4 speeds can be consistent. It just takes a lot more skill. Or you could take the easy way out and go automatic.
PaulS is telling the truth, I hope you know how to FAB! I know I shouldn't sound so negitive BUT if you haven't done anything like this before and don't own a cutting torch, welder, grinder and some know how you are in for a big shock. Our little cars were never build for the 351W or larger 351C so get out your shoe horn because you are going to need it. I'm not saying they won't fit, it's just a job to get them in there. Doing the Mustang II front end swap would be the first thing I'd do. If it's a 69 or 70 you'll be more then likely changing the rear to a 9 inch from the 7.5 I've put a 302 Boss motor, a 429 and a SWEET 408 in a Mav All had to have serious fabing, cutting the shock towers back grinding on the gear box, cutting the frame and welding it back, putting a hammer to the fire wall for just a little room. Without the MII front end the 351C is going to be a pain in the butt to work on once you have it in there. Now unlike PaulS post I didn't sugar coat this, but he did tell it like it is. This will be a LARGE untaking. Good luck and God bless As always just my .02 Bossmav
I agree with you guys 100% that this is going to be alot of work... I have a shop I am gonna keep it in and pace myself and I have done a good amount of welding, cutting and grinding too and I LOVE to fab so that wont be a problem. Like Paul was saying build this car the way YOU want it. I understand alot of people like automatics for their consistancy and I know they are consistant cause I have one! But I also love to shift so im going to keep it a stick. As far as the car went, I looked at it today. Great condition! Exterior is near flawless needs paint and a little dent work. Small cancer spot on back passenger wheel well. Interior is in pretty good shape and the body looks straight as an arrow so thats good. Im going to try to figure out how to put the pics in my gallery so if you wouldn't mind takin a look and tellin me what you think that would be great thanks! -Andrew
Does anyone have pictures of the shock tower reinforcement and the difference in transmission tunnel? I would like to see the '70 differences as a visual.
I don't have anything on the tranny tunnels, however I have this attachment from another thread. The white (nice pretty engine bay) has the non-reinforced towers. The dirty, ugly, yellow tower has the strap going around the bottom. On Mustangs, only the Boss and big block cars got the straps. They may or may not mean anything, but they are pretty thick steel and go all the way around the bottom of the towers. I think they started in 74 or 75 on Mavs. Dave
Here are the best pictures I have. The shot of the transmission tunnel in my '69.5 (nice looking with sound deadner intact) versus the transmission tunnel in my '74 Grabber pre-wreck (rusty looking pic). Then a pic of my '73 with reinforced shock towers versus my '69.5 with non reinforced shock towers. There seems to be not much rhyme or reason to which Mavericks got the reinforced towers. I have seen both early and late 2 and 4 doors with and without them. 302's and 6 cylinders. Most of the ones with them had A/C. I would not let something like that keep me from doing anything I want with my car. Besides the trans tunnel, there is no good reason why you can't use a '70 to do anything you can use any other year for. The smaller trans tunnel is not hard to correct if you don't mind cutting on it. edit: for some reason the board reversed the pictures from the order that I uploaded them. So start with the last and go to the first pic while reading the post.
Now that I think about it, I have two Mavericks that were literally identical twins when they were new. Both of my '76's were brown with white halo vinyl tops, tan interiors, both had identical 250/C4 drivetrains with A/C, P/S, and power disc brakes. Both were built at Kansas City. One was bought new in Knoxville, the other in Atlanta. The only diffrence between these two cars? One of them has reinforced shock towers, the other dosen't. I really wonder what their reasoning was behind which cars got the reinforced shock towers.
its a plate the mounts the motor directly to the frame. Front plate mounts between the block and water pump. mid-plate between the block and tranny. *supposed to help with power lose due to engine torque. *suppose to make motor pull in/out easier. I can get some pictures.
sounds like a fun car. however i have to disagree with everyone about the rear end. the 8" will not hold up in my opinion and you will be changing it shortly to a 9" and aftermarket axles. the 8" is a good rear and will stand a lot of abuse with an automatic. however it will not take the abuse of dumping the clutch too many times. i'd go with the sure thing. it never fails at a good time.
Well, you can throw out the "Bracket Screamer" part of the equation (as you have already been told). HOWEVER,,,,, I knew a guy who could row a 5-speed Mustang to within a couple hundreths each and every time (it seemed). He's won his fair share of 1st place trophies doing it. He wanted to win more often (don't we all?) and switched to an automatic. I wish I had a great ending to the story ("He went on to win the Winter Olympics" or something, but I haven't seen him in a while). Good luck with the 4-speed. I'm sure it'll be fun - just not as consistant as you'd wish once you've been eliminated by an automatic.
Ok so I am gonna change the title of the thread to STREET SCREAMER instead. I like the stick and I am pretty consistant with them but I do agree an auto is more consistant. Besides I have decided to run it on the streets more than just the track Thanks for everyones input! -Andrew
