1966 Coup 4.6 4V Swap updated 3/13/10

[uncltrvlnmatt]

It's really odd how genetics works, if that is the case. My dads a chevy man, and I bleed ford Blue. Then I know alot of guys my age who are huge into cars and trucks, and there dads can't even change their oil. Kind of funny how things work. Me and my Pops are a pair though, Had a big problem with the vintage venom kit on the 65 last night and he didn't want to mess with it, so I jumped in there and knocked it out for him. It's like tag team mustangism lol

I know what you mean. It is funny how things work. When we did the Falcon way back, my dad did most of the work and I was the helper. This time around I am doing most of the work and he is the helper. We consult each other on everything, and if we need or want a third opinion my welder lives right next door. I am really suprised at how smoothly everything is going along so far. But that just means we will end up with an electrical nightmare, but I am prepared and expect that.

The good thing about hooking up the electrical is my Dad has that 03 Mach1 to look at if we have any issues.

[Steven]

Definately a plus for you. I've seen so many 5.0 harnesses that they make me dizzy sometimes. It's an advantage but not one I'm to happy about haha.

[uncltrvlnmatt]

We had a little set back today. Today we started fitting the fender aprons in for welding, and found the right side fender apron is bowed and does not fit right. I had them all boltedand clamped into the position they looked like they would go in, and the right side apron looked a bit off. So we mounted the fenders to make sure they lined up properly. There was about a half inch gag between the top of the fender apron and the botton of the fender. Also there is a big a*s bow in it right where it mounts onto the shock tower frame. Sooooooooooooo, I need to bring it back and see if they will replace it.

We also have some tough decisions to make with the rear. The car has a 8 inch rear. They are known to be extremely weak in performance applications. We basically have no good choices. The 8 inch is no good, it just won't hold up. The 8.8 out of the Mach1 is to long and needs to be narrowed, and I will have to use 17 inch wheels, and they just won't fit in the wheel well. It will be tough to find a 9 inch that will fit without having to be narrowed. The Mustang was the only car that size that used a 9 inch rear, and that was only with cars that came with the high performance 289, so we will have to get a 9 inch rear narrowed.

Oh well, you wanna play, you gotta pay.

[duh09]

Can you not find a 9in from an old Stang?

[uncltrvlnmatt]

The only one that will fit that I know of is the 1965-66. After that the cars got wider and bigger. The only Mustangs that came with a 9 inch are the GT350's and any car that had a K-code(Hi-Po 289)

I have pics of everything, but I left my camera at my garage.

[Steven]

Matt, I've put a 9" Versaille rearend in with no problem, running later model 17's on the car with the factory rear disc. Not trying to disprove your information, just saying our 65 personally has had a 9" versaile rearend with no issues (that I know of). The car I'm speaking of is our 65 coupe Hi-Po car.

[duh09]

Ah. I see. My 67 has a 9" rear so I wasn't sure if they were interhangeable or what because I'm sure mine didn't come with it (orginally a 6'er).

[Dalamar]

Your toolbox is bigger than mine.

[Steven]

Ah. I see. My 67 has a 9" rear so I wasn't sure if they were interhangeable or what because I'm sure mine didn't come with it (orginally a 6'er).

Sure it's a 9?

[uncltrvlnmatt]

Matt, I've put a 9" Versaille rearend in with no problem, running later model 17's on the car with the factory rear disc. Not trying to disprove your information, just saying our 65 personally has had a 9" versaile rearend with no issues (that I know of). The car I'm speaking of is our 65 coupe Hi-Po car.

How much and where did you get it. I spoke to some people today, I can get a custom made 9 inch for 2k, or I can have my 8.8 cut down to fit for $1400-$1600 depending on what it needed.

[uncltrvlnmatt]

Your toolbox is bigger than mine.

I used to be a truck mechanic. I needed a big box. I was almost ready to buy the top box for it when I found this job.

[uncltrvlnmatt]

Ah. I see. My 67 has a 9" rear so I wasn't sure if they were interhangeable or what because I'm sure mine didn't come with it (orginally a 6'er).

The 67-68 body style had alot more options. The car was bigger and wider, so it could use rears out of Fairlane's, Comet's, and Torino's. Plus there were alot more performance options made in those years.

The only rears that may be compatable with the 65-66 mustang is the Falcon or Fairlane. The only Falcon's and Fairlane's that came 9 inch from the factory at that time were the factory super stock cars. There were less than a handfull of those.

