GT 350--My Dream Car

[TehMac]

So this is my idea, I sent this off to Zv earlier, but I don’t know if he got my PM. Since then, I thought I might as well submit my idea to AT Garage

Basically, my dream car is to build the Shelby GT 350 as it was to spec, except I would put in modern suspension, a new limited slip diff, and IRS in the shape of torsion beams.

I’d also slap on modern tires as well.

I’d order a newly forged K-code 289 (completely aluminum, not just the heads) and stroke it to around 310 CID. It’d be a carbureted engine, so I’d use a Holley Carb 750cfm (the big one). If I wanted even more power, at that point I’d probably strap on an original Paxton supercharger @ 7 psi. I’m estimating around 400-420 net hp with all this stuff.

If I could, I’d engineer the engine to sit lower into the bay so as not to unbalance the car too much.

The hood would be fiberglass, the interior would be exactly the same, except I’d add in a modern Air Conditioner unit, and I’d get rid of the radio shit. I might install a tactful modern radio in, but Idk.

Ideally, if Shelby is still alive by the time I’ve done all this, I’d get it approved as a modern interpretation of the GT 350. But other than the suspension and engine modifications, I wouldn’t touch anything else.

That’s my dream car, I find the 1965 Shelby GT350s so incredibly beautiful and understated. Plus, I like the full unabashed sporting credentials, they’re not so much muscle cars as they are sports cars.

What do you guys think?

 

[boomhower]

Elanor?

 

[TehMac]

...no, the Eleanor is an overrated piece of garbage. Why that car is so hyped up makes absolutely no sense.

^That is a Shelby GT 350 1965/66

 

[EightySix Four]

...no, the Eleanor is an overrated piece of garbage. Why that car is so hyped up makes absolutely no sense.

^That is a Shelby GT 350 1965/66

Because to many it looks better than the relatively bland 65/66 GT 350. A more modern interpretation of the original lines with big power, a modern suspensions, brakes, etc.

The same thing you are asking for really.

 

[TehMac]

This is what I hate about some muscle car enthusiasts. I like huge engines and ridiculous colors and stripes, but the Eleanor in the iterations I have seen are pathetic. They have a garish exterior with some NOS engine--absolute bull shit.

The Shelby is NOT bland. It is understated, and deliberately so. It is absolutely beautiful.

And yes, good point, I plan on getting all disc brakes, but I don't know if I want steel or carbon ceramic.

The rims are going to be tricky as well.

 

[Pariah]

What you call understated, others could call boring. Not everyone agres Eleanor is a good looking car, but few would call it boring.

Whoops, sorry, wrong version. I don't even like Mustangs, but this car is gorgeous:

 

[TehMac]

get rid of the ridiculous non-functional inverse cowl on the hood, the inboard headlights (tacky), and the obtuse ricing of the engine and we'll talk.

And fix up the interior, have you seen the absolute hideous-ness of these remakes' interiors?

 

[arcenite]

get rid of the ridiculous non-functional inverse cowl on the hood, the inboard headlights (tacky), and the obtuse ricing of the engine and we'll talk.

And fix up the interior, have you seen the absolute hideous-ness of these remakes' interiors?

That car is hot. You're delusional.

 

[KentState]

get rid of the ridiculous non-functional inverse cowl on the hood, the inboard headlights (tacky), and the obtuse ricing of the engine and we'll talk.

And fix up the interior, have you seen the absolute hideous-ness of these remakes' interiors?

So, the late 70s look is more your flare?

 

[Pariah]

get rid of the ridiculous non-functional inverse cowl on the hood, the inboard headlights (tacky), and the obtuse ricing of the engine and we'll talk.

And fix up the interior, have you seen the absolute hideous-ness of these remakes' interiors?

Has Ford ever made a good looking Mustang interior? I haven't seen the current iteration, but the last generation was utter junk which basically describes every one before it. Seriously, you think this is a good looking interior?

 

[TehMac]

So, the late 70s look is more your flare?

Look at my post. That is more my flair

 

[TehMac]

Has Ford ever made a good looking Mustang interior? I haven't seen the current iteration, but the last generation was utter junk which basically describes every one before it. Seriously, you think this is a good looking interior?

