03 Cobra drivetrain in 65 Fastback ???

[Alaskan5.0]

I found a really nice 65 fastback that someone has fixed up and ran out of money on. Many, many parts and paint already done, but what it needs is the 6 cylinder drivetrain changed out. My thoughts are swap in a 98 - 04 cobra drive train. Big question is it possible? Has anyone here done it? Is there any pictures? Thanks

[mustangbrad]

It can be done, but it is going to take a lot of work. You are going to have to change the front end to a Mustang 2 front suspension to make room for that motor. It would be quite a bit less work to swap in a stroked 302 and make just as much power and cost much less.

[redmedicine]

This is true, for a lot less work and cash, you could put a small block in there. However, you mentioned the cobra motor which tells me this is what YOU think would be cool. If you have the means, do it. It is possible and has been done before. Any one can can put in a shiny/ pretty pushrod motor into their first gen. But for the cool factor, nothing beats fresh tech when you pop the hood.

So, do you have a line on the motor and the finances or means to do the swap? If you are starting with a 6, suspension will be on the chopping block anyway, so there is your excuse to swap to the MII suspension. The other thing to keep in mind is that it will be a lot of work requiring the work of a skilled hand.

I personally do not have any leads on exactly how to do it, I just want to point out that if that is the swap you want to do, and have the means to do it, then do it for you. After all, it is/ will be your car.

As far as pictures, in the latest issues of Car Craft and Mustang and Fords, there is an article about a 65fb shell that was dropped onto an 03/04 cobra (two complete cars made into one). Not exactly what you are looking for, but still cool. You also might check the Mustang magazine websites for pics. I know there have been articles. Good luck!

[87FOX50]

Originally Posted by redmedicine

This is true, for a lot less work and cash, you could put a small block in there. However, you mentioned the cobra motor which tells me this is what YOU think would be cool. If you have the means, do it. It is possible and has been done before. Any one can can put in a shiny/ pretty pushrod motor into their first gen. But for the cool factor, nothing beats fresh tech when you pop the hood.

So, do you have a line on the motor and the finances or means to do the swap? If you are starting with a 6, suspension will be on the chopping block anyway, so there is your excuse to swap to the MII suspension. The other thing to keep in mind is that it will be a lot of work requiring the work of a skilled hand.

I personally do not have any leads on exactly how to do it, I just want to point out that if that is the swap you want to do, and have the means to do it, then do it for you. After all, it is/ will be your car.

As far as pictures, in the latest issues of Car Craft and Mustang and Fords, there is an article about a 65fb shell that was dropped onto an 03/04 cobra (two complete cars made into one). Not exactly what you are looking for, but still cool. You also might check the Mustang magazine websites for pics. I know there have been articles. Good luck!

the SN65, a guy named bob built that car and documented the build on SVTP. that build was into 6 figures and had a TON of custom fab work involved. sweet ride though, have to check my back issues....i must have missed his write up.

[Alaskan5.0]

You are all right, it is going to take a bit of skill, time and money to pull it off. I am looking for that wow factor...and in my opinion it is too easy to just drop in a small block and drive away. Unless it is a complete supercharged set up...that is...
I am assuming that the reason for mustang II has to do with cutting down the shock towers for clearance. But is MII the best to use or is there something better?

[ATOMonkey]

There are places that offer a C4 vette front end.
http://www.progressiveautomotive.com/sweet.htm

You could also use an Art Morrison Max G front end or C5 vette.
http://www.artmorrison.com/index.cfm

I think Heidt still uses the Mustang II spindles.
http://www.heidts.com/

Rod and Custom motorsports also offers something similar to the Heidt.
http://www.rcmotorsports.net/

Then theres always DVS restorations.
http://www.dvsrestorations.com/

I'm leaning more towards a vette front end myself.

[redmedicine]

Originally Posted by Alaskan5.0

You are all right, it is going to take a bit of skill, time and money to pull it off. I am looking for that wow factor...and in my opinion it is too easy to just drop in a small block and drive away. Unless it is a complete supercharged set up...that is...
I am assuming that the reason for mustang II has to do with cutting down the shock towers for clearance. But is MII the best to use or is there something better?

If you get into it, please, please, keep us posted with pics. I also like having a little something different when I open the hood. I don't have the cash to go the cobra route, so I am shoe-horning a 429 into my 68 FB and keeping the shock towers by building my own 2" headers. So far so good. I think the Terminator route you are leaning is the ultimate in cool under the hood of our "low tech" cars.

Yes, the MII (or apparently other cross member mounted suspension) is so you can cut the shock towers as I have heard even the SOHC 4.6 is wider than the Boss 429. All the write ups I have seen on puting any Mod motor into a 65-70 requires serious trimming or removal of the shock towers. After seeing my 429 in the 68 (wider than a 65) and seeing almost no room for exhaust, I can see why.

[Alaskan5.0]

Thanks again for all the info. If I get the car I will take lots of photos and share the costs, trials and tribulations that go with it.

[jfboy]

I researched this same exact thing to the bone because that's what I wanted to do too but I decided on somehting else because of cost.

You need to cut the shock towers off and install a pintop/mustang 2 front end. Another problem is the unibody on that car no being strong enought to handle lots of power etc... might need extenive fabs and braces etc..

This will be very expensive. 03-04 cobra swaps sell for $10k .. not cheap. Other modulars can be had for cheaper but the fabrication will still kill you and it will not be as cost efficient compared to a pushrod motor.


That being said, I ended up buying a 1970 chevelle and I just bought an LS1 tu put in it. The whole thing will cost less than 1/2 what your contempling . I bought the chevelle for $1k and a whole LS1/t56 camaro for $2800. I expect to spend much more than that in odds and ends.


That being said... If you really want a fuel injected early mustang.. get a FI'ed swap out of a 302 foxbody or early sn95 and you will have so much money leftover from not having to customize the frame and buying the pricey modular swap that you will be able to build it and add everything you want to it.

Hope this helps.

[SN65]

We were faced with all your current issues when deciding what to do with our current projects. In one car we decided to go with a built to the hilt turbo straight six. When done we will blow the doors off any stock 03 Cobra and all but the most extreme builds. In the other we are dropping in a stroked 351.

The really unique thing about both builds is that we are modifying the unibody structure. We are going to making gobs of HP and did not want to twist the old uni-body into a knot.

The "system" will not allow me to post photos, but if you go to pur website, you can see all the work we have done to date.

We have already reduced torsional deflection by 70% and we still have to weld the floor to the rockers, add a brace or two to the front end and weld in the roll cage. When done we should have a really stable platform that is capable of handling as much HP as you would wish to through at it. Also the suspension mods should keep this car glued to the ground.

Good luck with your project.

Bob

[Anthony Jones]

AJE Racing Has just released a front strut kit for the earlier Mustangs. This kit is as close to a bolt in as possible! Triming of sheet metal and drilling is all that is required. If you need to trim the shock towers for added room for a 4.6/5.4 then welding is required.

[ron1]

In the September issue of Mustangs & Fords there is an article about a company that put a 1965 Mustang FB body on the 03 Cobra platform & drivetrain. NOT cheap. The cobra frame had to be "stretched 7 inches to get it done.

Ron

[mustangbrad]

Originally Posted by ron1

In the September issue of Mustangs & Fords there is an article about a company that put a 1965 Mustang FB body on the 03 Cobra platform & drivetrain. NOT cheap. The cobra frame had to be "stretched 7 inches to get it done.

Ron

ron1 meet SN65, the maker of said project.