Project: Red Car (or Mid-Life Crisis)

[Popeye the Sailor]

I figure it will run about $7K all told to build the 5.0 cammer....

I'd take that over a new stang any day of the week.

[Speedbag]

Hmmm….lots of votes for keeping the Cougar and modding the hell out of the red car. I think I see a pattern here.

The enginerd/gearhead in me would love to build another stout engine. It's been a while.

Honestly (and perhaps oddly), there isn't a whole lot of sentimental value in the '96. Before his untimely passing, Dad and I were scheming on buying a new Shelby together and the '96 would have been trade fodder. So, the desire for the GT500 started with him…and we were thinking convertible then.

Of course, the current economy may have an influence here also. Old car values are down big-time (huge, in fact), and getting what I'd need to part with the Cougar is looking like an impossibility. But, the Shelbys are victims to the inevitable late-model depreciation and poor economy as well. Go-fast parts costs remain constant, unless lucky enough to make an eBay score.

[Oldfisti]

Of course, the current economy may have an influence here also. Old car values are down big-time (huge, in fact), and getting what I'd need to part with the Cougar is looking like an impossibility. But, the Shelbys are victims to the inevitable late-model depreciation and poor economy as well. Go-fast parts costs remain constant, unless lucky enough to make an eBay score.

You should be able to score LOTS of goodies off Epay for a 96 Stang.


I'm thinking you could do almost all your chassis and suspension mods that way.

[Duck-Stew]

$7000 for just the engine, or does that include driveline mods to handle the power also?

[Speedbag]

Just the engine.

The only weak link in the drivetrain would be the trans (the 8.8 rears are stout). Not sure how long the T45 would hold up, although they live a surprisingly long life in some strip cars...

[Pip]

DO NOT SELL THE COUGAR, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get that GT some hotted up bits.

[Duck-Stew]

Just the engine.

The only weak link in the drivetrain would be the trans (the 8.8 rears are stout). Not sure how long the T45 would hold up, although they live a surprisingly long life in some strip cars...

Yeah, I know about the 8.8's so no issue there.  My concerns were the clutch and transmission.

Hmmm...maybe to add some 'Shelby' to the GT, how about some GT350 custom stripes or something along those lines?!?

[Speedbag]

Dunno, that might violate the low-key appearance mandate.

[Duck-Stew]

Dunno, that might violate the low-key appearance mandate.

Ok yeah, but you ARE going to keep it red, so.... 

How about just a Shelby gas-cap and maybe some other low-low-key Shelby trim?!?  Just spending your money remotely here! 

[Speedbag]

Gas door is body color.  

I CNCd some custom GT fender emblems out of stainless a few years back (had them on my '01 Bullitt until I sacrificed it for a truck) and was thinking of putting them on, but that was about all I considered for appearance items.

[DCXCV]

As incredibly ugly as I think the '96 is, I've also got to side with building your own and keeping the Cougar.

[Oldfisti]

How about turbocharging the stang?


One or two hp to be gained there.

[badgalbetty]

you want muscle? Ditch that heap of ford and buy a Veyron. 

[Speedbag]

you want muscle? Ditch that heap of ford and buy a Veyron. 

If money were no object, we wouldn't be having this discussion. 

[Duck-Stew]

Dude!  I got it: turn your GT into a GTS!  Remove your rr spoiler & pull off your fog-lights...