I have to go along with everyone else that's already said it - cutting up an otherwise driveable Shelby is just wrong. If it had been me, I woulda started with a V6 car with a blown engine or something like that.
A serious lack of progress reports in the last 21 months. I had forgotten all about this thread even though I was subscribed to it back when this project began. I'm disappointed that your first post after a year and a half is just "No".