So here's my story. My dad and I have been looking for a 60s model Mustang to restore, and found a 1966 289 coupe. A good price, runs nicely, but needs pretty much a full restoration. It has no code on the door, but it's the 200hp 289, white w/ blue interior. But we don't really wanna restore it to sell, we wanna keep it and have fun with it. So we're thinking of just restoring it how we want it. What can we do to give it some power without going crazy on money? Really looking for just general tips too.

 

Hey Seth... glad you could join us.

Check out my website below for some ideas on making your car more fun and safe....
jw

 

For a start, take some time and read some of the postings in this forum. That will give you some idea as to what to expect and what to do (try or not do is included). Subscribe to Mustang Monthly Magazine. It will give you repair tips, some great pictures (the senior editor is a good friend and a good photographer as well) and some mail order parts stores to get catalogs from. I recomend as a parts source and wish book, to get a National Parts Depot catalog and work from there. My first objective would be to get the brakes in top condition, with a front end alignment and new tires. Make it stop, then you can make it run.
Jim

 

easiest way to get it some more power is to switch to a 4bbl carb if doesn't have one already.

But before you get it more power, you need to make sure you're able to control the power it has now. Mine also had 200hp when I got it (I was 17 then). 13yrs later, I still haven't wanted to add any morepower because I want to wait until it stops and handles better. In other words make sure the brakes and suspension arereally goodbefore you make it go faster. Otherwise,you may end up in a ditch or someone's rear bumper.

 

Like the Capital One commercial states "What's in your wallet!!" Plan and budget accordingly!!

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

Well, the engine is fine. We're gonna make it a 4bbl and put some headers and such, and the transmission is fine, no bends or dings in the body, no rust. We're going to start on it June 1 and work every day for 4-5 hours with a Mustang specialty mechanic that's a friend of ours. What's a rough estimate of time it'll take to get this car restored? Complete interior restoration too.

 

That all depends on the beer consumtion, and how much time you spend wiping up the spilled beer from hitting the can with your elbow while turning a wrench and not noticing the beer in the way.
Nah, seriously, I don't think any of us have written down the time we spent on any one project, so you are not going to get an accurate answer about the time factor. If you have all the right tools and parts handy at the right time, then of course the time it takes to complete a project will be reduced. Planning ahead pays off. I don't worry about time, because I am retired, and time is all I have.
On edit: Pay attention to guys like 5 point oh. These old cars were originally built to stop with the engine that was put in them. If you add more power than originally intended, then you are setting yourself up for a disaster to happen. Don't even think about a more powerful engine until you have addressed the brakes and suspension weaknesses.