65 fastback build

[Wldtang]

After many years of building a playing with fox, sn95 and new edge mustangs, the time has finally come to build my dream car. A 65 fastback. We have owned a 66 coupe for 25 years. I recently sold my 2003 cobra so I could finally build a fastback. The plan was to convert the coupe to fastback. But with the fastback side panels on back order from dynacorn with no eta, I set out to find a rusty fastback so I could use the side frames. Luck had it, I found one in new york that had not been on the road since late 70's.

After some thoughts, I decided to leave the coupe alone and later build it for my wife since it was originally her car.

Luckily the fastback was located close to the guy near Boston who is doing the sheet metal work. So I had him pick it a week or so ago. as you can see the car is bad. But once Tony from muscle car metal is done it will be a brand new shell. I am having him install the DSE mini tub kit with notched frame rails so I can run a 315 tire.

the car will get a 03 cobra engine and t56 swap. I plan to run a 2.9 whipple and make a little over 700 rwhp.

plans for front suspension is aje front kmember with fox struts setup and ps rack.

out back I am still debating what to run. Could use some opinions.
Either a aje setup which is a triangulated 4 link with a fox 8.8 or using a torque arm setup with panhard bar.

it will be a couple of months before I get the shell back, some have time to plan out everything.

this is how it sat when i bought it.

[Mark Antrim]

I'm looking at muscle car metal as my supplier for my next project. I like that he installs his products he sells and knows of there is a fit problem or not.

[Wldtang]

I'm looking at muscle car metal as my supplier for my next project. I like that he installs his products he sells and knows of there is a fit problem or not.

I have been talking to tony since 2012 about doing my car. I'm glad I finally got a chance to make it happen.
I'm with you, I like that he installs what he sells and therefore knows how to make it work.

[wfo guy]

Best wishes on your project!

[xsboost90]

im running aje front and rear stuff- all looks great but after i had purchased all this i realized if i really wanted it to handle great, i should have bought a torque arm setup or something different for the rear. Also should have gone either Ride tech front, or SLA front - although the AJE stuff is much more affordable and easy to set up. Still yet to drive mine so we'll see how it does.

[Wldtang]

im running aje front and rear stuff- all looks great but after i had purchased all this i realized if i really wanted it to handle great, i should have bought a torque arm setup or something different for the rear. Also should have gone either Ride tech front, or SLA front - although the AJE stuff is much more affordable and easy to set up. Still yet to drive mine so we'll see how it does.

Why do you feel the torque arm setup would have been better than the aje stuff?

I dont think I could have used the ride tech or sla stuff due to needing shock towers shaved for the larger width engine

[Wldtang]

Tony started cutting the car apart to get the skeleton ready for media blast.

[Wldtang]

These are the dynacorn shock towers. Should be narrow enough to fit the wide 4.6 4v.

[Wldtang]

What's left after the car was stripped.

[Spork82]

Poor car, great job of saving whats left of it.

[wfo guy]

That much rust makes me ill! I'm amazed at what we resurrect these days. I threw away better stuff than the average Mustang build today. Nobody knew that someday this stuff would become so desirable.

[digitalsolo]

Holy cow, that's a heck of a project.

[Wldtang]

Here it is down to just the skeleton

Media blast is next.

I am glad I got a guy like tony doing the sheet metal. Otherwise it would never get done.

[Wldtang]

Going for media blast and primer

[Godbolt]

Well, you certainly have an almost blank canvas. Good job saving this. The 65-66's are probably the prettiest of the fastbacks.

[wfo guy]

I hope somebody pulled up next to you on the highway and gave you the wth is that look.

[JayinMI]

I see you are in Indiana. I live in Michigan, and you see a lot of cars like this. Cars that guys in places like Texas would send to the scrapper are starting points here. Stupid salt. Someday I want to move out of the rust belt.

Good luck looking forward to more.

Jay

[Wldtang]

I see you are in Indiana. I live in Michigan, and you see a lot of cars like this. Cars that guys in places like Texas would send to the scrapper are starting points here. Stupid salt. Someday I want to move out of the rust belt.

Good luck looking forward to more.

Jay

The car actually is from New York. It had been sitting in a field since late 70's. The guy doing it for me is in NH. He went and picked it up and is doing all of the sheet metal. He is sending me pics of the progress.
I hope to have the body back sometime in march.

[anguilla1980]

Man that's going to be awesome, good save! One of my favorite all time cars!

[HotRod47]

As a body man and painter I would never start with something so bad. Not that it can't be done, but I just want to start with something a bit nicer and more solid. Good for you, and Tony for resurrecting a car that 99% of the car guys out there would walk away from.