This thread is in its third "recent" incarnation. It started as "If you could have EFI without a specific computer, would you go for it “ which, due to the debate grew in to another post "Carb vs EFI” and now, due to some of the comments on that post am changing it again.

The heart of the matter is that there are two distinct camps out there, the original camp, and the modified camp. Most of the time the two camps respect each other, but unfortunately there are members of each camp that look down on the other camp. Along these lines there are arguments as which camp is larger and that’s not a debate I want to get in to because no one has a complete perspective. I am a modifier and tend to find myself at car shows and with car friends were the majority of cars have been modified. Because of that if you asked me which there is more of original or modified I may be inclined to answer modified. Some one who is in to originality will probably find them selves at shows and with friends where the cars are all original, so I don't even want to get in to that debate. With that said there are a lot of Mustangs that have been modified and after doing much contemplation I think I have a good theory as to why the Mustang is a popular car to modify.

Lee Iacocca's vision for the Mustang was a sporty car similar to the Corvette and Corvair Monza, with such similarities including but not limited to a powerful V8 motor nestled under a long sleek hood, 4-speed manual transmission, 4-wheel disc brakes, and independent rear suspension. (That info taken from an interview with Lee in the 80s) Due to Costs and fords desire to not have another flop like the Edsal many of these add-ons never saw the production line. We ended up with a quality sporty car with some really cool options but not the complete vision of Lee Iacocca. I feel that it was Lee's vision or at least the sporty persona that evolved from his vision of the mustang that inspires those of us who modify to modernize these cars and make them more than Ford did. Even Ford recognized that these cars had far more potential for performance than the way they left the production line, inter Carol Shelby. A Shelby mustang is an all original from the factory ford Mustang that was modified for performance AFTER it left the Ford production floor. So even in the 60s there was this idea that these cars could be modified, and I think that idea has fueled the modify camp ever sense.

As an aside I would love to know how many cars have made multiple switches from original to modify and back to original again? Most of us who modify don't do things that can’t easily be returned to original. All my current mods are,(even my IRS project will be) bolt ons (except the subframe connectors) So it is conceivable that some cars started out original, got modified, changed hands, were returned to original, changed hands again and may have been modified again. I would be curious to know how many cars have had more than a dual existence (dual meaning the way it rolled off the floor and then modified once)

 

I wanted to add that this information is not to try and make modifying seams better than original. We just got such a wonderful answer from Soaring on the other post as to why he and other prefers original that I wanted to respond with a possible reason why I and other modify.

 

One thing to keep in mind as well, was that back in the 60's you could flip open the Ford catalog and order up parts to increase the performance of your Mustang, intake manifolds, carbs, cams etc. The Mustang is one of those quintesential American cars, and going with the theme of the powerful American V8 street car many people mod them to bring the performance standard up to modern levels. They're light, easy to work on, and in states with smog laws, don't have to be smogged. American muscle cars are very popular to mod. Whether it's a 69 or a 99 Camaro, a 67 or a 07 Mustang, those of us that like higher levels of performance tailored to what we want, will mod.

 

I bought a 65 C-code fastback for my 16 yr old son and I to restore. The previous owner modified the rear quarters, and installed leaf shackles long enough to make a step ladder out of. The tranny must have been swapped at one point based on the crossmember being hacked to death. We are replacing sheetmetal like it was originally. Being it is only a C-code, we are adding AFR heads, Weiand intake, Holley Carb, etc. We installed a 9" Versailles rear end. New 1" drop springs all the way around. He want's it to look like a Shelby, so we hooked up with Branda for the steering wheel, gauge pod/gauges, hood. We got 15 x 7 Magnums for rims. So...In the end, did we put it back to "original"...not by most standards, nor doI feel we "modified" it to the point it can't be reversed..We did weld in subframe connectors we built...so that is something not easily reversed, but not impossible either. This is going to be his everyday car...so why not let him have fun with it?

