How to stop a Legend
It’s not every day you get to bring a smile to the likes of racing legend Dick Johnson. But that’s exactly what we did when we fitted his personal DJR 320 Series Falcon with a PBR Performance M-Series brake system upgrade.
As five times Australian Touring Car Champion and three times Bathurst Winner, Dick Johnson knows more than just a thing or two about what makes a real performance car.
Dick’s personal DJR 320 Series Falcon built by Herrod Motorsport in Melbourne, has gone a few steps further than the standard DJR 320 Series to really crank up the performance. To kick it off they sourced a GT40 5.4 alloy engine block from the USA which was converted back to a wet sump application. To bullet proof the bottom end, a set of Manley H beam rods and dish-topped Manley forged 8.9:1 ratio pistons were fitted along with ARP studs to cap off the 6 bolt main caps. Add to this a set of Herrod billet oil pump gears, CNC ported heads, larger performance cam shafts, and a Herrod 7.5 litre, 4 gate, fully baffled club race oil pan to finish the job.
The engine was then fitted off with an Intercooled Whipple 2.3 litre positive displacement "in the valley" Supercharger, giving it an OE appearance. The engine package breathes through a Herrod Motorsport custom cold air intake. The final touches were a billet steel flywheel and custom clutch package along with an aluminium concentric slave unit.
After the engine & transmission were re-fitted Rob Herrod has worked his magic on the dyno and was able to coax 380 rear kilowatts (640 flywheel horsepower).
This is where Herrod’s knew the fitment of a PBR Performance M-Series brake system was a must to stop this Supercar legend. The PBR Performance M-Series brake system consists of 6-piston calipers coupled with 355 x 32mm discs on the front and 4-piston calipers with 355 x 26mm discs on the rear.
To finish off the vehicle, a set of Herrod Motorsport / BBS 1 9" x 8" and 19" x 9.5" alloy wheels running 245/35ZR19 Dunlop Sport Max tyres on the front and 285/30ZR19 Dunlop Sport Max on the rear are fitted. Dick Johnson hasn’t been this impressed with his own vehicle’s performance & braking since he stepped off the race track.
When asked about the PBR Performance M-Series brake upgrade Dick said, "The M-Series brake kit is the closest in performance I have experienced to a V8 Supercar." Rob Herrod is widely known throughout the industry as a leading specialist when it comes to getting the best out of Ford vehicles in the Aftermarket. Rob has over 30 years experience enhancing Fords and a long standing association with Dick Johnson and making his road cars really hum.
If you have a Ford you’d like Rob and the boys to take a look at you can contact Herrod Motorsport on 03 9464 5100 or sales@herrodmotorsport.com.au.
Posted April-2008
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