Thinking about selling the race car, again

Sactown

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Had a lot of fun, won some big races, and lost a bunch to, but I am thinking it might be time to part ways with my girl.

In order for it to be where I want it to be, mid-4's in the 1/8th, it's going to take some party major upgrades.

twin turbos or single larger turbo, racing brake kit, fueltech or some other engine management system, upgrade roll cage (only certified to 8.49 now), probably tube chassis, parachute (should have one already, but don't) and some pretty major weight reduction.

Not sure if I have it in me to put that much more money into the car. At this point, nothing is in-expensive, every 10th of a second is $$$. I can put another 20k or so into the car, knowing I will never get anywhere near that back for the upgrades, or I can try and sell it now or actually after this COVID shit blows over, and buy something I can drive on the street like a used GT500 or Corvette. Plus the local track is closing, could be as soon as the end of this year.

Just thinking out loud.
 

myystanng

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I have the same delemia. Mine is currently down, and damn, I just can’t see putting more money in a car that’s worth 5k .

I could prob buy a gt500 for the cost of repairing mine...


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Sactown

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I have the same delemia. Mine is currently down, and damn, I just can’t see putting more money in a car that’s worth 5k .

I could prob buy a gt500 for the cost of repairing mine...


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Mine fortunately isn't down, but you 20k in the car, get 5k back, not sure what I will ask for it, but defiantly won't give it away, plus it comes with a trailer, huge bonus LOL
 

myystanng

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Trust me I know. I’ll keep mine no matter what because I’ll never get what I’d want for it .


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RED09GT

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Sucks to hear about your local track closing.
And I agree with your stance, going from your position to the next tier is mucho dinero and then the cost of the consumables just multiply it that much further into the cost stratosphere.
Then add in the travel costs and it gets too expensive of a hobby.
My goal is to keep mine a streetable car, if I decide I want a full blown race car, I'll buy something that someone else wants to get out of. Much cheaper to go that road.
 

skwerl

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I guess I was lucky with my Bullitt. I totaled it just as it was getting to the point of not being street friendly any more. Between the insurance payout, then buying it back and parting it out I got a decent chunk out of it. A lot more than I ever could have seen otherwise. I only wish I could have driven it another year before it happened.

But once I was out of it and into a new car, it only took about 2-3 months for the mod bug to go away. I had the replacement 2014 for 5 years and never took it to the track. Only mods were a tune, exhaust, shifter and lower control arms. Traded it last year on a pickup truck. The race car was fun but it was just a phase I went through. No desire to ever have another race car.
 

Sactown

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Sucks to hear about your local track closing.
And I agree with your stance, going from your position to the next tier is mucho dinero and then the cost of the consumables just multiply it that much further into the cost stratosphere.
Then add in the travel costs and it gets too expensive of a hobby.
My goal is to keep mine a streetable car, if I decide I want a full blown race car, I'll buy something that someone else wants to get out of. Much cheaper to go that road.

Never planned on a full blown race, just kind of happen lol, first it is I want to run 11's, then 10's, then 9's, then 8's and now 7's, it is never or will ever be fast enough. But you're right the consumables especially fuel, I run red ignite $12.00 a gallon, go through a solid 10 gallons for a full day at the track. For me to run the limited street class, plus fuel, food.... it is a 500 dollar day minimum at the track, and we race once a month, and that is at the local track, then add in maintenance, plus something always breaks at least once during race season.
 

Riptide

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Sorry to hear you're thinking of getting rid of it. It's a common thing. I remember years ago Chevykiller basically saying the same type of thing on here. Wishing he had just left it streetable with just a blower kit on it and that's about it. Reading these stories is partly why I kept mine where it is and have zero intent to push it any further at this point. Unless and if it comes apart, I'm leaving the (stock) engine alone. It's already expensive enough as it is since the ACN91 fuel here is god awful I'm running additives constantly to cope. Can't imagine making that scenario worse and needing either more additives or something like MS109 to operate the car.
 

86GT351

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Bottom line is you have the Bug and bad. You are deeper into it than most. My 86 is the same. Pulled the motor due to a camshaft issue. Freshened engine with more compression. Everything cleaned and painted. Now I am getting ready to install the front inner fender aprons. I already did a fuel cell and associated parts to make it look like a show hatch. It is never ending. Even though it is a street car that will go tot the track just go get a time slip, I know it will go deep into the 11s NA. Do I put a Roll Bar in? Oh Yeah. Paint is 90% 1986 original paint. Time to paint also. If you sell do you want to finance mine? LOL!
 

Sactown

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I remember years ago Chevykiller basically saying the same type of thing on here. Wishing he had just left it streetable with just a blower kit on it and that's about it.

Not sure if I wish I had just left it streetable, I love racing the car, and it is fast. The issue is as with most things but particularly in racing is "He who has the most cash wins". 4 or 5 years ago a low 5.x in the 1/8th was a very competitive car, now running a 5.x in the 1/8th is slow. Last year I won one event, which is fine, running a 5.x in the 1/8th with one of the slowest cars in the field, the person that won the class for the season was running 4.6's and most of the other cars ran high 4.x's, I guess I have reached the point to where the expense out ways the fun.

