Dazed and Confused

[Barnburner]

This is a project that is 32 years in the making. I bought the car as a sophomore in High School in 1980. It was my first car. It served as my summer cruiser and occasional bracket car for several years. After multiple engine combinations, it was disassembled in 1994 in preparation for a back half and wheel tubs. I didn't have the heart to cut the up. My wife and I had bought a 1985 Mustang GT (our first new car that we still own!) and we had been hooked by the autocross bug. We had also got hooked by the Jeep thing (you may not understand...) so the car sat in the corner of the shop from 1994 until last year.
I had always thought that it would be cool to resurrect the car back to it's TransAm/Mark Donohue roots but with todays technology. Then I started seeing Jimi Days AMX and I decided that it was time to dig it out of the corner.

The b/w photo was taken the day I bought the car. The one below it was just before all three cars did huge burnouts leaving our wedding in 1984!

[Barnburner]

Stealing some good ideas from Randy Johnson and Jimi Day, I decided to build the car utilizing some parts that have been proven to work. I bought a Heidts Pro G from suspension kit from Randy at D&Z and then removed the front shock towers.

[Barnburner]

I have always dreamed about a big inch thumper big block motor. That's what this is going to get. We are building a Blue Thunder headed, FAST 2.0 557 Ford for it. The motor is going to be set back several inches. Ford Toploader 4 speed, Ford 9" full floater out of an ARCA late model. I have already installed a Ride Tech four link in the rear. It's not going to fit the typical Lat-G mold. But it is going to be built the way I want it!

[Barnburner]

Headers are going to be a challenge, but it looks like Hooker Super Comps for a Torino will get me started. We will make them fit from there.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Nice work and great car. Im betting this isnt your first rodeo.

[69x22]

Nice! Like the name too.

[FETorino]

Welcome

That looks like a cool project. It sure sounds like it has a cool history.

I hope you start a build thread we can follow.

[Barnburner]

Originally Posted by Vince@MSperfab

Nice work and great car. Im betting this isnt your first rodeo.

Vince-
I have been around cars my whole life. My Dad is still a car nut at 70+ years old. I have worked in the auto industry my whole life, including several years with QA1. We now own an auto repair business.
I have been involved in several builds over the years but this is my first "official" car build.

[Barnburner]

Originally Posted by FETorino

Welcome

That looks like a cool project. It sure sounds like it has a cool history.

I hope you start a build thread we can follow.

Ron-
My blood bleeds Ford Blue. I bought the Javelin after having a 69 Mach 1 pulled out from under me by an owner who agreed on a price then sold it for 250 buck more to a guy after I left to get the cash. I was a heart broken 16 year old! I bought this on the rebound after my Dad made a comment that at least it wasn't a Camaro and I would pass myself 12 times a day on the road.

I know you are an FE guy so you'll understand the last two photos.
We also have these in the family:
[ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[Barnburner]

The Shelby is a real deal car. My Dad bought it in 1980 with 19006 miles on it. It had sat half in and half out of a barn in Alabama for many years.
It's a 427 Side Oiler/automatic car. The interior is still all original except carpet. It still has the original brake pads in it! Paint was shot in 1990.
Other than a set of Shelby aluminum heads and Hooker headers (manifolds were missing when we got the car) the car is pretty much correct.