New Project Car
 

Our 14yo son, Jack, is interested in cars (with me as his father he didn't stand a chance otherwise!). The Mrs. and I had planned to let him drive the 66 Mustang that I drove in high school, but she was concerned about the car not having airbags, ABS, shoulder belts, etc. So we've been keeping an eye out for a project car for us to work on together. I figure if he has his time and money invested into a car before he gets his license, then he'd be more likely to take care of it. So we've been looking for an airbag car or truck that needs work. The only requirement was that it needed to be a stick shift.

I had been keeping an eye out for another SSP, but nothing jumped off the page at me. I ran across a 95 Mustang GT convertible that was priced right and fit the term "project car", but I didn't like the idea of putting him behind the wheel of a powerful GT. So we kept looking. Earlier in August I found a nice prospect on AutoTrader. I spoke with the seller, and decided it was worth the 1 hour drive to check it out with the family.

The car was a 98 Mustang coupe with the 3.8L V6 and 5 speed transmission. Fourth gear was gone, the AC blew hot air, the windshield was cracked, the front brakes were thin, and the tires were worn. But the body was nice and rust-free, and the interior was clean. It was perfect! I showed Jack how to check out a car, and also how to haggle with a seller. A deal was struck, and we took the car home that weekend when the notary was open.

Jack is VERY excited. He has joined 4 Mustang forums, and is trying to learn all he can about the car. I got the car insured, and plan to get it tagged this week. Here's a pic -

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...c1cc09132a.jpg

Congrats...I remember gettting my first car (a 1966 Mustang) as a young lad and it was a real thrill.

Bill, I hear ya! We just did a quick 2600 mile round trip for a project car for Austin , my 15yr old..
1993 white coupe with all ruby red interior, it's a roller project !
Mamma and I told him we will buy him parts as his report card comes out!:D
this should keep him busy and out of trouble!
http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/s...0828000740.jpg

Nice stories/pics guys. :2thumbs:

Hector, that's a very nice looking Fox! It looks to be a great project for you two to work on.

Jack is very excited about the 98. He is catching some grief from his friends for being spoiled. In actuality, the dollar amount really isn't that much. I think everyone here recognizes the benefits (on several levels) of a project like this. My only regret is that I don't have a bigger garage!

Quick Update

Jack & I recently drove to North Carolina and back to pick up an 8.8" rear with 3.90:1 gears and a t-lok. We knew the seller from another forum. Yes, 919 miles in 16 hours is a long way to drive, but we got the perfect rear for Jack's car. The rear is sitting in my garage now; waiting on a set of lowering springs.

I might also pick up a set of OEM 17x8" SVT 10th Anniversary rims and tires. Although I like the waffles, it would be nice to set the car off with a cool set of rims (I'm a tire/stance kinda guy). The nice thing about 17x8" rims is the wide choice of tires. The only tires for wider rims are summer-only tires, which won't work on a daily driver in this part of the country. The tires on the waffles are summer-only, which explains why the seller said the car was so bad to drive in the winter. The deal is still pending, so we'll see.

Very good first driver for a 16 year old. A nice looking and sporty vehicle with just enough power to be fun but not enough to get into (too much) trouble. Plenty of potental for future cosmetic and mechancial upgrades too...great choice! :2thumbs:

That's great! I am doing the same with my daughter...but not on her own car just yet. Gotta start early!

Those are great shots Toshi! :thumbsup:

Update
 

Here are some pictures that show off what Jack and I did this winter to the '98 coupe:

• slightly wider New Edge 8.8" rear with 3.90:1 gears and t-lok
• Eibach springs
• New Maximum Motorsports LCA's
• 1.4" hubcentric rear spacers
• S197 17" Bullitts & tires (10K mile take-offs from local CL for only $100!!!)

http://mustangforums.com/forum/membe...7-bullitts.jpg

http://mustangforums.com/forum/membe...7-bullitts.jpg

http://mustangforums.com/forum/membe...7-bullitts.jpg

http://mustangforums.com/forum/membe...7-bullitts.jpg


It's amazing what a new set of shoes and a drop will do to improve the look, doncha think? Next on the list is to pull the transmission for a rebuild, new clutch, then getting divorced dual exhaust. Being a dual-airbag V6, it should be a great first car for Jack for not too much coin.

That's one lucky kid!

It looks nice.

Looks Great!:yes:

Just a quick update -

We got the T-5 transmission rebuilt last week, and went ahead and had a RAM HDX clutch put in at the same time. Although we planned to yank the trans out ourselves and have it rebuilt by the shop I ended up using, I decided to grab a pen (for my checkbook) instead of a wrench. We just have too many projects going on right now. So the transmission is now fixed. :)

The car goes in Thursday for dual exhaust. The shop who installed the exhaust on my SSP will be called into duty again. The plan is to cut into the factory y-pipe after the cats, and run true duals with an H-pipe crossover and Thrush Welded series mufflers, with both pipes exiting at the rear bumper.

Future plans call for a "split-port swap", which is basically changing over from the single port heads to the better flowing heads and intake from the 1999-2004 3.8L's. Porting, roller rockers, and a new cam will be done too, and that will be handled by us in our garage. This combination should be good for about 240rwhp, which should be MORE than enough for this car. :D

Great-looking car, Bill. Nice color, too!! I like what you've done.

Gee, I had a 6-cyl 4-dr 1975 Ford Maverick at that age. It was green (ext), green (int) and more green (vinyl roof)! Replaced it with my first Mustang, a brand new 1989 4-cyl hatchback. Both got me through college.

I would love to have the Maverick back now just for kicks.

very nice. I am sure he is excited by it all.

