Page 8 - Engine and Suspension
In 1990 I got the car with no engine or trans (original was 289 2V w/C4).
I had an early 70's 460 and C6 from a T-Bird. I put it in basically stock. I did put on a 750cfm Holley and a Durspark II distributor and converted it to electronic ignition. I used Crites motor mounts and Tubular Automotive headers.
These are the headers, 2" equal length primarys into 3.5" collectors
Crites custom motor mounts.
Getting ready to put the 460 in...
460 is in! Notice the 80 Mustang in back and the 68 sitting next to it.
Now to replace those old drums.
I put Granada Spindles, new UCA's, ball joints, spring perches, tie rods, rotors, calipers, etc.
Here my wife is wire brushing parts for me, what a great wife!!!
Here is the Versailes 9" rear axle I picked up at a junkyard back in the day. When I did all this, there weren't all the aftermarket suspension upgrades that are out there today. The GVM swaps were the hot ticket.
The front bolts on the leaf springs have a collar inside the spring bushing. It commonly rusts to the bolt so it won't slide out of the frame. I torched the ends of the bolt off to drop the old springs out. After catching the rubber bushing on fire and filling the garage with smoke, I cut the other side off with a cut-off wheel!
When I put on the 5 leaf Grab-a-Track springs and polyurethane bushings, I used HD stock length shackles (notice the 9" center section on the work bench, it's a 4.11:1 Traction lock).
Rear is in with new springs, shackles, bushings, rotors, calipers, etc. I used gas shocks all around too.
I also did the 1" Shelby drop on the UCA's to improve the front geometry, another old skool trick for Mustangs
I even replaced the strut rods, bushings, added a 1" Shelby anti-sway bar and links. It's 40 year old technology but it's fresh!
In 99 I pulled the 460 to rebuild it and hop it up a bit. The block had been bored already and several cylinders didn't pass the sonic check for wall thickness. Rather than spend a lot on sleeves I began a search for a replacement block. I called around and one place said they had 429 with 4 bolt mains! I went out right away to get it. It's a mild build-up but has so much torque it's still pretty quick.
Iron heads, big block and 4.11 gears, it'll smoke 'em all day long!
here is the engine just before I painted red.
My biggest issue driving the car, was no ground clearance with these headers and the stance I like (low).
You can see they would drag on everything!
I called Stan at FPA and he fixed me up with these custom made ceramic coated "Shorty" headers! Very knowledge Ford guy, he knew exactly what I needed.
He told me all I would have to do is notch the left motor mount and he was right, I love the new headers. It did take a day and half to get 'em in though!
The old headers are sold, going in a 69 Mustang now!
I'm building a cold air intake, useing Spectre. Great company BTW. Here are some preliminary photos
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Engine & Suspension
