Hey all!
Bought a used 2005 Mustang base model 2 months ago. I had a 2005 Buick Rainier (5.3ltr V8) Same engine as in a 1/2 ton Chevy truck but in a vehicle the size of a Trailblazer. It was fun and loud! Had a custom exhaust made at work (I was a service writer for a local repair facility) BUT, it was killing me on gas mileage, so at the beginning of winter I traded my all wheel drive SUV in on a Mustang. ????? Most people thought I was crazy but the used car lot traded me even up. So no money spent.
Since I got the car I have installed chrome/halo headlamps, chrome front turn signals, rear clear/chrome L.E.D. tail lights, clear L.E.D. 3rd brake light, painted the mirrors body color, installed an 8" black antenna, a GT grill with fogs, (Man! that was a bugger to make fit!!!), Roush hood scoop, removable 1/4 glass louvers, wired my own trunk release switch in the glove box.
I still want to paint the side skirts body color, add duals, I have a GT trunk emblem and fender emblems so I will probably re-badge it shortly. I don't race it, I bought it for the gas mileage. If I want to go fast or pull wheelies, that's what my big block Buick is for,(the one in my avatar, not the one I traded in to get the Stang, since the Rainier was a big heavy SUV with a Chevy small block and it is now gone, remember, I traded it in to get the Mustang) so for now I just like the attention that my new pony brings me.
The before and after pics show how far I have come in the first 5 weeks of owning it and since I got some parts from work and most off ebay, I only have $200 spent on all mods so far.
If I re-badge it as a GT, and paint the skirts, I will most likely remove the black side stripe, paint the hood scoop body color and put a pair of white stripes front to back.

 

Welcome

 

Welcome

 

Welcome to TMS. If you rebadge your car as a GT, PM me about your pony fender badges. I'd be interested in buying them from you, at the right price.

 

Welcome!

 

I'm not diggin' any of the mods so far. And putting GT emblems on it is rediculous. But welcome to the site...

 

If you like it that's all that matters. Have fun!

 

Welcome!

 

"I'm not diggin' any of the mods so far. And putting GT emblems on it is ridiculous." (*spelling corrected*)

Yeah cuz the GT grill makes the Mustang look so bad, that's why all the GT owner's are removing their fogs and installing plain grills! And who wants a hood scoop? So old school!! Shorty antennas, oh man, I love the look of the fishing pole sticking out of the fender the way Ford designed it!

Come on!!

I would be willing to bet that right now there are 3 times as many 69 Boss 302 Stangs on the rode than Ford actually built. Why? It's because not everybody can afford the top of the line car, But we can afford to build a tribute, clone, fake, whatever you want to call it. 9 out of 10 non Mustang owners couldn't tell a V6 car from a V8 car as it is. So I am having fun and saved a bunch to boot! So far I have a total of about $3,500 tied up in the car, that includes the cost of my trade in and all mods, how much is a new GT going for these days, I know there are guys on this forum that have more than that just in there suspension system and wheels.

And to anybody who wants to jump in and defend my right to do what I want with my own car that is 100% paid off, don't worry about it. I am a big boy now, I can take anything anyone can dish out. I could when I was in the Marines back in the 1980's and I sure have thick skin now that I am in my late 40's.

And,,,, thanks for the welcomes

 

Ok... not to bash some of what I think is poor taste on your mustang.... I'm going elsewhere.

The 5.3 is found in half ton GM pickups... not 3/4 tons. 3/4 tons have a 6.0 litter.
Also the 5.3 is a small block engine... not a big block engine...

Those were the things you stated that really bothered me

 

My bad. I didn't realize we were talking to a spelling bee champ. I guess I should've been more specific, if I had known you were gonna take my comment so seriously...

I'm fine with the GT grill...Although for whatever you paid, you might as well have gotten the whole front facia. You wouldn't have the gap from the grill not fitting correctly, you'd have more/better choices for chin spoilers if you ever wanna go that route, and it just looks better in general.

I'm not really a fan of non-functional hood scoops, some of them still look good...Not really a big deal. And come on...You really think I was doggin' on a shorty antenna?