[Steven]

Came from a drag racer around here who welded chevy disc brackets on it. Otherwise it was stock length. I'm just going off of what I saw, and the car had the original length versaille rearend with chevy brakes on the back from what I believe was an s10 or blazer or something? I'll have to ask. It's been 3-4 years.

[uncltrvlnmatt]

Came from a drag racer around here who welded chevy disc brackets on it. Otherwise it was stock length. I'm just going off of what I saw, and the car had the original length versaille rearend with chevy brakes on the back from what I believe was an s10 or blazer or something? I'll have to ask. It's been 3-4 years.

Sounds good thanks.

[uncltrvlnmatt]

Picked up my replacement fender apron today. I spoke with the owner, he said those fender aprons suck. The right side never fits properly. You have to cut it to make it work.

[Mystikal]

Any more progress pics or does it look the same?

[ram360]

this is the first time I saw your build thread matt.....that's badass.  You do some nice freaking work.  

[white95]

great work

[uncltrvlnmatt]

Thanks Bernie.

I took more pics the last time I worked on it, but I left the camera on my tool box in the garage. I am going to pick it up this weekend. I hope to get a little bit done on sunday, but there is a big family get together, so I am going to have limited time to spend on the car.

[uncltrvlnmatt]

Here are the most recent pics. I fit the new replacement fender apron into place yesturday, and it fits so much better.







We also did a test fit of the Mach1 rear seat in the car. They fit almost perfect. There is about a 1 inch gap on both sides. We have decided to use them in the car. So the Mach seats are no longer for sale. We are going to repaint the intirior black. Since the car will have black stripes it will fit perfectly.

[95_5.0@15]

Ahem Ahem I spy a blue mach 1 back there

[uncltrvlnmatt]

Ahem Ahem I spy a blue mach 1 back there

Yes, that is my dads DD.

[95_5.0@15]

OH cool!

[duh09]

Ah. I see. My 67 has a 9" rear so I wasn't sure if they were interhangeable or what because I'm sure mine didn't come with it (orginally a 6'er).

Sure it's a 9?

Positive. I came to Mustangs from being into 4x4s since I was 13. I know waht a 9in looks like when I see one. I used to look at them scraping rocks all the time haha

[US Soldier]

nice work matt any more updates for us

to bad abou the seats i wanted them......lol

[uncltrvlnmatt]

Good things happened today. We put the front end back on. We started aligning everything so we could get the fender aprons welded in place. Then we get to take it all back off again. One step closer.

[duh09]

Cool beans man! I suprised how well the seats fit in there. I thought about seeing if I could rig my old 95 seats to fit in there and have them recovered all vintage-style but figured itd be way off. You give me hope! haha

[uncltrvlnmatt]

Cool beans man! I suprised how well the seats fit in there. I thought about seeing if I could rig my old 95 seats to fit in there and have them recovered all vintage-style but figured itd be way off. You give me hope! haha

I never even really considered putting the Mach seats in because I thought the rear seat would beway to small. But I think we can manage fitting it in and filling the gaps without a big problem.

[duh09]

I'm sure your is as much metal as mine in the back so sliding a couple little flats pieces under the edge wouldn't be hard at all. Of course you could get fancy and build it up to match the curves of the seat, but thats a good bit of work for a detail that would most defiently be overlooked, but of course that is also one of those things that could contribute a whole lot to it looking finished and nice.

[uncltrvlnmatt]

We are also going to change the intirior color from saddle to black. Otherwise I think it would look cheesy.

[98bullet]

Looks like you are makin a lil progress, looks great.

[Mystikal]

Those seats will look good in there when its all said and done. Nice work so far

[Dalamar]

Looks good Matt.  those seats will look good in there.   you know I was looking at them for mine

[uncltrvlnmatt]

Looks good Matt.  those seats will look good in there.   you know I was looking at them for mine

You would not have been happy with them. The fronts are not 100%.

[uncltrvlnmatt]

Today we got the whole front end installed and line up pretty good. It is not perfect, but we were not looking for perfect right now. The fender aprons are now in proper position, bolted, and clamped into place. Now we are in a holding pattern until my welder can get in and get it done.

Once the fender aprons are welded in we can finish detailing the engine bay and install the engine into it's new permanent home. With some luck that will be done by the end of August.

When that is done we can attack the rear end. I want to get all the major modifications and fabricating done before we start on the electrical portion of the puzzle.

The best part is, it is starting to look like a car again. Also I can now start planning past the engine installation. This might really be done for the spring.