engine decision question '66 coupe (poll?)

I would fix up the 6. Every time you open a Mustang hood (mine included) there's a 302 sitting in there. Not very unique, and no longer impressive. But, a well built and flashy 6 would be different and eye catching. Headers, nice carb, a little chrome and polish, it would look good, be a good daily driver, and be economical.. Swap that C4 for an AOD or T5 and you'de have a really nice cruiser. Have you looked at the R&P kits available? I really like the one from Flaming River. It's either that or Fat Man's for my '66. Probably Flaming River for mine.

Not very unique, but when you push the pedal down and are rewarded with a big, long, smoky burnout instead of a little chirp, who cares about unique? Who wants to be the guy driving an econo-stang? Your car looks fast, so every ricer wants a crack at you, and you can't even cut them down to size. I don't really go for street racing, but when it's the middle of the night, and you get three lights in a row with the same rice-boy next to you reving his "engine" and bumping his stereo, causing his trunk to rattle and his cheezy neon to dim with each bass hit, you don't want unique anymore, you want to roast the tires and leave him inhaling your noxious rubber fumes. Been there, done that, but I left him choking on my rubber, instead of just taking it. I vote 5.0. It's just not a stang without it, unless you have one of them there new-fangled 4.6 whatchamajiggers. :)

Matt

"Desert Lurker" wrote

The question is this: should I fix up

Swapping in a V8 requires replacing the tranny and rear axle, which also requires converting the front spindle and rotor or drum to a five-bolt pattern. Those old Stangs went unbelieveably cheap on the sixers. I would say either hotrod the six or sell and buy another car with the 302 already in it. Asos, just because a motor measures 302 cubic inches doesn't mean you have to keep the fuel injection.

"180 Out" wrote

Definitely, the Carb 302 was around ALOT longer than the EFI 5.0 with the same block.

Nice Kit! I'd get tilt steering out of the deal as well! I have to maintain the automactic as my wife does not drive standard. The six kit that I looked at still even fits the stcok hood.

-Joe Boster

I figure the carb 302 was around from 1968 - 1985(Mustang GT), 18 model years, FI 1980(Lincoln) - 2001(Explorer/Mountaineer) 22 model years. Is this what you meant?

Rob

Hmm. I read in a forum that because I have the C4 auto that I don't have to change the tranny, because they only offered 1 auto trans 66 and that only fits with the larger axle. I know that if I had the 3 spd. stick I would have to do that.

By Five bolt pattern you mean 5 lugs for the wheels right? I have 5 lug wheels already.

I got this car 6 months ago and is my 1st serious rebuild/restore project.

I should be able to post some pictures by tonight, BTW. Just to show off. (not that it's in great shape or anything but it is *mine*!)

I love the sound of a burly v8, what a tough decision...

wheels already.

I lied. It is only 4 bolt wheels. shoot. I just realized that I haven't taken the hubcaps off to verify they were 5 bolt. I was just led to believe they were. Not by the previous owner. Although there is more rust than I had noticed or was pointed out to me at first. Now I am bummed... Plus, the wheels that I wanted to get were 5 lug

-Joe

"trainfan1" wrote

And when you think about how long that block has been around when it was only 260? IIRC it was even smaller than 260 at one time. So that block goes back to '62? From ? to 260 to 289 to 302 to 5.0. Then if you include the

"Desert Lurker" wrote

Yeah, you're right about the tranny. As soon as I hit "Post Message" on my previous post I realized you might have the C4, not the infamous "cracker box" 6-cyl 3-spd. And there it was in your original post, "C4." And yes, the C4 is V8-ready. So you're ahead on that score. Still and all, with all the V8 Mustangs out there I think you'd be money ahead to sell the 6 and buy a V8 car, rather than do the conversion yourself.

That's funny - I never seem to get challenged by any of the extra plastic/decal vehicles from the Asian manufacturers. If I did, it would be humorous to say the least...

IMHO, a restored older car is what catches my eye. I would restore what you got or sell it and buy a V8 Mustang.

Still, with the right parts he can get that 6 to run like an 8 and have a stronger bottom end.