Thanks Matt.
The pictures you provided make a lot more sense. I will look today for the mounting hole for the fuse box on the driver's side under the column. I have a harness that I got from Robert. It does have shotgun release button and everything else. According to Dean, the car was fitted with the standard CHP harness. Items that were not used on the car were left unhooked and the wiring hidden.
Dean tells me that since the car was built for and used exclusively as a high speed track car, items like the shotgun rack were in the way of passengers sitting in the car and would be a danger in an accident or rollover accident and therefore deleted. Same for the center windshield red light because of the roll cage and the secure mounting to the trunk floor of the radio/siren contollers in the trunk. Dean had the rollcage painted CHP blue. He matched the blue from his CHP helmet to identify his car on track.
The car had a total 4 engines including the original engine during its life at the academy. The replacement engines were all from Ford Motorsport. I am told that during extended high speed sessions the car would run hot and eventually "lift" the heads off the stock head gaskets thereby causing an engine problem. To solve this problem, they they got approval from CHP managment to purchase and install a larger radiator from Ford Motorsport. That radiator is still in the car. Front caster plates were also installed to make the car turn in better. They are also on the car. The 94 up air cleaner mass/flow sensor was installed for better breathing. Although the catalytic converters and H pipe are still on the car, the original mufflers were removed for better flow. Dean asked me about all these changes and I was able to confirm that the car was still outfitted as it left the academy. Surprisingly with the exception of the caster plates, the suspension is still stock with all the original springs with tags, dated original Ford struts/shocks and other components.
Dean says the car was a handfull at first however the improvement they made to the car made it easier to drive fast. His skill as a driver was very helpfull also! He says that the 1998-2002 Camaros that ultimately replaced the Mustangs were easier to drive at high speed.
I had heard through the grapevine that the CHP will no longer allow the sale any vehicles equipped with a rollcage to the public. He also confirms that rumor. This particlular EVOC Mustang may ultimately be the last CHP car sold via auction to the public from the academy with a rollcage. He tells me that the other cage equipped cars at the academy now will be sold only to goverment agencies for EVOC training, destroyed or possibly sent to the CHP museum.
Thanks for the help with the pictures.
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