67 coupe resto planning (motor, trans)

[Mustang67Coupe]

Hi, im currently in the process of a slow restoration of a 67 mustang coupe, and am now planning for the summer on a transmission and motor comb I will want to try and drop in. I am 18 and currently still in high school which leaves me with plenty of time and little money, but with the summer job I will be earning enough to start the mustang on its way.


Now with all that said, my dilemma is what tranny I should go with(I have already decided on going with a manual). For the motor I have already decided to go with a early (65-70) 289 or a (68-71) 302 as they are already available for me to buy, possibly thinking of going with a 302 and making it a 331 stroker.

I have been looking into the T-5 conversion which seem to be very attractive due to the 5 speeds but less attractive in how well they hold up.

The 4 speed conversions seem to be the best decision at this time, yet getting your hands on a nice 4 speed toploader seems to be getting spendy.

That leaves me with the 3 speed in which I really would like more gears than 3 but also seems to fit my budget more than the other options. So this leaves me in the dilemma of what conversion to do.

Either way I will need the clutch pedal and linkage. I have noticed they're many clutch cable conversion's available on ebay, however mostly for the later model mustangs (will these kits work with alittle modification?) or am I stuck with trying to find all the original pieces for a clutch linkage.

My goal will be to have a 300-400 hp motor with decent torque and a trans that can hold the power since I would like to be able to let the power rip on the street once in awhile

The car also rests on a 9inch Detroit locker with 4.33 Richmond’s, the gears may be replaced with 3.55’s later if I find its necessary. It also came with 71 mach 1 front disc brakes if that helps any in the decision.

I am currently still in the decision stage of what I would like to put in this 67 coupe so any input on motor and trans combo's is highly welcome and appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

Sorry there was so many questions in one article.

 

[10secgoal]

If you are palnning on really making that much HP, go with the later C-4, 70 and up, they are a little stronger and valve bodies are easier to modify and more people use them, hence you can get parts cheaper. What ever you do for a motor, you will want to make it full roller. The earlier motors are stronger but cost more to build as a roller. And yes the 4.33's will probably be to much with a C-4. I will gladly take them off your hand for you, I don't have freeways here. Just to help you out hehe.

 

[jesserose17]

With either 4.33 or the 3.55 you are planning for rear end, you will be happier with 5-speed, IMO. Tremec TKO will easily handle your planned horsepower range. 3550 and T-56 are other strong 5-speed transmission choices. I know there are several who have done cable conversions for the clutch linkage so it can be done. You can do the search on this.

 

[10secgoal]

He's right, I suggest the C-4 for the same reason many of us use them. You generally already have it, and for ease and affordability. I would love a 5 speed, although I would probably kill it first trip to the track. I'm just not willing to pay for the conversion, plus driveshaft mod. blah blah blah Then 1300 dollars for the tranny to take a good amount of abuse, plus a $200 shifter. I'm just too cheap. It all depends on what you have to spend. I have a C-4 that I built, that will take 600 Hp of full throttle nitrous shifts. I built it for 430 dollars, all new parts and specialized drums...but like I said I'm cheap.

 

[xoxbxfx]

Here is my $.02

Go with a late model block. Its a roller block and you can get more reliability and performance out of a full roller setup. 3-400 is a good goal to keep. Its not excessive and you should be able to meet that with a decent set of heads and the right cam. How much money are you planning for this stuff?

I would not go over 3.73 gears, you just wont get anything for gas milage and you will be turning high rpms for nothing. With 4.10 + gears, 1st gear is going to be worthless... you will be in the gear for 2 sec before shifting. I would suggest a T5 for your application. A T5Z is supposed to be rated at 340ft/lbs or so (which is their recommended limit) but can go further... If are dumping the clutch at 5000rpm at every stoplight, its not going to last but if you drive like a human being and race every once and a while, the tranny will work fine for you. If you are looking to buy one new, I would suggest spending the extra $2-300 on the 3550. The 3550 willl be plenty for your setup. The biggest benefit of a 5spd is the overdrive. If you want an automatic and overdrive, look into a lentech or Artcarr AOD. They are not cheap but they are well built trannies. It just so happens I have an Art Carr AOD for sale

 

[Mustang67Coupe]

Which later model blocks are the most well known or popular persay(also does the emmisions instated in those years effect the way the motor may perform?). I should be making around 6k-8k this summer on the job, but some of that will still need to go to putting the car together.

As of right now its just a shell in bare metal hopefully going to be painted with some etch as soon as i get the body work done.

so that leaves me with 6-8k to do everything.

Thanks for the input thus far guys!

 

[xoxbxfx]

Any 87+ block should be a roller cam block. If you are worried about block strength, you can try and find a mexican block. THey ahve a hight nickel content and are a little stornger. I feel a stock block with a maind stud girdle should hole up to 600hp without much of a worry. Always use ARP bolts.

 

[Bad Snake II]

I would stay with the 289, but that is just me. I look at it as you can get more rpm out of a shorter rod 289 that a 302 which has a longer rod which makes the rpm drop, the only up side of a 302 is the parts and you can get more compression without having to cut the deck.
As for the tranny i would do what i did, even though the torquer auto will save a couple tenths of a second or so. the stick is the way i went, i converted my c4 to a close ratio toploader, it cost 600 for the tranny two years ago off ebay and now it seams they have droped in price. As for the whole coversion it wasnt that hard to put together or really find most of the parts but some are hard to come by, the pedal to z bar rod i have is off a 69 z 28 camaro, it uses hime joints and it is really easy to adjust the length when you need to. The close ratio of the toploader makes it easy to waist the ricers, 4 gears to deal with and if need be you can skip third and go to fourth when draging at high rpm. The newer trany conversions seem cool but i like old school muscle and try to keep as far away from wireing , which the t5 will need some of.
so to sum it up 289 roler cam high output intake and a close ratio toploader to hook up with, that ought to get you berning tires in no time.
God bless our troops.
The snake.

 

[Bad Snake II]

By the way i am only 16 now and did all this when i was 14. have good mentors here on this site. LOL.