Just picked up a 43k mile, Torch Red '03 Mach

Torch'dMach

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Hey guys, just picked up this beauty on Saturday. I've had a handful of Mustangs over the years ('94 CY GT, '11 Mineral Gray GT, '95 CY GT, '97 CW Cobra) and always wanted a Mach 1. I just got divorced and needed a good project to keep me sane so figured why the hell not lol.

My buddy found it listed in south GA, almost to FL. It originally came from IL, then went to KY, they to GA. I'm in North Ga, the 4th owner and have all the previous owner's names, going to try to contact them to see if they've got any more paperwork. It's got a ton of good mods on it already. If you guys have any good suggestions for me, let me know. I'm mainly wondering about the head cooling mod and replacing the chain tensioners just due to age. Anyway, on to the details.

-2003 Torch Red Mach 1 with the Upgraded Interior Package, 5-speed
-43k original miles. Paint needs a good buff and the rear bumper has turned ever so slightly a different shade (I'm SUPER OCD, but you can only see it in certain lights) but overall it's in great shape. The interior is IMMACULATE.
-Engine runs great, trans shifts very nice, underneath the car is super clean with only minor corrosion on the uncoated suspension components. I'll slowly disassemble and paint as I have time.
-I only paid $12.5k for this thing! :D

-99/01 Cobra bumper
-03/04 Cobra mirrors
-03/04 Cobra rockers
-99/01/Export tail lights (not sure I like them on the red, undecided)
-Dark headlights with clear reflectors
-Black pony in the grille
-Mach 1 lip (needs to be replaced, it's wavy and scraped up pretty good)
-C&L CAI (it'll get swapped for a JLT eventually)
-Intake spacer to raise the shaker
-Canton black overflow tank
-JLT catch can
-BBK longtubes
-BBK ORX
-Stock catback with Magnapacks and SLP tips spliced in
-Bama tuner (I'll probably take it to Kurgan for a real tune soon, it's running a little rich)
-Ridetech adjustable coilovers front and rear
-Stock sub frame connectors
-Eibach sway bars front and rear
-Ridetech lower control arms
-Upper control arms with spherical bearings (not sure whose yet)
-Ford Racing diff cover with the bearing supports
-4.10 rear gears (may have 31 spline axles, I'm gonna pop the cover and inspect)
-17x9/10.5 AFS replicas with 245/315s (needs wider fronts and rears are about bald lol)
-Pioneer double din
-MGW shifter with a race handle (hate it, my Tri-Ax should be here tomorrow)
-Car cover
-Plaque from Ford
-Folder with some of the info from previous owners/mods over the years

Mods for now will be pretty basic:
-Steed Tri-Ax with a Hurst handle and ball
-All new LED lighting in and out
-New lip for the bumper
-Paint the shaker
-Add Cobra Jet emblems to shaker
-Paint the honey comb on the trunk lid so it's fresh black again
-New tires, maybe new wheels. Either 265 or 275 up front and 315 out back, or step up to 18s. Undecided, open to suggestions.
-Might drop the nose just a touch, not far though cuz it rides good
-Add a sub
-Replace with a bluetooth headunit
-Kurgan tune


2003 Mach 1 Torch Red old lady.jpg

2003 Mach 1 Torch Red rear export lights.jpg

2003 Mach 1 Torch Red interior.jpg


2003 Mach 1 Torch Red Export lights.jpg

2003 Mach 1 Torch Red quicktrip.jpg

2003 Mach 1 Torch Red trunk.jpg

2003 Mach 1 Torch Red underhood.jpg

2003 Mach 1 Torch Red underhood drivers side.jpg

2003 Mach 1 Torch Red underhood pass side.jpg

2003 Mach 1 Torch Red 43k.jpg
 
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Roots-type

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Congrats and welcome. Looks like a fun way to ease the post marital blues!
 

COOL COBRA

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Damn that thing has been taken care of! Looks very clean.
I've said it a hundred times, the Mach 1 is severely underrated.
If you swap the tails, I have a mint set to trade you plus cash on my end.
Enjoy the car. It has some impressive mods!
 

Torch'dMach

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Congrats and welcome. Looks like a fun way to ease the post marital blues!
Thanks! It's definitely a whole lotta fun! She slides real well with these worn out tires and the solid rear control arms :D

Damn that thing has been taken care of! Looks very clean.
I've said it a hundred times, the Mach 1 is severely underrated.
If you swap the tails, I have a mint set to trade you plus cash on my end.
Enjoy the car. It has some impressive mods!
I agree, the Mach has always been the underdog compared to the Termi but these cars are certainly no slouch. I had the chance to get a Termi for $11k, but I passed on it because I preferred the Mach. I paid $12.5k for this car.

