Dakota Muscle Cars built this 1968 Mustang at their company in Sioux City, Iowa. The project started after a drag race torched the factory 289 ci Windsor V8. They replaced it with a turbocharged 2.3 L EcoBoost inline-four featuring a Ford Performance control pack, Mishimoto radiator and interooler, and custom exhaust. Dakota Mustang Cars also swapped the factory three-speed manual transmission with a T56 six-speed manual transmission. Out back sits a Currie 9-inch rear end with 3.89 gears and a LSD. Underneath they installed a Detroit Speed Aluma-Frame front suspension with JRi adjustable coilovers and electric power steering and a Ridetech triangulated 4-link rear suspension with Ridetech adjustable coilovers. Brakes were upgraded to Wilwood six-piston calipers with 14-inch rotors in front and four-piston calipers with 13-inch rotors in back. The car rides on a set of Forgeline FL500 18×8 wheels with Nitto NT555 255/35-ZR18 tires and weighs 3085 lb with a 55/45 bias.
Source: Forgeline, Ford Performance Parts and photos by Brian Stalter via Detroit Speed FB page
That’s a really clean-looking job, but, when i see a modern engine in a classic muscle car feels like seeing an old dude in a tuxedo and sneakers. Booth are good, but incompatible.
This is something you won’t see every day. A lot of people think V-8s are the only thing for mustangs, but 310 HP should be enough for a DD and light to light drag racing. Looks nice and clean inside and out.
A brand new 2021 Mustang with this powertrain is several hundred pounds heavier, and does 0-60 in the low five-second range. This thing should fly!
I hoped for a 3.7 Ecoboost swap! The no-brainer that no one seems to have done!
I want one. Awesome craftsmanship. Car should handle very well
I like this EcoBoost 68 Mustang! It’s great,clean and looks factory built. Never realized the potential of these engines until I purchased a 2020 Mustang and became a believer.
I think that is really cool and innovative. Everything Ford is a Coyote Swap and everything GM is an LS swap. Its great to see modern 4 cylinder tech. in a restomod. I am a fan.
This car is way lighter than the current Mustang with the Ecoboost engine, so it should scoot pretty well. I like V8s, too, but I also like turbo 4s dating back to the Mustang SVO in the mid-1980s. That had the thrashy Pinto-based belt-driven SOHC 2.3 engine, while the Ecoboost 2.3 is a thoroughly modern, state-of-the-art four-valve DOHC design.
Awsome fitment, look’s very natural.