cast form but have been gone through by Hypermax in their porting job with Inconel valves. This engine also features a dry-sump oil system, Precision machine forged steel ring pistons, direct port water injection, and operates under the watch of Lubrication Engineers GFS engine oil.
The engine is supplied with plenty of boost by a set of compound turbochargers. The Mustang utilizes a Garrett GTX5533R 88-MM high-pressure turbo and an Hypermax 4.1-inch atmospheric turbo that churns out 150-PSI of boost.
Getting it all to the ground is credited to a set of 33.5/17R16 tires with Weld Racing bead lock wheels. Other drivetrain upgrades include Strange Engineering Ultra Case 9-inch rear end with 3.89 Pro Gears, an air-shifted three-Speed Lenco Racing CS1 transmission with overdrive, and a Neal Chance Racing Converters 12-inch billet lock-up torque converter.
Kubik’s best pass so far is 5.048 at 154.79 MPH in the eighth-mile and a 7.600 at 192.19 MPH in the quarter-mile.
It certainly takes a lot of dedication and money to swap in a diesel engine into a car, but it takes even more dedication and money to use a 7.3-liter Power Stroke and convert it to mechanical injection. This is easily one of the best diesel swaps of all time and we can’t wait to see him at an Outlaw Diesel Super Series event in the very near future.
What are your thoughts on the P-Pumped 7.3-liter Mustang? Let us know in the comments below.