The 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback being rebuilt by Rutledge Wood and eBay Motors rolled last weekend into the Goodguys 20th PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio. When it arrived, the fastback was sporting a beefy new engine and transmission. After much deliberation, Rut and his crew decided on the legendary 427 cubic inch Ford Cobra Jet engine and a stout Tremec five-speed manual transmission. The big V8 is a rare Ford Performance crate motor, rated at 535 horsepower. (Learn more about the “On The Road with eBay Motors” tour.)
The 427 Cobra Jet is the focus of one of the greatest controversies in Mustang history. According to Ford, no Mustang left the factory with a 427 Cobra Jet under the hood. The 427 was originally designed for use in NASCAR, but was too complex and costly to build for production vehicles. While a small number of these engines found their way into W-Code Mercury Cougar GTEs, it was never offered in the Mustang—which gives even more mojo to the eBay Motors fastback.
Mike Finnegan of Roadkill answers questions about the Mustang’s drivetrain.
Big Engine in Small Bay
Putting a large engine into a Mustang, which has a small engine bay, takes a bit of finesse. Getting hung up at an awkward angle is just part of the process. “It was actually pretty straightforward,” Rutledge said. “Of course, it took four or five times to test everything, make sure the motor mounts fit, and get all the bolts installed.”
The Ford Performance 427 Cobra Jet bolted to the Tremec T5.
The team at Kenwood Rod Shop bolted the Tremec T5 transmission to the 427 with a QuickTime bellhousing, billet aluminum flywheel, and a Modern Driveline heavy-duty Kevlar clutch. A MSD Pro-Billet distributor and Ford Performance spark plug wires are in place, as well as a brand new radiator—but the intake setup is still under discussion and the headers have not yet been installed.
The car will rumble into Mustang Alley at the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit, Mich. on Aug. 19. Will you be there?
Hints About the Color
The Columbus event marked the Mustang’s second public appearance. Mike Finnegan of Roadkill hosted the festivities and was accompanied by Randy Allgood of the Kenwood Rod Shop.
Folks were eager to learn about the Mustang project, but also about Mike’s other cars—such as his wife’s gnarly 1969 El Camino to the beloved Roadkill Rotsun and infamous Vette Hack. “It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot,” Mike said. “I even met a family that owns two AMC Gremlins. They recently bought one of them on eBay Motors after parting with the same car 22 years ago.”
The Fastback rolled into Columbus with the primer guide coat process under way.
The team at Kenwood guide-coated the car, spraying light gray primer over the black. That made the crowd at Goodguys curious about the final paint scheme, but Mike could only hint at what was in store for the fastback. “It will be patriotic,” he said, providing no further details.
K.C. Mathieu, formerly of Fast N’ Loud, will show off the selection of wheels and tires for the fastback at the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit on Aug. 19.
See 1967 Ford Mustang for sale on eBay.
