Original Owner-FMX to 4 speed in 73 Mach 1
#1
Original Owner-FMX to 4 speed in 73 Mach 1
I have been lucky enough to hold on to my Mach 1 since it was new and I was 17 (53 now) but it's time to really make it like I wanted it back in 73. I don't want to cut anything up just some bolt-ons that I could change back in the future if I needed. Due to insurance requirements (and my dad) I was only able to buy a 351c 2v with a FMX automatic trans (I paid $4,100 for it). The car now has 66k original miles and has not been on the street since 1985 but has always been stored inside. I am going to up the horsepower and install a toploader. I have been gathering parts such as 2v aussie heads, 4 speed, bellhousing, clutch pedals and some other misc. I have some questions on the 4 speed conversion though and am finding it hard to find answers. Maybe you can help. I am having a tough time finding a clutch fork, what were the differences? Will the FMX crossmember work with the toploader? Did the 4 speed cars use a different power brake booster? Will the FMX driveshaft work? If anyone has any pic's of a swap like this I would appreciate them. Thanks!
mhen@zanadoo.com
mhen@zanadoo.com
#2
Are you trying to keep any changes to that which could have come on the car in 1973? The reason I ask is that a 5 speed with a cable clutch is a much better upgrade and the parts are much easier to find.
#4
#5
You can get a 5 speed as a kit it will bolt right in will handle the power and give you a over drive gear for the highways.Most people won't be able to tell unless they look at the shifter ball or crawl under the car.But if you want a top loader that bad pretty much any mustang part house sells anything you may need for it.
#6
I would recommend a clutch cable like at moderndriveline.com. easy to fit (unless you have
long-tube headers then you may want a hydrolic clutch).
A used clutch peddle was the hardest piece to find, otherwise everything was
easy to order new. You don't need a new power brake peddle, just cut your existing
peddle and buy a new pad for a 4-speed car.
On the 71, I went with the Tremec TKO-500 and love the 5-speeds.
It feels like a top loader in the first 4 gears with the old school Hurst shifter.
But cruzing in 5th is wonderful!
long-tube headers then you may want a hydrolic clutch).
A used clutch peddle was the hardest piece to find, otherwise everything was
easy to order new. You don't need a new power brake peddle, just cut your existing
peddle and buy a new pad for a 4-speed car.
On the 71, I went with the Tremec TKO-500 and love the 5-speeds.
It feels like a top loader in the first 4 gears with the old school Hurst shifter.
But cruzing in 5th is wonderful!
#7
Thanks but I'm too far down the road to change to the 5 speed, maybe in the future. I allready have the trans, pedals, bell housing and linkage minus the fork and the engine side pivot. If anyone knows if the brake booster is different or where to find the engine side pivot I would apprecitate it. I was told that the pivot is the same on all in 73 but I don't know for sure or the part number. Thanks to fakesnakes for giving me the info on the clutch fork. Thanks to all.
#8
I still have the origional power brake booster w/factory disk brakes (it had a C6 transmission).
But I went with the Modern Driveline clutch cable.
But I went with the Modern Driveline clutch cable.
Last edited by 1971mach1; 04-13-2009 at 10:28 AM.
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