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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Mustang / November 2006Actual cost of installing a V8?
We've got a 2000 Mustang convertible that a previous owner spent too much money on making into a "Cobra clone", with the enhanced suspension, wheels, exhaust, and cosmetic stuff. We bought it because we wanted a nice convertible Mustang, and all that other stuff was just gravy. However, as time has gone on it seems like we're treating it more like a long-term investment. I store it every winter, and we only drive it a few thousand miles every summer, so the engine only has 52K. I've slowly started an upgrade program (better air filtration, leather seats, etc.), with the long-term goal of converting it into a REAL (or, as real as we can get) Cobra. This means, of course, installing a V8. I am not a mechanic, so I would be looking at hiring a shop to do this. Does anyone have any real-world experience with this? It seems like a used V8 can be had at an auto-reclamation shop for relatively cheap -- but what's the installation gonna cost? How many hours are we looking at? Is it a "plug & play" conversion? What else has to be changed out? Thanks in advance... -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA 2000 Mustang Convertible www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" > We've got a 2000 Mustang convertible that a previous owner spent too > much money on making into a "Cobra clone", with the enhanced [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Thanks in advance... There's STILL more to it than an engine and computer/harness swap. The shop, if they cared about your interests, would tell you to buy a wrecked Cobra of the same series and bring it to them. then charge you about 2000 - 3000 for the swap While I understand your motivation... I dont see why you want to go to all that trouble to make it seem like it rolled off the line that way in the first place.While it will actually be worth less than a real Cobra in the end. I'd suggest keeping the V-6 and making it 'all it can be' You can get 300 hp out of it pretty easily. http://www.v6power.net/ And you get to keep MORE of the money you put into it as a motivated buyer/buyer would spend MORE for your car than it's stock sister years down the line. Yeah...I KNOW you plan on keeping it, that's not the point! The reason I understand you is that I swapped SVO drivetrain and running gear into an 88 LX I-4 convert... but it is unique and though it's now in fairly sad shape I was offered MORE for it that for a good shape stocker. But there's a difference... I was trying to make it look like it might have been stock tho the car never was built. http://rides.webshots.com/album/35608577UNakFR  SignatureYeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price you pay..DEAL with it! > > We've got a 2000 Mustang convertible that a previous owner spent too > > much money on making into a "Cobra clone", with the enhanced [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > > http://rides.webshots.com/album/35608577UNakFR Also the conversion should require a suspension upgrade to compansate for the added weight. > Also the conversion should require a suspension upgrade to compansate for > the added weight. The suspension was modified by the previous owner as part of the "Cobra" upgrades that he made. I'll have to check to see if that's not already been done. How much more does the V8 weigh? -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA 2000 Mustang Convertible www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" > While I understand your motivation... I dont see why you want to go to > all that trouble to make it seem like it rolled off the line that way in [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > http://www.v6power.net/ Thanks for the input. I'm new to customizing cars, and hadn't really considered resale value, but what you say makes sense. On the other hand, nothing sounds like a big V8, and what I'm talking about doing here isn't necessarily rational. (Is owning a convertible in an area that snows for 5 months a year rational?) If I were doing this for resale value, I'd need my head examined. ;-) That said, I'm going to look into enhancing the current 6-cylinder engine first. Thanks again. -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA 2000 Mustang Convertible www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" >>While I understand your motivation... I dont see why you want to go to >>all that trouble to make it seem like it rolled off the line that way in [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > www.AlexisParkInn.com > "Your Aviation Destination" The V-8 is only .8 liters, or 800cc, more than your V-6 anyway. Rob >> While I understand your motivation... I dont see why you want to go to >> all that trouble to make it seem like it rolled off the line that way in [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > On the other hand, nothing sounds like a big V8, FYI, A 4.6 is NOT a big V-8, it is actually a SMALL V-8. Over 7 liters is a big V-8... and what I'm talking > about doing here isn't necessarily rational. (Is owning a convertible > in an area that snows for 5 months a year rational?) If I were doing [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > www.AlexisParkInn.com > "Your Aviation Destination" Just find a v-8 convertible or better yet a hardtop, have both one to pamper and one to thrash. late 90's early 00's are real bargins right now, even if you have to travel a little to get the right car. >We've got a 2000 Mustang convertible that a previous owner spent too >much money on making into a "Cobra clone", with the enhanced [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > >Thanks in advance... Why not just dump the same amount of money into the six and end up with something really different? If you want a real Cobra, buy a real Cobra. You'll never get there piece meal. -- You can run, but you'll only die tired. ZombyWoof nevermind all these naysayers, drop this in and call it a day: http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=9285 and they even call it a "Cobra Special"... wabbitslayer 01 GT vert > nevermind all these naysayers, drop this in and call it a day: > > http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=9285 > > and they even call it a "Cobra Special"... Sweet! Any idea what is involved with "dropping this in" to a relatively stock 5-speed Mustang? I suspect it's not "plug & play"... -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA 2000 Mustang Convertible www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" > > nevermind all these naysayers, drop this in and call it a day: > > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > -- > Jay Honeck Might want to consider this one:) http://www.greenwoodchevy.com/engine5.htm Hey, it is Halloween:) If you put a 514 in your Mustang the 5 speed will last about as long as you can keep your foot out of it. They are brutal engines. We race two 385 series Fords. One is an almost stock 460 inch in a 67 fastback. Ran 11.17 in Las Vegas. We're higher, runs 11.30's here. Car weighs 3,000 pounds. It has stock pistons, rods and crank. Stock two bolt main block is decked to zero, heads are 70 D0VE with the ports cleaned up. Lunati solid lifter cam, good springs. Stealth intake with a 850 carb. BTW: The transmission is a GM TH-400. The other one is a 514, it's in a 71 Camaro:) Al >> nevermind all these naysayers, drop this in and call it a day: >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > I suspect it's not "plug & play"... I rest my case... FIRST you would STILL have to either transplant to Cobra spec or update to 'better than' on EVERYTHING. All goes back to your drive/use parameters in the original post. If that has changed, you need to repost your goals. If it's to have the hottest car in town, rather than a unique upgrade to stocker.. then your project will never be done. And you had BETTER consider your wife's views if she drives it too {still a sore spot in my house} SignatureYeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price you pay..DEAL with it! > I rest my case... FIRST you would STILL have to either transplant to > Cobra spec or update to 'better than' on EVERYTHING. Except of course the engine management systems... you can throw all that out, you wont be needing Cruise control, etc.. but you will be needing new dash instruments SignatureYeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price you pay..DEAL with it! > And you had BETTER consider your wife's views if she drives it too {still > a sore spot in my house} Ha! For sure... Luckily, I'm married to a woman who likes to ride motorcycles, flies airplanes (she's a pilot), has jumped out of perfectly good airplanes (that weren't on fire), and looks great driving a blood-red convertible...so I don't think she'll mind driving a rocket-powered Mustang... :-) -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA 2000 Mustang Convertible www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" |
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