The Mustang is an automotive icon with more than two million cars built between 1964-1973. Mustangs, such as the Shelby GT350 and GT500, Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet and Boss 302 and 429 ruled the street, but many thousands of common six cylinder and small V-8 Mustangs hit the highways and byways as well. These 40-plus-year-old cars use antiquated equipment that includes drum brakes, breaker point ignition systems, and 14-inch skinny steel wheels. The OEM running gear is obsolete by today's standards and all of these Mustangs can be transformed into high-performance street machines that can compete with late-model Mustangs.
While some owners choose to preserve their Mustangs through an original restoration, other owners have upgraded their Mustangs into true driving machines by installing aftermarket suspension, steering, and driveline technology. Many owners have performed bolt-on upgrades that don't affect originality, while other owners have completed more extensive projects that modify and seriously upgrade these cars. Included in this book is information about installing a crate engine, big high-performance brake kits, coil-over shocks, tubular A-arms and so many other projects that increase performance by leaps and bounds.
From mild to wild, this book covers every component group of the car including engine, transmission, rear differential, front suspension, rear suspension, steering, chassis, electrics, interior, and more. Following the information in this book, you can build a high-performance street car as well as a track car. In no other book will you find the information to comprehensively transform the classic Mustang into a car that performs with the best on the road today.
The Mustang is an automotive icon with more than two million cars built between 1964-1973. Mustangs, such as the Shelby GT350 and GT500, Mach 1 428 Cobra Jet and Boss 302 and 429 ruled the street, but many thousands of common six cylinder and small V-8 Mustangs hit the highways and byways as well. These 40-plus-year-old cars use antiquated equipment that includes drum brakes, breaker point ignition systems, and 14-inch skinny steel wheels. The OEM running gear is obsolete by today's standards and all of these Mustangs can be transformed into high-performance street machines that can compete with late-model Mustangs.
While some owners choose to preserve their Mustangs through an original restoration, other owners have upgraded their Mustangs into true driving machines by installing aftermarket suspension, steering, and driveline technology. Many owners have performed bolt-on upgrades that don't affect originality, while other owners have completed more extensive projects that modify and seriously upgrade these cars. Included in this book is information about installing a crate engine, big high-performance brake kits, coil-over shocks, tubular A-arms and so many other projects that increase performance by leaps and bounds.
From mild to wild, this book covers every component group of the car including engine, transmission, rear differential, front suspension, rear suspension, steering, chassis, electrics, interior, and more. Following the information in this book, you can build a high-performance street car as well as a track car. In no other book will you find the information to comprehensively transform the classic Mustang into a car that performs with the best on the road today.
Introduction
Chapter 1:
Short-Block and Rotating Assembly
Short-Block
Rotating Assembly
Block Selection
Crankshaft Selection
Balancer Considerations
Motor Mounts
Chapter 2:
Camshafts, Cylinder Heads and Valvetrain
Camshafts
Springs
Valvestem Seals
Cylinder Heads
Chapter 3:
Intake, Exhaust and Fuel Systems
Intake System
Carburetor
Intake Manifold
EFI Conversion
Fuel System
Exhaust System
Chapter 4:
Ignition and Starting
Ignition System
Ignition Improvements
Starting System
Chapter 5:
Lubrication and Cooling
Oil Pan
Dry Sump Oiling System
Wet Sump Oiling System
Thermostat
Radiator Cap
Mechanical Fan
Electric Fan
Radiator
Water Pump
Chapter 6:
Engine Swaps
Small-Block Windsor
Big-Block
Modular Engine
5.0L Coyote
Crate Engine
Short-Block Assembly
V–Belt versus Serpentine-Belt Systems
Chapter 7:
Transmission
Conversions
Manual Transmission Upgrades
Automatic Transmission Upgrades
Chapter 8:
Driveline
Driveshaft
Yokes and U-Joints
Rear Axle
Chapter 9:
Brakes
Master Cylinders and Power Boosters
Brake Lines and Valves
Front Calipers
Rear Calipers and Parking Brakes
Rotors and Pads
Vehicle Type 1: Daily Driver
Vehicle Type 2: High-Performance Street Car
Vehicle Type 3: Streetable Track-Day/Drag Strip Car
Chapter 10:
Suspension and Steering
Suspension Upgrades
Vehicle Type 1: Daily Driver
Vehicle Type 2: High-Performance Street Car
Vehicle Type 3: Streetable Track-Day Car
Steering Upgrades
Vehicle Type 1: Daily Driver
Vehicle Type 2: High-Performance Street Car
Vehicle Type 3: Streetable Track-Day Car
Chapter 11:
Wheels and Tires
Wheel Sizes
Wheel Fitment Guidelines
Tire Categories
Tire Size Designation
Tire Service Description
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Chapter 12:
Interior
Safety Considerations
Seats and Pedals
Tilt Steering Column and Steering Wheel
Gauges
Data Acquisition
Chapter 13:
Electrical System
High-Output Alternator
Headlamps
Other LED Upgrades
Source Guide