SN-66 Budget Build

[latamud]

I've been a lurker for well over a year and finally made some major progress with my build today that I felt it was ready for PT. I hope the Julian Brother's don't mind, I couldn't think if an original project name and considering I'm taking a lot of cues from their build I felt it fitting to follow their lead.

As with a lot of projects this one started out as something simple and in the end, well, we all know the end. I picked up a blue 66 Mustang Coupe last year. I've done a Cobra IRS in my yellow 66 Mustang and wanted to do it to this one also.


Within days I bought an 01 Cobra IRS with floorpan with intentions of grafting it under the rear of the 66.


So, the original plan was to mimic what I planned for the rear in the front. I wanted to find a wrecked late model Mustang and graft the front clip to the 66 and drop the cheapest 4.6 and auto trans I could find (originally this was going to the the wife's car, and she still thinks it is).

I had a lead on a local 4.6 2v out of a Lincoln, but before the guy could deliver it I found this in Cincinnati. It's a 96 GT, 4.6 2v with an automatic. It rear ended a semi and killed the front end, some of the engine accessories and blew both airbags. The wiring was messed up but the engine still turned over and I was confident it would still run once I had everything in order. This is where the project took the "SN" twist.


The next day I started cutting the carnage away.


This is a 2002 GT front clip I picked up locally. Almost every car I look at has the ruined radiator support base from someone thinking it was a good jacking point.


For all that followed the SN65 build, we leaned that the wheelbases of the Sn95 and 64-70 were 6.7" off. Me in the pic, yes, shorts and crocks. 3 years in Hawaii, I still wear "slippas" even when working on the cars, I still have all my fingers and toes.



I found conflicting info from multiple sites posting info on the SN65, 6.7" or 7". I chose 6.75 to keep measurements simple.


the frame rails flare out from the factory, I knew whatever I did to the 02 towers much me the same on the 96. I took equal length out of the frame rail sections of both 96(white) and 02(yellow).








The cuts I made were measures and chosen so that I could effectively move the front suspension AND steering forward 6.75" including the sway bar. I staggered the cuts between the 96 and 02 parts so this would work, like Tetris.

[latamud]

A little different from the SN65 project, remember, tight budget, and KISS method, 2 K members.




With this setup, there is no measuring to relocate the engine in its original location. There’s no reason to even to remove the engine. This way I can check my clearances and see what’s going to interfere. The oil filter was in the way of the suspension K member.



I chose a remote oil filter sandwich adapter; it was labeled as late model Mustang so I assumed it was good for 5.0 and 4.6. I didn’t know they changed oil filter design for the 4.6. I could have sent the adapter back but I decided to make it work.




IRS install:




donut makes a good buffer between jack and IRS cradle.

[latamud]

Back to the 66. It was almost a blessing the shock towers, frame rails and floor were so rotten. Guilt free cutting.


















After all that I got a great deal on an 03 Cobra IRS that became available I couldn’t pass on. I traded the 96 SRA and cash for it. Save it for later, already have the 01 Cobra IRS and It will be fine for the 2v.





Fast forward 3 months, the 03 Cobra become available (comes with a 96 GT SRA go figure) for a great price I couldn’t pass on it.



So, I gave the 2v and Auto and pretty much everything to a guy I know building a Pinto on a tighter budget. I heard you’re not supposed to be able to yank these engines while still attached to the tranny.

[latamud]

DS quarter panel, deck lid, and rear bumper cover were donated to a local Mustanger who had a run in with the center divide.



I like these wheels and brakes!





Back to the 66:









I needed something I could use to raise the 66 body up so I could roll the 96 under it. I came up with this idea walking through the recyclers.

[latamud]

Back to the 96:

[latamud]

Today’s progress:











This shot is the bodies squared. The cut quarters and no engine give make it look like the body is riding like a 4x4.

[srh3trinity]

Wow, what an undertaking. I have been doing some sanding and cleaning on floorpans for the past few nights and I can't imagine how many hours you have in this project. I am learning that everything takes much longer than you think it will.

[Chad-1stGen]

Wow that is a whole lot of cutting. Looks like you are making good progress! The SN65 project certainly was inspiring. You going to try and keep the newer Mustang interior like they did too?

What were you trying to show with the K member pics? You are going to keep two k members? I got confused lol.

Thanks for sharing the build

[latamud]

Wow, what an undertaking. I have been doing some sanding and cleaning on floorpans for the past few nights and I can't imagine how many hours you have in this project. I am learning that everything takes much longer than you think it will.

Agreed, I've learned over the years, whatever time I think its going to take, I double it and that end up being more realistic.

Wow that is a whole lot of cutting. Looks like you are making good progress! The SN65 project certainly was inspiring. You going to try and keep the newer Mustang interior like they did too?

What were you trying to show with the K member pics? You are going to keep two k members? I got confused lol.

