I met Rich Muise at a car show in Lubbock Texas in March. With the project I have going I was immediately drawn to his car. We spoke for a good long while. He told me about this site so i thought i would post some pics here of my project. We pulled this car in the shop on November 29th 2022 and have been working on it pretty much non stop since then. Hear is a list of details and pics so far.
Front: TCI independent front suspension,Ridetech coil-overs, Willwood 12in disk brakes.
Rear: 4 Link, Ridetech coil-overs, Moser 9in differential, 35 spline axles, 3.70 gears, Truetrack locker, 12in Willwood brakes.
Drivetrain: Gen 3 Ford 5.0 Coyote engine, 10 speed 10R80 auto transmission.
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This is pretty much where I'm we're at almost ready for bodywork and paint. Then start putting it all back together.
Nice. Hope your going to lose the toilet seat.
Very nice work! Welcome to the forum. I really like the frame mods. Keep the pictures coming too!
This post put a smile on my face. Glad you made it to the forum. I do remember our lengthy conversation, and enjoyed it very much. You're doing a heck of a job there..........obviously not your first rodeo. I forgot your first name, sorry, but guys, Mr Stillman is a farmer not too far from Lubbock. I know some of you can relate. And I looked thru the pics 3 times, and still have no clue what Thomasso was talking about.
Anyways, glad to have you aboard. Please PM me your phone number in case I get back to Lubbock, I'd love to see the build in person. One of our longtime members, Pat Fleishman, is a Lubbock resident.
Equally impressive is the minimal amount of time since beginning...........just 6 months!!
I think he meant get rid of the continental kit.
Quote from: 57chero on 2023-05-07 12:01I think he meant get rid of the continental kit.
WHY? Those are one of the things that made the car kinda cool! If I could find one I'd add it to my car!
Sorry; But right up there with screw on stars and portholes, dual rear antennas, lowering blocks etc. Actually I think a friend of mine still has one. I can check if interested. Each to his own.
Sure...if he has one he wants to part with. Thanks.
BTW, Courtney, I love the clean look you're going for on the dash.....or are you replacing old openings with new ones?
When you have time, the guys here would enjoy hearing what's involved with installing a Coyote.
I'm going to have to agree with Thomasso, I never cared for the factory continental kits, or the aftermarket add on ones. A 57 convertible is already long enough without adding another 3 feet to it. But like they say if everyone liked the same thing it would be a pretty boring world.
Well I'll start by saying I won't be using the continental kit.
Rich the only openings in the dash will be 4 A/C vents the large opening for the screen and the two cast aluminum pieces that go on either side of the steering column. Everything else will be completely smooth.
As far as the coyote swap is concerned it's pretty involved. I started with a totaled 2022 mustang GT as a donor. So it came complete with everything except a power steering pump. I already had plans for a new front suspension but it's pretty obvious the coyote would never fit between the original spring pockets. The new crossmember has a custom notch for oil pan clearance but even with that we had to have a custom oil pan for even more clearance. We ended up with about 1/2in clearance at the oil pan and 1.5in to the hood. The transmission crossmember from the mustang ended up sitting perfectly on the I beam X brace that the 57 convertibles have. These are the biggest hurdles. If anyone has any specific questions I would be happy to help. I finally breathed a sigh of relief a couple weeks ago when we put the body down on the frame for the last time. Got it all wired up and started it up for the first time in its new home.
Interesting assumption on the Coyote 5.0 not fitting between stock control arms. I may be wrong, but I'm of the belief that my 4.6 is wider at the bottom than the 5.0s, and the 4.6s fit with no mods to the suspension.
One thing you may want to consider....the closed-off cowl is probably going to need some ventilation. A past mod that I had done was replacing the screen on the OEM opening with a screen that was sealed off with rubber. I did that just to keep some of the water out of the cowl. On many summer drives, I was noticing a blast of hot air coming from under the dash. It turned out to be the cowl heating up from engine heat because of no ventilation. Went back to the original screen and never felt the heat blast again.
Had I been aware of that issue during my build process, I would have put additional insulation on the inside of the cowl instead of stopping it on the firewall at the cowl bottom. Not sure if it would have been enough. I will say my 4.6 runs almost too cool internally but generates tons of external heat. Obviously, I don't know how it compares with heat generated by the Coyote.
