Beyond the Basics

[AzCoupe]

Letter in "Beyond the Basics" in the July issue of Mustang Monthly

Question

I'm the proud owner of a 69 Mustang convertible powered by a 200 six, manual three speed, and a 3.20:1 ratio 7.5 inch rear end. I believe this setup put out approximately 200 hp from the factory. I've enjoyed my ride as a daily driver since the spring. My daily commute is 90 percent highway driving. I don't have a problem cruising at 65-70 mph, but I do have a little trouble accelerating from this speed to pass or climb a hill.

I'm considering an engine rebuild. The folks at Clifford Performance have said we can get 200-225 hp with the proper parts and still have an engine efficient enough for a daily driving. With this increase in horsepower, do I need to upgrade the rear-end to 8 or 8.8 inches, or will the 7.5 handle this increase in power? Somewhere down the line I would also like to switch the manual three speed for a T5. If I don't upgrade the rear-end now, will I have to do it then?

Reply

There has been a renewed interest in the Ford six-cylinder engine and the aftermarket industry has taken notice. Many of the old performance parts, as well as newly developed items, are being manufactured, allowing the engines to produce more horsepower.

It goes on to recommend the rear-end swap to an 8", as well as a T5 swap and an upgrade to 10" five lug brakes.

I just thought it was interesting that they have taken notice to what we are doing. Maybe we will finally see some more topics/articles on our beloved sixes.

 

[Asa]

it was almost inevitable actually, everyone goes out and buys a mustang, but oh crap... it's a 4-lug I6...
guess i'll go get a V8 parts car and pull the suspension from it!

next guy does the same
so does the next guy
and the next
and then the next guy goes to do that... and "holy crap, you want how much for a parts car?"

and he thinks of a better option

 

[Anonymous]

I rode the fence for awhile...till I found you guys...Not being very mechanically inclined, I thought I would get this great looking Mustang for a great price, and later change out the "what the hell can this thing do" inline six for the standard "What you got in there, a 289? 302? Well little did I know. I have learned that you guys that can work an inline up to something that a lot of muscle heads would be blown away by. I am proud to own my Mustang, and am proud that it has an inline six. I am also pumped up to learn new things everyday here that can be applied in my own driveway by my own hands, and be proud that I accomplished something that I previously knew nothing about.
I too hope Mustang Monthly does more tech articles about what we all here have a passion about .

 

[rbohm]

8) the next thing we need to do is get the magazines to recognize the fact that mike is selling six cyl parts now.

just looking out for you mike.

 

[strat1960s]

I, too, am proud to be the owner of an inline 6 mustang. When I first got the car all my friends and co-workers told me I should dump the I6 for a fuel injected 289/302. One of the things I told myself when I got the car was that I wanted to do as much of my own thing with this car as I could. Doing my own thing meant ignoring my friends and co-workers and seeing what I could do with the I6. Thanks to Mike, I was able to get more out of my I6 than before. Once I get the car back from the (I'm holding your car hostage) body shop, I plan to pick up where I left off in working out my bugs and then find new ways to get more HP from my I6.
I was talking to one friend/co-worker a few weeks ago and he said he was glad that I ignored his suggestion to dump the I6 for a 302. I told him I wasn't looking for a 11 second car.
It's nice to see that the parts corporations are taking notice of our I6's and realizing there is still a market out there, even if it is kind of small right now.
Ted

 

[CobraSix]

I wish I had NEVER found FSP. Had I not found FSP, I would have a V-8 with more power and would have cost me less in the long run then building up this 6.

But, as fate would have it, I found FSP and "decided to take the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference" after my 6 drove home on only 3 cylinders firing for 30 miles because of a faulty ignition system.

Slade

 

[Anonymous]

Yep, that was an interesting little article....Theres also another little interesting article in the front of that magazine.

Later,

Doug