Shelby CSX History

 

The Direct Connection Shadow

"And if you're wondering what happens when we dress up a Shadow Turbo in a DC, well...it is a pretty sight."
- Direct Connection ad

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(pictures courtesy of
Gary Donovan
click to enlarge)
 
During mid-1985 the Direct Connection staff was given one of the new P-bodies to play with. Many of their improvements were incorporated into the CSX.

The brakes were upgraded with better calipers and rotors from the Daytona, better linings, and a prototype rear brake setup. 

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Pictures from the
DC Shadow press kit

(pictures courtesy of
Steve Kalmes
click to enlarge)
 

Of further interest was the use of a Bendix electric master cylinder. The suspension was upgraded with better bushings, 1.25-inch anti-sway bars, lowered springs, and DC hi-performance struts. Handling was further enhanced by the use of a quick-ratio rack, which was shimmed up 0.2 inches for better geometry, and by using minivan steering knuckles, which further altered the steering ratio.

A stock blueprinted short block was used. The cylinder head choice was the always-popular DC race-ported head with oversize valves and a stock camshaft. The intake and intercooler were straight out of the DC parts book. This car used a prototype header that was announced but never sold, reportedly because there were too many problems with cracking. The turbo was probably the DC "plus" unit, the one with a larger turbine housing. Also used was a prototype five-speed transaxle, possibly an A555 pre-production unit. The package made 180 bhp at 11 psi and 210 ft-lbs of torque.
 
(information courtesy of Gary Donovan)

Welcome to the Dream Factory Join the DC Gang. dcshadow2sm.jpg (153261 bytes)
Welcome to the
Dream Factory
Join the DC Gang. Short magazine
mention of the
DC Shadow
(picture courtesy of
Jan Daurio
click to enlarge)
     
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Another short
magazine blurb
(picture courtesy of
Steve Kalmes
click to enlarge)
More magazine
coverage
(picture courtesy of
Dan Boyd
click to enlarge)
 
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