Are you kidding me? That looks great? Compare that with a modern day Mustang--it certainly blows the 90's style Mustang away.

 

[arcenite]

Are you kidding me? That looks great? Compare that with a modern day Mustang--it certainly blows the 90's style Mustang away.

You don't buy an old muscle car for the interior or the build quality.

 

[Pariah]

Yes, I agree that that looks better than the 90's interior. Much like I would agree that it would be better to get shot in the head rather than stabbed to death. Sure, one is better, but I wouldn't want anything to do with either one.

 

[TehMac]

You don't buy an old muscle car for the interior or the build quality.

Which is why I plan on building an entirely new car from the ground up using modern tools and precision.

These cars were mass produced, this one won't be.

 

[Ronstang]

Come see me. I not only know the REAL G.T.350s inside and out I build custom Mustangs too. You can build a hell of a car these days suspension/steering/performance wise yet keep the original styling which is timeless.

BTW, a 750 cfm carb is too damn big for a 310 cubic inch engine. They don't make K-code 289s anymore, even in aluminum. You can build a hell of an engine around a 302 also. Easy and cheap to make all the power you want and more than the chassis can use.

 

[TehMac]

Come see me. I not only know the REAL G.T.350s inside and out I build custom Mustangs too. You can build a hell of a car these days suspension/steering/performance wise yet keep the original styling which is timeless.

BTW, a 750 cfm carb is too damn big for a 310 cubic inch engine. They don't make K-code 289s anymore, even in aluminum. You can build a hell of an engine around a 302 also. Easy and cheap to make all the power you want and more than the chassis can use.

As soon as I get the money/willpower, I plan to.

isn't it possible to do a custom order for the 289s? I'm sure the blue prints for them still exist in Ford's Archives. I was hoping to use a 289 as the base just for originality's sake.

I'm not too up on carbs, but why is a 750cfm too big for a 310 CID? Whats the lowest amount of engine displacement possible to allow a 750cfm

 

[Ronstang]

The only thing that makes a 289 different from the same era 302 is the crank and rods. I guess you could order a special made 289 crank and use custom rods....but if you want 310 ci you would have to use a different crank anyway. The block is identical. The only difference in the HiPo 289 block was a higher nickel content and beefier main caps. You could actually install beefy main caps on any 289/302 block and have basically the same thing. I have some 289 cranks and rods out in the garage. It is a great engine but you can make more power and torque with a 302 or larger engine.

All you need for a ~300 cid engine is a 600 cfm carb, maybe a 650 on a really radical one. Don't marry yourself to a carb size, buy the carb that fits the build and be happy. You don't want to be a magazine mechanic.

 

[exdeath]

There's a lot of that stuff around. It's called 'restomod'

Just a few weekends ago, I saw a '64 GTO completely redone with a '04 GTO engine, suspension, brakes, interior, instrument cluster and all. It was absolutely gorgeous. It looked better than factory, no seams or edges or anything hack looking with the interior, it was perfect like a production car.

It gets really expensive though. A lot of the resto mod cars I've seen we are talking $10,000 custom milled aluminum cross members and suspension systems, $5000 brake packages, forged 20" wheels, etc.

 

[TehMac]

There's a lot of that stuff around. It's called 'restomod'

Just a few weekends ago, I saw a '64 GTO completely redone with a '04 GTO engine, suspension, brakes, interior, instrument cluster and all. It was absolutely gorgeous. It looked better than factory, no seams or edges or anything hack looking with the interior, it was perfect like a production car.

Yea, I have heard of restomods, a friend was going to do that to a '69 Camaro, but I find them a bit...unexciting.

I really love the raw visuals of a carburetor'ed engine, it's so beautiful in its mechanical simplicity, like the Venus of Urbino with all her bits on display, no big deal, but very sensual.
So in that sense, restomod no me gusta.

And thank you for the clarification Ronstang, I guess a 302 does make more sense. I just feel that's more..."late 60's-70's" rather than sticking to Shelby's original power plant vision--but then again he was pretty liberal in his uses of powerplants, so I don't think he'd have an original vision.

