$5000 budget Mustang by Ron S

6 minute(s) of a 178 minute read

Pulled the engine tonight,wow what a mess.Looks like a rod bolt broke,can't imagine why,I was only on the rev limiter for half the track.I see 3:54 gears in my future.
Both rods on the same journal snapped off,windage tray looks a little like my front fenders when I started hammering on them.Timing chain broke,not much left there.Time to start scrounging parts. Ron

9-29-2009

Someone just sent me this from Motorstate.First time I've seen it

Thanks guys,but I'm not sure what I'm doing,its almost as bad as when I started the project,still snooping around. Ron

10-9-2009

Just drug the Camaro out, but had to take one last pic before its winter hybrination.

10-13-2009

Stang TV did an article on this car, I think its also on Streetlegal TV

http://www.stangtv.com/

12-3-2009

Scored an engine for my car last night.Got an ls7 shortblock with 2,700 miles off LS1 Tech for $3200,drove all the way Pittsburg last night in the driving rain, only to find the rest of the engine also for sale. Ended up getting the whole engine minus throttle body, oil pan ,and pump for just over 5k,I did sell my old wheels for to offset the cost a little bit,so my new title needs to be $19000 Budget Mustang. Ron

2-11-2010

Alot of people said it wouldn't work for AutoX or road racing.I really like it, the car seems to stay flat in the corners and the ride is still pretty good. Once I get the bugs out of the rest of the car, it should be pretty competitive. Ron

2-24-2010

Started assembly of my LS7 tonight,cried like a girl about paying $200 for ARP rod bolts,especially when I saw how small they were. The ARP's are giant compared to the GM pieces,as long as I don't have a repeat of RTTH's it was worth it.

Short block only had 2900 miles but after installing the new cam, noticed the chain was kind of loose, should be able to pick one up tomorrow, and have the long lock completely assembled.

Check out the bore difference compared to an LS1 piston.

2-27-2010

The car got rushed together last year for the PSMC, and just never looked back, alot of unfinished peices. To be truthful, I never really thought this car was clean enough to be magazine worthy, its a 20 footer.

Maybe this year I'll clean up some loose ends, so it doesn't have that bucket of bolts, duct tape look, and see if any Mags are interested. Ron

Just read the article. They are calling us out! I think there are several cool cars on this site that were built on budgets.

This Mustang is kind of an odd ball, due to the fact that the whole build was based around the budget. I was kind of was getting off on the 95 cent bids I was winning on Ebay. Not my normal behavior, I usually am the first to pick up the phone and order what I need. I do really kind of enjoy the fabrication, so all that was a labor of love. LOL

Once the cars first event deadline started getting close, I went back to my old wicked ways, and started ordering away. The finished car ended up at 9K, alot more then it needed to be.

The upgrades since then have been good deals for the quality of parts installed (Baer,CCW,LS7),but by no means budget. When the car gets put back together in the next couple weeks, I'll have to send them something, just to show that you don't have to drop 100K to drive a Pro Touring car. Ron

3-11-2010

Finally finishing up this Jeep conversion for my kid. Didn't want too much power so I put an EFI 4.3, Turbo 400, Dana 300, and 2 Dana 44 rears. Just bent up the front bumper, and am finishing up the cage. After this weekend I will hit the Mustang hot and heavy. Ron

3-15-2010

Started assembling some of the subassemblies while I'm waiting for some other parts to come in. Got the intake powder coated and put together tonight.

Could not find a 24x=58x control converter anyware, so I'm going to have to change the reluctor ring on the crank. Waiting on the alignment tool to come in so we can assemble the shortblock.