I'm at a crossroads on my car...
 

So heres the deal, I have this uber badass mondo 5.4L shortblock right.

It's gonna be end of the year before it ever makes it in the car...

I need some paintwork done, I hate my rims (black bullets), i need shocks and want springs....

I'm debating do i sell the engine and do some appearance things first to hold me over ? new hood, rims, etc etc or do I forge ahead on the motor and then have a badass motor in a "eh" mustang ?

Go before show. You already have the block and it's only like 5 months or so before you can drop it in. Not bad at all. You can always paint the car or add appearance stuff later on. Do the engine work first.

go before show thats my motto

Def. work overtime and get that 5.4 in there ASAP.

i agree, go motor. get the major expense out of the way then get the other stuff done.

go motor..here's my thought

if you sell motor and go show......by the time you get around to put a new motor in your show will be a lil chipped here and there, it wont be show room anymore if you drive daily and you will want to do touchups again to go with the engine

If you go go first, your engine will still be running great and when you get the money for show it will be flawless with a badass engine

Go for the Go!

Thanks guys, its just a little frustrating.

The motor wont be put in until the end of the year, I'm doing heads and cams before it goes in, and its going in with a T56 I don't feel like swapping things out more the once... so it has to wait. I do agree with the guy who said get the major expence out of the way though.


The car just doesn't feel like it used to and its not as fun to drive, I'm kind of ashamed to take it to any stang gatherings with my friends. I'm afraid that if I put the motor in, yea I'll have a great motor and all... but the car will look like a crap... a fast pos is still a pos.

There is a light list of things the car actually NEEDS, and a new engine isn't required at this time. Brakes and Shocks/Springs are honestly required right now, and it has some light body damage that is eating away at me...

I guess if its fast..eh cool - if not, it's still fun to drive.

what kind of brakes do you have? GT or Cobra?

Shocks and springs can be found for cheap. Don't trip on it... you should be able to find a whole setup for just a couple hundred. Even if it's stock takeoffs... who cares? You're just getting it back to good running condition. The big stuff all goes in at one time so if that includes some lowering springs and bilsteins with the motor... cool. What's another month to do it right?

Any skilled hot rod builder will tell you you always do the mechanical before you do paint. Once everything is known to fit and work, then if you're painting frame and engine bay you can pull it all but otherwise it's done and no paint scratches during the heart transplant.