Need a point in the right direction...

[Xplosiv]

So even though I work for a Ford parts house I'm not a real big Ford guy and my knowledge of the old mustangs is really limited. My family has a running driving and fairly straight body 65 mustang coupe we are looking at making a decent daily driver out of for my 16 year old cousin. I need to know where to go as far as must have upgrades/repairs to make this car solid, reliable, and safe. As the car sits its a 289 original v8 car with auto trans. It has drums on all four corners, and I believe it has manual brakes as well. The suspension bushings have all been redone along with the shocks so I figure the suspension is probably sorted for the most part, for daily driving to school at least. However I believe we probably need to outfit it with at least front disc brakes. My uncle seems to think we need to put a reman crate engine and trans in but I dont really see a reason to do either so long as the current ones run right. I did want to look into maybe putting a 4 speed OD auto in it. If you guys could point me towards a good resource for this id appreciate it. Ill get pictures of it this evening.

[Code510]

Originally Posted by Xplosiv

So even though I work for a Ford parts house I'm not a real big Ford guy and my knowledge of the old mustangs is really limited. My family has a running driving and fairly straight body 65 mustang coupe we are looking at making a decent daily driver out of for my 16 year old cousin. I need to know where to go as far as must have upgrades/repairs to make this car solid, reliable, and safe. As the car sits its a 289 original v8 car with auto trans. It has drums on all four corners, and I believe it has manual brakes as well. The suspension bushings have all been redone along with the shocks so I figure the suspension is probably sorted for the most part, for daily driving to school at least. However I believe we probably need to outfit it with at least front disc brakes. My uncle seems to think we need to put a reman crate engine and trans in but I dont really see a reason to do either so long as the current ones run right. I did want to look into maybe putting a 4 speed OD auto in it. If you guys could point me towards a good resource for this id appreciate it. Ill get pictures of it this evening.

That's cool you're fixing it up for your cousin. I think you're on the right track with this one. All the suspension has been gone through. Definitely need a set of disc brakes on that to help with stopping. Disc brakes was by far the best upgrade I've ever done. Since he's still a young driver, I would just give the motor an all around tune up and keep it that way. You don't want him hot rodding around. I'd just run that engine and trans till they blow and then upgrade at that time.

[Xplosiv]

If he definately doesnt need a hot rod, I had a full bolt on, cammed, geared 91 z28 when I was 16. Got my license suspended due to points by the time I was 18 lol.

[FETorino]

On a budget I know SSBrakes makes a bolt on disk kit that will work on the drum spindles and match up pretty well with the rear drums.

Drop the mounting location on the front arms 3/4". The old Shelby mod really helps handling on a stock set up.

Those little 289s sound pretty good and run decent for a daily driver. A nice recurve on a Duraspark distributor with an MSD6AL box will spark it up easy in the mornings and clean up the idle characteristics. For the distributor you can contact Tim O'Connor.
www.428cobrajetcars.com

You can buy an MSD for more $$ but no reason, same reluctor wheel trigger as the Ford. MSD just copied or licensed it.


Is it a 4bbl? The 4100 Autolites on those are as dependable as a carb gets. same goes for the 2bbl version but that small 4bbl is worth a few bucks to the Mustang guys. Also you can support a stout 289 with the 4100.

A set of 351 hipo exhaust manifolds work pretty well in there and with a good set of turbo mufflers will give it a good sound.

For a transmission if you want an OD use an AOD out of a Fox Mustang. No computer control needed and it will pretty much bolt up. A stock take out from pick a part should get the job done behind the little 289. You may even be able to use the C4 driveshaft. Really though the C4 will last forever and is a good three speed auto so unless you are hot rodding the car I'd just leave it.