Planning a build: Operation Daily Driver

[ProTouring442]

Things have been falling in line fairly well over the last year. We've recently moved to a house with a nice sized garage. The electrician is busy running a 100 amp line to feed it. Things are getting paid off (despite the money we've had to spend to get the house livable). And so now it is time to plan out my "Daily Driver"

For a few years, I had a 1993 BMW M5. I loved that car! Consequently, I think the overall goal of this build will be "an American E34 M5." I'm specifying "E34" because I don't want the car to be too "modern." The E34 M5 was a four-door sports car, and that's the feel I want. The more modern cars are certainly more capable, but at the cost of feeling less an extension of the driver, and more piece of electronics wherein the "driver" tells the car what to do and the car goes out and does it.

One important note, and then onto the "build," thoughts and criticisms are most welcomed!

I need something to act as a daily driver. It has to have four doors, be able to carry four people with reasonable comfort, and still be a fun drive. The base vehicle needs to be fairly safe with a chassis that has good aftermarket support. My first thoughts were for GM A-bodies from '66 to '72. These, however have serious rust issues, and well known suspension issues that can be expensive to deal with (I know, I have a '72 Cutlass in the works). '80s G-bodies were considered, but they have the same suspension issues. Also, the four-door requirement limited the number of vehicles as the later square-roof four-doors just don't look good in my eyes.

I looked at a few Mopar four-doors from the '80s, but their suspension is even older in design, with leaf springs holding up the back. That left Ford.

The Ford Fox Platform has to be one of the best supported platforms out there, ad I find the second-generation Fox four-doors to be reasonably attractive. Add in all the Mustang parts cars out there, and it seems a good choice.

Car: '83-'86 Ford LTD, LTD LX

• '85-'86 Mustang nose
• Saleen chin spoiler
• Custom headlights w/GTS covers
• '86-'87 Mustang rear wheel well openings
• '86-'87 Mustnag rear bumber
• Porsche Petrol Blue
• Moonroof

Interior:

• '80s Nissan 300ZX front seats
• Custom console
• Fold down rear seat (wagon?)
• Custom console
• Creme or tan upholstery
• '79-'86 Fox Mustang dash
• Dakota Digital VHX gauge package

Chassis:

• Full subframe connectors
• Strut brace
• Rear shock brace
• Cobra IRS
• Delrin bushings throughout
• Air ride?
• Brake upgrade (17" wheels)
• US Mags U434 "El Dorado" wheels

Engine:

• 302 block (Boss necessary?)
• 4" bore, 3" stroke (302)
• Trick Flow "PowerPort" Cleveland heads
• Trick Flow "Box-R" EFI Intake Manifold
• Shorty or mid length headers
• 10.5:1 compression
• Roller cam
• Pro-M Racing engine management system
• Coil on plug ignition
• 5 (or 6) speed manual transmission

So let's have at it. Thoughts? Criticisms? Better ideas?