Torch red Saleen replica - GO TO PAGE 3!!

[FaykSaleen]

Alright guys, I've been anxiously waiting and being patient for the day to come so I can make this thread. It's still a little bit early but I guess I'll make you guys feel the anxiety of getting this car finished as much as I've been feeling it.

This is my personal car, there's been many cars that have come and gone but this one I never sold or gave up on. It simply sat there, for years. It wasn't a budget issue, it wasn't that I wasn't ready for it. I just simply ignored this car but kept it around because I knew it would be something special, let's face it this was my first SN95 mustang (almost 5 years ago) though I saw it as a diamond in the rough, it was a diamond to me nonetheless. Before owning this car I had foxes, hondas and mazdas and God knows what else. After buying this I had two more SN95s that worked on, finished and got sold but this one just never got it's chance.

Well, June 2013 is the month and year that this car is getting it's second chance at life and man let me tell you it might not be a 1,200hp asphalt tearing, slick spinning monster but it is gonna be one very red, fire breathing beast when this is all said and done. :headbang:

Break down on what we're looking at here:

1997 Mustang GT
1998 Mustang GT full wiring harness, fuel tank, fuel lines, full brake system, transmission - a.k.a. 1998 Mustang GT donor car
2003 Mustang GT differential

So, why such a Frankenstein car? Look at the next post and you'll understand.



Update on page 2: Post #25

Update on page 2: Post #34, it's a bit of a tease more than anything tho =)

Update on PAGE 3 POST #45 !!!

 

[FaykSaleen]

When I first laid eyes on this car she looked like this:



Not bad right? Well unfortunately for this bright red Mustang it's faith had already been determined, the car was to be used as a donor car. Solid p.i. motor with bullitt intake, rebuilt transmission and freshened up differential made it an excellent candidate and I couldn't have the car the way I first saw it. I had no problem with it at the time, I knew where to get a donor and knew it wouldn't be a problem to get this thing back on the road

One more shot, why not?




Here's how the car came to me at my brother's old shop, torn down, completely. Nothing except some doors, fenders and a hood. Nothing doesn't even define the amount of nothing that was on the car.




So, let's take a second to pause and reflect on the situation. Why, Alan? Why would you take up such a crazy task of turning a bare, dead and useless shell into something that can be driven again some day? The reason being, I love SN95 Mustangs, maybe I was young and this was the easiest, most affordable one I could get my hands on but it didn't matter and still doesn't matter. I simply love these cars and I'll do it all over again when the opportunity comes up again.

Moving on.... The donor car:

Boy, did I strip this car. I took everything I needed from this poor thing, unfortunately this was not the type of car that could be saved, R.I.P. Noble '98 Mustang GT, I've put your brain and soul into another car so in someway, you will live on. Which is kinda creepy




I only had less than three days to get this done, my brother was busy at the time and he told me if I get started on a Friday night and finish by Sunday afternoon then he'd grant me full access to the shop but it HAS to be out by Sunday afternoon

BAM!




Don't mind the Cobra rear bumper Bonus: Notice the car in my sig chillin in the background before it was completed? I'm tellin' you guys, I'm a freakin weirdo.



Fast forward, the car sat, it sat for years. Last month marks the 3 year anniversary of the car sitting as a rolling chassis.

In the meantime I found days where I spent some time and money here and there. Rolling the fenders:


Scored a Cervini's Cobra R hood



Well in this time of the car sitting around and slowly not really getting anything done to it, I'd occasionally start it up and move it around and all that good stuff. Well, I took it out of the garage one day, gave the throttle a good blip (hard to believe but this thing was pretty driveable in the condition that it was in, granted I wasn't crazy enough to put it out on public roads) I parked the car afterwards and it happened. The motor started making a tapping sound, I didn't freak. The motor spun a bearing, this was my fault completely. Neglect.

I didn't let the car run after the sound was first noticed, I immediately tore it down not knowing what I was going to do, all i knew was this car deserved more than this and I had to make up for my stupidity.

Out came the p.i. parts:



Like I said, I don't know where I was going with this, I panicked. So I tore the motor apart without hesitation



So where does this leave us? Here.



Emptiness, with my own hands I began to turn the car back into what it was before, lifeless. This was the turning point for me, I couldn't let this happen. So this determined my next purchase....



Wait for it.....




Four valve! Booyaka!





