Question

Originally Posted by criscoelectric

Changing out a six banger to an eight will be a very expensive proposition indeed.
Front steering and suspension upgrade to V8...$500-1000
Torque boxes....$200-300
Rear end...six banger rears won't last any longer than the proverbial snowball in *#@$...$1000
Tranny has to go.. $500 Minimum
Also if you beef up the V8 much, you'll need to upgrade your drum brakes to disc...front only about $500-800 minimum
I suggest you rework the six banger to get it running in top form.

I agree with you to a point. If you have any connections or look at sites like ebay you can find things more reasonable. I was also thinking at least $1K for a 9 inch but i took my time and found one for $405 on ebay. It is the right width flange to flange as are the spring mounts and came with axles and back brakes. I already had a third member with 3.25's from my 69 Mach 1.

My 66 had a 200 and a 3 speed so I also scored a t-5 out of a 88 GT. $275, bellousing and all in good shape. The trans mount, shifter,zbar, adjuster rod, v-8 suspension parts and all were about $550.00. I also added a set of 70 stang spindles and disc brakes (the only thing to change from 66 front end set up was the outer tire rod ends). The disc kit was $450 minus wheel bearings. Underhood wiring for engine feed, V-8 throtttle linkage and the usual parts that would be renewed are all that is left. ($200). Not that expensive to have a quality v-8 stang with mostly ford parts. Shop around and be patient.

I agree the rearend ITSELF won't run $1000.

However, when you change from a 6 to an 8 you change all of the dynamics, front and rear.

Simply changing the rearend itself is not the correct answer. Suspension components have to be considered as well. Also the 4 lug wheels are goners....as are the brakes on the rear axle.

So by the time you've made all the changes......$1000.

I did it on a 65....originally a 200CI 6 banger. Now a 302...so yes, I can say "been there, done that"

Originally Posted by criscoelectric

I agree the rearend ITSELF won't run $1000.

However, when you change from a 6 to an 8 you change all of the dynamics, front and rear.

Simply changing the rearend itself is not the correct answer. Suspension components have to be considered as well. Also the 4 lug wheels are goners....as are the brakes on the rear axle.

So by the time you've made all the changes......$1000.

I did it on a 65....originally a 200CI 6 banger. Now a 302...so yes, I can say "been there, done that"

The additon of torque boxes is not a priority unless this car is going to see alot of abuse. 65-6 coupes and fastbacks did not have them at all, only the convertibles. 67-8 had one on the drivers side again with the exception of the convertibles and big block cars. The only reason that ford added 2 boxes from 69-up was because the torque numbers being produced by the engines being offerered in 69. Even the small blocks made decent torque, ie the 351W and Boss 302. The early stuff like the 289's and even the 68 302's are not torquey engines per say in stock form, to include the HiPo. If you are going to run big compression, a straight transmission or auto with converter and plan on abusing it, it is worh the money to upgrade.

Obviously changing the rear and front end is important. An 8 inch out of a v-8 stang from the same years, 67-70 will work. Unless your car has already had the suspension freshened, the cost of the v-8 conversion is about the same. my 66 had absolutley no rust anywhere, it sat in a garage from 1979 until 2006, so all of the money I have spent so far is on the suspension/brakes and engine/trans upgrades.

I really don't know what you are looking to spend but these cars, no matter what has been said so far, they are reasonable to beef up considering the cost associated with the newer stuff. I mean i would rather have $5-10K in a early mustang driver than pay $12 plus for something newer that will depreciate the second you drive off the lot and never gain any value.