Recommendations on father/son project car

5.0 Hatch · Mar 10, 2021

I've been out of the mustang game for around a decade or so and feel like now might be the time to pick up a project car for me and my son to work on together. I'm looking at a max budget of around $10k and it seems that I have many options available at that price. In the end, I'm really looking for a low 12 high 11 second car.

I've had 2 foxbodys in the past with strokers and superchargers, 95 Cobra, 01 GT so I'm pretty familiar with those platforms.

After looking around, it seems that these are my options

1. Foxbody - Anything under $10k will need a ton of work
2. SN95 - I've seen some nice Cobra's out there in the $6-7k range. A lot of potential but not a huge fan of the looks though
3. New Edge - I'm open to all flavors and a Mach 1 would probably be my pick here. I've also come across a number of GT rollers for decent money
4. S197 - Looks like you can pickup an early S197 GT for pretty cheap and would be a great foundation chassis wise but I don't know if i can get around the looks of them outside of a 2010 body style.

From a financial standpoint now and in the future, I feel like a Mach 1 is the way to go unless a nice foxbody pops up.

The Bone · Mar 10, 2021

Why not look at a classic mustang. They are simple to build and simple so to speak to work on. Lots of aftermarket support. I have a 68 and love the fact that it doesn't have emissions.

Recon · Mar 10, 2021

Mach has my vote.

Pick your poison.

IronSnake · Mar 10, 2021

New edge. Safer/better platform than a fox. Will be cheaper to find too

I would also suggest an old F150 SBSC. OBS Ford's have blown up in popularity too.

Crimson2v · Mar 10, 2021

Mach 1 or a 08-09 3v

ford fanatic · Mar 10, 2021

Good luck finding a reasonably priced fox...

7998 · Mar 10, 2021

If you can score a Mach1 under $10k get it. That would be my first pick, then a 3v (Easy coyote swap) 3rd being a New Edge which you can also coyote swap when you want more power. But my best advice is, teach him how to slide around that mighty 260 hp2v first before you go to the coyote.

5.0 Hatch · Mar 10, 2021

The Bone said:
Why not look at a classic mustang. They are simple to build and simple so to speak to work on. Lots of aftermarket support. I have a 68 and love the fact that it doesn't have emissions.

I'm not into the classics

Blk04L · Mar 10, 2021

Mach Juan

CobraBob · Mar 10, 2021

5.0 Hatch said:
I've been out of the mustang game for around a decade or so and feel like now might be the time to pick up a project car for me and my son to work on together. I'm looking at a max budget of around $10k and it seems that I have many options available at that price. In the end, I'm really looking for a low 12 high 11 second car.

I've had 2 foxbodys in the past with strokers and superchargers, 95 Cobra, 01 GT so I'm pretty familiar with those platforms.

After looking around, it seems that these are my options

1. Foxbody - Anything under $10k will need a ton of work
2. SN95 - I've seen some nice Cobra's out there in the $6-7k range. A lot of potential but not a huge fan of the looks though
3. New Edge - I'm open to all flavors and a Mach 1 would probably be my pick here. I've also come across a number of GT rollers for decent money
4. S197 - Looks like you can pickup an early S197 GT for pretty cheap and would be a great foundation chassis wise but I don't know if i can get around the looks of them outside of a 2010 body style.

From a financial standpoint now and in the future, I feel like a Mach 1 is the way to go unless a nice foxbody pops up.

Before I even got halfway through your post, I was thinking Mach 1 would be an economical and fun project. Who doesn't like the '03/'04 Mach 1? There are a lot of mods available as far as engine, suspension, interior, wheels, brakes, etc. And that Shaker Hood is the bee's knees. If you're wanting a manual transmission (which I would recommend) the TR-3650 transmission is stout for likely what you'd be planning for the engine, too. Or there's the 4-speed auto (4r75w).

Silverstrike · Mar 10, 2021

Another one not mentioned 2001 Mustang Bullitt if a Mach I is not showing up

5.0 Hatch · Mar 10, 2021

Crimson2v said:
Mach 1 or a 08-09 3v

What's different about an 08-09 vs 05-07?

5.0 Hatch · Mar 10, 2021

Silverstrike said:
Another one not mentioned 2001 Mustang Bullitt if a Mach I is not showing up

My 01 GT that I had was actually a bullitt. Ran 12s with just gears, headers and cams.

IronSnake said:
New edge. Safer/better platform than a fox. Will be cheaper to find too
I would also suggest an old F150 SBSC. OBS Ford's have blown up in popularity too.

I kicked around the idea of an F150 but clean ones are getting up there in price.

5.0 Hatch · Mar 10, 2021

I'm just about convinced a Mach 1 is the way to go. Is a eaton swap still feasible these days or are swap parts more expensive?

Silverstrike · Mar 10, 2021

5.0 Hatch said:
I'm just about convinced a Mach 1 is the way to go. Is a eaton swap still feasible these days or are swap parts more expensive?

My Trilogy kit on my Marauder was pretty good and really everything was the same as a Mach I 4R70 auto just the bodies was different. and the intakes was the same except Ford flipped it on the Rauder so it was on the drivers side instead of the Stangs passanger side.

01yellercobra · Mar 10, 2021

5.0 Hatch said:
What's different about an 08-09 vs 05-07?

08+ have a better spark plug design. Just need to make sure it's not an early 08 build. The early 08's might still have the two piece plugs.

I wouldn't bother with a 2010. It's a bastard child of the newer design with the 4.6. If the 11-14 is in your range it might be worth glancing at.

RedVenom48 · Mar 10, 2021

Shitbox SN95, junkyard 460, Edelbrock intake with Demon Carb, appropriate cam, high stall Glide, 8.8 with 9" ends, 35 spline axles into a spool, Nitrous, let it eat at the strip.

Dusten · Mar 10, 2021

5.0 Hatch said:
I've been out of the mustang game for around a decade or so and feel like now might be the time to pick up a project car for me and my son to work on together. I'm looking at a max budget of around $10k and it seems that I have many options available at that price. In the end, I'm really looking for a low 12 high 11 second car.

I've had 2 foxbodys in the past with strokers and superchargers, 95 Cobra, 01 GT so I'm pretty familiar with those platforms.

After looking around, it seems that these are my options

1. Foxbody - Anything under $10k will need a ton of work
2. SN95 - I've seen some nice Cobra's out there in the $6-7k range. A lot of potential but not a huge fan of the looks though
3. New Edge - I'm open to all flavors and a Mach 1 would probably be my pick here. I've also come across a number of GT rollers for decent money
4. S197 - Looks like you can pickup an early S197 GT for pretty cheap and would be a great foundation chassis wise but I don't know if i can get around the looks of them outside of a 2010 body style.

From a financial standpoint now and in the future, I feel like a Mach 1 is the way to go unless a nice foxbody pops up.

I just went through this with my daughter.
Buy a car that isn't going to lose value. So s197 and sn95's should be out.
Buy a car he's attached to. Me and my daughter looked at probably 40-50 different rigs.

Ensure whatever you get will have parts availability. You dont want it to be. A struggle to repair.

Malern28us · Mar 10, 2021

Your ideal car just sold the other day here in Indiana. A Machine that needed engine work for 3500. It sold in 24 hours

geoffmt · Mar 10, 2021

A Mach or a bullit would be a fun build, tons of suspension support to make them handle great. A good car to learn car control, sliding, threshold braking. Find a Porsche club near you and find out about their DE days and join them. It’s a fun safe way to learn your car and get great instruction on driving and observation

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Recommendations on father/son project car

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