I won't go into all the details about the swap in this thread so I'll make a write up thread if you guys are interested!

This write up would include:

How to make the 97-98 Mark 8 motor work for your car
How to do a COP conversion so there isn't a rat's nest hanging out in front of your motor.

 

[FaykSaleen]

This 32 valve got me motivated, like no other!

So I've gotten to work. I scored some of these



Then I realized this primer grey engine bay is not working for me, this needs to be changed.... NOW!





So we made this happen, Ford's one and only Torch Red.




Drum roll please...







*DRUMS ROLLING*



Bam!!






She's blingin' now!

That's where we're at right now as far as keeping you guys updated goes I'm not trying to be a jerk but right now I'm pulling the K-member off to get the motor/trans and everything situated on the car. Forecast shows the car will be getting started tomorrow night :thumbsup:


I hope you guys approve of my addiction, if not then whatever I guess I'll just go to rehab or some shit and switch to the darkside (chevy)




lol yeah right

 

[greenscobie86]

Awesome dude! Love seeing stuff like this. Keep the pictures coming.

 

[g36 monkey]

sweet man, really enjoyed the read!

 

[sleepn_sn95]

What an awesome car and story to go with it! Definantly looking forward to the next update

 

[Phatboy]

Subscribed!

 

[krazyrabbit]

Great writeup! You've got more patience than me, that's for sure. I've only had mine for 4 months and I'm going crazy because the progress seems so slow!

 

[Musturd]

**** yea buddy. I've been waiting for this thread . The last car was super sexy can't wait to see this one done..
Thats sick you went 4v with it as well that engine bay is fresh

 

[MustangChris]

wow! Kicking ass already!!!

 

[FaykSaleen]

**** yea buddy. I've been waiting for this thread . The last car was super sexy can't wait to see this one done..
Thats sick you went 4v with it as well that engine bay is fresh

Thanks a lot Musturd, I was hoping you'd chime in!

Great writeup! You've got more patience than me, that's for sure. I've only had mine for 4 months and I'm going crazy because the progress seems so slow!

Krazy, hang in there because once it's all said and done the headache these cars can cause instantly go away when the gas pedal hits the floor :thumbsup:

wow! Kicking ass already!!!

And taking names!!


Thanks for the kind words guys, I really appreciate it because with those kind words the motivation for this build goes through the roof!

Edit: I will be having updates tomorrow, I'm taking my time with getting the motor in and just going over everything before I decide to just stick in the car and I don't want to burn myself out doing it. Also, just playing it safe so it's all systems go and fully functioning when I start it up :thumbsup:

 

[FaykSaleen]

Oh gawd.... I didn't go home tonight and this happened




haha the transmission isn't on it yet that's why it's angled forward and it might be a tad bit off center because the K member isn't centered yet


Edit: God this thing looks good in there, adding this picture I just took to this post

 

[Ferocious]

I just the entire thread.

Torch red, black wheels, and a 4V.

This build has already made it to one of my top favorites.
I honestly can't wait to see what you have in store for this bad boy.

:thumbsup:

 

[Tony]

this is gonna be fuukin nasty!!!! good luck with the build dude!

 

[belber095]

yayyy i've been waiting for a build from you man! keep it comin!

oh, and having a bare engine in there mus make you want to wire tuck it, huh?

 

[FaykSaleen]

I just the entire thread.

Torch red, black wheels, and a 4V.

This build has already made it to one of my top favorites.
I honestly can't wait to see what you have in store for this bad boy.

:thumbsup:

Thanks! I'm gonna be breaking out of the mold a little bit and the car should have a little bit of a unique twist

this is gonna be fuukin nasty!!!! good luck with the build dude!

Thanks Tony!

yayyy i've been waiting for a build from you man! keep it comin!

oh, and having a bare engine in there mus make you want to wire tuck it, huh?

Hushhhhhhhhhh....! You're giving away the surprise!! Lol it's all part of my theme for the car, I call it, Dead AND Alive.

 

[Orange 94]

Looking great! Good job so far!

 

[MustangChris]

as to the write ups, we're always open to them!

 

[Gregor185]

Im in love

 

[FaykSaleen]

as to the write ups, we're always open to them!

Awesome, I'll be making a thread tomorrow on both the swap & c.o.p. conversion

Im in love

Me too! That engine bay getting painted gave me butterflies lol

I got the car started up and running real smooth today. Man, does that 4 valve sound so good!