FG Fairlane?

[ltd]

Hi Guys. I've never done a project car before and thought it's be a good thing to do once, so I'll outline what it is below.

An opportunity has arisen with a car I basically inherited - I originally swapped my first G6E-T with my dad, as mum had a hip replacement and found the front door on the FG easier to get in and out of, and Dad has fallen in love with the G6 and at 76 years old, he still drives like a hoon (it makes me really proud to watch him keep his driving ability after all these years).

So, the temporary swap whilst mum got better has become permanent and he's given me his BF fairlane in lightning strike with the I6 and a ZF box. Initially I was going to trade this in when I got my G6E-T, but I couldn't bring myself to sell it for what they offered as a trade in (9000.00).
The car has around 135K on the clock and spends most of its time locked up in a garage not being used.
So, inspired by some of the workshop builds on AFF, I thought about doing something that hasn't been done, and that would be to put an FG front on it, as well as modify the rear to the FG spec as well. I have a mate who has over 30 years in metal, and he assures me he can mod the FG doorskins over the BF door frames, as well as re-crease the rear quarters to match etc. Bear in mind I don't want this thing to look like a cheap body kit, or some half assed budget attempt at an upgrade, I want it to look like something Ford would have made should the market wanted the FG in a long wheel base. I plan on it being painted in Velvet, with stock G6E-T 19" wheels.

Power would probably be another I6 (although a V8 is tempting), as I can get a 2000klm old FG turbo motor from another mate who has put a 700kw monster in his XR6 for around 5 grand with wiring harness and all the other necessary stuff to make it work.

The interior (which is black now) will be completely redone in a higher grade cashmere leather, although it will be full leather like in the AU2 LTD I had. So a leather console and the like will be done. I'd also like to put an FG ICC in it, and the associated dash.

Some parts have already made their way to my place such as two LED tail lights from a Cadillac I saw at a parts yard in LA (160USD the pair) - they'll be modified to fit the FG lights, the mates turbo FG motor is in my garage for storage, a G6E-T series 1 front bumper in silk (slightly scratched underneath), some FG wiring looms and other bits and pieces.

Now, I appreciate that there will be many problems and pitfalls to overcome, so I guess in a way before I start stripping the fairlane apart I'd like to ask, what kind of problems would I likely encounter such as; will the ZF box be a problem to upgrade to the higher output motor or should the more heavy duty ZF be sought?

The reason I ask is that I want to get an idea of cost for this transformation, and although I have some estimates there's an awful lot of things I probably haven't even thought of that your experience may shed some light into. Think can of worms, and for those who have upgraded engines any insight would be most valuable.

If I go ahead with it I will definitely put a build thread together, like some of the great ones I've seen here on AFF. I'm pretty determined to do it, just as a show car, any advice?