As editor of StangTV, and general Mustang nut, I tend to dream up a lot of future builds on nearly a daily basis. I can probably spec out a car faster than most people I know, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that I probably build some of these in my head at least once a week. Those builds and ideas are usually what occupies my mind when I’m out for a run, something has to keep me sane while those miles tick away.

So this month I thought I’d share with you five builds that I’d personally love to do in the future or even see one of our readers take and run with. These are in no particular order, and they involve more than one generation Mustang, so hopefully there’s something for everyone here.

Freak O’Boost

Upgrading to an EcoBoost 3.5 would make 100 more hp than my PI swapped GT makes currently. With bolt-on mods, that could easily climb to 450-500 hp at the tires.

I’ve had all manner of ideas for my 1998 Mustang GT. I’ve owned this car for nearly a decade, and while it’s still a lot of fun with its PI engine swap and 4.30 gears, I’ve long lamented for a built DOHC engine, a Coyote, or something else with more power.

At the PRI Show we had a chance to see the latest from Ford Racing, an EcoBoost 3.5 crate engine. This twin turbo’d beast puts down 365 hp in stock form, and there’s already all kinds of tuning and aftermarket support for them. With Deatschwerks currently developing injectors, I could see these engines easily pushing 500 hp. So why not drop one in my ’98 GT?

Ford Racing’s 3.5 EcoBoost crate engine.

The front suspension in my ’98 is already setup for handling via a Team Z K-member swap, and QA1 coil overs. I’d match the rear with some new parts, and upgrade to coil overs, redo the fuel system with parts from Aeromotive, and swap out the T45 transmission for a Tremec T-56 Magnum. Sacrilege you say to replace a V8 with a turbo V6? Say that to me as I fly by you at the drag strip, or take the next turn and exit it leaving your V8 far behind. Freak O’ Boost could be one bad Mustang.

Classic Drift

I know something along these lines was done a few years back by Vaughn Gittin Jr, but I love the idea. I’d take a well-worn first generation Mustang, upgrade the suspension on a budget. After that, I’d build a low buck, high torque 347 stroker, maybe add a supercharger, and slide this bad boy all over the place. Of course I’d need some cool looking wheels, good brakes, and supportive seats to go with it.

While my idea for this project probably wouldn’t look this clean in the end, the stance and attitude of Cotton’s ’67 is what I’d be going for on the outside.

This car is designed to be pure, cheap thrills, driving beyond the limits of rear grip adhesion, a roll cage might be in order, since I’d be likely to get myself into some sort of trouble with the car, let alone to keep it from twisting in half under the mercy of it’s engine and my right foot.

The finishing touch for this one would be either leave it patina’d instead of slapping on a slick paint job, or do something cheap like strip the chrome trim off, and plasti-dip the entire car a wild color.

Born II Handle

A lightweight Mustang II with Coyote power, big brakes, upgraded wheels/tires, a few body mods, and a corner carving suspension sounds like a lot of fun. Would someone please build this car!

I’ve always felt like the Mustang II gets a bad reputation for nothing. Without delving deep into it, this was the right car at the right time, and likely saved the nameplate from extinction. I’ve seen plenty of these cars converted to drag cars, as their lightweight shells, and short wheelbases work well. I’d like to see one with a pro-touring theme.

Put a Coyote engine under the hood, complete with BOSS style side exit exhaust. Then upgrade the suspension all the way around, maybe even do an independent rear suspension setup. Modern, custom interior, with good seats, insulation, and improved sound proofing. A solid manual transmission, some 17-inch wheels and tires, and a good looking, slick custom paint job would round out this car.

Project Born II Handle would be all about getting through the cones at the autocross, or around a short road course circuit efficiently, while making fun of the naysayers who say the Mustang II has no potential as a viable project car.

Daily Fox

I said in another editorial that driving my Fox body project car is like spending time with an old friend. I miss driving a Fox or any Mustang as a daily driver, and currently family constraints prevent me from doing that. However, if I had one for running errands, road trips to events, etc, I’d blaze a trail with that car.

For me driving an old Fox body is like spending time with an old friend. I would really love to do a modern spin on a daily driver Fox. A four-eye T-top hatchback would make this the perfect warm weather daily driver for me.

This project car would feature a host of upgrades to bring it more in-line with modern Mustangs. The suspension would have every part replaced with new pieces. A modern drivetrain, such as a Coyote or other DOHC modular, would sit between the front fenders – with a six-speed manual to back it.

Inside the car would have Dakota Digital gauges and a restored interior – maybe upgrading to SVO style seats, and bolsters, and adding a lot of sound deadener. I’d want this car to be a hatchback so I could throw plenty of camera gear in the back, and if I could find an ’86 T-Top car, that would be icing on the cake.

When the project was complete, I’d love to do a side by side comparison between it and a new Mustang GT, just to see how the two stack up side by side. This would be a serious comparison looking at everything from dyno numbers and drag strip performance, to comfort on the road, and even interior noise levels.

Big 15

I have always wanted to drop a big block engine into a Mustang. I’ve never spent much time around a big block pony car and they’ve always been a source of intrigue for me. With Ford offering up the new S550 platform, I’d love to be the first to cram a 500-plus cubic inch engine between the front fenders. Add an aftermarket fuel injection system from FAST and either cover it with a ginormous hood that begs others to try to race it, or better still let its intake poke through the hood and draw even more stares.

I could go the drag route with a solid rear axle transplanted into the car, or even try to make it handle, I’m sure the spring and strut manufacturers would have a lot of fun helping me configure the suspension so it didn’t plow like a runaway golf-cart when I cut the wheel.

The drag route sounds more appealing though, throw on some Weld RTS wheels, wide and skinny. A C6 transmission, or an overdrive from someone like TCI, adapted to fit the big behemoth engine. I’d rock that car at every cruise night I could make it to, and smile from ear to ear on every drag strip pass.

These are just a few of my ideas for future project cars, maybe one of them will make its way to these pages someday. Then again by the time I’m ready for the next project I may have a slew of all new ideas. Regardless, now you have a better idea of what’s going on in my head on a daily basis, guess I better start working on how to get the bosses to OK some of these ideas. Let us know which of these you’d like to see in the comments section below.