LM - classic Mustangs

And for Inspiration:

I wonder if they are racing on old bias-ply tires or modern radials?

Racers, please pay attention to how you place a camera to make in-car videos.

VolvoHeretic said:

PowerNationTV: Turbocharged Ford 300 Inline Six Makes Over 500 HP on the Dyno

Wrong Ford I6 family.  People have shoehorned them into the engine bay, though 

Mr_Asa said:

VolvoHeretic said:

PowerNationTV: Turbocharged Ford 300 Inline Six Makes Over 500 HP on the Dyno

Wrong Ford I6 family.  People have shoehorned them into the engine bay, though 

Oops. Thanks 

Here's a good primer on where to look for rust on a Mustang. Spoiler:  everywhere. 

Mr_Asa said:

In reply to ddavidv :

The I6 is a workhorse. It will likely run forever, but trying to make it more than it is IMO is a path of wasted money.

I mean, depends on what you want from the car, depends on your mindset, and a whole host of other things.

Personally, figuring out how to get HP from an I6 feels way more satisfying.  Anyone can get power from a V8, there are literally hundreds of combinations. 

Plus, you dont have to get big power.  Small things can get you well into the realm of a better accelerating car.

I like straight sixes. And in many cases, I would agree with your argument. This engine, however, requires expensive solutions for modest gains. You'd be better off swapping in a six from something else if that's your jam. Meanwhile, the SBF is compact, lightweight and cheap and just bolts in.

In reply to ddavidv :

I disagree.  And thats ok

My brother had a classic mustang as a first car....25 years ago. I actually messaged him to get some quotes from him.

"It's a good idea on paper only. First gen mustangs look cool. Everything else about them is the hottest of garbage.  The brakes suck, the engine is E36 M3, and they ride terrible. 

It's going to leave him stranded a lot and he's going to miss a lot of things because his car is broken.

Also remind him, women won't be interested in riding in a car without air conditioning.

It'll be a giant mistake, that he'll be glad he made for the rest of his life."

One thing I might add: everyone here is looking at it from the perspective of an adult with a job, their own garage, and a second car. Parts might be available, but he's not going to enjoy spending every dime he has on the car just to keep it running.

Cross-species polination, but a 4200 I6 sure would be nice in one of those.

It's been 40 years since I had my '64, but seem to recall that the 6s had smaller brakes. 

Mr_Asa said:

In reply to ddavidv :

I disagree.  And thats ok

I'm not trying to instigate, but I want to ask if you've researched the cost of parts to make one of the little sixes actually put out what a stock SBF does? Again, I'm not a six hater. I talked to the people who sell parts like heads for them. It's a very expensive undertaking. A brand X swap (say, BMW) would probably cost the same or less and generate far better results. I know the guys that tinker with them praise them, but you've really got to be a sort of fanboi who lives for the challenge to set aside all the practical reasons it doesn't make sense.

Kreb, the sixes do have smaller brakes. However, having the same brakes in my Falcon I was actually pretty impressed with how good they work. Granted, my expectations were low. With all new parts and proper adjustment they actually stop the car quite well at six cylinder speeds. A track day or autocross? Hellz, no. But for the intended purpose of pottering around town they are fine.

In reply to Kreb (Forum Supporter) :

Everything on the inline six cars is smaller and more fragile: spindles, brakes, transmissions, axles.... 

My second car was mechanically a classic mustang but not in appearance: 1962 Mercury Comet with a '67 289 and 3 speed toploader. It was a great 35-45mph speed limit car. Easy to work on, mechanically very available parts, drove "okay" and had the brakes of a small boat. I had a lot of fun cruising around in that car but never thought of it as a performance car.

In reply to ddavidv :

Ive been a member of the FordSix forums since at least 2002.  Please go read my GRM thread on my 67, Susie. I am intimately familiar with tge costs associated. 

Nothing any enthusiast does to their car, beyond basic maintenance, is rational or practical.

In reply to slefain :

Thanks man. I didn't know that was a thing. If he ends up with a Mustang I'll make sure to get one of those for him. 

I'm still researching these and of course FB marketplace shopping as well. What price range are we talking about for a good to nice example?  

I see nice looking V6 autos for the same price as nice looking V8 manuals, and vice versa. Honestly it seems like no matter the engine/transmission combo the price is about the same. 

Pricing has come up not only for what he saves, but also because I've always wanted to do a fly and drive out west back to TN in a classic car. I'm thinking of contributing some of my car fund to this possible purchase and looking outside of my normal day trip out and back search radius of our house. I looked before starting this post, in Dallas, and old Mustangs are substantially cheaper there than the ones in TN/NC/GA and, by FBM pic standards, much better looking. 

First, I6 not V6.

A nice driver I6 car sells usually $8000 - $12,000 depending on condition. Anything below that is probably in the "sketchy to rusted garbage" category.

V8 cars not hiding numerous sins seem to be $10,000 to $16,000.  But, I will say there is a broad spectrum out there, and sellers also don't seem to know what they are actually worth. I've seen any number of cars that break out of my arbitrary categories, both higher and lower.

IMO it is ALL about condition of the body. I wouldn't care that much about the rest of it, which can be fixed inexpensively. Are the frame rails solid? Trunk floor extensions? Torque boxes? I can accept floorpans that are a little crusty but the rockers had better be solid. Assume the cowl is shot on every single one. It's a good investment to buy a solid shell with a crap interior or tired drivetrain because you have a good platform to build upon.

No vinyl roof cars, ever.

A six cylinder car should offer a significant discount over a comparable V8 car. If you intend to wind up with a V8 at the end, the cost to convert will be a few thousand, so keep that in mind. 

Fly-n-drive would be a fun life experience, but if you go that route only buy one that has been in use. Rusty gas tanks are a real thing in these. Old radiators half clogged are another. World's worst carb, the I-6 Autolite Load-o-matic, isn't one I'd want to be messing with on the roadside. We aren't all Derek Bieri.

^ what he said.

We had a 67 come through the shop which had the floors replaced by a home gamer.

Put the car on the lift and it would only touch on three pads at the same time. There was at least 3/4" of air between the fourth pad and the body.

Lots of terrible, scabby cars hiding under nice paint out there.

In reply to BA5 :

That is pretty much my take on it. Really cool first car but there is a reason that there isn't one in my garage....They aren't a fun car. 

Good thing is they are light and push starting one when the starter failed was pretty easy. 

Fun is objective. I like driving old cars. Expecting them to be fun, in the way a 1980s Dodge Colt Turbo is fun, is unrealistic. It's a different kind of fun.