65 Restomod questions

Hefe · Feb 12, 2004

Hi, I have a 65 coupe (was originally a 6 cyl car) with a 302 engine and a C4 auto trans, and 6 cyl 7 inch rear. I have to replace the tranny and was looking for suggestions. I thought about a T5 swap but without the clutch pedal it may be alot of work. Any suggestions on another automatic? How are the aftermarket AOD trannys?

I also have an 8.8 rear from a V8 stang that I want to put in my car. Can anyone tell me how much horsepower these rearends can handle?

Thanks for any advise and info!!

Steve

mp67 · Feb 12, 2004

Hefe said:
Hi, I have a 65 coupe (was originally a 6 cyl car) with a 302 engine and a C4 auto trans, and 6 cyl 7 inch rear. I have to replace the tranny and was looking for suggestions. I thought about a T5 swap but without the clutch pedal it may be alot of work. Any suggestions on another automatic? How are the aftermarket AOD trannys?

I also have an 8.8 rear from a V8 stang that I want to put in my car. Can anyone tell me how much horsepower these rearends can handle?

Thanks for any advise and info!!

Steve

It is some work to swap to manual, but if you did the V8 swap then you could handle it. And an AOD swap would require work too. Its not a straight bolt in. I would opt for 5 speed. The 8.8 is pretty strong. Lots of people modded their 5.0's to run 12's and lower without problems. That would give you a four bolt pattern on the rearend though, unless you do a five bolt conversion. Unless your 8.8 came from a 94 and up V8 stang.

Hefe · Feb 12, 2004

mp67 said:
It is some work to swap to manual, but if you did the V8 swap then you could handle it. And an AOD swap would require work too. Its not a straight bolt in. I would opt for 5 speed. The 8.8 is pretty strong. Lots of people modded their 5.0's to run 12's and lower without problems. That would give you a four bolt pattern on the rearend though, unless you do a five bolt conversion. Unless your 8.8 came from a 94 and up V8 stang.

Thanks for the response mp67. The rear is a 5 bolt lug pattern (from a 66 stang) I also have the front spindles so I can replace the front ones also along with a disc conversion. Heh whenever I get the money!

Any good options in the automatic transmissions?

mp67 · Feb 12, 2004

Hefe said:
Thanks for the response mp67. The rear is a 5 bolt lug pattern (from a 66 stang) I also have the front spindles so I can replace the front ones also along with a disc conversion. Heh whenever I get the money!

Any good options in the automatic transmissions?

Overdrive is always a nice option.

66 BLAKE 96 · Feb 12, 2004

Its really not that difficult to swap pedal assemblys.

I got a setup at a local swap show for $50.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2459092105&category=33700

restomodracing · Feb 12, 2004

An AOD is a bolt in affair as long as you have the large bellhousing C4. If you don't, just get the flexplate with 164 teeth. You will need a special crossmember for the swap. There are a couple of companies who make them. I don't remember off hand who they are. You will need the Lokar kick down cable. You will have to shorten the C4 trans yoke by around an 1". Other than that, it's a bolt in affair.

The 8.8 is a strong rear when set up right. I assume that spring perches were installed so it would fit the 66.

GaPonyFarm · Feb 13, 2004

If the rearend is an original part from a '66, its not 8.8", its an 8"... not much better than the 7" for your 6 banger. If you have an 8.8 that was reworked to fit the '66, then you're ok up to around 300-350 hp at the rear... If you plan on drag racing, you'll want to upgrade to a 31 spline axle and diff.

John Z · Feb 13, 2004

GaPonyFarm said:
If the rearend is an original part from a '66, its not 8.8", its an 8"... not much better than the 7" for your 6 banger. If you have an 8.8 that was reworked to fit the '66, then you're ok up to around 300-350 hp at the rear... If you plan on drag racing, you'll want to upgrade to a 31 spline axle and diff.

I disagree that the 8" is only a little better than the 7". The 8" design is similar to the 9". There are many racers using 8" rear ends for up to about 400 hp. I wouldn't put that much power through an 8" but some do. If I was going to the trouble of swapping the rearend, I would probably go with a 9" as there are more goodies available due to their popularity with the racing set. Did you know that ALL Nextel (Winston Cup) teams use the 9"?

Hefe · Feb 13, 2004

So Ford makes an 8 inch and a 8.8 inch rearend? I thought they were one and the same? Someone tell me please

John Z · Feb 13, 2004

Hefe said:
So Ford makes an 8 inch and a 8.8 inch rearend? I thought they were one and the same? Someone tell me please

Check out http://groups.msn.com/FAIRMONT302/yourwebpage.msnw
I do not know why the page does not include the 8", looks like the information may be for Bronco type vehicles. The 8" rear was the Mustang (and many other cars) standard rear end for 289/302 engine cars, except for K codes and Shelbys which got 9" rears. For more good reading about Ford rear ends check out http://www.ultrastang.com/Rearinfo.asp?Page_ID=2
HTH

Hefe · Feb 13, 2004

Im confused because if you go to summit or other parts sites, they dont disinguish between the 8 and 8.8 rear ends when you look at gears etc..

Is it possible to even get parts for an 8 inch rear?

I wonder if I wasted that money on the 66 part mustang

restomodracing · Feb 13, 2004

The 8.8 is a late model rear. It does not have a carrier. On the other hand, the 8 inch is a smaller version of the 9 inch. They both have a carrier and were used in the early model Fords. I have heard of people running 10's using an 8". Of course I prefer to use the 9".

Hefe · Feb 13, 2004

restomodracing said:
The 8.8 is a late model rear. It does not have a carrier. On the other hand, the 8 inch is a smaller version of the 9 inch. They both have a carrier and were used in the early model Fords. I have heard of people running 10's using an 8". Of course I prefer to use the 9".

Restomodracing, is that car strictly used for racing? It seems damn strong

What are some of the other mods you have done to it?

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