1990 Mustang LX - SVT Cobra DOHC Powered! UPDATE! 1/22/23

[Dennis Lacy]

I was ecstatic when it was announced years ago that Revell was coming out with an all-new Mustang LX Coupe kit (never would have imagined) but like many people I was very disappointed when I saw the mis proportioned body on the test shot pictures that surfaced. I stayed out of the poo slinging arguments that resulted but was as frustrated as anyone else. Despite that I bought a few of the drag race version a while back because at the least they have some really nice parts, especially the 2 in 1 drag race version. I’ve gotten to a point, now, where I’d like to go ahead and build one despite the issues with the body. 
 

These old 5-liter Mustangs are very near and dear to me because I bought my first one, an ‘88 GT 5-speed Convertible in the summer of ‘95 when I was 15-1/2 years old from my Stepdad. That was my daily driver until March of 1999 and by then it had all of the typical bolt-on mods. My current driver since February of 2013 is a near mint condition ‘87 GT Hatchback with a handful of mods and more to come. 

In between those two Mustangs my daily driver from March of 1999 to February of 2013 was an ‘88 LX Coupe! This car was heavily modified with a fully built motor and road race suspension. It made 320 HP and 335 TQ to the wheels on a Dynojet, would hit 113 Mph in the quarter and saw many open track road course weekends. For 14 years this poor car took every bit of abuse I could throw at it. It was built entirely by myself and my close friend at the time, Zak. 
 

My favorite era for these Mustangs is the 1990’s. The styling trends and performance parts from that decade are where my hearts at so I’m going to build this model to reflect the later part of that decade. Specifically, 1998. The first order was to choose an era correct set of wheels. It just so happened that not too long back my friend Wes Salazar built Revell’s Super Stallion Mustang kit but put aftermarket wheels on it leaving the kit wheels and tires up for grabs.

That kit happens to have a set of one of my favorite 90’s 3-piece wheels ever, Speedline 978’s. Wes agreed to send me his unused set. The only problem is that the tires are the same size all around and looked a little wimpy out back. I don’t have anything in the way of late model car kits to find tires in but I do have this one that my friend @Kit Karson sent me in a large care package of kits a few years back, Revell’s Alternomad Caprice Wagon. 

At the time I didn’t think I’d have any use for this kit or it’s parts but as it turns out the tires are a just-right larger size with nearly identical tread and the wheels fit them, perfect for the back!

So here is the initial mock up with the Speedline 978 wheels, larger rear tires and the kit provided cowl hood. 
 

For the engine I’m ditching the pushrod 5.0 and replacing it with the ‘96-‘98 SVT Cobra 305hp DOHC engine found in AMT’s ‘32 Phantom Vickie street rod kit.

 

The detail on this engine is very well done and by the late 90’s these Cobra engines became popular swaps into the earlier cars when an unfortunate donor would bite the dust. In fact, a friend back in about 2003 had an ‘89 LX Coupe with the entire drivetrain, big brakes and wheels from a wrecked ‘98 Cobra swapped into it. What was so interesting to us was that drivetrain was significantly faster in the ‘89 shell than the ‘96-‘98 Cobras were. Figure that one out…
 

I assembled enough of the engine to be able to do necessary test fitting. The ‘90 LX drag race kit comes with an aftermarket style light weight tubular front k-member along the likes of UPR, D&D, etc. As luck would have it this piece provides just enough clearance for the new engines oil pan allowing the motor to fit down into the car. (The stock k-member piece is a no go as just on the full scale swaps, there’s nowhere for the the oil pan to go.) I was able to slightly modify a set of the headers from the Small Block Ford engine found in all of Revell’s ‘32 Ford kits and they perfectly snake around and clear everything. Not exactly prototypical headers for this engine but they won’t be as visible in the finished model and I couldn’t ask for a better fit. 

 

 

Here’s the engine fit from the top side. 
 

 

That’s as far as I got today. Most of today’s effort was mental vs physical, brainstorming and thinking things through. Much more to come!

Edited January 23, 2023 by Dennis Lacy

[4mula1fan]

Nice start!

[Cool Hand]

Yep, this is going to be well worth following. Liking what you have planned Dennis. 

Always impressed how you kit bash on your builds.

[Bullybeef]

I’ll be following this build intently, I have a pair of the lx kits and was looking for an inspiration to build one of them.  I am still holding out on one of the kits to bash with the body from the old revell fox body kit

[Dennis Lacy]

47 minutes ago, Cool Hand said:

Yep, this is going to be well worth following. Liking what you have planned Dennis. 

Always impressed how you kit bash on your builds.

Thanks! It’s early on but I think I have a pretty solid plan. We’ll all find out together! 🤣

[Dennis Lacy]

40 minutes ago, Bullybeef said:

I’ll be following this build intently, I have a pair of the lx kits and was looking for an inspiration to build one of them.  I am still holding out on one of the kits to bash with the body from the old revell fox body kit

That ‘80 Turbo Cobra would be an awesome kit bash with the ‘90 kit. Definitely do that!

[Zippi]

Looks good so far.  I like the 1:1 as well. 

