- Owner: Mike B Patterson
- Location: Huachuca City AZ
- Year: 1977
- Model: Coupe
- Engine: Other
- Transmission: 4 spd Manual
- Email me

SLEEPER

It's been a long road. Several years ago I decided to build a Mustang II Coupe. All I was really looking for was a 75-78 body (74s were excluded as I wanted a V8 and AC) that was straight and rust free. It took 5 years to find the right car (and in the process I ended up buying an additional 4 "parts" cars).

This car was better than I expected to find, it had a fresh paint job, new interior, and a new set of aftermarket wheels. It was also a factory V8/AC/C4 car. Mechanically the car was completely worn out and the engine was seized. The next 2 years were spent rebuilding/upgrading the mechanical components.

The engine is now a .040 351W with Performer RPM heads, Intake and carb. As the car was built to be a sleeper, late 60s cast-iron exhaust manifolds were ported and used along with a custom 2 1/4" headpipe and 2 1/2" exhaust. A custom dual snorkel cold air intake was also built.

The transmission is a top loader Overdrive 4 speed from an 83 Mustang GT, and the stock rear end now has 3.0 gears and a posi.

The front and rear suspensions were completly rebuilt to include new springs and the addition of rear sway bar and 1" front bar. To help stiffen up the body T-Top type engine compartment braces were fabricated for the engine compartment. All the weather stripping was replaced, factory remote mirrors were replaced, a Sanden AC compressor conversion was done, and recessed oil pressure gauge (that looks stock) was also added along with aftermarket cruise control.

In keeping with this car being a sleeper, even under the hood (which I purposely left as croweded looking as they originally were) it will pass for stock to non-mustang II owners . The engine to include the intake (with the Edelbrock logo ground off) heads and stock valve covers have been painted Ford blue and with the 4 bolt wheels and single exhaust it's very unassuming on the outside. The car is a ball to drive, it is well balanced, extremely fast, cruises at 75 MPH at 2200 RPM and get 25 MPG on the highway.

As far as the parts car,well..... there were a couple I just couldn't take apart. One turned out to a legitimate V8 77 Cobra II which we put together and my wife drove for a couple of years before we sold it (It's also shown on this site). The other was a complete straight and rust free 74 Coupe 4 Cyl car. That one is currently being built for my wife and I'll post pictures of it when it's done (hopefully in a couple of months).