I'm going to leave the tails for a little while to see if they grow on me but I may hit you up if I decide I don't like them! I work at an aftermarket sheetmetal company (AMD) so shipping would be no problem.
 

COOL COBRA

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Thanks! It's definitely a whole lotta fun! She slides real well with these worn out tires and the solid rear control arms :D


I agree, the Mach has always been the underdog compared to the Termi but these cars are certainly no slouch. I had the chance to get a Termi for $11k, but I passed on it because I preferred the Mach. I paid $12.5k for this car.

I'm going to leave the tails for a little while to see if they grow on me but I may hit you up if I decide I don't like them! I work at an aftermarket sheetmetal company (AMD) so shipping would be no problem.
They look terrible with that red, lol.
Seriously, if you decide to swap, pm me.
I've got a 7k mile Terminator they would come off of so their in great condition, garage kept.
 

Torch'dMach

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So I was tinkering around with the car last night. The CEL came on the day before with P0174, Bank 2 running lean. So I pulled off the shaker and CAI and was looking for a cracked vacuum line/one not connected or a manifold/spacer leak. Didn't find anything, so I just detailed the engine bay some more and put her back together. I'll put her up on stands tonight and look at the o2s.

While I was at it, I raised the shaker up a touch more. I think it looks alot better and makes the hood look more aggressive. Once I get it registered, I'll clean her up and get some real good pictures.

Shaker as I got the car. It does have the intake spacer on it already.
Shaker as I bought, front.jpg


After I raised the adjusters 3 full turns
Raised shaker front.jpg


Before
Shaker as I bought, side.jpg


After I raised it
Raised shaker, side.jpg
 

Torch'dMach

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Check out the paint in the engine bay, even under the CAI and the shock towers are mint. I'm not used to this, they're normally beat around those areas lol.

Engine bay without CAI.jpg


All back together. It's supposed to rain all week, hope to get a break to paint the shaker next week.
Engine bay put together.jpg
 

TBCobra

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Looks great! Congrats! I'll trade you my 04 taillights for those 99/01 taillights. :)
 

Torch'dMach

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Ok guys. I cannot, for the life of me, get this POS MGW shifter out. I’ve tried beating it with a hammer, heating up the base to get the silicone to relax, prying at it with a small crow bar, nothing. Any suggestions before I start throwing tools??
 

VLONE

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I don't have any suggestions on how to get the MGW shifter out/off, but I was going to say I'd be willing to trade you my Tri-Ax for the MGW as I prefer the MGW. Despite that, not sure if the MGW will be effected by the troublesome removal lol.
Aside from that, the car looks fantastic! You really lucked out finding one with most of the best Cobra body components. I have the same bumper cover on my Mach but I really want some cobra mirrors and skirts.
 

Recon

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Nice car. That’s almost the look I’m going for once I start on the body of my Mach 1. Wish I had those tail lights.


Pick your poison.
 

Torch'dMach

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Haha sorry about that post guys. Was in the middle of it and was sooo pissed. Put the car in the air the next night and *tap tap tap* it came off with a punch, super easy.

MGW FUresized.jpg


It was just on with the MGW supplied gasket and a tiny bit of silicone. Check out how clean the case was when I popped it off!
MGW top of trans resized.jpg


Steeda in with some red Gasket maker
Steeda installed resized.jpg


I'm trying to upload a pic of the new shifter, but the site is not cooperating :(
 

Torch'dMach

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Finally! I love this new shifter setup with the Tri-Ax base and Fox style Hurst handle and ball. With my clutch pedal extension (I'm relatively short and don't like to sit right at the wheel) and the gas pedal slack mod done, this falls right to hand and I'm able to sit far enough back to be comfortable. It shifts smooth as glass.
Steeda with Hurst handle resized.jpg
 

Torch'dMach

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I don't have any suggestions on how to get the MGW shifter out/off, but I was going to say I'd be willing to trade you my Tri-Ax for the MGW as I prefer the MGW. Despite that, not sure if the MGW will be effected by the troublesome removal lol.
Aside from that, the car looks fantastic! You really lucked out finding one with most of the best Cobra body components. I have the same bumper cover on my Mach but I really want some cobra mirrors and skirts.

Thank ya sir! All the Cobra stuff and the other good parts are why I jumped on it so quick. I was not planning on buying a car for another few months lol.
 

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