Several Questions

[hogdaddy77]

I am thinking of getting a 1965 mustang....that looks to need quite a bit of work...all new interrrior, some body work, and paint. It has a 6 cyl engine and auto trans.
How difficult would it be to put in a v8 and new trans?
Any reccomendations..looking to stay under $5k
Any advice is well welcome!

 

[68_stanger]

While it can be done, concensous seems to be find a car with a V8 allready if thats what your after. Allthough if the car is a steal and your not afraid of a lil work get it and have at it.

 

[NasaGT]

It probably needs more body work than you think, be prepared to sink more money in the body.

 

[jcode68]

You will spend at least $5k for bodywork and paint, less if you go the ultra economy Maaco route and are willing and able to do some of the work yourself. A complete interior will cost $800-$1,000 or more if things need to be upholstered, dash replaced etc... Again, if you can reupholster the seats yourself, you will save some cash. The engine and drivetrain could probably be done for $5k or less depending on the route you take. You also need to plan and budget for suspension and brake upgrade to match the power and weight of adding a V8. These are the reasons most people will seek out a V8 car rather than starting with a 6 banger. There are a lot of little hidden costs involved, but it certainly can be done.

 

[66moneypit]

I wish someone had given me this advice when I did this exact thing....and that advice is...... RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN. Not cost effective at all.

Doing it will put your wallet on a diet and take longer to get where you want to be.....ask me how I know....

 

[65ShelbyClone]

I am thinking of getting a 1965 mustang....that looks to need quite a bit of work...all new interrrior, some body work, and paint. It has a 6 cyl engine and auto trans.
How difficult would it be to put in a v8 and new trans?
Any reccomendations..looking to stay under $5k
Any advice is well welcome!

You might as well either find a cheap 289 car or spend most/all of the $5000 on a decent original V8 car. I have almost twice your budget already in my car and I havent touched the cosmetics yet.

 

[rbohm]

if you want a V8 car, then get one. swapping the six can be done, but the money you will spend doing the swap could buy you the body work the car needs. if you decide to buy the six cylinder car, keep the six and hop it up. if you want more info on hopping up the six, check out www.fordsix.com and www.fordsixparts.com both places have good info on building the six.

 

[hogdaddy77]

thanks for the info....Looks like Ill be ahunting down a v8...any one know of a decent v8 in the North Cali area that can be had at a bargain price?

 

[steel1212]

I'm going to have to disagree on this one as I typically do on this subject. In my opinion if you find a v-8 car that is in the same shape as the I6 your going to pay more for the v-8 to start with. Secondly 99.9% of us replace all the suspension do to it being 40 years old anyway, rebuild the tranny and rearends for the same reasons. The only added expense in my opinion is the cost of a motor and the change of tranny and rear that can be had for probably about the money you saved on buying the I6 instead of the v-8 anyway. Most people will completely rebuild the v-8 and then your only getting a block which isn't that expensive considering all the 302s out there. These are just my opinions take them as you will.

If you do find a good priced v-8 car that has had is suspenion redone and is in good shape for cheap then yeah thats a no brainer...but don't pass on a good shape I6 just because its not a v-8.

Also your not going to be able to reach your goal with paint, body, interior with a I6 for under 5K but for that matter you won't do a v-8 for that either if you do it right. Driveable maybe, but not done.

In case you didn't notice my car used to be a I6 car.

 

[gzminiz]

I agree with steel, I got a 66 six banger for a steal, found a 351W for free. I am completely rebuilding the suspension and brakes so the cost is no different and I need a tranny and rear end to handle the additional power so for me, it is cheaper to get the six with a great body. Either way the engine,tranny and rear was worthless to me.

Just depends on the deal you get on the car and what you are planning on doing.

 

[rbohm]

steel i will agree with you to a point, yes we rebuild suspensions, replace springs, etc. but unless you are going to swap to a set of granada spindles, finding a set of early V8 spindles isnt as easy as it would seem, and the six cylinder spindles are not exactly the strongest ones to use either. then the rear end needs replacing, along with the transmission. all of which drives the cost up. if you start with a V8 car, much of that doesnt need to change, including the wheels. one more thing to remember is that finding a V8 car, if you want a V8, is that you can do much of the rebuilding over a weekend so you can still drive the car during the week if you so choose. and that is important to keep your enthusiasm for the project from waning over the years. dont ask how i know.

 

[70vert]

Cobra Automotive spindles - anyone have price list?

I just ordered from these guys, (1 1/4" hollow front sway bar!) but I lost my printed price list in the catalog. Nothing on their site. But they do have
heavy duty spindles:

http://cobraautomotive.com/Handling.htm

Anyone have their price list?

I agree that $5k is really not enough unless you are committed to doing a LOT of it yourself. Just look at other guys around here . . .
Hell, my floor pan-cowl-inner-rocker-panel rust repair ALONE was over $5k . . .

steel i will agree with you to a point, yes we rebuild suspensions, replace springs, etc. but unless you are going to swap to a set of granada spindles, finding a set of early V8 spindles isnt as easy as it would seem, and the six cylinder spindles are not exactly the strongest ones to use either. then the rear end needs replacing, along with the transmission. all of which drives the cost up. if you start with a V8 car, much of that doesnt need to change, including the wheels. one more thing to remember is that finding a V8 car, if you want a V8, is that you can do much of the rebuilding over a weekend so you can still drive the car during the week if you so choose. and that is important to keep your enthusiasm for the project from waning over the years. dont ask how i know.

 

[steel1212]

This will be one of those arguments that will never be settled on. V8 spindles...check ebay. Motor, no problem 302/351s dime a dozen if you know where to look. Trannys, a rebuilt c4 isn't ungodly and you would need to rebuild it in the v-8 and if your I6 is an auto it has one just needs better insides. The most expensive part would probably be the rear end and they are around 300ish for a decent 8. Like I said if the body on the I6 is in good condition to me its just not worth hunting down a v8 just because its a v8.

 

[steel1212]

Spindles 62$

8 inch housing 17$ will need center but I don't know what you like in that asspect so add 100$ for a used 8 inch center to make it 117$

c4 75$

Ebaymotors shopping...priceless lol.

P.S. these where for 67 as I just did a quick search and this was what I found.

Now this is some quick searches that I did just to show you what is out there. Don't go buy these parts right now with out research first. I've been burned on more than a few things from ebay and others places but good deals are out there. Junkyards= trannys and motors by the ton and rears if you want to do some cutting. there is a classic junkyard here in Kentucky that specializes in mustangs. Just food for thought.

 

[danny clemens]

I think the key here is getting one in good shape. If it is in very bad shape even a V8 car may not be worth it. Unless you do it yourself body and frame work is very, very expensive. I wouldn't pass on a 6 if it was priced right and was in good shape.

If you're talking about the junkyard in Loretto, Ky. good luck buying parts from him. He does have a lot of Mustangs though.

 

[steel1212]

Its close to mount sterling, is that the one your talking about? I've never had any problems buying anything I needed. You'll pay for it but he'll typically have what you need.

 

[danny clemens]

The one I'm thinking about is a different one. What is the name of the one near Mt. Sterling. Might come handy some day.

 

[steel1212]

Its www.kentuckymustang.com Where are you located Danny?

 

[danny clemens]

Thanks for the info. I live right outside of Mt. Washington, Ky.