Quote from: Stidham13 on 2023-05-08 23:14Well I'll start by saying I won't be using the continental kit.
Sent you a P/M.
Well Rich you may make me eat my words. I was sitting in a waiting room today bored on my phone when I found an article online. Someone has shoehorned a coyote into an original 57 frame. They used a really odd looking front sump oil pan a custom made set of headers that hugged the block and notched the frame at the alternator for clearance. There were several pictures and it looked very tight. The oil pan had bat wings sticking out the sides I'm assuming in order to have enough capacity. Looks like it can be done just doesn't look like much fun. I never even put a tape measure to it but I wanted a more modern coil over suspension from the beginning.
One thing I didn't mention before I didn't have to do anything to the firewall but the transmission tunnel has to be substantially larger to accommodate the 10R80 transmission. No way use the original front bench seat.
Yeah, 4.6 users are fortunate in that Ford used the motors in so many vehicles, Ford parts, available from different donors, actually make the 4.6 almost bolt-in....front sump oil pan from 93-98 Continental, early 0's Mustang motor mounts,Crown Vic trans mount and thermostat housing, etc. Not so with the Coyote motors, either way you go, you've got your work cut out for ya. It's going to be so awesome when your finished though, you won't have any regrets.
Availability of parts for your 5.0 is bound to be way better than at least the dohc version of the 4.6. They are already a lot harder to find than 10 years ago.
It's been 2 years since I've posted on here thought I would post some new pics. Currently the car is mechanically complete engine, trans, driveshaft brakes and wiring. You could put a seat in and take it for a drive. Might get some weird looks with no fenders or doors or anything. Chrome work has been done, stainless polished. On a side note I enjoy doing all kinds of restoration work welding, bending metal, engine work but I Do Not enjoy polishing stainless steel. I probably have 98% of everything finished that I need to reassemble the car. Currently finishing up the body work then paint and then finally time to put all back together.
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Looking good. Hopefully ready to drive this next summer! :burnout:
Wow, just found your recent posts. Not sure how I missed it. You obviously like thinking outside the box on your project. It's looking pretty awesome, can't wait to see it on the roads! Thanks for thinking of us with your updates.
I've still got mine, maybe I'll give you a call and take it for a drive to Lubbock one day.
Rich
I just saw this for the first time also! Can't imagine how I missed it. VERY IMPRESSIVE!
Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2023-05-10 09:21Yeah, 4.6 users are fortunate in that Ford used the motors in so many vehicles, Ford parts, available from different donors, actually make the 4.6 almost bolt-in....front sump oil pan from 93-98 Continental, early 0's Mustang motor mounts,Crown Vic trans mount and thermostat housing, etc. Not so with the Coyote motors, either way you go, you've got your work cut out for ya. It's going to be so awesome when your finished though, you won't have any regrets.
Availability of parts for your 5.0 is bound to be way better than at least the dohc version of the 4.6. They are already a lot harder to find than 10 years ago.
I did not know these items. Thanks. I would like to have a 55 T-Bird with the frame/suspension, and 4.6 and O/D trans in it. Of course I would have more in it $ than what it is actually resellable.
Quote from: Stidham13 on 2025-10-18 19:23Pic
Those vent-a-payne assemblies are real fun. I speak from experience.
It's been a while since I've posted here. Thought I would post an update. I FINALLY got all the body work and paint done. What a daunting task. Especially on a car like this with all of its curvey panel's. I'm finally doing final assembly and so far things are going pretty good. I hope it keeps going that way.
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Gonna look awesome. Great job Courtney, thanks for the update.
Are you using the Mustang's wiring harness?
Looks smooth as glass! Nice!
I'm using the engine harness from the mustang and what ford calls a control pack. It included the ECU, body harness and drive by wire accelerator pedal.
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Quote from: Stidham13 on 2026-04-03 12:31Pic
"Dear...does this hood make me look fat?" :003: LOL!!!
Looks very nice! Gonna be a true eye-catcher!
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Ha looks like I'm 3 foot tall.
Seam gaps look great, and I really like the trunk treatment. I was going to do the trunk on mine, but never got around to it.
WOW! I love the paint!!!!