[Andrew McD]

Just a bit off topic but I'm curious what sort of adhesive you are using to keep the parts together for mocking up.  I've tried Tacky Glue with only moderate success. 

I will be watching this very interesting build!

Andrew

[Dennis Lacy]

1 hour ago, Andrew McD said:

Just a bit off topic but I'm curious what sort of adhesive you are using to keep the parts together for mocking up.  I've tried Tacky Glue with only moderate success. 

I will be watching this very interesting build!

Andrew

Hi Andrew. Depending on the situation I use a tiny drop or two of CA glue (Zap-A-Gap) that can easily be snapped apart or a drop or two of white Elmer’s glue. I also pin a lot of parts which allows me to mock things up over and over and always get them located exactly the same. 

[Andrew McD]

17 minutes ago, Dennis Lacy said:

Hi Andrew. Depending on the situation I use a tiny drop or two of CA glue (Zap-A-Gap) that can easily be snapped apart or a drop or two of white Elmer’s glue. I also pin a lot of parts which allows me to mock things up over and over and always get them located exactly the same. 

Thanks Dennis, I appreciate your taking the time to answer my question.

[espo]

Look forward to following your build on this. I like the clean look of your Blue LX 1:1 car. You have a big advantage in this since you have experience with the 1:1 subject.  

[TransAmMike]

I always liked the LX notchback and what you're doing on this one is really cool Dennis.    I'm a lookin'!!

[chris chabre]

Now I have to go find the body thread...I have a few of these I plan to build

[Dennis Lacy]

4 minutes ago, chris chabre said:

Now I have to go find the body thread...I have a few of these I plan to build

Don’t do that to yourself. Just build them and don’t worry about it! 🤣

[Spottedlaurel]

Looks like a great start, with your thoughtful, considered approach to the conversion (helped by your 1:1 knowledge). I look forward to seeing it progress.

I have a Tamiya Cobra Mustang and on several occasions I've looked at how the engine and chassis would fit under an '80s Monogram Mustang or Thunderbird. It probably wouldn't be very authentic, but it's one that I'd like to have a crack at someday.

[Kit Karson]

Now I'm wondering just how many other Ford bodied kars could benefit from this transplant from the ol' deuce phantom?!.  -KK

 

[chris chabre]

3 hours ago, Dennis Lacy said:

Don’t do that to yourself. Just build them and don’t worry about it! 🤣

I dont even get to build them!

[Dennis Lacy]

7 hours ago, Kit Karson said:

Now I'm wondering just how many other Ford bodied kars could benefit from this transplant from the ol' deuce phantom?!.  -KK

 

THAT might be a tight squeeze. Probably need a shock tower delete!

[Phildaupho]

Excellent project. I have used the great looking engine from the Phantom Vickie in a few projects

[Mattilacken]

Nice project, definitely my type of build! 

[Dennis Lacy]

On 11/22/2021 at 12:50 PM, Spottedlaurel said:

Looks like a great start, with your thoughtful, considered approach to the conversion (helped by your 1:1 knowledge). I look forward to seeing it progress.

I have a Tamiya Cobra Mustang and on several occasions I've looked at how the engine and chassis would fit under an '80s Monogram Mustang or Thunderbird. It probably wouldn't be very authentic, but it's one that I'd like to have a crack at someday.

That is a huge advantage for me, true. Between my own Mustangs and the vast amount I’ve helped many of my friends build over the last 25 years I know them down to every last bolt. 
 

Is that the 1995 Cobra R kit from Tamiya that you have? That’s a kit I’d love to get my hands on one of these days. I remember seeing them on the hobby shop shelves back as a teenager in the mid 90’s and passing them up because I was put off by the odd Tamiya brand name that I knew nothing about, LOL! 

[Spottedlaurel]

1 hour ago, Dennis Lacy said:

Is that the 1995 Cobra R kit from Tamiya that you have? That’s a kit I’d love to get my hands on one of these days. I remember seeing them on the hobby shop shelves back as a teenager in the mid 90’s and passing them up because I was put off by the odd Tamiya brand name that I knew nothing about, LOL! 

That's the one. I'm saying this from memory as it's been a while since I opened up the box - it's a great kit but I think the bottom of the engine and gearbox is moulded into the chassis/floorpan. That's why I'm looking at a complete engine/chassis swap and not just using the motor alone.

It would give the recipent car better suspension and brakes, so there is a benefit. I think the wheelbase on the Monogram '79 Pace Car is similar.

[Scott8950]

On 11/22/2021 at 12:17 AM, Bullybeef said:

I’ll be following this build intently, I have a pair of the lx kits and was looking for an inspiration to build one of them.  I am still holding out on one of the kits to bash with the body from the old revell fox body kit

The interesting thing about that kit is it's a mustang but it has the Capri fenders and quarter panels.

[Bullybeef]

33 minutes ago, Scott8950 said:

The interesting thing about that kit is it's a mustang but it has the Capri fenders and quarter panels.

That’s why I want it 

[Tabbysdaddy]

46 minutes ago, Scott8950 said:

The interesting thing about that kit is it's a mustang but it has the Capri fenders and quarter panels.

Not exactly. It has the wide Capri fenders and quarters but also the Mustang wheel flares.