[Horseshoeing]

1974-1978 Ford Mustang II

The 1974 introduction of the Mustang II earned Ford Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year honors again and actually returned the car to more than a semblance of its 1964 predecessor in size, shape, and overall styling. Though Iacocca insisted that the Mustang II be finished to quality standards unheard of in the American auto industry, the Mustang II suffered from being not only smaller than the original car, but heavier as well. Available as a hardtop or three-door hatchback, the new car's base engine was a 2.3 L SOHC I4, the first fully metric engine built in the U.S. for installation in an American car. A 2.8 L V6 was the sole optional engine, meaning the popular V8 option would disappear for the first and only time in 1974, and Ford was swamped by buyer mail and criticized in the automotive press for it.

Since the car was never meant to have a V8, it became a mad scramble to reengineer the car in order to reinstate the 302 in³ (5.0 L) V8 option in time for the 1975 model year. Like the car that preceded it, the Mustang II had its roots in another compact, the Ford Pinto, though less so than the original car was based on the Falcon. The car sold well, with sales of more than 400,000 units its first year. It is also worth noting that four of the five years of the Mustang II are on the top-ten list of most-sold Mustangs. Despite innovations such as rack-and-pinion steering and a separate engine sub-frame that greatly decreased noise, vibration, and harshness, the Mustang II never caught the public's fancy like the original had ten years prior.

The Arab oil embargo, skyrocketing insurance rates, and aforementioned US emissions and safety standards that destroyed the straight-line performance of virtually every car of the period, certainly didn't help. Chrysler ended production of the Barracuda and its stable mate, the Dodge Challenger, in 1974. Then GM nearly discontinued the Camaro and Firebird that same year. However, on the momentum of the Mustang II's success, and under the direction of Ford's new styling chief, Jack Telnack, a totally new Mustang hit the streets for 1979

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Mustang#Engineering

[cuttlebearman]

Horseshoeing: This is freeky. I have the same artical about the mustang II you sent to me. I had at one time,11-mustangII cars at my home during the Nixon Years and the Gas Rationing years. I had a friend who worked at Ford dealership near my home. so I got the cars for a sweet price ( wholesale). I was a fool to sell them all but, had to pay the bills. My wife keeps telling me if I got another mustang she would pack my sh## and force me to live in a mustang.( without the dog) I think you know the feeling.

[Horseshoeing]

Get the Mustang II and hide it at work or at a buddys house.

[cuttlebearman]

Hey Buddy, Have you been reading my bloody mind again?? I am already talkin to my Boss to see if he will let me park one there. I have found one on EBAY in North Dakota with a present bid of a thousand bucks for a 1977 hatchback with a v-8, with origional glass T-tops with a 5-spd. my only problem is the wife. Yes, I placed the bid late, late, late, last night.( she was sleeping) not sure I like the Puke Green color with the dark Brown interior & the Pinto Hubcaps. my body shoppe man will Freak when he see it. ( thats if i win this car and get my hands on it without the wife finding out ) I think you know the feelings Im dealing with. will chat with you later.

[Horseshoeing]

You are going to let her know. right? You can't hide the paper work trail. Just tell her it one little car and she don't even have to look at it. I think that it rocks that you love the Mustang II that much. There is really nothing wrong with them that money can't fix. Where do you live? I bet you can find one in the southwest with little or no rust.

[cuttlebearman]

LET THE FIREWORKS BEGIN!!!!! The wife found out about Ebay!!! I am in DEEP Sh## !!!! Did not take that Shark long to find out!!! Oh well, I hope that I dont get out bid, 3-days to go!!

[Horseshoeing]

tell her its just one little car. I hope you don't fight to much.

[cboog25]

ok i have a buddy that is completely restoring a 1975 cobra 2 mustang and he is only wanting 8 grand for a prefectly restored car but i dunno if i should do it.. it only has 140 horsepower and my 2004 v6 has way more than that

[turp]

<---- My 2 rocks!

[Horseshoeing]

140 horses? is that a v6?

[turp]

Originally Posted by Horseshoeing 140 horses? is that a v6?

Umm no.

302
Different cam but I don't know which one(it was in there when I got it)
edelbrock performer intake
Holley 650 4bbl carb
electronic ignition(soon to be Mallory)
straight pipes gutted precats and flowmaster 40's
Ford 9' rear w/4.10 gears
C4 tranny
Getting some 28.5X9x15 drags slicks soon.

[cboog25]

no every website i have seen said the 5.0 v8 in the cobra 2 mustang only has 140 hp? i don't see how a v8 only has that much when my 2004 v6 mustang has almost 200 hp

[turp]

Originally Posted by cboog25 no every website i have seen said the 5.0 v8 in the cobra 2 mustang only has 140 hp? i don't see how a v8 only has that much when my 2004 v6 mustang has almost 200 hp

Different heads and other assorted parts.

