2 questions

[Black Sun 5.0]

I got lambasted in the Talk section yesterday for choosing to fix and paint my damaged car vs. just buying one with a good, clean body. So I've been looking around for a fox similar to mine that I can swap my engine into. Thing is, it must be 5-speed and I can't find any with a black interior like mine. Question 1. Is it a big process to swap out an auto tranny and have a 5-speed installed and 2. how big of a project is it to swap an entire interior (seats, dash, carpets, the whole shabang!). I'm having a tough time with this one, it's tough letting go of my original car, but it may be time to gut it and move on. Nothing worse than the death of a fox.

 

[Black Sun 5.0]

OK, someone has to have an idea.

 

[jrichker]

This is really a function of 3 things:

1.) Time: how much do you have - can this swap into a rolling chassis be a winter project that you do a little at a time? Do you own another vehicle that is your daily driver? If not then that is one negative point.

2.) Money: either route will not be cheap. Having you current car repaired may be cheaper than buying a good rolling chassis and then end up having it painted to your liking. Swapping the trans & interior will be bits and pieces that will eat into your budget. Projects always cost more and take longer than you might expect.

3.) Tools/Talent/Place to work on the swap. Do you have all 3? Answer no to any one of them and that is another negative point.

 

[Black Sun 5.0]

OK, to give more background: I will have a second car. Whatever happens, no Mustang I own will ever see another winter. Also, I will in all likelyhood have someone with knowledge and experience helping me. My #1 thing that I'd be doing would be the interior. The tranny I may leave to my local Mustang shop. The real question in regard to that is how problematic is it to go from auto to 5-speed? Is it a major mod? I plan on going with a heavier duty tranny either way, so it will be swapped no matter what. The interior will come from my old car, so the parts won't cost me anything. I do have a budget for this overall project, whichever route I take. Oh, and on my old car I'd be putting a new tranny in anyway. I'm going to look at a '90 GT tonight, wish me luck.

 

[bullitstang1313]

Swapping the interior won't be very hard, but it will be time consuming. It will take patience to get everything to fit into place again. How bad is the old car? I'd just fix it if it's not in horrible condition. In my opinion, there's nothing like saving your first fox.

 

[DMAN302]

I can swap an interior in one day with very little effort...hand tools and 6 easy hours, anyone can.

 

[Black Sun 5.0]

Honestly, it's a bit heartbreaking to let the car go. I'm literally going to be gutting it. The interior is really good, but between the front end stuff, the side dents, the dings, the body kit, paint, etc., it really may be time to throw in the towel. I would never get my $$$ back if I actually decided to sell. I found a very good, clean GT today that I'm going to transplant my hardware into and get repainted (I can't drive a red car). The leftover chassis would make a good project build for someone, but I think for my purposes I'm just better off with a solid body. I'm sorta refusing to junk the car, I'm sure I'll find someone to take it to rebuild.

 

[90topdown]

It's your car. It's your money. If you really want to rebuild it, I say go ahead.

I have seen alot of Mustangs and other muscle cars brought back from the dead.
If you really want to keep your car, then do it!! It doesn't matter what anyone thinks. It's your car!!

BTW - IMO, Going from AOD to 5-spd is a real PITA!! Not worth the aggravation. If you are going to buy a roller, buy a 5spd.

 

[Black Sun 5.0]

I already contacted my shop (Mustang guys, to be sure) and got a price. It would probably be a combo engine/tranny swap. What, exactly, is involved in the tranny conversion? I'm just curious. Either way, I'd need to put a new tranny in my car if I resurrected it. Thanks.

 

[rickd93_lx]

ive had a two foxes that ive wrecked, one i spent 3500 or so repairing and i have regreted that desicion. my body man rebuilds 50 something ferraris and benzez to sell to houstons elite he spent close to a month on my car (front end collision) and it never ran the same. as far as the intirior goes once the dash is out its all down hill from there piece of cake, just make sure to get sandwich bags and a sharpie to label screws nuts and bolts and so fourth it make putting evey thing togethr that much easier.