Maybe a change in plan.....

Not much progress to report.  I still do not have the exhaust system in since I spent all last weekend putting up a new fence in the back yard.  With that project wrapping up I should be able to put attention back on the car this weekend.

The latest issue of Hot Rod has a good article about LS engine swaps in a variety of cars.  That got me thinking about what I really want to do with this car.  My first priority is safety, second is I would like to get the practicality and reliability high enough that I could use it as a daily driver, just a cool fast daily driver with 500+ horsepower!

To do that, I was going to rebuild the 351C, bore and stroke it to 393, add a hot cam and new valve train, and aluminum heads and intakes.  All this work I'm estimating at about $8000.  In the same Hot Rod article, they have a side bar about Ford Racing now selling the new 2011 5.0 liter Coyote engine that Ford is putting in the 2011 Mustang.  This engine, complete with ECM and wiring, putting out a bit over 400 hp, is selling new in the box for about $8000.

So for the same money, I can get a brand spanking new engine that could easily put out the horses I want, with modern day reliability and technology, and probably get around 20 mpg vice the 10 or so mpg I expect out of the 351C when it is done.

The Coyote appears to be a very strong engine.  Ford Racing has already announced a supercharger kit for the Coyote that can boost horsepower to over 600.  A bit pricey for the kit, another $7500 or so, but I can add it later if the stock 412 hp is not enough. 

So, I am leaning towards a new engine now.  Of course I would also get a new transmission, a modern five or six speed automatic, which would also greatly increase the driveability of the car.

First thing I want to do is get a Marti report on my Mustang, just to be sure that it is not some sort of odd-ball very collectible edition.  I don't think it is, but I would want to be sure before I go chopping and doing irreversible modifications.  If not an odd-ball collectible, then I think I have a new path forward....

I would love to hear from other folks that have experience with the Coyote engines - what do you like and what do you not like.  Drop me a note.

Still working on exhaust....

After what seemed like a long Thanksgiving break, and an exceptionally long and busy two weeks at work, I finally got back to turning some wrenches last night.  I need to get some misc nuts & bolts this morning, then back to hanging the exhaust system.  If all goes well I'll have it all installed this afternoon.  More to follow....