GT350 Spied Testing

[RustedAngel]

It's funny because I think you want to see it so you are seeing it. I'm 100% sure there's nothing - at least nothing obvious.

I guess we are going to disagree. I had an open mind until I looked at the magnified views very carefully. Now my mind is more made up, unless someone shows me a different view where the difference can be detected more easily.

But we know it's different - it's wider, it's lower, the termination lines of the panels are obviously different, Ford has released specs pertaining to specifically how much wider and lower...how is there doubt if it's different? It's not an issue of if, it's simply finding the spots where the differentiations show themselves to prep for the difficulties ahead, if you're wanting to swap.

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[Spartan]

It's funny because I think you want to see it so you are seeing it. I'm 100% sure there's nothing - at least nothing obvious.

I guess we are going to disagree. I had an open mind until I looked at the magnified views very carefully. Now my mind is more made up, unless someone shows me a different view where the difference can be detected more easily.

I have to say even seeing what they posted, I still don't think they are lower. They definitely are further in but from a side shot and using the flat spot around the wheel well, they seem lined up identically.

 

[RustedAngel]

I have to say even seeing what they posted, I still don't think they are lower. They definitely are further in but from a side shot and using the flat spot around the wheel well, they seem lined up identically.

Since the flat spot seems larger on the 350 because of the extra width, I'm not sure that's an accurate point of gauging placement.

 

[Spartan]

Since the flat spot seems larger on the 350 because of the extra width, I'm not sure that's an accurate point of gauging placement.

I'm sure you're right, just visually it doesn't look like it. I obviously see the difference in the panel lines, but the rest still doesn't pass the eye test for me ;)

 

[w3rkn]

This.

I'd bet to replace the front end with all of the correct GT350 parts you're looking at 20k after it's all said and done. Hence the "just buy a GT350" comment. If you've got even 10k to waste on body panels, I think it's safe to assume yore wel off enough to just buy the car instead. But maybe I'm incorrect. Lol.

I would rather say more like $6k ~ $7k for front end. Look at the mustang that was on fire, the whole front piece is composite carbon fiber in the GT350.

The CF front sub-frame dimensions are different, smaller. The 5.2 sits lower and the front tag lines make note of that.


The aftermarket cost for a kit like that, could start at $5k... but easily doable.

 

[DB83]

This.

I'd bet to replace the front end with all of the correct GT350 parts you're looking at 20k after it's all said and done. Hence the "just buy a GT350" comment. If you've got even 10k to waste on body panels, I think it's safe to assume yore wel off enough to just buy the car instead. But maybe I'm incorrect. Lol.

I don't know, that seems a bit much, considering you can do a GT500 swap with hood on the current S197 for about 3k.
Maybe add to that another 1k for fenders, and another one for the clip once you've added all the parts together (the current GT500 front clip runs around 600). I'd say more realistically 5-6k to do just the front.

Yes its a GT350, but remember its still a ford, not a lamborghini!
Labour i don't really care, as i do all the work on all my cars myself, so thats free.

 

[Grandfunk]

I don't know, that seems a bit much, considering you can do a GT500 swap with hood on the current S197 for about 3k.
Maybe add to that another 1k for fenders, and another one for the clip once you've added all the parts together (the current GT500 front clip runs around 600). I'd say more realistically 5-6k to do just the front.

Yes its a GT350, but remember its still a ford, not a lamborghini!
Labour i don't really care, as i do all the work on all my cars myself, so thats free.

Comparing to a GT500 isn't a bad thought but remember that vehicle has existed for years and has thousands of examples on the road. Additionally, the metal panels are not made from aluminum.

It makes more sense to just look at what s550 replacement parts cost, which is what I just did. Anyone can go to the ford parts website and browse around. To anyone thinking of doing this conversion I suggest you go look at some of the drawings and see just how many pieces and parts there are under the skin of your mustang.

So I just looked at major things, I did not add up cost of trim, mouldings, hardware, shipping the parts, painting the parts, etc... which is the stuff that will add up quickly. Also these are the cost of REGULAR s550 parts, where there was a price difference between EB/V6/GT part I just chose GT.

