So here is my dilemma. I need a new daily driver. (This will be a long read)

[Bryce]

I love my 95 mustang with the 5.0; however, it has 120K miles on it. So I need to decide should I build a new motor or start a new project. The issues I have with the mustang; I live in California and it needs to pass smog, not really a family car and its kind of heavy so economy suffers a little bit. Plus the car is already running and has great brakes and suspension and interior (modifications I have already done to the car). So to make this a really good DD would only require me building a new motor. Motor build is just a 302 with AFR 165 heads and the E303 cam with shorty headers and Edelbrock CARB legal intake. Approximately, I would spend $6-$7K for the motor and a rebuild of the transmission, but this would be a quicker project than building a new car. And yes I know any money I spend on the 95 is wasted as I would never recoup the investment. The mustang would be safer with airbags and crumple zones.



The other option is to keep the mustang as a future project and make it an awesome street car. And buy a pre smog car that is more suited for a family, UGH…..four doors? Lame! But what is out there, preferably Ford with small block room in the engine compartment? This would have to be a relatively cheap initial cost for the car and a cool car that could increase in value when I finish the project. I would build a nice SBF with some EFI and make the car light so it would get decent mileage, over 20mpgs shouldn’t be too hard. My first thought goes to a 65 falcon wagon then maybe a 49/50 ford. I would also make it safe, whatever it takes. I would like it to weigh in under 3000 lbs.

I’m just looking for ideas. Maybe I should get a pinto wagon. ProMav did a rendering of a pinto a while back and it looked really cool. Maybe I build a 4 door maverick. I’m just brainstorming now. If I do start a project I need to be looking for project cars soon.

Thank for the ideas!