 

[Bignate603]

Which is why I plan on building an entirely new car from the ground up using modern tools and precision.

These cars were mass produced, this one won't be.

Then go buy a brand new classic mustang body (they're stamping whole new bodies again) and start from scratch.

 

[CurseTheSky]

There was a project like this posted on MustangForums.com months ago. It was a rusted 70 or 71 Mach 1 body placed on top of a wrecked (rear end collision) 2006ish GT chassis. It came out REALLY nice, but it was extremely expensive and I still prefer the '69 Mach 1 over anything from the 70s (though 66 is my favorite year for body style / trim / gauges by far, with the exception of not being able to fit a big block without extreme modification).

The project you're suggesting isn't all that far-fetched after all. Start with a '65 or '66 fastback, a lot of time and energy (or a very good mechanic with the same), and a LOT of money. Most of the parts for your dream car exist and are readily available:

http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/it...ry=Idependent+Rear+Suspension&CatKey=EMUSTANG

Also, 310 is an odd number for a 289 / 302 stroker. 331 and 347 are the popular ones, and forged cranks / rods are available from Mustangs Unlimited, Summit Racing, etc. 302s are essentially just stroked 289s (same bore, etc.), so either one will work unless you're anal about date codes (since it's a restomod and definitely not an original Shelby, who cares?) IIRC, all Shelbies came with 4 speed toploaders, which aren't hard to find. For a restomod, I'd probably pay out for a 6 speed, though.

The Shelby body was nearly identical to the regular fastback in practicality, just with some extra fiberglass scoops and whatnot that are decently inexpensive and easy enough to add.

Overall, it sounds like you're sort of torn between modern performance and classic heritage. Don't get me wrong - I am to, but you can definitely waste a ton of unnecessary cash by hunting down expensive or rare parts that won't get you any more kudos anyway (like a 289 HiPo). I'd feel much better about accidentally blowing a $3-5k built 289 than a numbers-matching original HiPo.

 

[TehMac]

Then go buy a brand new classic mustang body (they're stamping whole new bodies again) and start from scratch.

My goal is to have enough money to build the whole thing from ground up, body, chassis, everything. If I don't have the money, not going to skimp. These body stampings are great, but they're not what I have in mind.

I don't want something that half fits or half works, I want something that was crafted specifically for the part it's going to fit into and so forth.

I'm speaking specifically of the chrome bumpers in this instance, because these bumpers don't always fit as optimally, and I want everything to be crafted so that it fits snuggly.

 

[TehMac]

Overall, it sounds like you're sort of torn between modern performance and classic heritage. Don't get me wrong - I am to, but you can definitely waste a ton of unnecessary cash by hunting down expensive or rare parts that won't get you any more kudos anyway (like a 289 HiPo). I'd feel much better about accidentally blowing a $3-5k built 289 than a numbers-matching original HiPo.

Thanks for the input, I agree, but for me it's just creating the car the Mustangs were to people back in the '60's, but transplanting that feel into 2010 where everything is tighter--and handles better and gets power down to the ground better, and so forth.

At the end of the day, Shelby just wanted performance and so do I--it's just I'd like to get there in style.

I was thinking about putting in a six speed Hurst, I don't want the gears to be wired so that they screw up engine performance. But I'm not sure if Shelby ever toyed with Hursts, but again, it may not be a huge deal heh.

I might stroke the 302 to 331, I like stroking.

 

[EightySix Four]

What exactly do you want? Like CurseTheSky said, you keep sounding like you want to follow in Shelby's footsteps with the car but you can't exactly decide to what extreme you want to go. If I'm going all out, no expense spared, I'm personally getting a classic body on a 2002 Cobra Chassis with a completely custom interior. But, if I had the money, tricking out one of the most common cars in the U.S. wouldn't be my thing.

BTW, how the fuck do you consider the motor of Eleanor "rice?" I'm pretty a sure a (possibly blown) 427 is as far from rice as it gets. Properly installed nitrous isn't "rice" either.