Where should I go with my car?

February 16, 2005, 07:04:00 PM

Well I'm sort of at a crossroads with my T-bird. I have the rearend in place and have the car sitting the way I want it. (I know cobra R's get flamed a lot on here for their over popularity but where I live I have the only ones around!). Anyway, I can't decide what direction to take the car now. The 5.0 still runs pretty strong even after 180,000 miles (although very underpowered) and the tranny is in fairly good shape as well. I know that I want to build a hot motor and send the tranny off for rebuild but I'd also like to get the car repainted. I know that usually the best bet is to do motor/tranny first and then go for paint, but there are a couple of rust bubbles ( midwest winters) and small door dings that are driving me absolutely nuts! Plus it seems kinda silly to have those expensive wheels and tires on there while having a somewhat faded old paint job. But, I always kinda dug those beat up looking muscle cars with hellacious motors lurking underhood.
My ultimate goal for the car is to have a nice cruiser/summer car that will run run good enough to hang with say a newer :2gunsfiri Z28 and be immaculate looking at the same time. I guess I'm just looking for advice as to what you guys would do at this point. Be totally honest!

Re: Where should I go with my car?

Reply #1 – February 16, 2005, 07:24:08 PM

Engine first.

Re: Where should I go with my car?

Reply #2 – February 16, 2005, 07:28:32 PM

I agree it is always fun to run a car in full primer with a wicked engine and blow the doors of the competition. They never see it coming.

Re: Where should I go with my car?

Reply #3 – February 16, 2005, 09:34:10 PM

You'll feel better about the car if it it looks nice. Like you said it does run ok. The big issue with not doing the motor first is damaging the paint when doing the motor job.