Sounds like fun for dad and son. My first car was a 1966 Mustang (no I'm not that old LOL as it was a used one) and I have lots of fond memories.

Thanks for the encouragement guys. It is fun getting greasy with the kid on a project like this. We're both learning new things!

Jack and I got the new headlights, Cervini's Cobra R hood, and Cobra bumper installed. Here it sits at the body shop awaiting paint -

http://images57.fotki.com/v139/photo...cks9802-vi.jpg


Since the paint is starting to fail on the roof and quarters, the whole car will be repainted back to factory paint code #FU - Dark Green Satin Metallic. I'm using the same shop that painted my SSP. Here are a couple of pictures from Friday -

http://images59.fotki.com/v684/photo...cks9803-vi.jpg

http://images110.fotki.com/v629/phot...cks9804-vi.jpg

That car is going to look sharp! It's nice to see a father/son project coming along.

Jack is one lucky son!!! ;)
Looking good guys! Do you see a V8 conversion in the future?

A V8 swap is not planned, although Jack would LOVE to do a 5.0L Coyote swap! Debbie and I steered clear of GT's because we didn't want Jack to drive a car with too much power. We picked up components for a "split-port swap", which is basically changing over from the single port heads to the better flowing split-port design from the 1999-2004 3.8L's. In addition, we got a Windstar (yes, minivan) plastic intake which has better flow characteristics. We'll get the heads ported and polished locally, and install roller rockers, and a new cam. I've seen similar combinations get about 240rwhp on the dyno, which should make it a low 14-sec car in the 1/4 mile. That's enough power IMO, without the temptation for Jack to get himself into too much trouble (we hope!)

Paint is ON!

http://images110.fotki.com/v629/phot...cks9805-vi.jpg


:cool:

Really coming together...nice! :cool:

very nice....that is going to be a super car for him !!

Nice :)

That's just a few ponies less than my stock '01 Bullitt!!! :2thumbs:

Greg

Thanks guys! The body shop is making progress. The rear of the car is assembled, and the hood is on and aligned.

http://images116.fotki.com/v618/phot...cks9806-vi.jpg

http://images110.fotki.com/v109/phot...cks9807-vi.jpg


The rockers, sides scoops, a and c pillars, cowl, door handles, mirrors, and front bumper are still to go. They will also need to assemble the interior panels. But it looks as though they will be finished well ahead of their estimated date of the end of October.

:D

Nice!

Very nice Bill, that is a quantum leap from my first car!!!

Thanks again guys!

It REALLY is going to be a nice car, but it's surprising how inexpensive the project is. We weren't going to put him in a $600 beater, and we certainly were going to buy him someting new either. But these SN95 Mustangs are dirt cheap (relatively speaking) and the 3.8L V6 will run forever (particularly the latter year versions). The paint and body work was an added splurg, but he worked hard last year and got good grades. We want him to recognize the benefits of working towards a goal.

Bill that is some damn good parenting there! To often any more parents just give their kids anything, and I am as guilty as anyone in that regard. At least you will give him the understanding that getting good grades is not only important, but it has rewards also. :yes:

Thats really nice....its great to see them come together.

Lucky kid! Even as a V6, that would be the nicest car at my school(until I get my 84 done heh heh heh).
Great color combo with the wheels too. It's nice when you have the money to be able to do stuff and buy things:)

Thanks Sam!

Time for a couple of more pictures taken this morning. There was a bright back-light from the sun outside, so these aren't the best shots. But here is how the new hood looks -

http://images28.fotki.com/v1028/phot...cks9809-vi.jpg


This shot shows that the passenger-side parts have been installed -

http://images57.fotki.com/v221/photo...cks9808-vi.jpg

that has a sinister look to it right there. Looks like it means business.....

DANG!!! that looks really nice, Bill.
Will Jack be taking it to car events with ya?? if so ...That will be great father/son time.:thumbsup:

Thanks Hector! Yes, it's been great quality time working together. He rode with me over 800 miles round trip one day to pick up the 8.8" rear-end from a member at another forum who lived in North Carolina at the time. That was a great experience! We swapped the rear-end into the car together, and I'm learning to step back and let him handle the wrenches. Once he has his graduated license, this will be the car we take every day to school, weather permitting. It's funny to watch at school when the young drivers pull up with their parents, and they switch seats because the parent continues to work in the car. That'll happen for 6 months, at which point Jack will be able to drive alone under specific restrictions until he turns 17yo. I'm sure we will be taking his car to certain shows/events.

This is the last picture I will be posting from the body shop -

http://images15.fotki.com/v2/photos/...cks9810-vi.jpg


Everything is done except for screwing on the antenna. New Tri-Bar ponies are installed on the fenders, and a new Ford logo is on the decklid. A used cowl was found and painted Trim Black. The new headlights look great compared to the original yellowed ones, and the Cobra fog lights are mounted (but not yet wired). The body shop will be detailing the car today, and we will pick it up tomorow! Better pictures will soon follow.

:cool:

Delivery Day!
 

We picked up the car today from the body shop. I've given the car a quick once-over, and so far I am quite pleased with the results.

http://images54.fotki.com/v77/photos...cks9812-vi.jpg

http://images51.fotki.com/v103/photo...cks9811-vi.jpg

http://images58.fotki.com/v154/photo...cks9814-vi.jpg

http://images54.fotki.com/v627/photo...cks9815-vi.jpg


The Dark Green Satin Metallic color (Ford paint code number #FU) has really grown on me. It comes off as being black in low light, but the green really pops when the light catches it.

Congrats! I'm a big fan of that color and really liked it back then and still do. Being one of those who had a used Mustang as their first car this is a great way to stoke the fire for the next generation of Mustang enthusiasts.