$5000 budget Mustang by Ron S

7 minute(s) of a 178 minute read

Starting to peck away at some of the stupid stuff, that has always bugged me. Trying not to go to SEMA with a car that is so rough around the edges (literally). Ford was kind of odd on the fastbacks, in that they allowed rain water to enter the quarter vents, draining into a rain gutter, down a tube, and through a drain hole in the rocker panel. Of course all that was rotted off of this car, so when it rained it just ran into the car. When there was no windows it didn't matter, but now that the car is pretty tight I figured I'd fix it.

Fabbed up some new rain gutters out of aluminum, installed the drain tube, and installed a drains in the rocker panel. I started to make some aluminum panels to cover all that up, all that little stuff is a PITA, but it is becoming a real car.

9-1-2012

Lets see, I built the car originally for $9000, and an unimaginable amount of labor, bardering, and computer time.

Since then I've grenaded 2 engines, working on my 3 trans., 4th rear, 2nd set of wheels, second complete brake package, to be real honest I've lost track.

You need to remember that this car was not built to go racing, it was supposed to be the best pro touring car $5000 could peice together. Almost doubling the original budget it was a bit of a fail. Since then Bill Howell has really built up the RTTH, and the ASCS which has changed alot of peoples focus on how to build there cars.

The car gotten so much more refind since the original build, but has still kept to its original grungy, bare knuckle theme. That fact that this car could get an invite to the Optima Ultmate Street car Invitational really proves that it isn't all about bling. I am so jacked up for this event, knowing that I've never seen the track and probably won't place that well. Just the fact that its been selected to run with the likes of Red Devil, Bad Penny, Jack Ass, Detroit Speed, Finch, etc, etc is very humbling. On the other side of that, by the time I make it to Vegas my head is going to be so big they probably won't let me on the plane.LOL

9-23-2012

Finally getting 5 minutes to work on this thing before Optima. Pulled the nose off to fix a few road rash spots, and freshen the paint, you can really see the ducting I did for the oil cooler, and to correct the overheating issues ( worked perfect,temps never exceed 195 ) Going to be a mad bash to get it on the trailer in time, should be thrash to the end. Curt who is hauling my car out, is also hauling the Ring Brothers Mustang, kind of a hilarious contrast, mine will be the homely one.

9-27-2012

Have to fix my how low can you go experiment where it ended up scorching the paint on the top of the fenders. Fail!!! the rockers almost scraped the ground when it was set that low.

Trying not to pull any panels, so I don't have to refit everything, hate doing it this way, but I think it will work out best in the end.

10-10-2012

next week. Why should this event be any different.

10-17-2012

Finally got the car in color again, turned out pretty good, as usual not waiting to the last minute. Wish I would of had a little more time to spruce it up a little nicer, but it will be the shiniest its ever been. Now all I have to do is reassemble it, install the new Baer brakes, reinstall the exhaust, and about 1000 other things before it goes on the trailer Sunday in Pittsburg. I think it heads to Vegas next week, with the Ring brothers Mustang in the same trailer, it will still be a case of beauty and the beast. lol

11-5-2012

What can I say, I'm exhausted. Never been to Vegas or Sema, my wife Dawn and I flew in on Sat. and did the Vegas thing which nearly took me broke. Dawn flew out Tues. and Payton King came in, and we walked until we couldn't anymore. I think we may have drank a beer or two in the evenings until we headed to Pahrump friday night.

The 90 mile ride through the desert in total darkness was a trip. No overdrive and 3.89 gears, WOW. Payton and I laughed that this was no way for 2 almost 50 year old guys to spend a Friday night.

The one thing I can't stress enough is when going to something like this, don't change anything on your car. The road course was fun but with no real time to make adjustments, I was sliding the front tires all over the place. I went off couse almost every lap, my last lap I got caught behind the camera car. I was so frustated, and I knew the lap was shot, so I took Jimi's advise ( if you can't fast be spectacular). As I passed the camera car I let it eat on the second to last turn, sliding back and forth several times, I almost lost it.

The autocross should also make the blooper reel, as usual I got lost in the forest on the first lap, I think I was the only one. What an idiot!!

I had never done the speed stop squared, but kept sliding the front tires, blowing the box. I don't think I did that bad though.

There were alot of super nice cars there, I don't think the design judges really got my car, didn't score too well. I guess the lack of interior didn't help, the car was shinier then it has ever been. I don't think I explained it too well, because Payton ragged on me for the rest of the day for not knowing how to sell it.

In all, I had a great time, met alot of cool people, saw some CRAZY stuff, and didn't break anything. A car guys dream week. I am really thankful for the opportunity to do it, and should recover in a couple days.LOL