[MJTShowdown]

Hey everyone. Recently I've come into a project that my brother and I are looking to take. My dad is also aiding support to our project.

A little background:
For years, my brother has caught an interest in cars, and being the younger one, i have caught on. Currently my dad has a 1969 454 SS chevelle, and a 1960 Oldsmobile Super-88, both completely restored and show car quality. My dads friend (owns an autobody) was getting rid of a 1966 mustang he had sitting around and i figured it was the perfect car to learn with and appreciate.

About 4,300 dollars later we have a 66 289 C-code mustang with a c-4 transmission. The car runs but my brother and I are looking to put a little extra into it.

I've been researching for a while and figured this was the place to join and ask around. I haven't had luck with other forums as all they do is criticize my lack of automotive knowledge.

Currently the car is being painted as the guy we got it from gave us a deal to paint it, and we figured why wait when he was willing to do it cheap. As soon as that is done the headliner and carpeting are getting redone by another of my dad's friends. Along with painting the car, my dads friend (well call him tony) is doing whatever body work needs to be done.

What I'm looking for help for is what should I do beyond this. Maybe its just my 16 year old instincts but I'm looking for a little more go from this engine. I figure I'll start with this broad question and let it go from them. Any suggestions and links to other projects/websites are appreciated.

Here are some pics of the car for reference. Since these pictures we have gotten:
3 point seatbelts
Ford Emblem
K and N filter
Side Fins
Kick Panels
Shifter
Door Panels
Front Valence Panel

Pre-Sanding/Polishing


Post-Sanding/Polishing

Update 6/17



Thanks and sorry for the long post!

[BA Mustang]

I would fix up the interior before you start modding the engine.

That coupe needs some interior work done before I would even consider modding something.


Post pics of the Chevelle when you get a chance, I want to see it.

[03SonicBoom]

Does the front cowl leak? I would recommend getting some sub frame connectors for it as they are desperately needed.

Does it have the original engine? If so, you can either run unleaded gas until the seals dry out and blow or run a lead additive. Also, I would recommend putting a radiator overflow.

[MustangOne]

Welcome to MM Forums

Nice ride you have there, There is so many things you can do.
1. look at your budget.

2. Make sure the car can get there and back safely.

3. Make it stop quikly, and streight.

4. then go for looks.

5. Then you can make it go faster.

Good Luck with your car. and thing I can do to help you let me know.

You can look at my site for build ideas, and info.

Good Luck

[ford6693]

drool... hahaha, you already have a head start it looks like. most definately start a checklist. if your anything like me, disorganized, youll start on something then get distracted by another area of the car. so get a checklist in order of priority. then make sure you stick to one project at a time. if not youll have several things going on and get stretched too far, then youll get frustrated cause it seems like nothing is getting done. oh, and a budget! if not youll dump all your money without a second though :-D i know thats very generic advice, but i wish someone had said it to me so i didnt have to learn the hard way

[MJTShowdown]

Thanks for the support everyone.

The interior is the first thing thats gonna be done. Despite what the photos reveal, the interiors shape is actually fairly nice. The headliner is getting taken car of, along with the interior of the car being painted/dyed to match the exterior. I have no doubts that aesthetically it will be amazing, I just want a engine to back it up.

Also, yes it is the original engine, and i was told that it has recently been rebuilt (by my dads friend).

Also, i should add that it does have a new aftermarket fan (not sure what kind exactly) and a Malory ignition. Along with this, we have front disc brakes on the way.


And i'll try and get some pics of the chevelle up asap

[BA Mustang]

If it is rebuilt then you don't have to run lead additive.

[03SonicBoom]

Originally Posted by BA Mustang If it is rebuilt then you don't have to run lead additive.

Not necessarily. Chances are that it won't need it but I wouldn't go out and say it doesn't w/out asking the guy who rebuilt it.

[MJTShowdown]

Sounds good.

Unfortunately the cars getting painted now (well not too unfortunate), but that means it will be a couple of weeks before i can get some more pictures and progress made with the car. I guess this is a good time to make a checklist, which is mainly why i started this post. Any suggestions to what i should be doing (performance or whatever else wise) after the exterior and interior has been finished.

[03SonicBoom]

^^^
I would recommend getting a radiator overflow tank. Stock, as the radiator fluid heats up it expands and causes the pressure to build. Then, it blows it out the bottom until the pressure lowers enough. When it cools back down, there could be a need for more fluid.

W/ the overflow tank it'll blow the fluid into the tank. Then it can go back into the system when it cools off. When my dad and I rebuilt his 66, that was the first change we made.

[BA Mustang]

Then engine in my 67 was rebuilt back in 05 I think and hasn't had any additive in it that I know of. Or at least for the past 2 years it hasn't. I was told it will have hardened seats in it so the additive is no necessary, but you can run it if you want.

[ford6693]

i say, look at a lot of cars. get a good idea of what you want to do with this thing, aiming at an end result. are you looking for a bad street car? or a weekend at the track car? naturally aspirated or forced induction? 300-400 horsepower or 600-700 horsepower? a comfy ride or do you want to be able to run over newspaper and feel the print?
however, my vote for first mod is exhaust(headers and high flow mufflers). somethin good and loud. after that get the engine breathin better with an intake. then heads and a cam. then give it more fuel with a bigger carb. then beef up the spark with msd ignition. after that you might want to get some wider wheels to put the power to the road

[MustangOne]

Originally Posted by MJTShowdown Sounds good. Any suggestions to what i should be doing (performance or whatever else wise) after the exterior and interior has been finished.

Brakes? does it have disk brakes if not I would add them before making it go faster.

Is the front end rebuilt?

New gas tank?

You need to make it safe before fast.

[MJTShowdown]

discs are on the way. The gas tank seems fine, is there a reason i'd need a new one? And since im a noob to cars, what exactly are you refering to when you say is the front end rebuilt

[MustangOne]

The front suspension.
All of these things make the car drive alot better.
upper and lowers
spring saddles
shocks
strut rod bushings

[stang66myway2]

i fully agree with mustangones posts get it safe and reliable before you make it fast. there is nothing worse then not being able to stop or have your stang fail on you in the middle of a busy hwy.... just my 2bits

[MJTShowdown]

the car also has headers on it as it sits right now. When i get it back from being painted it will have front discs put on it along with a new front bumper. Also, it has a different intake then the original mustang one, not too sure which one though. When I get the chance, i'll get some pics of the engine. As it sits now, its terribly tuned which is what i presume leads to the lack of power

[Countryboy_99]

Just my two cents but if I were you before I were to go about hot rodding it or adding any 'go fast' parts to it I'd take MustangOnes advice and make it safe first. Ie. Brakes, suspension, and that missing lug nut on the passenger side rear wheel.
Other than that it's lookin like it has the means to be a pretty nice ride. Good work.

[ia07gt]

nice my friends brother has a nice 67 fastback project also right now, great to see another classic guy. My car is as close to a 67 as im gonna get tho.

[MJTShowdown]

what companies are good to look at for the parts i need to redo the front end? I want it to be a smooth ride. I've been looking it up and am not quite sure on what the tensions of the springs mean and such. Could anyone point out some links of what i should look at. Thanks