Blackbird Performance

10/17/2026

With a little help from his friends, Mike and Scott Schaefer, Cecil Stanford has his Race Spec 1,000+, powered and methanol burning Challenger just about ready to race ! Heck, he might just debut it at next weekend’s always awesome Mopar Muscle Dragfest at London, KY Dragway.

While we don’t plan on the full booth being there, we do plan to go up and watch some great racing, see some of our favorites do battle and who knows, maybe get to see some Blackbird G3 power putting in the work, going fast and turning on win lights.

10/15/2026

I think the lead Skunk, Keaton, up at the Skunkworks, is pretty excited about some of our new engine recipes and parts we are cooking up at Blackbird Performance 😄

For the circle track crowd that needs a rule mandated distributor, with engine driven accessories and fuel pump, we should soon be testing our kit. And while we might not favor only 8 plugs, we will make 8 hole valve covers for this application. We suppose some folks might enjoy the old school look, so we are working hard to bring the cost in so it’s close to a wash going this route, accessible to all even if you don’t intend to go in circles, at high speeds.

On the supercharged front, we are working on a number of combinations to bring from 900+ to well into the 1,400+ HP range engine recipes, parts or complete packages to those who favor carburetors and ideally, no intercooler.

Of course, Keaton might already be dreaming of one sticking through the hood of his ‘70 Charger, after all, with one, in a similar vintage Charger, Dom could wheelie through an intersection, while spinning the tires…I mean who doesn’t want that ?

Stay tuned, more to come 😄

10/14/2026

NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

New and Improved Afterburner Ignition - Essentially the ‘Full Afterburner Ignition’ ($949) capability now for $200 less - Introductory Price of only $749 (same as unchanged for 2 years, old ‘Afterburner Ignition’)

Thanks to the electronic design and production wizards at EFI Source, we have tested and are now offering a new and much improved simple ignition control system for the G3 Hemi.

The improvements include:

1. Increased potential spark energy.

2. Simplified mounting of fewer modules

3. Simplified harness and control connectivity via the improved harness and data cable included in our kit.

4. Sequential firing of coils versus old Afterburner wasted spark firing (2 coils at a time). Allowing more coil dwell time with more available spark energy for boost / N2O and/or higher RPM.

5. Lower price versus old ‘Full Afterburner’

Despite all of its improved features, we are now essentially offering the ‘Full Afterburner’ capability for the same price we’ve offered the ‘Afterburner’ to the market, for the last two years and all with harness and controls still proudly Made in the USA.

If you’d like to know more, check out the video or give us a call at (309) 360-9415

10/10/2026

A tensioner being born !

WARNING: Manufacturing Geek Post

Not so many weeks ago, the Master of Machining and I went on a road trip to retrieve this Fanuc Robo Drill, and now, not many weeks later, thanks to his big brain and a lot of work, a machine that had been a highly integrated part of a larger production line / process has had it’s pages of PLC sorted out, as Justin has set it free to make it’s new growing list of parts, quickly, efficiently, generating beautiful parts that Blackbird Performance is blessed and proud to sell. This thing flies 😍

10/04/2026

Mike and Scott Schaefer out this weekend, putting their G3 Hemi powered dreams to work. Mike in the Race Spec 1,300+ powered ‘68 Dart, going a string of low 5s, making it into the later rounds, then him continuing to tune the Blackbird Performance Drag Pak little 409CID G3 Hemi with it’s 3.0l Whipple in the Henderson Trucking Chevy Cavalier, turning on win lights but going out with a 4.42 on a 4.44, lifting, but a little too quick. Mike and Scott definitely dialing in that 60’ hoping to push it far deeper into the 4s with an upcoming converter swap, and some more tune up (it was running on 16-17 degrees).

Love to see these guys with Jack fed updates, out enjoying their G3 Hemi powered dreams and Mike on the keyboard with the Holley Terminator X in both cars, tuning it all on his own.

10/03/2026

09/28/2026

Thrilled to help add another, steady 6 second ride to the list of Blackbird Performance G3 Hemi powered dreams. And now a Chevy Cavalier, yep that’s right , a Chevy … joins two Challengers, a Dragster and a Dakota pickup in the 6 second capable club.

Of course with Mike Schaefer’s hustle and skill, this beautiful Ex Pro Stock Cavalier is already out going rounds and my forecast, more win lights and lower ETs yet to come.

Working with Jack and Mike on the project has been a total blast and we can’t wait to see it make some passes in person, more importantly, to see that ear to ear smile on their faces.

G3 Hemi the world baby !

What would you do with an ex-Pro Stock Cavalier? Jack Henderson decided to stuff a Gen III HEMI into this former Jeg Coughlin Jr. ride.

09/28/2026

That’s a wrap on Mopar Showdown 2026 !

A big thank you to all the folks who stopped by the booth to connect, look at some of our product, discuss their G3 Hemi powered dreams, or just to have the chance to engage, talk face to face, for the first time or again. THANK YOU!

Huge thanks to Mike and Laura Sterling who came out, made a string of great, wheels up, text book 8.0 runs. He unfortunately got taken out early by a 0.007 package in the other lane on another 8.0 run. GREAT WORK AND THANK YOU!

Big congratulations to Larry Curtis, who took the win in the Stick Shift class we sponsored, better yet, in an all G3 Hemi powered final. Larry in his fantastic, hard running late model NHRA Stock Eliminator Dodge Challenger, 5.7l, stick car going high 9s. I’d like to say it was aided by his very cool Direct Connection valve covers, but it was probably more his 0.000 reaction time in the final that got him the big check. CONGRATULATIONS!

And to our car show pick winner, Daniel Klemz with his ‘71 Dodge Dart Sw***er, powered by, none other, than a 6.4l G3 Hemi. CONGRATULATIONS!

Blessed to have had the opportunity to be a part of it with the gorgeous weather, a just fantastic and well run facility and a just excellent, well organized and well executed event. A huge thank you to the Lord above; Travis and the all the professional and courteous Rock Falls Raceway personnel; and to Dan and his whole awesome Mopar Showdown team. THANK YOU!

Headed back south to work on more parts, engines and G3 Hemi powered dreams!