Thanks for sharing the build

Yes, I'm keeping the interior, and I'm at a loss as to how the SN65 dash was mounted considering the upper mounts had to be cut off.
The K-member pics, yes, I am running 2 K members, one for the engine and one for suspension/steering. I was planning on welding them together and trimming the fat but it was so convenient being able to NOT have to pull the front suspension to yank the engine out. I think I'm going to make them a bolt-together piece.

Thanks all for checking out the build. I'll keep track of progress.

[CruizinKev]

wow what big project! good luck with it!!

[BossaNova]

Unfreakingbelievable! In your driveway!

You must have some really cool neighbors.

[strtcar]

Man you have quite a project on your hands. Keep us updated.

[White05GT]

When you cut off the front off the 66 the vin numbers were removed, correct? What vin numbers do you use on a project like this and how do you put them on the car? Or does the DMV issue new ones on custom builds? Looking forward to more progress pics. You guys amaze me with your skills.

[latamud]

Unfreakingbelievable! In your driveway!
You must have some really cool neighbors.

I have been widdling away at the 96 Vert for the past couple weeks in the driveway, I live in the burbs on a busy main through-way and am surprised at how well the neighborhood seems to be taking it. I get people walking by stop to chat and get a surprise when I explain what I'm doing. Yesterday while dropping the 66 body my neighbor across the street walked over and told me he was wondering how far I was going with that vert body, it wasn't until then he realized what i was doing considering there was a 66 body siting on the 96 subframe.
I've chopped up 2 other cars in my driveway in the past 5 years, no complaints.
This article in Mustang and Fords "Don't try this at home"...well, I like to do what they say can't be done.

When you cut off the front off the 66 the vin numbers were removed, correct? What vin numbers do you use on a project like this and how do you put them on the car? Or does the DMV issue new ones on custom builds? Looking forward to more progress pics. You guys amaze me with your skills.

Yes, I kept the 66 fender apron VIN and I still have the door with VIN plate. AND, I kept the 96 dash vin plate still on a section of dash. I know Ohio will allow for a kit car vin but I want to keep this simple so I plan, not all plans work out, to drive the car as a 96 because that is the chassis I'm using. I don't have plans to sell the car, I would love an 03 Cobra daily driver, and a 66 Mustang dd too. I get the best of both worlds here. The best policy on all this, FULL disclosure.
Who knows, maybe 40-50 years we'll be reading about some beat up 65 yellow fastback with some odd drivetrain some kid finds in a barn. You ever wonder what will happen to our cars eventually? Ed Roth's cars for instance, they keep turning up in weird places. Someone buys it and drives it, doesn't know how to maintain it, the CPS goes out and parks it forever.

[srh3trinity]

As cool as this project is, we definitely need more and more pics of it as things go on. I want to see some pics of the truck with red steelies and the wagon too at some point.

[latamud]

As cool as this project is, we definitely need more and more pics of it as things go on. I want to see some pics of the truck with red steelies and the wagon too at some point.

Right on, will do.

The 53 Dodge pickup belongs to a friend of mine. It's on an 88 Dakota frame. He's done some more work to it in the last year. Casey is attending Wyotech right now but he has a Dodge V10 and matching auto tranny to drop in it. He's been talking Mopar IRS for it too.


The Wagon is my 63 Falcon, my hauling vehicle. It has a roller 5.0 and a 5 speed. Now that was a budget build.


Since I'm introducing my cars, Here's the Yellow 66 Mustang Coupe. 408 Clevor, Viper T56, Cobra IRS, Vortech supercharger, C5 13" front brakes, 17x9s all around. Still finishing up the IRS and fender flares. I blew up my engine on day 4 of HRPT-07, would have been a long-hauler.



















And my 65 Barracuda, 318, Ford T5, Ford 9".

[67cougnut]

great job on the cars! did you buy some coke a cola red from me on ebay a while back? i remember a guy with a yellow stang and a similar motor buying it.

[latamud]

great job on the cars! did you buy some coke a cola red from me on ebay a while back? i remember a guy with a yellow stang and a similar motor buying it.

Hey, yeah that was me. I still have them in the garage haha. That was like 3 years ago. I still plan on using it, never got the car finished enough to paint it. I kept modding it and then driving it and breaking it etc.

I want to paint these 2 66 coupes with opposing color schemes. Red on black and black on red.

I'd love to have both of my cars posed together when they're done.

[jackfrost]

man, this is a crazy project. good luck with it.

maybe some day I can check it out - i'm down in Centerville.

[latamud]

man, this is a crazy project. good luck with it.

maybe some day I can check it out - i'm down in Centerville.

Right on! I'm usually at the Greene Cruise-in every Friday in my black 65 Barracuda. Keep an eye out for a supercharged 4.6 in a 66 Mustang coupe.