How about, "The Mustang that was supposed to cost 5 grand."

Bitchin car Ron. I have Lurked for a while watching it come togther. I love the color.

Those wheels look awesome. I'm surprised that they clear the brakes. I thought 18's were only good for 14" rotors. Brakes look awesome :)

Amen brother.
I think the initial build ended up at 9K, but the upgrades have now exceeded that by quite a bit. It's floating aroung 21k(over 4 times the initial budget). Maybe the name should be Congressional Budget Mustang, probably fits better. Ron

Oh!
 

so Todd is dogging me now with a call sign of "Vegas 69"? LOL...don't even get me started.

Those wheels and brakes are all business, to me they fit the car perfectly. I have owned cars with rims smaller than your rotors

It's now project 5K in brakes :D

I agree, killer car! :thumbsup:

Pretty cool man!

Got my LS7 built last night, had to change the reluctor wheel to 24x, because I couldn't find a translator. Figured I'd put bearings in it while it was apart. Engine only had 2900 miles, but I could tell they were hard miles.

Picked up a carbon fiber Nascar air cleaner, can't deside if I'm going to go orange with Chevrolet valve covers or blue with Ford valve covers, either way it should be in by the weekend. Ron

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...59_dJghb-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...94_ia9uH-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...46_ue4qR-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...84_WYmk5-L.jpg

After looking at it
 

I think the orange would clash with red fuel rails. I like the Chevy valve covers the way they are. If you need to paint them, I would go the same color blue that you used on the car.

Do you think I could get my own show on "HGTV?"

The air cleaner...well that is pretty bad ass right there.

Dam Ron you just keep stepping things up a notch...... Congratulations on the new motor and I can't wait to see this car rock this year!!!!

I'd leave the valve covers raw and likely have the tops machined and then Laser etched with "Muttstang".... Most sign shops can do the etching for cheap money and it's just a nice touch especially on a polished piece....

Thanks Albert,that is too cool. I would have no idea how to photoshop that, or what ever you did.

I've tried to keep this thing as old Trans-Am looking as I could. I always hated the way the LS1 looked in the car, but it was all about the budget so it was what it was. The budget is now blown, so I'm doing what I want. That is why I went with the 4 bbl type intake and I'm pretty sure I'm going to run the Yates type 351 valve covers, who knows I might eventually run a Yates motor.

Thanks again, Ron

Awesome. Its going to look cool.

Ron-

All I can say is that out of all the builds I have looked at online your car is just incredible!

I had a 65 fastback when I was 15 (about the mid 80's) and put new partial quarters and other sheet metal on it in my parents garage. I remember how hard it was getting everything to line up right and make it an ok street car. I can't imagine grafting all of thos panels together, you did a great job! :thumbsup:

Awesome. Its going to look cool.

Cool well getter done good buddy cause that is certainly the coolest Muttstang on the planet,,,, and I'm looking forward to running with another great winger in the Rat-Pack on the way to SEMA Next year bud.

Oh where, oh where, do you shoe horn this humungus oil tank. Wow there is really no space for this big trash can under this hood. I see why the Nascar cars put it behind the drivers seat. Ron

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...73_v2MXU-L.jpg

Really have no place for the oil tank,thought of every possible location, just not enough room. So I'm thinking of building a custom tank.

My radiator sets at a 45 degree angle,so there is a lot of room behind there. The fans are pushers and they kind of push toward the ground because of the angle of the radiator.

I was wondering if anyone could think of any reason why this would be a bad idea, I would put a baffle between the radiator and the tank to divert the hot air around the tank.

I mocked up a tank out of cardboard. The tank will require alot of baffling, and bungs, but the nice part is you can put them where you want them. It would be a clean set up, and kind of fits the car. What do you think? Ron

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...35_NcsYJ-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...22_ts7jm-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...43_5fxJV-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...53_qemp3-L.jpg

ron looks great
the problem with the square dry sump tank is it doesnt create a vortex inside,which naturally forces the oil to the outlet on the bottom, there are plenty of square dry sump tanks out there, but its a compromise for sure.

can you cut into the cowl and make a box? who needs passenger foot room?lol

This dry sump setup is all new to me, that is good info Jake thanks. Kind of sorry I didn't just stay with the wet sump, but I'll get it figured out. Figured I'd post up, 10,000 heads are better then one. Ron

If it helps Ron,,, I saw what looked like a sump tank in the trunk of the Cobra at Optima last year. I know it's a long run with lines,,,, but it would put the tank in an out of the way place bud.... just make sure the lines are shielded and the connects are bullet proof Pal ;-).

Desided to stick with the tank I have, and make it fit. I have to change all the down bars to recess it into my firewall.

I'm going to fab all the new stuff out of chromoly, route the bars, so I can eliminate the core support all together, Should drop about 100 lbs. I figure the tank, lines and oil, are about 60lbs., so I'm still about 40 lbs. ahead.

Here are a couple pics of the hackery.

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...40_3S6o2-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...68_65xaW-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...96_ehzW8-L.jpg

Got the tank jacket built and installed, hoping to have the firewall painted by the weekend.

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...26_ozALw-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...80_ui5Ks-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...97_QifRn-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...26_twfMW-L.jpg

Got the engine set in, dry sump was a tough fit. all worked out in the end. Still have to finish tigging the front structure, and make some kind of new hinges. Hoping to fire it up this weekend. Ron

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...90_QF8f3-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...11_XQcN2-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...82_WihW8-L.jpg


http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...98_N3ncL-L.jpg

You are the man. Enough said.

Looking good! :thumbsup:

WOW a man with a huge vision and even bigger talent congrats! Killlllller :thumbsup:

looking good my man
 

I see you decided to shoot a little color on the firewall. Very nice. Like the way your recessed the tank.

Nice work it looks great.

Got the new chromoly bars bent and tigged, lost about 60 lbs using chromoly instead of mild steel. Should offset the weight of the tank lines etc. Had to loop the bars around the oil tank, turned out pretty good though.

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...87_EPdrv-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...16_xyiFA-L.jpg

Chromoly front structure built, and removed for powder coating. Even with all the bars, its 51 lbs. less then the mild steel, and I added toe hooks on the front. Kinda cool the fenders, and hood hook right to the structure. Ron

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...16_FgywU-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...16_FgywU-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...61_GTwJz-L.jpg

Sweet!

Ron the car looks great

Quick Question - what size is the tire & Wheel combo

It has 275-35/18's on 18x10.5 on the front, and 335-30/18's on 18x13 on the rear.

Thank you - man do they look perfect

That's nice:thumbsup:

Got the down bars back from the coaters, color matches pretty well. Should get to fire up tomorrow, hopefully. Ron

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...34_JYB94-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...95_XwRke-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...08_T84rY-L.jpg

Very cool i know your chomping at the bit:yes:

Nice work it looks great.

Finally fired it up,sounds good. All I have to do is bleed the brakes, and I can go terrorize my nieborhood, its fun running that thing around with no front clip.

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...47_etGs8-L.jpg

http://57hemicuda.smugmug.com/Cars/M...23_LhnbU-L.jpg

Car got dynoed on Friday. It made 573 RWHP @ 6150 RPM and 520 ft-lbs @ 5450 RPM. Car is feeling pretty snappy, actually its an unruley bitch. Ron

That cool Ron. Do you have any video?