Freakin' MONEY Pit!!!

I need to vent to those that can relate...My fellow Stangnetters.

Here's the deal. I took my 65 FB in last week to get the AFR's and a cam installed as well as a TCP rack & pinion. No biggie right, wrong! I had most of the parts they would need, so I thought I had spent all I needed for parts, and what I spent was really all I could afford, my last hoo rah for the next year or two. Since last Friday it has gone like this. My mechanic found a cracked timing cover. Mine is an early 289, so I searched the entire US and couldn't find an original, so I opted to upgrade to a later 65/66 style, which also meant I had to buy a compatable water pump, as the earlier style is different. That was an extra $230. Then, yesterday he tells me the stock fuel pump will not deliver the psi needed to feed this combo. Bam, another $100 on a fuel pump. Today he calls with the push rod measurements and to let me know that the horsepower this is going to produce will soon eat up my stock harmonic balancer. So, $500 later I have a set of push rods and a new ATI balancer on the way. I really hope I have finished buying parts for a terribly over budget project . He is giving me an insane rate on the labor, but I still don't need this nickle and dime crap. I had a set amount to spend, and now I've had to tap my savings, with no choice, as the car HAD to have the parts in order to be put back together.

To top all that off TCP still doesn't have the shaft kits for the R&P. I ordered this kit over a month ago! They made it sound like everything shipped last Thursday with the R&P. When I got the box it was just the R&P unit. I called them and they were like oh ya, the shaft kits are still out of stock, like it was no big deal.

Anyways, when, or if, it ever gets finished here's what it will read like.

289 w/
Ford Racing Timing Cover
Flow Kooler Water Pump
AFR 165's
Comp Magnum Roller Tip Rockers
Comp Magnum Push Rods
Comp Magnum Hyd. Lifters
Comp Xtreme Energy 262 Cam
Weiand Stealth Intake
Holley Street Avenger 570
ATI Harmonic Dampner
Flowtech Long Tube Headers
Flowmaster 50 Series, True Dual Exhaust
TCP Power Rack & Pinion

So if you have endured this read, I have one question for the engine guru's. For all the dough I have spent, what kind of power should I expect at the wheels???

C-4 Tranny, 2.89 Rear End

Thanks Fella's, and Fellette's

Thanks for the replys guys. I know that this happens when you get into these kind of projects. I don't care how much homework you do, something ALWAYS comes up. I think it was the dampner that put me over the edge. $400! 50 here a 100 there sometimes isn't so bad, but $400 is a lot when your check book looks like mine!

I did have money set aside for a set of 3.25 gears. I'll have to put that off for about 2 or 3 months so I can save up. I have a quote of $1,200 to rebuild the rear with 3.25 posi, all new seals, bearings and gaskets + labor. Didn't think that sounded too bad, as I know the parts aren't too cheap for a rear, if you get the good stuff.

Anyways, thanks for sharing. Misery loves company!

I'm sure it'll be all good once it's back on the street!

1320, I have an 8". What is a good way to go as far as the set ups you mentioned? I've heard the Detroit can be noisy, and over kill for a street car? I'm not very familiar with rear ends. I just know what they do, not how there built.

69, I'm running stock distrib. with a Petronix elec. ignition.