Muscle in Disguise: The Unlikely Rise of a Chevy-Powered Ford Wagon

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*Photo by Hook’d Photography

When Dustin Steward first cast his eyes on a 1983 Ford LTD wagon, it seemed like an odd canvas for a performance build. To many, it was just a relic of the past, a boxy, full‐size family hauler with little promise. But Dustin saw opportunity. He saw the potential to do something unexpected. He saw a chance to tell a different story at the drag strip.

A Bold Beginning

In January 2022 Dustin bought the wagon. It was a start. He didn’t buy it with nostalgia in mind. He bought it because he knew what he had in his parts stash could work. He already owned a pile of Mustang parts from previous projects. After a few test fits and measure ups he realized that many Mustang components could be adapted to the large Ford body with only modest adjustments. From that spark of creativity, the idea of building a full-size wagon with serious speed was born.

He never intended to just restore what was. He intended to remake it. He intended to build something that would shock people when it rolled down the track. He intended to redefine what a performance car could look like.

Swapping the Heart

The original engine of the wagon was never part of the plan. Dustin already owned a 6.0-liter LS engine from a 2001 Chevy Silverado. It was inexpensive, robust, and a well-known quantity in the performance world. It made sense to him. So rather than stick with a Ford mill, he embraced what he already had and what made sense.

He sent the block, crank and rods to be assembled by Performance Motorsports in Maysville, Kentucky. They built out the rotating assembly with K1 Technologies spec parts, Liberty Performance rods, and Wiseco pistons. Every piece was chosen to survive the turbo boost and torque demands. The assembly was done with care so the engine could be tuned aggressively yet remain reliable.

To feed the engine air under pressure Dustin and tuner Bob Morrison of Morrison Tuning selected a G57 frame 88 mm turbo from On 3 Performance. That choice gives the engine headroom to grow and makes big power possible. The setup is already making over one thousand horsepower on E85 fuel. That kind of punch sits far beyond what any stock wagon ever imagined.

Transmission and Drivetrain

Power means nothing without a way of sending it to the pavement. Dustin built a custom Powerglide transmission using a stock case paired with billet internals. It is simple but effective. Behind that a narrow 8.8-inch Ford rear axle handles the loads. He trimmed each side of the housing by 1.5 inches so the car could run wide tires without excessive body modification. He chose 3.90 gears as a balance between launch traction and highway usability.

All the pieces needed to fit inside the large wagon body, and to do so cleanly. That meant extensive fabrication. He installed Detroit Speed & Engineering mini tubs to clear massive tires while keeping a functional, usable wheelwell. The work was painstaking and risky for someone with limited fab experience. But with help from friends and his twin brother Dylan, the tubs became as clean and purposeful as anything in a pro shop.

Assembly and Suspension

While performance parts matter, the way they connect to the frame and road matters too. Dustin chose Viking shocks at all four corners and used Team Z rear components along with AJE front linkage. This mixture gave him control over both ride and handling without sacrificing strength. He wanted the wagon to be usable on the street yet fully capable at the strip.

Because the project was done largely in a home garage environment, each step required planning and iteration. Every bracket, every weld, and every mount had to be thought through. Many nights were spent in frustration, then problem solving. But overcoming those obstacles is what gives the build character.

Breakthroughs and Timeslips

At Edgewater Sports Park the wagon delivered a best eighth mile slip of 5.23 seconds at 137 miles per hour. That was conservative tune work. Dustin believes that with more boost and optimized conditions a high 4 second slip is within reach. Even now the car stands as proof that a full-size wagon can be more than a cruiser it can be a weapon.

The results turned heads. Many assumed it was a parts hauler, not a contender. When the hood was opened and the LS was revealed, reactions ranged from applause to disbelief. Ford purists sometimes bristle. But Dustin cares about performance first. A badge is just a badge. What matters is how the car moves.

The Road Ahead

Dustin plans to compete at Kentucky Dragway before the season ends, chasing that mid four second barrier. The winter will be used for tuning, reinforcement, and maybe small tweaks to squeeze more power from the setup. He has no plans to remove weight or butcher the structure. He wants that full size presence with serious speed.

In the end this wagon is not about legacy or restoring what once was. It is about creating something that nobody else would attempt. It is about vision meeting grit. Dustin’s journey shows that when you refuse to follow the rulebook, you just might write your own.

Tags: Chevrolet, Drag Racing, Ford, LS, LTD Wagon
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