Looks like my photos had puppies! Not sure how that happened. Tried to delete the duplicates, but can't on this Apple wonder.
I couldn't let Baby languish, so my plan is to do a Mod Fox using my 1996 GT as a donor vehicle. The first photo is my 96. Looks pretty good, right? This is when I first bought it. The PO said he couldn't get to the rear header bolts, so they were left out. This was true. It was noisy as all get out. What he didn't tell me is that all three of the midpipe to header bolts were also out. REALLY LOUD!!! Supposedly, it had a 4.6 stroker, fully forged PI motor. Not quite. No stroker. Plus, whoever did the machine work on the engine must have used a hatchet to bore the cylinders. They had 0.008" clearance, minimum!
After I got the exhaust bolted up, I found it had quite a bit of noise going on. I took it to two shops and they both said they thought it was piston slap. The noise kept getting worse, so I made the decision to pull the engine and send it to my Father-in-law, who owns an engine machine shop in GA. I bought a Cobra Teksid block and sent it to him, also. He found a scored cam journal, and a stock Cobra crank. He balanced the rotating assembly, installed all new parts, except for the Manley connecting rods (which were still good), new Wiseco forged pistons, Comp Cams 278 spec cams, ported the heads, three-angle valve job and sent it on to me. On top it has a C&L plenum, PI intake and
BBK 75mm throttle body. Had it tuned and it's at 298 hp and 320 lb/ft torque. Not bad for a mod motor.
Where is this thread going? Well, that engine, the T-5 tranny, Team Z K-member, the 3:73,rear, etc, etc are all going into Baby. I'll also use the 96 wiring harness, computer, dash, gauges, seats and whatever to finish it out. I think it should make a pretty sharp-running package in that 84 notch.