The Black Mamba
With the chassis and structure complete, attention turned to the drivetrain - the heart of the Black Mamba. This phase centered on creating a powertrain capable of exceptional performance while remaining street-driven and fully integrated with the car's overall engineering goals.
Tom Lucas of FE Specialties configured and built the FE-based drivetrain platform around which the car was ultimately engineered. This was never intended to be an off-the-shelf installation. The engine, transmission, tunnel, and chassis were all treated as one coordinated system.
The FE platform was built to deliver horsepower well beyond the 600 mark while still being driven on the street. That combination of output and usability shaped every major drivetrain decision that followed.
Engine installation and final integration were handled during the fabrication phase, with careful attention paid to engine position, transmission fitment, tunnel clearance, driveline alignment, and exhaust routing.
The dry sump system on the Black Mamba was not a luxury or styling decision. Once the body was placed on the Morrison chassis, conventional oil pan configurations no longer provided adequate clearance for the crossmember and rack-and-pinion steering system. A dedicated Aviaid dry sump solution became essential.
The full system - including the low-profile pan, four-stage external pump, remote filter, and hidden oil reservoir - is covered separately in the Dry Sump section.
The header system quickly evolved into one of the more complex fabrication challenges of the build. The initial design routed the headers downward, collecting beneath the car. While functional, this approach introduced tight bends near critical components, including the dry sump oil lines, and required notching the firewall to accommodate clearance.
Rather than compromise the integrity or serviceability of the system, the entire configuration was scrapped in favor of a more refined solution. The final design exits through the fender wells, eliminating clearance issues and significantly improving routing efficiency.
The headers were masterfully fabricated by Mike Lelchook of Performance Welding Racing Headers using 304 stainless steel tubing. The system incorporates two-inch primaries, four-way merge collectors, and V-band couplers transitioning into a three-inch side exit exhaust.
All exhaust components were finished by Perfect-It Powder Coating using a titanium high-heat ceramic coating, providing durability, thermal protection, and a clean, purposeful appearance.
Beyond its already substantial naturally aspirated output, the Black Mamba was engineered with an additional layer of performance capability. The intake manifold was sent to Mike Thermos of Nitrous Supply, where a fully integrated nitrous oxide system was designed and installed beneath the manifold.
This was not a conventional add-on system. The entire nitrous delivery was plumbed internally, completely concealed from view. No external lines, solenoids, or hardware interrupt the visual presentation of the engine bay, preserving the clean and refined appearance while maintaining full functionality.
The system is capable of delivering an additional 250 horsepower on demand, bringing the total potential output of the drivetrain to approximately 950 horsepower. This level of performance exists as part of the car's engineering capability, not as a visual statement.
Notably, the nitrous system has never been activated and was not used during dyno testing. All documented performance figures reflect the naturally aspirated configuration of the engine.
The result is a fully functional, completely hidden performance system - a solution that reflects the overall philosophy of the Black Mamba: maximum capability, executed with restraint.
Later in the car's life, the induction system evolved to EFI. Visually, the change is subtle. Mechanically, it improved drivability, cold-start behavior, and consistency while preserving the character of the original FE-based powerplant.
Dyno testing confirmed the naturally aspirated output of the FE platform and validated the overall drivetrain package. These results represent the engine in its baseline configuration, without activation of the hidden nitrous oxide system.
In other words, the documented dyno numbers reflect only the engine's naturally aspirated performance. The additional 250 horsepower available through the concealed nitrous system was not part of the dyno session.
