Dual Swap Project - Opinion Piece - Is it worth it?

DieHarder

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First thread/post - let's hope it's in the right forum.

So story is I've come across a stock 2009 GT-500 that was side-swiped on cabling guard-rail by the owner and subsequently picked up by a local wrecking yard. Went out to take a look-see and overall the car isn't in that bad of shape. Right rear quarter panel folded up pretty good. Front bumper broken in half. Left front quarter gone. Rest of the body intact. All wheels/tires in good shape. Appears she got caught in the cabling and spun ripping off panels as she went. Airbag didn't go off however. Engine started up and ran fine; around 30K on the clock. Rear seats are wet (open to the elements; rear glass broken). Rest of the interior is good. (Recommendations for issues/items/areas to take a closer look at should I want to pursue this are welcome). Deal is the yard wants $13K for the entire car (is that reasonable?) and I bring it back after I'm done with it so they can take the brakes and other salvageable parts for other projects. I get whatever I need to do the swap over (engine/trans/rear-end/harnesses/gauges/interior pieces/etc).

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Here's where the fun begins. I have a 2006 GT with a DOB setup and my son has a 2007 stock V6. His car looks fast (Roush body work/stripes/Grabber Orange) but isn't so this may be an opportunity to rectify that. He's in college now so could be a great graduation present...

The hard part is I would have to swap out 2 engines and drive trains including computers, dashes, harnesses and all other ancillary pieces from my car into his and then swap in everything from the GT-500 into my car. A ton of work to be sure.

Looking for experiences/pointers/personal stories from members who have either done one or both of the these swaps; 4.0 to 4.6L and 4.6L to 5.4L and especially your opinions of whether taking on such a project/s are worth it from a personal/financial (not in it to make money, but do you think the cars will be worth anymore than they are today) and overall satisfaction points of view. I know I'm starting with good foundations just questioning the time, effort and sweat equity that taking on these kinds of mammoth projects entail. Mechanical experience isn't a limiting factor. I've rebuilt several cars in my life (by myself) including a '68 Charger; 74 Lotus Europa and Bi-Turbo Maserati among others. Physical endurance may slow things down a bit however; getting up there in years now (62) and usually not anyone around to help but I can call on friends now and then so recommendations for events/activities you think I need them to help with are welcome.

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So the big question for everyone; looking back on your build/swap experiences "Was it worth all of the work you put in" and if you had to do it over would you? (Likely a rhetorical question given this group's interests...). Thoughts & Opinions Welcome.

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07gts197

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I was thinking the same thing. You’ll need to upgrade the brakes and suspension if you haven’t already too so that’ll add more.

I watched a documentary on the gt500 and in short it seems they have a couple of inherent issues that turned me off to them. If you plan on either keeping it stock and not pushing it or forging the bottom end $$$, then it might be worth it.


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Dino Dino Bambino

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You could make things simpler by doing a swap of all the GT500 stuff, including the suspension/brakes into the '07 V6 and leaving your GT alone.
 

DieHarder

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"You could make things simpler by doing a swap of all the GT500 stuff, including the suspension/brakes into the '07 V6 and leaving your GT alone"

Good point save the fact that the millennial generation seems to prefer auto's over sticks and I'd rather he not have a GT-500 at 21... my GT is an auto. He's still very inexperienced and I really haven't had an opportunity to get him into a decent driving school or on a track yet to teach him how to "drive" safely. I suppose I could give him my GT and swap the GT500 in his but then I'd have a cop magnet and I really prefer more of the sleeper look vice the "Hey, you, yeah you, in your face" Grabber Orange/Black stripes racing car with ND4SPD on the license plate. And yes, I'm not "that" old that I still cannot enjoy a powerful ride and kinda want to build that one last car before I retire. Something to enjoy now and then and later hand down to the next generation when the time comes.

