... and I think I have reached the conclusion that I'm not going to try to turn the GT into a monster, for several reasons. For one, it's a 2v SOHC, which dollar for dollar, is expensive to make much more than 320 or so hp out of without nitrous, and an auto, which is fine, except I'm a road course guy; the "manuals are faster" bull**** is a myth. Second, it's a very clean original car and it was a gift, so it has sentimental value to me. Hey, everyone's a ***** sometimes, right?

So, here's the revised plan. Keep my GT very close to stock, sans a few mostly visual things such as 18" Bullitts, 1" lowering springs and a rear window louvre. I'll still drive it often, but it will share DD duties with something else and be a leisure car.

I have already begun saving, and I am going to pay cash for an Azure Blue Mach 1, and make it a streetable twisty monster with about 450-500 horsepower (power mods come last), sitting on 18' Magnum 500s with about 10" or bigger tyres out back. I have wanted this exact car since the first time I ever saw one, and the 4v engine is perfect for what I want out of the car.

Anyone have any thoughts on all this, or have anything to add? Is anyone else here driving two Mustangs?

 

Two New Edges? Not for me, but those blue mach 1s are awesome.

 

Its a good idea, but you do realize that the dohc costs more to build the engine up right? The mach 1's dont have forged internals. Also, if you want cams, youll need 4 instead of 2. Since youre wanting to make somewhere around 500hp, youll want all of that stuff. Just a thought. It would still be awsome to have a mach 1 though, but if youre putting that type of money out, why not save up more and get a cobra? Forged internals, already makes close to 400hp, and has IRS out back. So itll handle better in the twisties.

 

Save for a termi... that or get that mach 1 & install the IRS package into it. Thats be sick. Itd help (IRS) w/ your need for the twisties.

^^ My thoughts excatly, you just said (longer) what I was thinking lol

 

I want the Mach 1 because of the retro twinge and that color; visually it's exactly where I want it, inside and out. And, with some suspension mods, it will handle like mad with the solid rear axle, or I can always change it later.

I thought the 5 speed Machs had forged internals? Anyway, I'm willing to pay a little more to put a Mach where I want it.

 

IRS would be sick especially since it sounds like money isn't an issue.

 

i was gonna suggest a cobra also instead of the mach. even the 99/01 cobra will get you the IRS platform to start with (its not as good tho as the 03/04 irs tho obviously).

no, the manual mach1 does NOT have forged internals. it has the cobra crank versus the cast GT crank, but the same exact pistons and rods that are in GT's, 99/01 cobras, etc... this is why the manual mach1 has a 6800rpm redline where the auto (with a cast GT crank) has a 5800 redline.

trying to get 400-500hp NA on the mach is going to be stupid expensive also (i assume your talking about NA since you mentioned getting past 320hp without nitrous in your post). you can build a 2v motor with boost and have more HP than an NA 4v for probably the same amount of money.

 

I like the Cobra, but over all I much prefer the Mach 1 from an appearance perspective, and I can always get IRS later if I decide the rear axle is holding me back. However, I've always done well with a solid rear axle. Also, the Mach has an aluminum block, which changes its weight and balance. Plus, the Cobra doesn't come in Azure Blue.

I'd be willing to turbo it with a mild boost, as I know it's still a 281ci at the end of the day, but I would like to go as far as stage 2 cams and forged internals with the engine itself. I don't want to go boring it out or anything crazy like that. But, like I said, power mods are going to come last, and the first priority is going to be suspension and wheels/rubber.

My basic goals, from a performance perspective, is to make a vintage looking Mustang that can run with and beat many exotic cars, in terms of handling and engine performance (cranking up the boost would allow me to match most of them), while still being a good street vehicle. I have confidence that I as a driver can get this done with a solid rear axle.

 

It would be way cheaper to build a 2v to higher power levels then it is to build a 4v.

I would choose the 99-01 cobra over a mach 1 anyday. Better power and better suspension. And for a few thousand you can make it look like a Mach 1.

By the way an auto is not faster then a manual and auto is more consistent then a manual. A manual weighs less and robs less power.

 

I loved my Mach. Machs's usually dyno a good bit higher than 01 cobras because of the better heads, high compression, and i think more aggressive cams too