Author: Kevin Huth
What started out as a simple engine swap turned into a complete monster of a build. Scott Young went to JH Restorations with the plan of installing a 7.3L Godzilla engine into his recently purchased 1986 Ford Mustang. The car—a clean, T-top hatchback Foxbody from Alberta, Canada—was completely stripped of all mechanicals as the plan evolved. A rendering was created to visualize the customer’s new vision for the project.
Around that time, Ridetech announced their bolt-in Foxbody Independent Rear Suspension kit, and the customer loved the idea of dramatically improving the car’s handling. The new IRS system was installed along with a Ridetech SLA front suspension bolted to a Team Z tubular front crossmember. For coil-overs, Ridetech was again called upon for their HQ rebound and ride height adjustable coil-over system. A Brian Tooley Racing Truck Norris camshaft was fitted to the V8, and a 10-speed 10R80 transmission was placed behind the engine.
To maximize the suspension upgrades and fit a wider wheel-and-tire package, custom hand-made steel fender flares were fabricated and welded on to create a subtle widebody appearance without going overly aggressive. The car ended up roughly 3.5 inches wider in the rear and 4 inches wider in the front. Under the flares sit custom powder-coated Forgeline CV3C wheels wrapped in Toyo Proxes Sport tires. For stopping power, Wilwood 14-inch brake kits were used front and rear, combined with a modern Mustang hydro-boost master cylinder.
In the engine bay, the shock towers were removed, the bay was shaved, and a close-out panel was fabricated to clean up the look and secure the custom Dewitts radiator. To modernize the front end and fix the factory bumper’s typical waviness, a steel lower bumper was hand-built with a large grille opening and recessed fog lights. Full ground-effects were added to complete the exterior and maintain a clean, subtle aesthetic.
Underneath, the floor was 3D-scanned in-house, allowing the team to design custom subframe connectors to handle the newfound torque. The front bumper was also scanned to create new flush-mount turn-signal housings, allowing the body lines to flow seamlessly through the lenses. Both the housings and lenses were 3D-printed, and the lenses were tinted to darken the front-end appearance. Additional 3D-printed side moldings were made, and the entire car was gapped before being sprayed in BASF Ford Shelter Green.
Inside, TMI Mustang seats were used as the base. Nesic Interiors stripped them down and reshaped the foam for a thicker, more modern profile. The seats were then wrapped in Relicate Recaro black leather with a Timelapse Satin distressed leather insert. Custom leather-wrapped door panels and a matching dash pad were fabricated as well. Dakota Digital RTX gauges with custom black brushed-stainless appliqués were installed in the dash. The stock shifter was retained but fitted with a Lokar shift knob, and a 3D-printed surround simplified the center console by eliminating the original information center and 12V outlet. Custom stainless trim was applied around the shifter surround. A new Ford windshield was installed, and the remaining original glass was cleaned and reused, as replacement glass is no longer available. To keep the cabin comfortable, a Vintage Air Gen5 SureFit kit was installed with custom routing to hide all visible hoses. Overall, the interior was designed to feel upscale, clean, and cohesive with the exterior.
After two years of work, the car debuted at Detroit Autorama, where it won 1st in Class Street Touring and an Outstanding Street Machine award. It then appeared at Toronto Motorama, where it again drew major attention and won Best Ford, 1st in Class Street Touring, Winner First Time Shown, Canada’s Top 10, and the top honor—Canada’s Grand Champion. Now that the snow has melted and the salt has been washed away, this monster will finally be cruising the streets of Canada before heading south for a few shows this summer.
Learn More about Ridetech Foxbody Suspension solutions HERE