Anyway, a couple more details on this deal. The car got into a guard-rail (cabling type) so that's what tore up most of the panels. The hood is dented around the drivers vent and scratched but salvageable and could be transferred over easily. The axle-backs are still okay but the passenger side under car exhaust piping was torn up. The stock GT500 wheels are fine and most everything in the interior is still there sans the door panels. Per the deal I buy the car outright and able to take off whatever I want. I actually want to return it to the yard after I'm done so I don't have to deal with junking it (unless I'm worrying too much over a non-issue (opinions?)). I already have Brembos so I don't need them. That was really the only thing the yard wanted from the car. That does however present an issue I hadn't thought about before...if I do the swaps it would probably behoove me to add the anti-lock system to my son's car so that would be something else to plan for.

I still work so this would likely be a winter project and I expect it'll take about a month per car to do it right (I'm planning conservatively since I need to remove and swap all of the wiring/dashes and other electronics from car to car to avoid running into differences between years 06, 07 & 09 and allow for any unforeseen challenges that I'm certain will pop up, they always do). Truth be known I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and would want to take the time to clean/prep/paint/sound proof and all of the other little things we all promise ourselves we'd do if we had unlimited time. Additionally, I usually take about a month vacation over the winter as most of my work seasonal in nature (ready hurricane/disaster response). I also don't have a shop or lifts so taking these projects on in a home garage is another challenge to deal with.

What do you folks think if I could get it cheaper...say $10-11K? Apparently, the yard specializes in these and they come up more often than I thought. I'm really interested in this particular one however because of the condition and low miles. Just concerned about what I should be looking out for prior to pulling the trigger. That said, if you were considering the car what would you be concentrating your attention on and why?

Thanks folks,

JM
 

Juice

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Some random thoughts here.
What do you really want? Thats a lot of work to end up with a clone = wont have the value of a real GT 500.
If that was me, I would be considering fixing the GT500. Without seeing photos of the damage, its hard to say. But you end up with a slighly more valuable salvage title gt500.

Since your swap is not crossing over generations, should be able to reuse the body wiring and maybe swap the computers (abs/sjb/cluster) and only need to swap drivetrain, brakes, and diff.

How much is that yard making on selling that car? Sounds like you are paying for all the parts "pulled" and ready to use. Insurance paid the owner, yard got the car for next to nothing. 13k is what the hard expects to make on the car pulling parts and selling them individually.
 

DieHarder

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Roger that. Appreciate everyone's perspectives. Like several builds I've read about on the forum I just think it would be cool to do a swap like that and it gives me something to work on over the winter. I'll mull it over a bit more and likely come back down to earth. Still, fun to dream once in a while. ;D
 

Joe combs

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Having worked salvage in the past, then in Ford parts ... and now buying cars here and there from the salvage auctions, I'll give you some of my input. GT500's do not sell cheap at these auctions... i've been trying to get one for myself too... wadded up in a ball they still bring good money... and a low mile drivetrain brings even more. But... for 13K i would expect to get whatever i wanted and to only be bringing them back a bare shell. If you look on car-part.com a dropout gt500 engine and trans range from around 8k and up... which doesnt give you all the wiring and little detail stuff.
Value... its worth what you want to spend...
 

tabstang

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I'm on my 4th S197, 1st was a V6, super nice car, had every upgrade the Ford dealer sold in it, smokin $ deal. But it was a V6 - so I put a supercharger on it. That helped - a LOT - but it was still an auto trans V6. I tried to sell it to get a manual V8, no buyers until I pulled SC out. I got a GT with a Pro Charger making 600 RWHP and full race suspension for $2K more than I sold the V6 for.

Point is, whatever mods you do to your car will only decrease its value. You can get as much power from your 4.6 as that Shelby engine for a lot less than $13k, less labor, it will weigh less and it's WAY easier to get it back to stock if you sell the car. Same goes for suspension and you already have Brembos.

As for the V6, same story - sell it and get him a GT. Or give the kid yours and go buy the car you really want.

But I get it on the story part, everybody wants that "Shelby" name on their car. If that's what you really want, go for it! After all it's a hobby not an investment.
 

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