The mods I didn't care at all for were the chrome lights...all of them. They're from the "Let's put chrome on everything and pimp it out" fad from years back. They just look ricey and trashy.

Pretending like your car is a GT (especially after acknowledging that most people don't have a clue) doesn't make it a clone or a tribute. It just makes you a poser.

 

It is scary how much we think alike

 

Well, the grill with fogs I picked up for $50, the headlights, tail lights and side-markers I got for free. Hard to beat that. I still have the original stuff so I can put it back to red when I want too. I don't know where I could pick up a GT front bumper for under $100 painted so I will stick with the bumper that came on the car, again no money spent there. I am a cheap bastard so free mods or stuff under $50 are the best route for me. Yes I shop at Goodwill but not for car parts, ebay and Craigs list have served me well, (love take-offs when someone else upgrades)

As far as big blocks go, My 68 Buick has the big block, The Rainier had the 5.3, yes I know its a small block, duh! I have several vehicles. (Remember, I said I got rid of the Rainier to get the Mustang, you didn't think I pull wheelies in a SUV did you?)

My bad on the 1/2 ton 3/4 ton Chebby, one of the guys I work with has a Silverado with a 5.3 and he claims it is a 3/4 ton, guess he did a 3/4 ton tribute truck. (Not really into Chevies so I don't follow the specs)

Honestly, I didn't like the chrome stuff at first, but it has grown on me and I think it goes well with the Satin Silver. Besides, when the lights are on, they are red so it really only shows up chrome when parked.

That hood scoop I picked up for $39 so even though it isn't functional, it still looks cool and the vendors on this site sell hundreds every year so others must like them too.

 

haha. A 3/4 ton "tribute truck". Tribute is not a synonym of poser or pretender. Sorry. As for the GT badges, please don't. The badges won't make the car look better, just seem like the worlds slowest GT =/

 

Engine in the 68?

 

get off the mans back ... this is about the rudest welcoming party i`ve seen here .. i dont think he built his car to suit any of you ..

 

Right! At least save your bashing for a non-welcome post. Good to have you aboard, Buickman! You be you.

 

The toy has a 1976 455 block because that year they redesigned it to have stronger webbing around the mains. Stage 1 valves in 1968 430 head castings. Cam has 238 degrees duration intake, 248 degrees exhaust, 112 degree separation angle, I chose the biggest cam I could get by without having to notch the forged TRW .030" over pistons while running .507" of lift. Running a rare old Kenne-Bell (from before he was into Mustangs) CoolRunner intake with an 850 double pumper. Headers feeding into 3" duals. I have 2 different nitrous plates that I can run anywhere from 50 to 250 hp shot in 50hp increments depending on the jets. Horsepower is fun but the torque is crazy, haven't had it on a dyno but completely stock a 455 puts out 510 ft lbs at 2800 rpm. No idea what she is putting out now. Currently working on the body, she is completely stripped to the bare metal right now. Th400 trans with a Hughes 10" 3200 stall torque converter with anti-balloning plate. Back in the late 1980's and early 1990's I used to street race a '69 Electra, got it built so I could beat the Grand Nationals in the area, this car is literally a ton lighter, 3700 lbs compared to 5700 lbs of the old Deuce-and-a-quarter. Can't wait till she's done.

 

Very nice... I wouldn't have sold it..

 

Oh, I didn't sell the 68, I sold the 2005 SUV.

Well, actually I sold the 71 Super Beetle, 68 Javelin SST, the 69 Electra, 70 convertible Electra, the 70 Skylark, 71 Skylark, 72 convertible Centurion, 70 Barracuda, the 78 Olds Delta 88, 81 Toyota Corolla, 88 Ranger, and the 89 Ranger, 89 F150, 96 Dodge Ram, 99 Caravan, 2005 Rainier and probably a few others in there that I forgot along the way.

This mustang really reminds me of both the cuda and the javelin, (wish I still had the Jav, sold the cuda for $50, there was literally nothing useful left to her-all it needed was a frame, body, interior, suspension,....)

The pic below is the day after I brought the Mustang home. Had to put the lawn mower away and break out the snowblower.