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At the beginning of November, I started saving money for a motor swap for my 2012 Mustang - from a computer-controlled V6/automatic to an old-school stroked/bored 351W (408ci) with two 4bbl carbs. I'm expecting power numbers somewhere north of 525HP and 500lbft of torque - screw the environment. 
I estimate that the swap will cost about $25k, and as a result of xmas gifts today, I went from 4.75% to just shy of 10% of that goal.
There's no replacement for displacement.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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Sounds like Santa's sleigh is getting some serious horses  .
Software Zen: delete this;
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What's your mode when driving it? Is it a rag-top which you drop down and you cruise the streets wearing mirrored sunglasses while smoking a cheroot? And when you pull up alongside a cop car you spit on the gorund before asking them (paraphrasing Clint Eastwood), "Do you guys knows the way to San Quentin prison?" and when they rattle off the directions you say "Just checking that you do, you assholes." and speed off into the sunset with a six-pack of beers. 
If there is one thing more dangerous than getting between a bear and her cubs it's getting between my wife and her chocolate.
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My "mode"?
Coupes are lighter and more rigid than convertibles, and are therefore more capable in a performance environment.
I don't "cruise".
I don't street-race.
I don't talk to the cops.
I don't drink.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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Maybe a shorter list of what you do is in order
Good luck to you! My brothers have gone through a few mustangs now. One of them had a crate motor dropped into it. The dyno had high numbers (though not as high as your expecting), but he could never get any traction in the street. I hope you'll address traction along with the larger motor.
Hogan
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Well, traction on the street for guys in the drag-racing frame of mind doesn't really equate to a faster car. There are several remedies he could have tried:
0) some lower gears (ruins trap times and E/T's, but you won't be burning off street tires before they're a week old)
1) better tires (softer, or even street slicks - but they won't last long, even on a mildly driven car)
2) transfer the battery to the trunk - this is good for both the street and pretty much any form of racing - many cars come from the factory with understeer built in because they're nose heavy and the suspension is adjusted to help even the least capable driver handle the car without hurting themselves. Moving the battery to the trunk changes the weight distribution, provides better traction, and lightens the steering.
3) additional weight over the rear wheels - added weight slows the car down, but traction is improved. Not a good idea, because the "added weight" could be thrown around in the trunk.
4) traction bars - prevents wheel hop and promotes weight transfer
5) suspension mods that allow weight transfer to happen faster - shocks in front that allow faster rebound, and rear shocks that allow stiffer compression. You can also lighten the front end with tubular control arms and sway bar.
6) Change to an aluminum engine block. If you want to spend a LOT of money, do this.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote: 525HP and 500lbft of torque
That's some serious Pony power right there...
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If I used a different block, I could get upwards of 700 HP...
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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One of my former coworkers used to race funny cars in his spare time... between him and his friends, they bought one... must've been a hell of a rush racing one of those.
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It probably is, but drag racing ain't my thing. I prefer road racing. I've raced vintage Trans Am, bomber stocks, done the Richard Petty Driving Experience twice, and driven all manner of race-prepared Fords.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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I used to be into mustangs quite a bit... Had two before I ended the relationship and went to BMW. Every now and then I consider getting a mustang again but I live in a city now where parking is a bit of a problem and mustangs aren't the easiest car to parallel park because of how low you're sitting and the positioning of the windows (along with hood scoop if you have one). I tried parking one in downtown Boston once and that was challenging, maybe I'm just not used to parallel parking a mustang.
I remember driving a friend's trans am when I was younger, that was fun too!
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How can you get such an engine to pass the emissions restrictions of a 2012 automobile?
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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John lives in Texas for cryin' out loud. Do you honestly think a state legislator that proposed much less voted for state-imposed emissions restrictions would make it down the capital building steps alive?
Software Zen: delete this;
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Actually unless things changed, Texas does have emission restrictions. When I lived there in the 90s my parents had to get the cars tested every year. This requirement was waived if the vehicle was built before a certain year. That said depending on the age of the engine he drops in, that might cause it to fall within that criteria. Texas is strange sometimes, they do care about protecting the land and air... at least from private citizens.
Or it might be like Wisconsin where most of the state doesn't care about emissions testing but a small portion of it (near Chicago) does. Heck, when I travel to the more remote parts of the state I see cars with more duct tape than actual car.
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Correct. Vehicles registered in certain counties (17 of them) require an annual emissions inspection for vehicles less than 25 years old. The remaining counties only require a safety inspection. So if you live in a non-emissions-testing county you'd probably be OK.
The bigger problem I see is how to remove all the computer-controlled engine management stuff and still have a functional car. All the other systems - ABS, traction control, climate control, instruments etc. - are all so interrelated these days that I don't see where you can easily separate the engine control stuff without removing almost everything else...
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I live in a county that doesn't check smog...
But TX does have laws regarding engine swaps, which this swap will break.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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A well tuned engine without the computer may have less trouble than you would think. And if your looking for HP you want a well tuned engine.
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It's called "knowing someone".
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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Be sure to install a new MVA approved, phone home, wifi enabled, computer module so the state can shut you down in case you break any laws.
modified 26-Dec-13 11:36am.
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Dumb question, but why do this on a 2012 V6 Mustang? Why not start out with maybe an older V8 version and spend the money tweaking other stuff like headers, intake/filters, suspension and (if applicable) some chip work?
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Why not an older Mustang:
Because I like the 2012 body style.
Because a 2012 doesn't require $10k of metal work to remove rusty panels and restore structural integrity (like you'd have to do on anything from 1965-1970, which are the only viable Mustangs).
Because the newer cars handle better.
Because newer cars are easier to get adequate daily driver insurance for.
One alternative to getting an older car is to buy one of the new complete uni-bodies available for 65/66 convertible, 67/68 fastbacks, or 69/70 fastbacks - any one of theme costs about $16k, and it comes with doors and a deck lid. However, you still have to
0) Buy the front fenders, hood, light buckets, front and rear valance, and bumpers (god knows how much)
1) Have it prepped/painted (about $8k)
2) Buy a wiring harness (about $1500)
3) Buy the entire interior (about $3k)
4) Complete suspension, rear end, brakes, wheels/tires ($15k)
4) Radiator, engine, trans, driveshaft ($20k)
You're talking about spending $70k for a brand new 1967-1970 Mustang (and buying the parts used or not putting in a decent engine will only save you $10k or so).
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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Ah. I'll admit I'm not much of an American Muscle Car aficionado for anything post '74 (in fact I can't really name many cars between '75 and '87 that were anything short of awful - except the Kingswood ute, obviously!). Mustangs, specifically, have always done my head in because they came with such a great pedigree and then just became worse and worse...and worse...
I'll admit though that the newer ones are actually starting to get their mojo back.
My reasons for using a newwe one would be a little shameful: ABS, airbags and an OBD II connector.
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A real driver doesn't need ABS.
Air bags are only for those not fully committed to paying for their recklessness.
ODB2? This ain't Star Wars, pal.
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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...because my hosting service server is down, and it looks like "24 hour support" doesn't cover Christmas Day! Quelle suprise! 
Never underestimate the power of stupid things in large numbers
--- Serious Sam
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