Question of Morality

[Sixty Nine Mach]

i have a 1969 all numbers matching car. the only different things on the car are a chrome manifold, air cleaner, valve covers and alternator and a 4 barrel. i have all the original stuff. i want the car to go faster. i was think heads and a small cam, but should i do it to that old engine? or leave the car totally stock??

 

[Hack]

I don't think it's immoral to change the car. Just immoral if you go to sell it and lie about changing it.

I think you should do what you want with the car. Just remember that changes will reduce its value.

Good luck.

 

[69 302/351c]

Mine are both coupes, less desirable to some than a Mach, but I went into the motor on my 302 with 125000 original miles on it. Now I have 172000 and the block has never been out of the car. Still have good oil pressure and the cleanest oil I have ever seen.

I never plan to sell ( told the wife to consider it my life insurance policy) so I do what I want to the car, not what others say I should..or shouldn't.

 

[MustangPaul]

Maybe this'll make you feel better, but if you swap things, keep what you swap. If you sell the car, pass on the parts to the next owner. If they want to put it back, they have most of what they'll need. The next owner will thank you.

 

[Snail50]

it's your car, do what really makes you happy with it....don't deny yourself complete enjoyment of it just because of what a future buyer might think. It doesn't sound like your car is a rare model, so some well-chosen performance upgrades might actually raise the value of the car...

Also, you might be able to do some porting on those stock heads to improve the flow, which, along with a mild cam, should give you more power without changing appearance.

 

[Snail50]

and BTW, my 67 is/was an all original (except for new headliner, radiator, and exhaust)California black plate show car, and I had it for about two weeks before I started modifying.

 

[TT670]

Go for it, as long as you're not cutting the car up making mods that cant be easily reversed who cares. Like was said its your car and you wont be decreasing the value one bit as long as you hang on to all of the original parts.

 

[Max Power]

Modifying old cars has nothing to do with morality.

Save your old parts. You can return it to stock if you see fit.

 

[67GTA-FB429]

Pull the original motor and put it in storage. Buy a new motor that you are going to build up. That is the best way to do it.

It is your car, you should do what you want.

 

[PoliceInterceptor]

Pull the original motor and put it in storage. Buy a new motor that you are going to build up. That is the best way to do it.

It is your car, you should do what you want.

I agree,

If you don't do this, absolutely don't modify any of the original parts, and save them all.

While a 351 Mach isn't particularly rare, it is still a collectable and if its other wise nice grinding on the OEM heads could be a several thousand dollar mistake.

JMHO

 

[Snail50]

Not to hijack, but I still have my drum brakes and 14" wheels/hubcaps sitting around after converting to 4 wheel discs. I can't imagine that I'll ever want to convert back, because concourse doesn't interest me.

Are the parts worth keeping around, maybe for the possibility that some restorer will want an original set of drum brakes and 14" steel wheels? My 67 is by no means a rare edition, but it is in very good, mostly all-original condition (except for what I've done to it ~

I hate to get rid of parts anyway, but I don't want these things cluttering up my garage.

 

[PoliceInterceptor]

Snail50,

I'd probably keep them around if they are in useable condition. They won't bring much to sell, and you never know what an original 67 coupe might be worth down the road.

I'm a bit of a packrat though.

 

[65fastback2+2]

Pull the original motor and put it in storage. Buy a new motor that you are going to build up. That is the best way to do it.

It is your car, you should do what you want.

i agree. what if you modify it, and the motor is weaker than you think, or the added power causes u to throw a rod and make a nice big hole in the side of your block??? then all originality would really be lost.

 

[Snail50]

Snail50,

I'd probably keep them around if they are in useable condition. They won't bring much to sell, and you never know what an original 67 coupe might be worth down the road.

I'm a bit of a packrat though.

Thanks, PI. They are def. in useable condition, and i hate to get rid of anything that still has some life left in it. LOL, I guess I'm a packrat too.

 

[ucstang]

Just an opinion, but somewhere along the line we have been influenced by the economics of owning a collectable car. We used to buy hot cars and make them hotter, but now someone said, " If you do that it may not be worth as much, because it is not original". I think you alone have to decide what your car is to be. Glenn

 

[BBRacer]

Agreement here as well.

I agree,

If you don't do this, absolutely don't modify any of the original parts, and save them all.

While a 351 Mach isn't particularly rare, it is still a collectable and if its other wise nice grinding on the OEM heads could be a several thousand dollar mistake.

JMHO

Keep the old stuff and have fun. You may yourself change your mid later and want to "put it back". Most importantly - Have fun!!