Can anyone tell me what the differences are, mechanical and otherwise, between the 68 mustang hardtop and the 68 mustang fastback, besides the roofline of course. Looking to purchase one but not sure what the differences are between them, as well as what the options are for upgrading and/or modifying the two of them.

Thank you.

 

The reason I'm asking is because I have a 460 I'm looking to drop in one, and I wasn't sure if it would be easier in one over the other, and if one could structurally handle the beast of machine better than the other. I would assume that it would be the same in both, but just wanted to make sure.

Thank you.

 

Well as you mentioned the roofline is different but that also means the glass, rear sheet metal, trunk and interior are different. Original fastback parts are typically harder to find and more expensive due to supply and demand. Just something to consider depending on the condition of your project.

The good news is the engine compartment and chassis is more or less the same regardless of body style. You should know that sometime in 68 they started reinforcing the shock towers on big block cars to prevent cracking. Not sure when this started but I had an early February 68 S code and it did not have the reinforcements. If your project was a small block car you might want to look into welding these in since you are going to drop in the 460. You may also need to consider beefing up the suspension for the heavier motor as well.

 

Thank you, Kingstrider.

Yea, I should've guessed there would be the differences you mentioned due to the roofline. :-) Anyways, thanks much for the feedback. Great stuff to know and be mindful of. I'm guessing there is also a difference in the instrument panel and center console, but those should be easy to swap if I chose to do so, wouldn't it?

Thanks again!

 

The console and instrument panel are the same regardless of body style, even the convertibles. The only thing that comes to mind is the optional overhead console which I think was limited to the fastback. I would love to see photos of your build, make sure to document and post photos!

 

Thanks again! That makes it a lot easier. Now that I know I can still have a beast of a machine in the hardtop, which is my preference since there are a lot of blind spots with the fastback, I'll be looking to see what I can find. I would also love to post pics once I get started on it. :-)

 

I don't know about putting a 429 / 460 in one ..... but back in the very early to mid '70s I had a buddy who was a little older and a first rate mechanic who also had a '67 Mustang hard top into which he swapped the 427 TP side oiler and 4 spd trans and even the same wider 9" rear (I think he had 4.56s in it and I know it was a locker) he removed from his heavier '61 Starliner before selling the Starliner.
He ran long straight exhaust from the headers back with two long large ID race mufflers in line on each side for a total of 4. They hung under the rear axle, not over it. On front he had 6.00x15s on narrow wheels, in back he had some round track tires he used on the street, and he had some slicks for strip use. His slicks were mounted on some steel 15X8s that had the centers set to the outside so the tires tucked back in the fenders. His street tires stuck out a little.
He initially cut a hole for the two Holleys to clear on their tall intake and then he made a pretty cool looking backwards scoop open at the rear and sloped at the front out of some kind of clear plexiglass or lexan .... but eventually he got a fiberglass teardrop hood which was a lot like the hood on that Starliner. I recall long hoses from the carbs to the inner headlights on the Starliner .... but I'm not sure now what he did under the teardrop on the Mustang.
He had a rollbar and some various braces inside to stiffen it up and for heat, he had a Moon aluminum tank mounted just to the rear of the seats on the hump with some braided hoses running to the engine's heater hose fittings. He had some valves he used to shut the hot water off in warmer days.
It was a horse then ..... and with just a little bit of today's technology applied, it'd still be one today, 40 years later.