[DickH]

At the end of this summer I should have ~8-10k saved up. I was trying to get as much for a down payment as I could for a nice car that I could have fun with. Now I am thinking that I might enjoy taking an older car and making it nice. My goal is to have something quick, it has to be able to keep up with my friends slightly upped srt-4 while being a nice car to take to work, college, wherever. I really like the foxbody mustangs and would love to make one my project car. However I don't know a lot about cars, I know a little but not nearly enough to know what I should do. I am hoping people here can help me out with this. What all should I replace, how much will it cost for parts, where do I get the parts?

[fogged306]

For 8 to 10k you can get a foxbody mustang that will drive circles around an srt-4. Or you can find one cheap and build it yourself and still keep within your budget.

[DickH]

Well I would like to find a decent 89-03 mustang and have the work done myself. I have this odd desire to have a care that is "mine". So I would like to know what all I should do to the car. Should I get a new engine or will I be fine having a half decent one rebuilt/upgraded, what should I do for a transmission, ill need it to handle well what all should I do to take care of that? How much should it cost to take the car and make it "fast"?

[Tony_90fox]

I would buy a mustang roller car...the body style of your choice...Buy a 351 block, buy good internals, a good top end, a C4 trans, and some slicks, suspension and go to town!

[neverfastenough1]

Yeah, thats about what I will have to spend when I get back. There are a lot of choices you can make with a fox body. I haven't figured out whether I am going with a stroked BOSS or a 351. I like the idea of having a small 302 looking engine with big internals. I would be installing a turbo down the road. I will start with the suspension and engine. Then trans, probably gonna try to find one with a t5 and do the g-force upgrade. Oh heck, don't get me started, I got a wish list a mile long.

[stang94]

If your going to do turbo, you might want to go with the 351 it will hold more power than the 302

[TurboLX]

yea the 351 is a much stronger block

[TurboLX]

and if you cant find parts for a Fox body Mustang, just stay away from them then, cuz you can find parts all over the place for these cars, there maybe even some on the moon, and in peoples yards for sure

[neverfastenough1]

Originally Posted by stang94 If your going to do turbo, you might want to go with the 351 it will hold more power than the 302

Yeah thats why I if I go with the 302 base it will be a R302 or a BOSS block. The BOSS can be stroked to over 351 cubes. I know the 351 can be stroked bigger, but which one can rev higher?

[95opal]

Originally Posted by neverfastenough1 which one can rev higher?

That would depend on how much $ you are willing to throw into the valvetrain.

[neverfastenough1]

Originally Posted by 95opal Originally Posted by neverfastenough1 which one can rev higher? That would depend on how much $ you are willing to throw into the valvetrain.

I am wanting to keep the car to around 10000, with a max of 15000. With that being said, I don't have a car yet and the BOSS block is 1759 unprepped. Its going to be a hard decision, save money and budget or spend it while I got it before my wife can! I've seen 408 long blocks for 6500, but just the thought of saying I got a BOSS is intriguing.

[DickH]

What would my options be if I were to keep the engine? I don't want to put most of the money in the engine from the start

[neverfastenough1]

You could do a H/C/I and get around 275- 295HP. You could have it rebuilt, bored .030 over and stroked to 331 or 347 and get 350-400 hp out of it, or just have it bored to .030 over which is a 306 and wait til later to stroke it. A Trick Flow top end kit comes with everything from the cam to the intake and hdwr. They go for around 2200 and will get you close to 280 hp. That with good traction will get you moving pretty quick. Some 3:73's or some 4:10's will help, too.

[DickH]

ok, what should I do about a transmission? Should I buy a new one or have whatever I get rebuilt?

[neverfastenough1]

You shooting for a stick or automatic? Hopefully you can find one without transmission problems. If you want a stick try to find a 90-93, or a 93 cobra. The t5 in these are rated for 300 and 310 ft lbs. An aftermarket shifter will help you get thru the gears faster. You could upgrade the clutch and use it til you can get a heavier duty tranny or a g-force kit for your t5. If you go with the auto, get a shift kit such as transgo and a higher stall converter, 2500-2800. Anything you can get to lighten rotating weight such as aluminum d/s will help.

[DickH]

OK, I think I have found something to start with, its a 1990 5.0 auto that appears to be in decent shape. My only problem with it is that it is an auto, I am wondering how much work is needed to convert to a manual? I had already planned on getting a new transmission, would I be better off finding a manual 5.0 or is it really not that much extra work to convert?

[usmcsawgunner]

youd be way better off finding a manual theyre everywhere..just keep looking....

[usmcsawgunner]

make sure you find one with a stout suspension and brakes. or plan on upgrading those too...many people start with the sexy horsepower adders and the super trannys and then they cant stop or make the turn and end up wraping it around a tree (thats why all the ones you see in junkyards arent just an old car that was run to death)
sorry about the party-pooping opinion
jeeze im starting to sound like an old guy....