$5000 budget Mustang

[Ron S]

Yeah, I go down there sometimes. Been crazy busy, maybe I'll post next time I go down there, and we can meet up. Ron

[Hondo78]

Very cool rendering of the Mustang, I wonder if he will do an AMX for you prior to the completion so you can "Flair to photo" .
Question, after reading this thread if you were to build the Mustang again, would you just start with a C4 Corvette and replace the body with a Mustang? I have thought my Javelin project should be simplified this way...... Or cut up a mid engine Audi and re-body it..

Its funny, when I look at that rendering it is so exaggerated it looks like a cartoon. I know it was made from a photo of my car, the gas tank vent welded in the bottom of the tail panel, and gas tank filler behind the back window are a dead giveaway.

Here is the guys web site, he does have some cool stuff on there. Suprised when I found my car there
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vtmg/

[Ron S]

If I were to build the Mustang again, I would still build the chassis from scratch, for some reason I just enjoy that part of the build. The mud and paint work, not so much. I would however try alot harder to keep the weight down, and not build such a bulldozer chassis.

The renderings are cool, but for some reason I need to stand back with the sheet metal hanging on the car and ponder for a while. I don't think the rendering of the Mustang would have looked anything like that if I would have tried to explain it to someone. I've seen alot of renderings that were cool as hell, but when the cars were built something got lost in the translation. My brother photoshopped my AMX project with the wheelbase, and flare mods for me. I'll post them up as soon as I start the build thread.

[Hondo78]

Ron-
I was intrigued to see the custom one off frame etc, likely why so many of us are watching this thread. Ever consider sponsors for the AMX build? (Tires, brakes, welders, transmissions, engines)

True, renderings are a great place to start however rarely repeatable in steel.

Great build thread, it gets me going on my project.. We strip and dip the body Sept 14.

[Ron S]

I still haven't nailed down exactly what the AMX will get for some of the parts. Sponsors would be cool, it should be an interesting build.

[Hondo78]

Are you going to the "2011 LS Fest" with your 1st gen. Mustang?

[Ron S]

Car is being prepped for paint, don't think I'll make it in time.

[HectorM52]

You'll be at RTTH, right?

PS - we missed you at PSMC this year. I know it was a long haul for you guys...but we drove the piss out of our cars and got all the laps we could stand. At least you could have gotten some good practice!!

[Dan S.]

Ron, When you finish the paint and get around to striping, I thought I'd throw a look out there for you to consider. The Grabber Blue is a cool color, but it's a little awkward to stripe. Both a white stripe, and a black stripe get lost in the blue. But if you use both colors, you can still get an awesome look. The white accent in the triple stripe keeps the black from falling into the blue and getting lost... for example...

[Ron S]

Finding all kind of crazy stuff I didn't know existed, like my car as a ragtop. LOL
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ch&um=1&itbs=1

[Wesley J]

Although I like the white the best from the photochops, I prefer the currnent paint scheme the best. Not as belly button as stripes. That being said, I'm going with a similar paint scheme (flat hood) so I'm obviosly biased.

It was cool to see your car in magazines this month. I was so hoping I'd end up in Hot Rod from the Power Tour trip last year but didnt...

Wes

[vintageracer]

After all this work, repair and fun how do you stand money wise concerning your original goal and title of this thread of building a "$5,000 Budget Mustang"???

[Ron S]

After all this work and repair how do you stand money wise concerning your original goal of a "$5,000 Budget Mustang"???

That is too funny. Lets see 3rd engine, 3rd transmission, working on the 2nd rear(changing to a full floater), multiple body changes. With the rear swap, the car sets around 30K. Everytime I break something(or hit something) its the original budget all over. I've given up on the budget part, I'm thinking of the AMX build title $???? Budget AMX. LOL

[vintageracer]

My "budget" 66 Shelby Vintage race car that I built in the 1990's started with a REAL 1966 Shelby GT 350 rolling body that I "thought" I stole for $1,700. 2 years later and a total of $35K spent the car was done. The only things Mark and I paid labor wise to have have completed was the fabrication of the roll cage, assembly of the engine, rebuild of the transmission I purchased for road racing, set of rear-end center section pumpkin I purchased, Frame Machine time to straighten the body and sand blasting of the body. Including the original $1,700 purchase price of the car the cost for these labor/services that we paid others to do added up to $6,500. The difference between $6,500 and the end price of the finished car ($35,000) is $28,500 which was spent on parts, paint, supplies and anything else necessary to complete. NO LABOR! We did all the labor ourselves that including fabricating everything in the car, paint, body work, wiring, installations, re-engineering screw ups and more.

When we were done we did have a rotissarie built, period correct vintage race car that we proceeded to race for the next 7 years however there was nothing cheap about building the car other than the original purchase price of that rolling 1966 Shelby GT 350 Body!!!

Yes we also went through our share of engines and had to repair one fender due to a altercation with a "city titty" at turn 15 at Sebring.

I feel your pain!!!!

[Payton King]

Never thought that I would say this, but looking at those photoshop pics, I really like your car with the black rims. Paint it back the way it is with the black hood and have your rims coated black.

[Hondo78]

Any pic's on the newly painted "Budget" Mustang?

Also- Do you have actual glass windshield and back glass or Lexan windows front and rear? If so would you share your source for Lexan replacements?

[Ron S]

I haven't even touched the car since VIR, but it will be painted by RTTH. I am going to the Grand Prix race here in Baltimore this weekend, then the clock will start running on my mad dash to get the car in color before the 22nd. I still need to make rear bumper brackets, fit the poorly fitting bumper, fabricate the rear splash pan, and sand and paint the whole whole car. No problem, I'm only working 10 hour days at my regular job, sleep is highly over rated anyway. The paint should still be wet when it goes on the trailer for Pigeon Forge. With the amount of abuse the road courses put on paint, I'm not making it too nice, so I won't cry when the thing gets sandblasted at speed.

The glass in the car is glass, the rear window is 45 years old.

[Ron S]

Finally got started finishing this car, installing rear bumper, making a rear splash pan. Got the bumper brackets/tie downs made, started the lisence mount which the two small rear splash pans will attach to.

[bonecrrusher]

Looking good Ron!

[srh3trinity]

Looks good with the bumper. This should really finish the car out for a little while. That pic above almost looks like a fish eye lens because the car looks so wide.