Starting a new project, 89 Mustang "back in the day" street / track day car

[fast Ed]

G70+ is a pretty wide category that encompasses everything from Showroom Stock cars all the way to something like an IMSA GT car from the late 70s. The trick is that you are supposed to prepare a car to a set of rules from a specific race series from the 1973 - 1989 time period. In my case I would be choosing the SCCA Escort Endurance series rules from 1989 to prep the car to, so it should remain largely stock by that set of rules. Putting it together as a Saleen, taking a 50 lb. weight penalty compared to a regular 5.0L, allows me to run 5-lug 4-wheel disc brakes, and then I should also be able to get away with the 65mm throttle body, 1.72 rockers, 3.27 or 3.55 gears, and FMS shorty headers, since those were all pieces that came on the late 80s Saleen production cars.

If I do make it out for G70+, Mt. Tremblant would definitely be on my list at some point. I've crewed up there a few times in the old Firehawk series, but never have driven on it. Can't be any tougher than Mosport, right? :P


cheers
Ed N.

[Huskinhano]

I've got a T5 bellhousing that was sold as used to me but I can't find any indication that it was ever bolted to a motor. No score marks from bolts heads, no grease, ect. I also have a brand new block plate with some light surface rust. I don't know what shipping would cost but if your desperate for one, let me know, maybe we can work something out. I want to clean house. I bought it for my 66 when I was thinking of going T5 instead of Toploader. If I go T5, I'll use an adapter plate. The problem with converting a T5 bell from a cable to mech linkage is you end up not being able to find a boot to cover the clutch fork opening.

[bjohn]

I gotta say, I dig the hell out of on the cheap track day mustangs!!!!!!

[fast Ed]

So yesterday (Sunday) my friend Greg Judge, who does some Solo I and track days in a Fox, came over to check out the car, and lend a hand with some wrenching. I think that he's at least as excited about the build as I am! LOL

Anyway, we didn't do a whole lot, just chewed the fat for a while, discussed the plans for the car, and then decided to get the engine out and up on a stand so it could be diassembled for inspection. It had been sitting in the car for an unknown period of time with no intake in place, so who knows if any critters decided to take up residence in the cylinders, or worse.

The spare (86) engine that I had picked up just in case the 90 engine in the car was going to take too much work to become operational quickly:



Engine bay of the car as received:



A/C compressor and P/S pump out of the way, ready to come out:



The engine was just sitting on the crossmember, not bolted down, and no trans in the car, so it was quick coming out:



A few more detailed shots of the engine bay, look how clean that firewall and trans tunnel are:





Up on the stand, ready to be dug in to:



Even has some new urethane engine mounts ready to go:



Up on stands, waiting to have the suspension and brakes blown apart:





Super clean floor pans, already has some bolt-on frame connectors installed. Haven't decided what exactly to do with them yet, may just leave them as is for now rather than welding them, in case they are going to cause a hassle for the vintage race rules:





The greenhouse behind the shop where we put the car to work on it ... was a beautiful sunny day, even though it was around freezing outside, in the greenhouse we were down to shirtsleeves, almost felt like ants under a magnifying glass ... quite nice on a cool spring day actually:




I'll post some more up when I get the heads off the engine this week. Hopefully it is going to be useable, we'll see how it goes. I have a freshened set of E7 heads with good valvesprings coming from a guy off the Corral.


cheers
Ed N.

[JOES66FURY]

I like where this is heading..cant wait to see more

[Russell]

Have you tired to turn the motor over or are you waiting to see what's in side?

[Blazerteam]

I like the project too,and dig your garage .No hole in the ground effect there..just nice and light.

[fast Ed]

Haven't tried yet. Figure that I will put the heads first to see if any critters made themselves a home in a cylinder, and if it's all clear, then put some lubricant down each hole and let it soak in for a few days before I try to spin it over.


cheers
Ed N.

[Scott Liggett]

A secret wish of mine is to have a street cruiser, a drag car, and a road track car. No comprises on any of the three.

I like the sunroom/shop idea. No shortage of light to work in day. All season too, especially in the wintery areas.

[min301]

A secret wish of mine is to have a street cruiser, a drag car, and a road track car. No comprises on any of the three.

I like the sunroom/shop idea. No shortage of light to work in day. All season too, especially in the wintery areas.

Would be sweet here in the winter.