The other sad part is, in some states my car would still be street legal.
 

MrAwesome987

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Just out of curiosity, can you tell me a little about the car? (I am in no way able to afford it, or am really interested, I'm just curious)
 

Sactown

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Just out of curiosity, can you tell me a little about the car? (I am in no way able to afford it, or am really interested, I'm just curious)

2006 Mustang GT, had a manual transmission when I purchased it, every option but the auto and 1000watt shaker system. Bought it brand new had I think 12 miles on it. Drove it around stock for about 2yrs, went to the track, that was all it took.

Sure I can give you a quick mod list
Ford Racing Aluminator 281CID (upgraded Manley rods and Diamond pistons 10.1 compression)
Ford Racing stage II heads
Ford Racing Throttle body and intake
Power glide transmission 4500rpm stall
comp cams 127350 XFI cams
carbon fiber DS
built 8.8
16v electrical system
single 76mm turbo 24psi air to air intercooler
bumpbox
AMS 2000 boost controller
bunch of suspension work
bunch of weight reducing
optic armor front and rear windows
still has tilt wheel and power windows
all the required safety stuff to be legal to 8.49 (except parachute)
still run 28x10.5 small tires
Bogart rims
factory power brakes (one of the reasons I run 1/8th mile, car doesn't stop very well at 160mph+ with no parachute and factory brakes)
I think 4 fuel pumps and ID 1300 or maybe 1600 injectors
Steeda ultra-lite cowl hood
Rest of the car is still factory steel
1200hp to the tires

I'm not going to lie, the car is fucking bad ass, one of the fastest stock displacement s197's in the country, everything done to the car is 100% top notch, AED built and tuned the car, I love the damn thing like it was one of my kids, it pains me to think of selling it, but I know if I keep it I will just keep dumping money into it, like 86GT351 said, I got the mod bug and once you get addicted to going fast, they only way to get your next fix is to go faster, it is actually a very vicious cycle, especially when your obsessive/compulsive like me, I obsess over going faster, and compulsively spend money to do it.
 
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MrAwesome987

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Man that's awesome. I didn't know it was factory displacement, that is very impressive. Awesome car, hope you get what you want out of it, whether that's selling it or keeping it.
 

MrBhp

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Never planned on a full blown race, just kind of happen lol, first it is I want to run 11's, then 10's, then 9's, then 8's and now 7's, it is never or will ever be fast enough. But you're right the consumables especially fuel, I run red ignite $12.00 a gallon, go through a solid 10 gallons for a full day at the track. For me to run the limited street class, plus fuel, food.... it is a 500 dollar day minimum at the track, and we race once a month, and that is at the local track, then add in maintenance, plus something always breaks at least once during race season.

Oh yes. Been there. I had a beautiful '65 GT. Also had a '70 vert that was really too hard core to be a street car. So I swapped drivetrains between the two cars. Going from 3700 lbs. to 2350 with me sitting in it was a major wakeup. Then I went to a 5500 stall with brake. Wanted more tire so went to a 30, needed more gear because, more tire. Went to 5.67 cause I had one on the shelf that a customer never picked up. Since I had more tire I figured it would be cool to stack another plate under the carburetor, so I put a 375 hp plate on top of the 250 that was already on it. At that point the car was scary fast. First pass at the track with the new trany went like this: When I went to 3rd (C4), the car shuddered like I pulled the ebrake. Then it exploded. The shifter that was in my hand disappeared through the floor, the transmission launched itself the other direction, up through the floor, the seat, and into my ass. The driveshaft loop then cut the driveshaft in two pieces, leaving the piece that was still attached to the pinion to spin, occasionally catapulting me as it dug in to the track. This all happened at about 800 feet. I was able to coast through the lights and make it to the turn around. I still ran a 10.20 at 113. I was the second car down the track that day. People were REALLY pissed. What was really strange is that, because it was so early in the morning, the ambulance had not made it to the track yet. So we couldn't race side by side, but they were letting us by-run. For whatever reason they waved me into the water. We weren't supposed to start for another 45 minutes. My brother was bringing all my gear to me, but he had not made it there yet. I was in short pants, tank top, flip flops, no helmet. Honestly, I don't think I was even strapped in. So after that experience, I reassessed my goals. lol I parted out the car, and then gave the body away. Next thing I knew I was building a 400 c.i. high compression stroked SBF for that convertible. I always say I'll never sell another one, and then when I do, I say I won't build another one, and then when I have the other one built.......It never ends, at least not for me. I'm not dead yet. But I am out of money.
 

Sactown

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^^ That is a crazy exposition, glade you made it out! The mod bug is crazy, been looking at used Grand Sport Corvette's, and the first mods I would do it, sad. lol
 

Riptide

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The other sad part is, in some states my car would still be street legal.
Mine isn't modded to any serious degree realistically, and it would not be possible to pass emissions in CA. Assuming here, you live in Sacramento. I moved to Sparks NV a couple years ago, and to pass emissions here I have to use some trickery to do it.

Where I used to live, Montana, anything goes there practically. lol
 

Sactown

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If/When I put the car up for sale I will probably post it states where it would be legal to drive. Someone could make a lot money street racing my car, it pretty much looks bone stock.
 

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