Fantasy Time: What Restomod Would You Do?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pete05
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ScottPuss20
HQ Monaro with HSV Clubsport R8 running gear
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One of the fastest road cars I ever had a ride in, was a HQ 2-door with a 400 Chev with a tricked up Trimatic. Something I'll never forget.

Besides the HQ Coupe being one of the best looking Australian cars ever, as a retro project, I'd love to swap the driveline from C6 Z06 into one as the start of a project.
 
Since the new Mustang Generations thread is go I have to bring this back in.
A green SVO with current Mustang 2.3T.
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Modernise the dash without making it digital.
Make wider replicas of the stock wheels and keep the exterior standard. Drop in a six-speed manual, black Recaros with graded green inserts and I'm done.
 
05XR8
Since the new Mustang Generations thread is go I have to bring this back in.
A green SVO with current Mustang 2.3T.
View attachment 1476297

Modernise the dash without making it digital.
Make wider replicas of the stock wheels and keep the exterior standard. Drop in a six-speed manual, black Recaros with graded green inserts and I'm done.
Click to expand...
I can see that being a pretty cool build, but I'd have to be different and go the current V8 driveline.
That and a suitably tuned titanium exhaust for just the right amount of aural pleasure 🤤
I must admit, having heard the 2.3T in both the showroom-spec Mustang and the Focus, I'm yet to be impressed by what many agree is divisible sound.
 
Maybe a modern V8 would be lighter than the original 2.3T. No arguments about the better noise a V8 makes.

I'd just like it to make and even 300hp with the 2.3T to make it live up the Special Vehicle name.
 
300hp turbo Limas are pretty common. I think you only need to open them up for a cam and the rest is bolt-on. The way the head flows I'd expect it to have a bit more usable low end grunt than a modern DOHC 2.3. But they are heavy motors.
 
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05XR8
Maybe a modern V8 would be lighter than the original 2.3T. No arguments about the better noise a V8 makes.

I'd just like it to make and even 300hp with the 2.3T to make it live up the Special Vehicle name.
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Just brushing up on my 80s SVO specs, 300 would be a significant jump up from the 205 peak of 1986.
One could also expect a boost in torque and driveability.
@TexRex
The 300hp in 'off the showroom floor' spec, has so many benefits over the 300 extracted out of the Lima motor.

I faced the same debate 20 years ago, when shooting for 400bhp out of my 5.0 carburettor V8. Go down that path for a very pricey investment and tolerate driveability, cranky behaviour when off cam, temperature issues, shorter life expectancy before rebuild time, and other associated niggles, OR
Drop in a more modern Chev LS crate motor that comes with a guaranteed 400bhp and a warranty!
Unfortunately, I kept getting a bad attitude from the car with issues popping up and eating into the budget before I got to pull the trigger.
So, I pulled the other trigger instead and sold up.
Loved that car, but I sure don't miss the reliability issues. Besides, my left leg post accident & rebuild wouldn't go anywhere near being able to use the heavy clutch.
 

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