Produced between the 1979 and 1993 model years, the Fox-body Mustang can be picked up for cheap and modified on a budget as well. The pony car we’ll talk about on this occasion isn’t your average ‘Stang, however, because it’s a Gen 3 Coyote V8 swap with the 10R80 auto.
To whom it may concern, Ford Performance currently offers the free-breathing engine with the 10-speed transmission, control pack, and all that jazz for the princely sum of $18,750 excluding shipping and installation. This setup replaces the original small-block motor and slushbox, which were good for about 225 horsepower and 300 pound-feet (407 Nm) of torque.
The owner, Mac Guido, did all the work himself and recently stopped by Palm Beach Dyno to see how much power his restomod puts down to the rear wheels. On the first attempt, the all-aluminum Coyote posted 458 horsepower and 408 pound-feet (553 Nm). On the final run, those figures improved to 466 horsepower and 423 pound-feet (574 Nm) on 93-octane fuel.
Not bad at all if you remember the ratings for the Gen 3 Coyote, but Mac doesn’t plan to stop the build here. After a few cosmetic and interior touches, the Fox-body Mustang will get an E85 conversion that should translate to bigger bangs, less knock, and fewer emissions to the detriment of fuel economy because ethanol has lower energy content than gasoline.
Finished in eye-catching blue and complemented by blue-painted Brembo calipers that squeeze drilled rotors, the 1992 Mustang is also gifted with a color-matched engine cover, five-spoke lightweight wheels, Goodyear rubber boots, a stainless-steel exhaust system, and 5.0 badging on the front fenders. As far as the interior is concerned, the biggest differences over the stock specification are the short-throw gear shifter and an Alpine stereo.
On that note, I would certainly love to see Mac’s pony on the blacktop someday in the not-so-distant future. After the E85 tune, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this ‘Stang run the quarter-mile in the 9-second range.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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