[AtlanticBlue99]

Wikipedia is a free and user-edited source that is unreliable. From my research here is the Mustang II info I found:

Originally Posted by Chris Alexander Mustang II History 1974 was a sad year for Ford Mustang enthusiasts. With no v8 option and no convertible option, Ford Mustang sales went down, and the nation was being choked in the ever-strong grips of the oil crisis. The less powerful four-cylinder and V6 models were the engine options, and the mustang powerhouse took a backseat for a few years. A little more power is offered in 1975 with the reinstatement of the V8. The same Mustang would be produced for three years in a row with virtually no changes whatsoever to cut down on production costs to make the consumer more able to buy the once sporty Mustang. Though underpowered, this V8 allowed Ford to maintain a healthy relationship with its customers, and hope was just around the corner. Engine Options for Mustang II’s by Model Year 1974 -2.3L i4 -2.8L v6- 105hp (No v8 option!) 1975-1978 -2.3L i4 -2.8L v6- 105hp -302ci v8- (4.9L)- 140hp; 122hp in CA 2-barrell carburetor

[Horseshoeing]

122 horses......thats sad. I know you could change that very easy. You could make that 300 horses with a little work. Ok, alot of work, but you have to to that with most 289/302 anyway. The heads suck on all of the older ones (not the boss, the don't count).

these are the things you need to do to a 302
new heads or a god set reworked
intake
carb
pistions
electronic ignition
headers
Those are just the main things on the top of my head. You have to do that to all of them.

[turp]

Originally Posted by AtlanticBlue99 Wikipedia is a free and user-edited source that is unreliable. From my research here is the Mustang II info I found: Originally Posted by Chris Alexander Mustang II History 1974 was a sad year for Ford Mustang enthusiasts. With no v8 option and no convertible option, Ford Mustang sales went down, and the nation was being choked in the ever-strong grips of the oil crisis. The less powerful four-cylinder and V6 models were the engine options, and the mustang powerhouse took a backseat for a few years. A little more power is offered in 1975 with the reinstatement of the V8. The same Mustang would be produced for three years in a row with virtually no changes whatsoever to cut down on production costs to make the consumer more able to buy the once sporty Mustang. Though underpowered, this V8 allowed Ford to maintain a healthy relationship with its customers, and hope was just around the corner. Engine Options for Mustang II’s by Model Year 1974 -2.3L i4 -2.8L v6- 105hp (No v8 option!) 1975-1978 -2.3L i4 -2.8L v6- 105hp -302ci v8- (4.9L)- 140hp; 122hp in CA 2-barrell carburetor

Those numbers are all right. There was no V8 option in 74.

[AtlanticBlue99]

Originally Posted by turp Originally Posted by AtlanticBlue99 Wikipedia is a free and user-edited source that is unreliable. From my research here is the Mustang II info I found: Originally Posted by Chris Alexander Mustang II History 1974 was a sad year for Ford Mustang enthusiasts. With no v8 option and no convertible option, Ford Mustang sales went down, and the nation was being choked in the ever-strong grips of the oil crisis. The less powerful four-cylinder and V6 models were the engine options, and the mustang powerhouse took a backseat for a few years. A little more power is offered in 1975 with the reinstatement of the V8. The same Mustang would be produced for three years in a row with virtually no changes whatsoever to cut down on production costs to make the consumer more able to buy the once sporty Mustang. Though underpowered, this V8 allowed Ford to maintain a healthy relationship with its customers, and hope was just around the corner. Engine Options for Mustang II’s by Model Year 1974 -2.3L i4 -2.8L v6- 105hp (No v8 option!) 1975-1978 -2.3L i4 -2.8L v6- 105hp -302ci v8- (4.9L)- 140hp; 122hp in CA 2-barrell carburetor Those numbers are all right. There was no V8 option in 74.

yeah, i had to retake a few of the sources i have used in compiling the history articles, but i think now all of the numbers should match up for the most part for the classic stangs listed. CA emissions has always sucked, but that alone has driven the aftermarket to be so popular!

[66gtmustang]

Hey man just get the mustang II and tell your wife to stop bitching. Its your money, do what you want with it. Also, get your balls outa her purse and tell her how it is. She'll respect you more for it.

[dzuchowski]

Mustangs have won Motor Trends Car of the Year Award in 1974 and 1994.
The Mercury Cougar (Stablemate) won in 1967

[Blue_coyote]

The difference between a 140 hp 5.0 and a 200 hp V6 is torque and how flat the torque curve is. Deosn't matter how much "power" your engine has if it takes too long to rev to the point where its useable or if it peaks and drops across 1000 rpm.

And in the one article saying the 74 sales dropped...the author should check production and sales figures. The last time I looked, the II held either two or three of the top ten sales numbers out of ALL years of the mighty pony car.