Have shop complete Mustang build? Epiphany of no time

[TWF]

Just buy my (it is in for sale forum) and transfer all parts in your chassis.
Friend of my owns shop here in Reno that does exactly what you looking for. If you want to talk with him I will pm you shop name.

 

[augustiron]

Sell it, add the $60k to the new stack and go car shopping for something turnkey and fun for the family.

Odds are you won't wind up with a 69 mustang,
and you'll be driving it 5 years earlier than your mustang may have been done.

As any old car hobbyist knows ( or learns)
Ignoring all the other factors, even if you were to find the perfect shop and drop just $60k into building this car (no way with body, paint, interior, engine rebuild or swap, manual swap, suspension upgrades, brakes and all the little possible unknowns that will come up)

you'll be left with a $30k to 40k car.

That's just how paying a professional to build this stuff goes.

 

[lefty]

Unless the thing is sentimental, I’d just take the $60k that would have went into this project and just get a brand new Mustang. Bonus points for the new S650 Mustang in its ability to have a virtual Fox body gauge cluster if you really want a touch of nostalgia vibes.

Rob- I have an '18. They offered the new (for 2018) digital gauge, but I opted for the analog cluster for the very reason that you mentioned.

 

[CDONA]

Have been watching car builder shows, "Bitchen Rides", and "Iron Resurrection", for the complete custom classic.
Or, the "Road Kill" side of building cars, fast n' loose with scrounged parts, and get er' running for the donutz, n' burnouts.

I would like a nice one, but a rat rod is cheaper and quicker.
All of ICE will disappear eventually, education anyone ??? Last chance to learn/play.

 

[Holeshot]

Here ya go Dubbs:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:31651b05-8ee6-40b9-a4f0-f2bfc8585430

 

[J-Boat]

www.motovisions.com

https://motovisions.com/

 

[auntiebling]

Dubbs! where are you we need interaction here

don't make me start a poll to get you nominated Biggest Tease

 

[augustiron]

He's been working the Mustang, obviously.

 

[900ss]

FYI

https://www.automobilecatalog.com/make/ford_usa/mustang_1gen/mustang_1gen_mach_i/1969.html#gsc.tab=0

 

[Sharxfan]

I am in the same boat but my Challenger has a ton of sentimental value to me so selling is a no go.

I think you are overthinking this issue. If you want to spend time with your family in the car you need to get it running and roadworthy. Swapping the tranny is a wish not a need. New gears in the rear again wish not need. Steering upgrade wish not need stock stuff will still turn the wheels and who needs power steering that's why you have the weight room. If the engine is trash then a crate engine runs from $2K to 5k buy a used engine lift and stand of Craigslist and you are in business.

Its doable with a modicum of time but you have to ask yourself are you wanting a dream car or something to cruise around on the weekend with the fam and only you can answer that question.

 

[nakedape]

Dubs, overthink, something, impossible. I’m sure many people here remember the Barfer that lovingly restored a classic and had a tree fall on it or some other catastrophe. He posted the pictures here.

In the scenario where Dubbs makes his car just like he likes it and spends exorbitant amount of money on it, an accident that resulted in a total would be basically impossible to replace.

A new car, of course would only necessitate a return trip to the dealer to replace under any circumstances. My friend has a yard full of classic Mopar. 69. Superb with original 440, 68 roadrunner with a four speed from the factory and a 383, a 72 charger with a 440, and a whole shipping container full of original parts to support building them up. He’s on these cars for 35 years and a few of them run, but despite being a master tech having the resources to fix them financially, they are all still buckets sitting in his yard and Healdsburg getting worse every day. It’s a great vision you have Dubbs, but the cost don’t line up with your balance sheet and family goals.

 

[tgrrdr]

My neighbor has a restored red 67 convertible. I think he said it has a 289(?) with 75,000 miles (<1,000) since rebuilding the motor.


only downside is that it's at his brother's farm in Nebraska.

 

[900ss]

My neighbor has a restored red 67 convertible. I think he said it has a 289(?) with 75,000 miles (<1,000) since rebuilding the motor.


only downside is that it's at his brother's farm in Nebraska.

A good reason for a road trip if ever I heard one!

 

[TheRobSJ]

He’s on these cars for 35 years and a few of them run, but despite being a master tech having the resources to fix them financially, they are all still buckets sitting in his yard and Healdsburg getting worse every day.

People ask me if I’m ever interested in classic cars. And I think they’re great. I’d love to have a ‘69 Corvette with a tri power big block. But then I’d have to take care of a classic car. And even when you get one that runs and drives perfect, they don’t stay that way for long. You’re constantly fiddling with them. People are spoiled by modern cars where oil changes can stretch to 10k miles or spark plugs don’t need to be replace till 100k.

I work on customer cars all day. Last thing I want to do in my off time is have to fix my own cars. So here I am…super duper master tech and all, and I haven’t even so much as opened the hood on my Acura in a just about a year. Oil change reminder message just came on this week which I greeting with a disappointed sigh. As fun as a burnout is to do in my Corvette, it’s an absolute bastard to replace the tires, so no more hooliganism for me with that.

 

[nakedape]

I work on customer cars all day. Last thing I want to do in my off time is have to fix my own cars. So here I am…super duper master tech and all, and I haven’t even so much as opened the hood on my Acura in a just about a year. Oil change reminder message just came on this week which I greeting with a disappointed sigh. As fun as a burnout is to do in my Corvette, it’s an absolute bastard to replace the tires, so no more hooliganism for me with that.

Part of the reason Dubs has these itches is likely because he's a speech-language pathologist tethered to a desk all day evaluating student needs. No physical movement to speak of, hence gym and projects. It's invigorating to come home after a day of brainwork and labor for a few hours. Once you've burnt out on cutting boards and most of your tool searches are complete ...the ultimate folly begins to sound sane.

