I just completed the swap myself. My 65' fastback now has a fresh 289 and rebuilt C4. These 2 items I would say are comparable to what would have come stock. It also has new disc brakes, new suspension (front and back), 9' rear end, new exhaust and I was able to do an excellent job cleaning the bottom of the car with all the running gear out of it. These things I consider an upgrade to what I would have purchased on a rebuildable 289 car. I also have a better intake, carb, and ignition than I would have most likely found on a 289 purchase. In doing these upgrades I close to $10k in the rebuild to a V8. However less that $4k is in what I consider the V8 swap, the other $6k is for improvements that I would have performed anyway.

 

The swap on my mustang has been a challenge but i think that is half the fun. I have really realized that everything does not have to be done all at once. Also no matter what kind of condition the car is in upgrading the brakes and suspension should be done if nothing else. The Car that JMD has been talking about is mine and i have enjoyed every second of working on it. All your suggestions have really been nice. Thanks

 

Chances are that you would be replacing all of those parts anyways.

If unbolting and bolting parts along with getting dirty makes it hard then many of these cars would not be on the road.

 

Looks like you guys have some good stuff going on. I have seen this car and the work that has been put into this car. Good luck guys!

 

I think thumpin summed up everyones opinion. All I was saying is from a monetary standpoint, not many people know what they are getting into. and let's take my 67 into account. Everything on it mechanically is working fine (that you would have to replace to do a V8 swap). All I need are a few new bushings and such. I replaced the gears on the 8 inch, but at least I didn't need to do an entire rear, nor did I need to switch to 5 lugs, or replace any front end parts. So yeah, I maid out okay, and if there was a 6 around I would have been mad at myself because I could have just bought this car.

Like thumpin said we aren't trying to keep people away from sixes and doing the swap, just trying to inform people that it may not be in their best interest.

 

Well said JMD.

I agree 100%

The conversion is no more effort than restoring a V8, other than finding some fool to haul away the inline.

 

I see why JMD wanted to start this thread. It seems the common reponse toquestionsabout the 6 to 8 conversion is "its not as easy as you think".

I realize there is a FAQ on it, but personally I doubt I would want to give it a try based on the general comments regarding the difficulty.

My 65 was a 6 converted to an 8. The guy I bought it from did the conversion and told me he chose the car because it was in excellent condition to begin with.

It would be nice to have a numbers matching classic mustang in great condition.. No doubt about it. However it is also nice being able to add mods for performance, safety, ect. without worring about compromising the value of a "stock" car. Especially if its a daily driver.A garage queen would be a different story.

My 2 cents.

 

The reason I started this thread (combined with my own experience) is that I had been posting to another thread in this section (200CI TO 289) that was started by a new member. This member asked about the swap and was shortly followed by another poster asking the same. After receiving some answeres from other members, (more or less advising to sell the six and buy a V-8, (some posts)) neither of these members posted to this thread again, one of them has not posted anything additional at all.

I have no doubt that sometimes (probably more often than not) that this adviseis the right advise, but I believed, and still believe that this is not always the right answer, particularly when the I-6 car that is started with is very nice, and the owner desires to make major improvements to the driveline and suspensionin conjunction with the conversion.

Some time ago I reviewed the conversion instructions along with several posts on this forum regarding conversion, and the result to me was discouraging, but being hard headed, after a little though I proceded anyway.

I tend tobelieve that the "FAQ" regarding this swap was informative with regard to the parts that need to be changed out, but sometimes it is not just what is said, but itcan bethe tenor of the remarks that makes a lasting impression. (it has been a while since I have read the FAQ). I am not saying that the writers intentionally make things discouraging, but, instead I am saying that when a person givesinformation on any issue, his or her opinionsregarding this issue tend to come out, one way or another, myself included. (ie: on the evening news, it is very oftennot what is said, but how it is said that influencesviewers opinions on certain issues) This is human nature.

I have stated before in this thread that my posts were designed to stir the pot a little, but I never wanted to make people angry, or to insinuate that anyone on this forum is ill informed.I hope that others will take this particular paragraph at face value, (if nothing else I say)because it is true.

I believe that as the limited supply of good V-8 cars is consumed, (this will happen in a growing segment of the automotive hobby)theconversion of more abundantI-6 to V-8 Mustangs will be be a continuing, and unstopabletrend, whether we like it or not. If Ihappend to be in the Mustang parts buss. I think I would seriously consider marketing an inclusive conversion kit, regardless of my personalopinions on the issue.

You also raise an interesting point concernig"compromising the value of a stock car". I had not really taken that into account.

Thanks for your support!!
JMD

 

Thanks for the support, I was begining to feel like a real heel,,, still do a little!

Thanks!

 

Thank you for your opinion JMD. We all have either learned something from your posts, or we have learned nothing.