wagonerkl

I just found a very sweet, straight, rust free '65 Coupe that has been garaged for the last 12 years as the PO worked (or didn't) on a V8 swap. The car is originally an I-6 w/auto car.

I am buying it for my daughter and have no need to continue the V8 swap, in fact I have a nice little 200 CID and C4 out of a '66 that I want to drop right back in her. From what I could observe through the clutter piled around the car, it looks like it has new 5-bolt rear axles and new rear end w/disc brakes,and beefed up front spindles with disc brakes on the fronts. What else has been done toward the conversion is unknown at the moment; I trailer her home tomorrow.

The seller does not seem to know much about cars and had all the work done by a "mechanic". He even told me the original engine was a 4 cylinder until I asked him to call the mechanic and confirmed it was an I-6.

The car is full of boxes of new parts (owner claims $4,500 worth) he was planning to use in the V8 swap. My question is, is there anything done during an ordinary V8 swap that would prevent(or make things difficult) if I just stopped right here and put the I-6 back in? For example would the beefier front end components be a problematic for the I-6 handling? It seems like the brake upgrades are pretty straight forward but maybe someone can think of some unintended consequences that I haven't.

I have no desire to spend lots of money on a new engine or mess with hunting down a laundry list of parts to complete this swap...at least for the foreseeable future Thank you all. Oh, this is my first Mustang but not my first 60s Ford.

Keith Wagoner
CDR USN (ret)

barnett468

EITHER ENG FITS BOTH SUSPENSIONS. IF IT HAS V8 STEERING LINKAGE THAT IS A BONUS TOO. YOU DON;T WANT A V8 IN A CAR WITH 6 CYL BRAKES AND SUSPENSION.

Boogie's_AutoRama

If the front suspension as already been converted to 5-lug V-8 stuff, the only thing you look out for is the front springs.
V-8 uses stronger springs to carry the heavier motor, I-6 has softer springs.

Drive shaft length may come into play depending on what 5-lug rear-end is being used.

wagonerkl

Thanks guys. I just got her home (still on the trailer). I got a parts inventory and assume everything is in the boxes piled in the car:
Disc brake Kit $1,195
Front Spindles $300
Coil Springs $95
Complete rear end assembly $950
Spring insulators $19
Complete V-8 Steering Linkage $210

Of that only the rear end and rear disc brakes are installed that I can tell. Looks like I can install everything minus the V-8 springs and be a happy camper I will hold onto the springs in case she ever decides to put in a bigger engine...someday

wagonerkl

Update, maybe a problem. I now see this was originally a manual 3-speed car. The clutch pedal and linkage have been removed which is okay I guess as my plan was to put in a 200 CID w/ automatic that came from a 1966. Wondering what I need to come up with (other than transmission linkage) to ensure proper operation. Presumably I will need a different drive shaft. Anything else??

Toastman8

Where did you find the 200? Looking for one myself...

wagonerkl

Just picked it up on Craigs List from a guy who was making his into a V8. We were originally just keeping it as a spare for my nephew's '66 but then I stumbled across this '65 and decided to use the engine. Good luck finding one...shouldn't be too hard though.