how I did mine
First thing to do is determine your budget. Then identify your needs and rank order them in terms of priority. Identify what you NEED, what you "need," and what you'd like to have. Make your wish list and price it out installed. ARe you in the ball park? Even if yes, whatever you think you will spend, count on spending more.
I will try to give you the benefit of my experience, which includes a complete mechanical rebuilt. Your milage may vary.
I bought my car last year and have been waiting on it for the last 7 months while it gets rebuilt. You can reliably purchase out of state without seeing the car if you send the right inspector to look at it and give you a report. I purchased my pony from overseas. One thing I can say is to stay away from automobileinspections.com. They suck in the pejorative and rip you off at $300 per inspection. I was looking at cars in OH, GA, TX, and PA. Automobileinspections.com inspected my car in OH and based on what I heard, I was prepared to buy. But they did not give me the 48 hr. turn around we agreed on because they sent the report to the wrong email address and the car was sold in the mean time. What I did for each state was go to Yellow Pages.com and find mechanics. I called, asked what kind of work they did, whether they had any business relationship with the XYZ company, and told them what I was looking for. The mechanics in TX and GA talked me out of buying each car after they looked at it. These guys were straight shooters. The mechanic in PA told me what I wanted to hear and for all of $68. Once I determined that the frame was straight and that there was no rust, I was in business. I gave the seller his $13,500 and went from there.
I knew I wanted a new
suspension first and the engine later for two reasons. First, I felt the
suspension would be too hard to do here in Europe with shipping, duty, taxes, installation, VAT, etc, and that it would be easier to just do the engine here as ford does have a big following in the UK. Then there is the fact that this engine had been rebuilt within the last 2 years. I had already been in a car that had a monster engine but no
suspension to handle it and knew that I wanted none of that. I wanted TCP front and rear coil overs but they were just too expensive. Since I won't be racing, I felt that a Griggs set up would be overkill so I opted to split the difference for a GlobalWest.Net stage 5 kit with L11 Cat. 5 rear leafs, new upper and
lower control arms with a negative wedge kit, vintage wheel works "vintage 45's, and their wilwood 12 inch disk brakes. I knew I wanted good handling so I did get a TCP manual rack. And while I was at it, I got a new exhaust as well. At this point, I was in for $6500 for the
suspension, brakes, and wheels, and welded jacking rails/sub frames, $1200 for the rack and pinion (mustang depot in NV), and $650 for the exhaust (would you believe $750 for powder coated long tube headers, new stainless steel x pipe, and new flowmasters installed?). Then I figured what the hell and did the engine. It was pulled, hot tanked, and is being redone as I write this. You can see from my signature what I had done and what I am having done, which is everything (new pistons, rods, plugs, wires, seals, timing chain, heads, carb, you name it) There are other cosmetic touches as well. TCP motor mounts and pedal covers, a Grant 1170 wood steering wheel, etc. I shopped around for the parts and the mechanic. Aside from the car, everything I bought and had installed cost me $16,500, so I am up to $30 large for the whole thing. I had figured $24 tops but the engine rebuild put me over the top. I am satisfied with what I got and what I paid for it all. My car will be practically new and I am convinced that had I effected similar upgrades on my Sebring in terms of repairs at a Chrysler dealer, I would have spent much, much more than just $16,500.