Mustang rebuld question

[JJKinGA]

I am taking my 65 mustang completely apart and bringing it back to like-new condition. Mostly I want a drivable car that I can drive around a couple of days a week around town.

I am trying to plan out my work and have a question on the engine. Should I:
1) rebuild the 200 with Mike's aluminum head, DUI and dual exhaust, or
2) buy a 250 short block and then add the aluminum head, DUi, dual exhaust

If I go with the 250, what fitment issues do I need to consider? Will I be sacrificing much other than a bit of gas milage to go with the 250? Will a switch to the 250 make swapping the transmision to a T-5 easier?

 

[sp_alloy_head]

If you already had a 250 I would say go for it but fitting it inside a '65 isn't an easy or quick bolt-in. Either keep the 200 or go with a 302. The 302 is a bolt-in and with an aluminum head, the 302 isn't that much heavier than the 250 with aluminum head. If you get a "reasonable" roller cam for the 302 you'd most likely get good mileage.

So to recap, either rebuild the 200 then add the classic inline AL head or go 302, the 250 motors just presents too many challenges in my opinion.

 

[LaGrasta]

go with the 200. The 250 will cause you many more details to overcome with not much more, if any in performance or reliability.
I assume you want only a six and not an eight.

 

[CobraSix]

I agree. For a 65 I would either stay with a 200 or go to a 289/302. problem with going to the V-8 is all the other stuff you'll need to change (steering, rear end, transmission, etc) so it's not a cheap or easy road. But the 250 isn't a bolt in either and in a 65 it's a tight fit.

 

[Williboy]

I agree, go w/ either the 200 or go 302. It depends what your after; stock, slightly modified, or power. In hindsight, it probably would of been cheaper and easier for me to rip out the drivetrain and suspension and drop in a crate 302, C4, and a 9" rearend, but half the fun for me is researching, modifying, and figuring out what parts fit and work.

 

[addo]

Assuming the bodywork is up for some revitalisation, I wouldn't fuss about the engine, at all.

It's amazing what vendors and mechanics will do to help a car that looks 110%.

 

[JJKinGA]

Thanks. It sounds like a rebuild of the 200 is in order. I geuss I thought that the 250 was just a stroked version of the 200 and wouldn't be that hard to fit in.

Now its on to planning how to get a T-5 behind that (I know there are lots of discussion on that to serach in this forum). And getting the falcon six performance book. I am sure to have more questions after I look a bit deeper into things.

I like Addo's suggestion of getting the bosdy work done well and then approaching the others. Makes sense that if the car is a looker that the mechanics will try to make sure that things are right. They could get good references quite easy this way.

Thanks again.

 

[Bort62]

Oh yeah, welcome to the forum