Thread: Building a 289

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Other than your engine problems I don't believe the stock 6 banger suspension and rear end will hold up very well with the 289 and the brakes are suspect also.

i personally have done a 6cyl to v8 swap on my 66 mustang fastback... its not as easy as you would think...
you will need to get motor mount brackets for your frame, new they'll run you about $150, used you'll be looking at about $100 probably.... that'll get you started for the time being.... you'll need a 5bolt bell housing for your c-4 tranny, they do exist but will probably be difficult to find.... next the front suspension and brakes are way too weak for your car... and since you say its your sons car i'm sure you'll want his car able to keep him alive.... if its manual steering you'll have to replace the centerlink, pitman arm, inner and outer tie rod ends, front spindles, springs and shocks(make sure to get all 64 1/2-66 parts) or you can go the granada method and swap over just the outer tie rod ends, and spindles from a granada plus get v-8 springs for your car.... the 7.5" rearend will not handle your v-8 for long and also will be 4 lugs vs your 5lugs that will be swapped onto your front end .... the stock rearend for the upgrade will be an 8" but you can also use the granada rearend or a lincoln versailles which will actually give your car rear discs.... you can also get a 9" and have it modified to fit your car by a decent rearend shop.... heres a list of ford rearends that will fit your car...
http://www.ridgecrest.ca.us/~biesiade/Fordrears.html

also some more links to help you get where you're going

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/3...ecial/6to8.htm

http://www.vintagevenom.com/

http://www.jmcmotorsports.com/

http://www.laurelmountainmustang.com/

and also

http://www.mustangsplus.com

hopefully all those will get you started in the right direction

and remember you need to do the upgrade you car if you're putting in a v-8, the 6cyl 4wheel drum brakes do not stop well with a v-8.... they almost killed me a few times before i converted my car over to the 98 cobra disc brakes

Originally Posted by thesals

and remember you need to do the upgrade you car if you're putting in a v-8, the 6cyl 4wheel drum brakes do not stop well with a v-8.... they almost killed me a few times before i converted my car over to the 98 cobra disc brakes

The 8cyl 4 wheel drum brakes don't stop that well either and without some kind of traction bars on the rear end it's a squirrelly little car.

thats why its such a good business making disc brake conversions for mustangs...... and yeah the rear end likes to get away from you..... hopefully when i get my fourlink for my car, it'll make the rearend stay behind the car..... i like going sideways when i'm trying to.... but when it rains that car tends to get sideways when you're not even trying.... i almost piled it up the first day i had it because there was an accident in front of me and when i hit the brakes at 65 the car turned sideways in heavy traffic.... i almost added to the accident...
sad thing is the fox bodies are even worse at it