 

My son's 66 is almost ready for it's second incarnation, it was a stock 6 cylinder for 40 years, now it is not so stock.... Other than a few bolt holes that we needed to drill, it could be brought back to stock by bolting a bunch of stock stuff back in,,,, but why?? (I ditched all the unused stock stuff anyway,, )

The little coupe was fun to drive as a six, and even more so with the disk brakes and 4.10 gears... but it is not what we wanted.

As mentioned in another thread, I think that age has a lot to do with what we want from a car, when I was growing up in the 70s, it was all about modifying "cool" cars into hot rods. Anyone remeber some of the terminology of the era? ("jacked up rear end", "slicks", "3/4 racing cams"(wtf is "duration"), etc.,,, if a person had a Mach 1, Chargeror a 69 SS Camaro the car would have been ok as "stock", anything else would need to be "souped up" to be cool, period. I know that I am still subject to my youth in this regard...

 

Just remember, there's no such thing as too much power, only not enough traction

 

My first Mustang was a 67 hardtop. Wrecked in the nose. I bought it when I was 15 in 1981 and it had a 68 302 with a Holley 2 barrel and dual exhaust. The car I bought for parts was a 67 Hardtop with a 289 and deluxe interier and the hood with turn signals in it. It was rear ended (totalled). I combined the two and had it for 10 years. I built a radical small block when I graduated HS. I alsohad a Maverik 8" rear in end in it so I could fit wider tires without them sticking out. I built a C5 (C4) trans and added 70 Torino front disc. It was a nice little car. I sold or swapped for money and another 67 for my current Mustang which was original but badly rusted. I have a thread on the RUSTang to Super Coupe if you want to see pics. Here are a few of my first 67. When I bought it in 81 and one of it in primer and when it was a driver in the late 80's. And to answer the question, I modified them because I enjoy it.


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My reason for starting the Carb vs EFI thread was just to keep another guys thread from being murdered not to start a war.

I love to see classic muscle cars on the road whether they are original or not. I absolutely hate the people that have 10 Mustangs rusting away on their front lawn and won't sell them because they think they are sitting on a gold mine. I'd rather see them being driven regardless of originality.

I've been to Concourse car shows and it's nice to see how a Mustang looked 40 years ago when it was new. However, I get bored when I see a line of all original Mustangs. I'll wander over to the George Fullmer 1970 Boss 302 Trans Am Mustang before long.

I haven't completely decided on what to do with my 1966 yet. It's previous owner was a butcher. Not bad but naturally he chopped into my dash to install a radio and the wiring is a damn mess. I was thinking of building a GT replica(no I'm not the type to tell anyone its an original GT) since I like the stripe and the foglights. I like Highland Green and black interior but I refuse to have vinyl seats since I live in Las Vegas. A nice 331 ci engine with blue powder coated AFR heads to look like cast iron. Trickery not really just a wolf in sheep clothing. Modern rack and pinion p/s and sn95 brakes. I think it would be tasteful and have 400 ponies.

There is room for everyone in the Mustang world.

edit- I also want to keep it a 4 speed. I love the loud whine of those gears. Overdrive be damned in this project!

 

Dazecars, I would deem the answer as, for the fun of it and to some of us,freedom of expression. I would think that at least 90+% of the people on herehave made a change of some typeto their ride, be it for safety or looks, a change is a change. On the flip, I have 4 cars that will remain original (or restored original) to the point of having the correct markings on the screw head and the orange peel in the Enamel paint. Even the drum brakes on the front (try going down a steep grade of a couple of miles and see if you don't have bite marks in the seat).In my opinion, these areworthy of keeping original, and as long as I own them, they will stay that way. As for the rest, whos to say they would not have been crushed. Back to the question,why do I modify (some of) myMustangs, because its fun.

 

The only thing not 'easily' reversible on my 65 are the subframe and front torque boxes. Everything else is bolt on.