how to start a project
Posted by CableMartini@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 17 comments
recently bought a $1,000 new edge Mustang that im going to pick up in about a week. I want to do so much to it, and honestly I wanna know where to start. intake, exhaust, coils? nothing cosmetic for now, mostly just wanna make the car fun, cuz thats the point of all of this, and theeeen make her pretty. really excited for this new chapter in my life :)
No-Locksmith-9377@reddit
Generally, you wanna go over everything and figure out what's wrong with the car. Make the big list of what needs to be done. Then figure out what needs to be addressed first and start at the most important thing.
Figure out your goals, what are you going to do with it. Keep the v6? Swap to a v8? Swap tobs coyote or LS? Drag car or drift car....etc?
BoardButcherer@reddit
I'd say there is a reason to get the old engine running for some people.
I'm planning a swap for my current project, but the engine is going on a stand to be built out for the next project.
Waste not want not.
No-Locksmith-9377@reddit
Someone is building the 3.8 v6 for a project? That only sounds like a waste of time to me. In a world of 300hp NA 4 cylinders that 190 hp v6 just gets forgotten
There aren't many more unloved engines than that Essex v6. They certainly sold enough of them tho.
BoardButcherer@reddit
Something I've learned after researching my 155hp v6.
They got forgotten because they were born before computer tuning was a thing, and v8's were cheap easy power available to anybody (in the states).
Now that digital tuning is widely available, a lot of those gutless v6's can be taken to 5-700 horsepower on the stock bottom end.
And then you stick'em in anything too small for a v8 and ride it for twice as long as an equivalent i4 screaming for its life.
Seriously, there's a lot of 80's/90's v6's that nobody bothered to build out until 20 years later, and by then no one cared.
CableMartini@reddit (OP)
just depends on what's wrong with it. if i need like a new belt or something small, I'd wanna get it running. if there's knocking, then yea ill just slap probably a used v8 in there for now. down the line, when im.not a teenager and have actual money, I'll definitely be looking into more
donald7773@reddit
Well you're buying a $1000 car. It's gonna have issues. Start with cleaning it. Inside, outside, inside again, underside, engine bay, trunk the whole 9 yards.
You're gonna find broken stuff, leaks, scratches, all that fun stuff, keep a list. Then attack the list.
Start by making the car safe to drive, then fix all the leaks it's gonna have, then worry about modifications.
Don't forget little stuff. Weather stripping, suspension bushings etc they make a huge difference in how a car actually feels
racsee1@reddit
Fix the shitbox first
CableMartini@reddit (OP)
:(
scuba_steve77@reddit
If the price you paid is indicative of the condition of the car you might want to start with some maintenance.
CableMartini@reddit (OP)
it was a v6 automatic, those go for dirt cheap because everyone wants the v8 manual (which i have plans for)
its a project at the end of the day, so if it has to sit for a minute while I get it running, then it has to sit for a minute lol. Will keep that in mind tho
scuba_steve77@reddit
Have you considered swapping over to gt parts? Start easy with brakes and suspension, then move on to the rear end then you can go mod motor and t45 trans. The beauty of this is everything should bolt right in because technically it’s designed to. Plus you can find a lot of this at junkyards and you won’t be wasting money on parts for a v6 like exhaust and intake when you do buy aftermarket parts.
CableMartini@reddit (OP)
that is exactly my plan, right on the money. when I feel its time, I wanna drop the v6 drive train and throw in a v8 drive train. I got tired of fighting for scraps online for a v8 not in shit condition, and chose to bite the bullet in an insurance auction "buy now" for $1k after fees. whether or not its a good decision, fuck if I know, but it'll be fun, thats all I know
juwyro@reddit
The first thing is to fix anything and make it a reliable driver.
basicKitsch@reddit
Reliably starting and stopping. Then any model specific tasks that need to be done
Then send it
CableMartini@reddit (OP)
oh brother, do i plan on sending her
Poil336@reddit
How to start? Convince yourself this is a good idea, somehow, throw a lot of money at it, cry, repeat.
In seriousness, get it running, fix what's broken. Continue fixing what's broken until it isn't broken anymore, then work towards your overall goal with the car
CableMartini@reddit (OP)
been through that process for every single diamond in the rough I've seen over the last 2 months. had to remind myself "there's probably a reason that thing is down here with all the other pieces of shit" lmao
sounds fair to me. was my plan, just didnt know if there was anything special I mightve missed