Yo, I’m a 23 year old dude with about 100k burning a hole in my pocket due to unforeseen circumstances and I want to build my dream car, a 1967 Mustang Fastback. I’ve done a lot of solo research, however I figure you guys are real pros. I’m trying to decide on a 428 cobra jet or a coyote/voodoo/predator engine. I want the expert opinions on what’s superior, and I’m aware the challenges the new engines present. Give me a list of mods that you think should done and Ill look into them, engine or otherwise. Thanks in advance.
Building a Mustang
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There is nothing a Coyote engine offers over your typical small or big block Ford.
If you have $100,000 is very easy to acquire your dream car...just buy it. No building required. You can likely pick up a 300-400HP fastback for half that budget(plus whatever is required to ship it to you). I have swapped multiple newer engines into these cars and its never worth the effort as far as performance goes. The only reason to move away from what they came with from the factory is purely for your own build entertainment. You can build any pushrod v8 to make just as much or more HP, and if gas mileage is a concern...well, a v8 shouldn't even be on the list to start with.
If you have $100,000 is very easy to acquire your dream car...just buy it. No building required. You can likely pick up a 300-400HP fastback for half that budget(plus whatever is required to ship it to you). I have swapped multiple newer engines into these cars and its never worth the effort as far as performance goes. The only reason to move away from what they came with from the factory is purely for your own build entertainment. You can build any pushrod v8 to make just as much or more HP, and if gas mileage is a concern...well, a v8 shouldn't even be on the list to start with.
Except performance, reliability, and economy.
I love the old stuff, had an 11 second 351 powered Fox in 1986, but to get modern performance from the older engines requires a lot of effort, know how, and when you're done you'll have a lumpy cam (which I love, some of the time), eye watering when the wind changes direction, finicky beast.
Being 23, not knowing your level of expertise, you'll have to be very careful with that money. Lot's of charlatan cars for sale, and lots of charlatan builders as well.
Where are you located (approximately)?
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Economy? A v8 is the wrong engine choice...no doubt about it, if economy is what you are after you should be looking at a 4 cylinder.
Reliability? Nothing unreliable about an old carbed v8. I drove over 100k miles on my old 289 with a Holley 4 barrel with zero issues(heck, even got 20+mpg)
Performance? Plenty of 500HP SBFs out there...though I will admit by the time it gets over 400HP the reliability starts to drop pretty quickly.
I understand the appeal of modern engines....but in the end, its still not worth it to swap into a classic mustang. What I mean is this: I used to have a neighbor with a 1968 F100. In this truck, he had a 500HP 302. It got 8mpg. All he ever did with it was tool around town. He built the wrong car for his needs. He never made use of the 500HP he had, he could have done the same thing with a stock 302 making 220HP. I think when a lot of people swap engines, they completely lose sight of how they are going to use the car and think they have to have the latest and greatest engine swap they can think of.
1966 Mustang 289/306 3spd coupe, 1966 Mustang 289 C4 coupe, 1965/64.5 Mustang 289 4spd convertible
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Cheaper to buy 'em done or close to done. But not as fun or personally fulfilling to build it yourself. However, it takes time, funds, passion and skills.
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Issues with newer motors = they got wider causing the chassis to be modded to fit, so one has to be careful about what was cut on.
A hot 351 will fit in 67/68 allowing you to keep the chassis as designed.
A hot 351 will fit in 67/68 allowing you to keep the chassis as designed.
First and foremost, do you have a shop to work in, tools to work with and an understanding of the amount of custom work it takes to build a coyote powered mustang? By the look of your flag, you ain't from round here.... I'd be shocked if a 100k could build you a coyote mustang outside the US.
Coyote engine: add on for the replacement of the front engine panels and suspension to get it the chassis wide enough to fit. Learn about which Coyote edition you want (power steering pump mounted on the engine in the early versions.)
428 CJ: I can tell you this as right now I'm living it. Plan ahead. I waited 13weels for the Trick Flow aluminum cylinder heads, waited another 13 weeks for the special street 428 roller hydraulic cam, another 10 weeks for the Harlan-Sharp roller rocker arm set (my fault-I wanted them bushed as it's a street engine), right now I'm waiting on the special length push rods. Don't forget that the TF heads need the 68/69 CJ exhaust manifolds. Also, I'm putting in fuel injection. Note that Holley has a fuel pump the fits into the stock fuel tank (now).
I'm not bothered by any of this. It's my car, and I'm building MY dream.
Well, since you have 100K, you'll figure it out, have fun, enjoy.
428 CJ: I can tell you this as right now I'm living it. Plan ahead. I waited 13weels for the Trick Flow aluminum cylinder heads, waited another 13 weeks for the special street 428 roller hydraulic cam, another 10 weeks for the Harlan-Sharp roller rocker arm set (my fault-I wanted them bushed as it's a street engine), right now I'm waiting on the special length push rods. Don't forget that the TF heads need the 68/69 CJ exhaust manifolds. Also, I'm putting in fuel injection. Note that Holley has a fuel pump the fits into the stock fuel tank (now).
I'm not bothered by any of this. It's my car, and I'm building MY dream.
Well, since you have 100K, you'll figure it out, have fun, enjoy.
I have a Ford factory rebuilt Cobra SVT 302 with roller rockers. I added all new parts to the long block except for a rebuilt Holley 4-barrel.Never been in a car but has run smoothly on an engine stand. For sale now because the bottom dropped out of my project. My buddies say that's plenty of engine for a mid-60s Mustang.
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