Your tire comment resonates. I used to flog the MTS and it completely roached the road 6 front around 2K miles. Rather than change to a more durable, but heavier, tire, I slowed down. Last tire swap was $700 for both!

 

[msethhunter]

Don’t look at it as “spending 60k on something worth 30k”. It’s a tool you use to spend time with your family. IMO, that’s priceless. I’m currently in the middle of a project with my boy on a ‘65 Falcon, and put my ‘67 F100 on hold to help him. I wouldn’t change that time we’ve been spending in the garage for anything.

 

[augustiron]

Another aspect to consider...
<Context>
- My first car was in 1969 Camaro I bought in my junior year of high school for $2,500 in 1985
I still love that car, it's lines, I know every contour. I spent about 8 years with it. Only one of which it was on the road because I crashed it, went through 3 engines, countless tires and a transmission. 7 of those 8 years I spent thinking I was able to restore or build it to some level my 20 yo wallet and skills were not capable of. I sold it at a loss of time and $ as a half finished project and took that $ and moved across the country to start a new life. Best decision ever..
Fast forward 30 years
Now I work on land cruisers for myself and other people as a hobby.
I have several, but the one that matters for this story is a 1984 fj60 I picked up and mechanically fixed up as good as you can with all new suspension, perfectly tuned engine, every small issue addressed and updated to make it run as good as you could with the stock running gear.
It looked cool as hell and I got comments and props everywhere it went. Which was never very far, because it was still an unreliable, ill handling, slow as shit 1980s piece of tank technology.

Whenever I lust for a 1969 Camaro, I think back to that 1984 Land cruiser and remind myself that the 69 Camaro is 15 years older than that in every way shape and form.

Sure, put an LS in it and it will go fast, put four wheel discs on it and it will stop much better. A modern six-speed manual and it will go fast and shift nice. Upgraded seats and seat belts, air conditioning, sound insulation, etc etc etc. For comfort..
But the reality is unless you were going to go as far as changing to a full chassis or aftermarket subframe with better geometry, the factory suspension factory is relatively horrible. And with that I wonder about replacement parts, what a arm bushings is roadster shop using and are they available when they wear out....

In the end if I had unlimited cash I would probably still buy one, but then as Rob said I'd have to maintain it, and have somewhere to store it, and find time to drive it enjoy it.
I realize that just isn't going to happen.

Good luck with whatever you choose dubs

 

[Sharxfan]

After reading AugustIrons post I forgot to add... reup the AAA roadside in my list of things to do to enjoy the car with the fam.

 

[ScottRNelson]

I seriously considered getting a 60's muscle car of some sort before looking at the numbers and buying a new Mustang convertible instead. It would have cost more for a decently restored older car and it still wouldn't have as good of air conditioner, power windows, and a lot of other stuff. Plus, when it breaks or otherwise needs service, I just take it to the local Ford dealer and tell them to fix it. With a car from the 60's I would have to find a specialist to deal with it.

I'm coming up on 19 years of ownership now and still enjoy the thing.

 

[Dubbington]

Dubbs! where are you we need interaction here

don't make me start a poll to get you nominated Biggest Tease

Work got really busy lately and my BARF time is really relegated to work only now.

Dubbs... Strongly recommend a re-read of the all the replies.

1) What Mustang is it? Convertible, fastback, coupe, highly optioned, GT, Mach 1 or GT500? If it's a rare version then that would warrant a visit to a reputable shop, but that will also involve a larger budget.

1969 mach 1 original s code with a 390 and c6 trans and 9" ford rearend. Somewhat rare, more rare than the 428 options

3) What's your time frame? Six months, a year, two years, or?
No time frame. I was going to get it started over spring break which is 6 weeks from now. Having the summer off I can do a good amount of the work. No real room to fix it at the current house...unless we buy this house

4) Finding a shop that actually has an open spot on their calendar to take on what you describe... man you're going to be waiting a long time to get in and lucky if that $60K budget covers it.

5) Current condition of car? Have you checked it over for rust issues? What is it going to take to get the car drivable now? Does it start/run/move under it's own power? Have you done a compression test?
Needs paint and some minor body. Lucky it sat in a garage for 16 years before I got in 1996. Does not start. Last time started was 8 years ago or more. Steering box needs replaced or rebuilt and engine a tune after dad I rebuilt it in 2000 adding headers, aluminum bigger heads, new cam, lifters, intake. Interior original. Probably need new rear axles too. be nice to upgrade to rear disc breaks.

6) Were you thinking about doing any of the work yourself? That is, pull / disassemble and then reassemble that 390 after you take it to the machine shop? For example, machine shop rates are $150.00/hr+ for just the machine work, more if they do the complete rebuild.
Not knowing it would cost yet to complete I'm open either way. I'm able to do work at my parents house with tools there. Not a noob in working on cars especially this car. Swapping in a 5 speed isnt hard actually since a TKX fits in stock spot. We have a engine hoist, engine stand. Be nice to raise car up a few feet to make doing a trans swap easier

7) As Mike95060 said: "Dubbs, just make it drivable and safe. Kids don't care about horse power or paint finish. Go for sunday drives and enjoy using it as much as you can. It will always be possible to make it fancy when you have less to do. As an adult with many competing priorities, it's ok to farm out work you don't have time for."

8) And I would add: "Make it a driver, enjoy it, and do those upgrades as funds become available".

I can get it it to drive thats fine, that doesn't eliminate the work I know that needs to be done. the steering box is toast and I dont think I can get the box out with headers. I might be able to remove the booster and master cyclinder, I'll have to look. It floated like crazy last time i drove it, the steering was so loose.

Hope that helps.