First Mustang Build. Need Help!

Jayson Mesecar said:

How much cheddar did it take you to reach that in your mustang?

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What I basically have is this: http://mustangsandmore.com/ubb/BudgetSmallBlock.html but with ported heads, bigger valves, a better cam, roller rockers, and EFI.

Granted, Alex wrote that a number of years ago, so prices have gone up since then, and PAW is out of business, but you could still do the same basic build today relatively cheaply. If you want EFI, just add $2000-2500 to your budget if you want a bolt-on kit, or $300-1000 if you're resourceful and willing to hunt for a lot of specific parts at junkyards, swap meets, and Ebay. If you decide to go with one of the TBI kits, I'd say not to get the MSD Atomic EFI system that I have. Damned thing is too limiting and tempermental, it's like having a really fancy carburetor that cost 8 times as much as a good old Holley or Edelbrock. If I drive the car somewhat regularly, it calms down, "learns" what it needs to, and is pretty nice, but my Mustang isn't my daily driver and frequently sits for weeks at a time, and every time it does I have to use the throttle to start it and keep it going, just like with a carburetor.

If you're wanting an SN95 Mustang (94-98), you can get a factory EFI 302 car if you go '94 or '95. The only bad part about those is the factory computer. A '96-98 car would have either the 3.8L V6 or the 4.6L V8. In either case you'd have to find a 94-95 crossmember (or go aftermarket) to make a 302 fit, and good luck getting it smogged in states/counties that do that.