Help me plan my build!!!!

[ks65stang]

Ok I have a 65 Mustang 289 coupe I finally plan to get started on. I just sold wife’s 2001 V6 and I have a $5k budget. I can fab, weld, paint. ect, I plan to do it all and I want to save as much money as possible for future mods.

Yes, I have searched but it’s more fun to hear all your ideas and its just plan quicker/easier.

Plans:

1. Want to run a 17x8 Bullet Wheel, w/ approate tire size?
2. Want 4 wheel discs brakes need help w/ front.
3. Rear axle swap to an 8.8 w/ disc brakes or other axle?
4. New springs at all four corners want to drop about 1"

Would like to do all of this for about $1K or less, (excluding wheels/tires) using junk yard parts. I know the suspension parts can't be found in a salvage yard.

Future plans are a T5 (already have) w/ an EFI 289 (probably using mega squirt) or maybe an EFI stroked 351, maybe.

So please give me all the part #’s links to any write ups and your advice and I will continue to search myself.

 

[wicked93gs]

I for one am using an 8.8" rear from an 84 lincoln w/ rear discs....a suggestion, probably a fairly cheap way to go...as or the front brakes....I actually have all my factory front disc setup(spindles, calipers, etc.) for sale soon since I am swapping to a mustang II front end...it will probably need going through...new pads,cleaning, etc etc, but its all there and of course is a direct bolt on...as for new springs...why do you need them to be new? unless there is something wrong with your stock springs, you could just cut them(though that would make the ride somewhat firmer) cant give you any advice on the bullitt wheels though

 

[ks65stang]

What is the gear ratio of the 84 lincoln 8.8 and is there a locker?

I'm Ok w/ cutting springs and do you have any good how too links for the Mustang II swap, I may consider this.

Thanks!!!

 

[wicked93gs]

the stock lincoln gear ratio is something like 2.75ish or so....but its an 8.8 so any gear ratio you want is available...not sure if its a locker honestly(havent gotten to the point I need to change it yet) but there is of course both posiloc lsd and full detroit locker units available for the 8.8, as well as units such as the air locker(goes from an open diff to a full locker with the flip of a switch)
as far as the mustang II swap...I dont suggest it for a performance suspension....I got it for 2 reasons myself....I am using a 4.6L DOHC engine....the only way to fit the engine in the bay is to cut out the shock towers.....or notch them with a RRS front suspension...and since the RRS suspension costs $2500+ I decided no....reason number two for me was it provided a big brake kit, rack and pinion swap and a coilover type suspension, as well as tubular upper and lower control arms all for under $2k...and while it may handle better than a stock 66 suspension, there is most certainly better handling stuff out there based off the stock design(such as the open tracker stuff) far and away the only real reason to get a mustang II setup is simply for more room in the engine bay for some physically massive engine(big block, modular engine, or even a triton v10 if you felt like it) as for good links on the subject...I would do a mustang II search an read up on it...I think you will find its more of a headache than you want to deal with....I also think it would be out of your budget before long, even with the base kit, you're looking at $1800, while it packs a lot of stuff in there for the price, after you ad in a used 8.8" rear...some 17" wheels and mustang II accesories like sway bar, new inner fender panels, new brake lines all around, welding stock spring perches to the 8.8, getting the correct u-joint, tires for bullit wheels, spacers to use them(or torque thrust wheels which look the same, but cost more but not require spacers) and new drop leaf springs for the back, it will use up just about every penny of that budget

 

[ks65stang]

OK, so I found front power disc swap kits on Ebay for about $700, much more than I thought they would cost, but I'm Ok w/ this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1965...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Any suggestions on this kit? Too $ high? or anything better out there for the price?

Next question, which 8.8 and Year? I'm looking at Expoler 8.8s w/ 4.10's. I have a close to stock power 289 and a T5 (not installed yet, currently the old leakin C4). The T5 is a Thunderbird Turbo T5 and I think the 1st gear is pretty low. So what axle gear ratio? I'm not gonna drag just want a fun daily/weekend driver that I can take on 200+ mile trips every now and then w/ OK milage.

 

[wicked93gs]

you cant use the t-bird t5...since its a 4 cylinder version the input shaft is too short from what I remember...maybe if you use t4 bellhousing and redrill the bolt pattern to fit the t5, you need a v8 t5...$700 is about average for most aftermarket front disc kits....try the granada swap, or get a used stock setup and clean it up, both would be cheaper....unless you just want massive brakes...also, mustangsteve.com has some kits on his site using the late model cobra brakes

 

[ks65stang]

From some research I did on this forum a couple years ago, I thought the Tbird T5, T5 from four banger Fox bodys and Fox body V8 T5's would work? The olny debate was if the 4Banger and Tbird T5 could handle V8 power?

I paid $75 for this thing so no big loss.

 

[wicked93gs]

the t-bird tranny is a WC t5, the power handling isnt a problem, but I seem to remember all the 4 cylinder input shafts being too short(evidently they used shallower bellhousings on the 4 cylinders..similar to a toploader, I cant verify this...however, you can measure the input shaft length and then we will know for sure(or measure the bellhousing depth alternatively)

 

[ks65stang]

the t-bird tranny is a WC t5, the power handling isnt a problem, but I seem to remember all the 4 cylinder input shafts being too short(evidently they used shallower bellhousings on the 4 cylinders..similar to a toploader, I cant verify this...however, you can measure the input shaft length and then we will know for sure(or measure the bellhousing depth alternatively)

Measured the Tbird T5 shaft (rough measurement):

about 7 1/2" from outside of transcase to tip of shaft

and using a straight edge on the rear of the stock bellhousing 7" from straight edge to inside of bellhousing.

 

[mdriggers9662]

i bought an 8.8 w\ 3.55 gears out of a 98 explorer at a salvage yard w\disk brakes. repositioning spring perches and shockmounts is about all you have to do. my front spindles, also from salvage yard were from granada and very cheap. you just have to change the outer tie rod for a granada cause the mustang tie rod wont fit the granada spindle.

good luck with your project

 

[stonecoldtx]

i bought an 8.8 w\ 3.55 gears out of a 98 explorer at a salvage yard w\disk brakes. repositioning spring perches and shockmounts is about all you have to do. my front spindles, also from salvage yard were from granada and very cheap. you just have to change the outer tie rod for a granada cause the mustang tie rod wont fit the granada spindle.

good luck with your project

Well, if you don't mind having the rear tire stick out 2-3/8" on one side, or having the driveshaft at an angle within the tunnel if you center the wheels, then I guess you don't have to do anything . . . but if you want the rear axle housing to sit centered and have the same amount of clearance between the fenderwell and the tire, then you will have to shorten the right side axle tube, because it's offset to the left by about that much.