Fenders: 293.72 x 2
Fender splash shields: 111.78 x 2
Bumper shield: 243.20
Bumper cover: 266.77
Hood: 2684.17 (sweet jesus!)
Hood insulation: 118.33
Grille: 392.92
Grille support panel: 569.32

Grand Total: $5085.71

Things to remember:
These are only the most obvious parts that would need to be replaced and this is only the front end. Set aside another 500 or so for the rear bumper cover.
These are Ford OEM GT part prices, yes GT350 parts will be more and counter to that non-OEM aftermarket stuff will bring price down.
The grille support panel on a GT350 is carbon fiber composite so expect that part to be much more expensive.
This doesn't include the cost of wheels to match the fender flare, or I guess spacers if you wanted to save money.
No labor cost here. For the DYI'ers in the crowd have fun prepping the "cheaper" aftermarket fiberglass kits to actually get them to line up. With all the obsession over panel fitment and finish on this forum I would think that thought alone is gonna make someone pass out.

EDIT- Sorry I just wanted to summarize and point out that this estimate is very conservative, the real thing will cost more if that wasn't already obvious. If anyone can get into this with OEM parts at the end of the day all hung, painted and pretty for less than 10k I will be shocked.

Anywho I just wanted to bring some data to the discussion. Thanks for reading.

 

[DB83]

Yes of course, right now. But at some point the GT350 will also be a bit more common and in the thousands. Also parts will become cheaper with time.
Yes those who want to do the swap right away it might cost them a bit, but if you wait a couple of years things will be slightly more reasonable.
I do agree that the most expensive parts are going to be the hood, and the composite core support, but we still don't know how different the core support really is. We might be pleasantly surprised.
Who knows, maybe the aftermarket will come out with something that looks even better!

 

[Backorder]

Personally, I don't like the idea of a replica but to each his own I guess.

To me it's like saying "I drive a Ferrari" when in reality, this is in your driveway...

Again, to each his own...customize away if that's your thing. If it ends up being out of my budget I'll buy a GT and I will upgrade it to perform as close to the 350 as I can but I won't make it look like one.

 

[OppoLock]

Right, I'm sure that is why the bodywork is the way it is - I was simply pointing out where you can start seeing the differences. I'm curious if there's enough room at said hard point to make the change on the headlights if one was replacing all the sheet metal to conform for the 350 Fascia? I'm not so sure.

And again, at that point - it seems smarter to put that money towards the down payment on an actual 350 and have the Voodoo/Suspension/Brakes/car itself. Haha.

I really don't think the headlights have moved at all (aka fixed hardpoint), so provided that the engine bay clearance is the same, I would assume that all of the sheetmetal would be completely interchangeable.

 

[OppoLock]

Personally, I don't like the idea of a replica but to each his own I guess.

To me it's like saying "I drive a Ferrari" when in reality, this is in your driveway...

Again, to each his own...customize away if that's your thing. If it ends up being out of my budget I'll buy a GT and I will upgrade it to perform as close to the 350 as I can but I won't make it look like one.

Verbiage... "replica" is a bit strong. If someone likes the front end of the GT350 but doesn't want to go all in, why not swap out body panels? It's not like they'd be doing everything plus a badge swap.

 

[Backorder]

Verbiage... "replica" is a bit strong. If someone likes the front end of the GT350 but doesn't want to go all in, why not swap out body panels? It's not like they'd be doing everything plus a badge swap.

Like I said, to each his own. I'd go as far as a hood swap maybe but I don't know about entire front end.

 

[Grandfunk]

Like I said, to each his own. I'd go as far as a hood swap maybe but I don't know about entire front end.

Seriously this. It's been said before but if you have the money to do a conversion properly you have the money to just buy the real thing. It's going to go past a price point that makes sense.

If you don't have the means you can just do the standard cheap idiot move of dumping a bucket of cobra emblems on your V6 and keeping the ones that stick. You'll at least give people something to laugh at.

Buying a hood or doing some here and some there is different and I think it would be a great way to customize. I'm just saying going all the way with it 100% makes no sense financially, at least not in the near future.

 

[OppoLock]

Like I said, to each his own. I'd go as far as a hood swap maybe but I don't know about entire front end.

Sure thing. Just wouldn't say your photo example has any relevance to the idea.

 

[OppoLock]

Seriously this. It's been said before but if you have the money to do a conversion properly you have the money to just buy the real thing. It's going to go past a price point that makes sense.

If you don't have the means you can just do the standard cheap idiot move of dumping a bucket of cobra emblems on your V6 and keeping the ones that stick. You'll at least give people something to laugh at.

Buying a hood or doing some here and some there is different and I think it would be a great way to customize. I'm just saying going all the way with it 100% makes no sense financially, at least not in the near future.

Since when is a hood and bumper a serious investment? People resort to the aftermarket for that kind of stuff all the time.

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