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Everyone's input needed on my 68 mustang project

6

68angrypony

Member
It's been a while since I have worked on my mustang/been on the forums. I am trying to get my 68 coupe road worth. It hasn't been on he road since the late 80's from my guess.

Where I am at: Bought an aluminum radiator and need to know what I should do about an electric fan/how to wire it.

I am on the fence on whether I should just redo the drum brakes to get it mobile or if I should put the money towards converting the front drums to disc. It looks like I would need 68 spindles, disc's/hub, calipers, dust shield, brake pads. What are the thoughts on this?

I have a manuel drum currently on the car and I am wondering if I should leave it that way or figure out how to get a booster or power brakes in there some how.

I am a rookie in the world of classic cars and I am on a budget. My goal is to get the car mobile to be able to take it to a body shop/or take an autobody repair class and do it myself. I have had the car for several years and it seems useless when it can't move. so my thoughts are to get it mobile and at least enjoy the car while I am working on it. I don't see myself having the funds to do a full restore, but I would like to be able to possibly take the car to the track and get some runs in for the fun of it. I believe it has the stock 2.88 gears currently. I have never even driven in a classic mustang so i am not sure how its going to drive or what its going to feel like with the parts I have. Any input/thoughts/direction would be great at this point.
 
First off, is it running ok? Hoses, belts, fluids replaced?

For the brakes, you'll probably have to rebuild/replace the brake cylinders, replace the shoes, and turn or replace the drums. Replacing the brake hoses would be good too.

A decent disc conversion is gonna cost a bit more. You can get kits that use the drum spindles.
For instance, a Chockostang kit will run you $700.
http://www.chockostangclassicmustang.co ... sions.html
 
dropped in the used 351c and it starts and idles fine. belts etc are all good.

Most of the kits are outside what I want to spend. so I am either going to go through the drum brakes to get it road worthy or I might try and find some 4 piston calipers and do the disc brake conversion for the drum spindles. But looking at the cost of replacement parts, it almost looks like if I can find spindles and caliper brackets for a 68/69 front disc set up, that would be the way to go for a cheaper front disc brake set up.
 
IMHO
First thing to do on a classic car (either car) is to tackle the brakes.
Whatever you do , go for a disk brake setup in front.Maybe a granada setup ??
Second thing is the suspension.Especially the shocks comes to mind
Third is the engine/trans.
In that order.
Its no use to have a hell of a engine but no brakes.
 
Though I recognize that front disc brakes are generally "better" performing from a fade perspective than 4 wheel drums, the reality is that for most street driven cars, a well maintained drum brake system works just fine, especially on a budget. Open tracking or mountain passes and you would probably be in over your head with an all wheel drum system.
 
"JeffTepper" said:
Though I recognize that front disc brakes are generally "better" performing from a fade perspective than 4 wheel drums, the reality is that for most street driven cars, a well maintained drum brake system works just fine, especially on a budget. Open tracking or mountain passes and you would probably be in over your head with an all wheel drum system.
Click to expand...
:stu
I'm currently running all drums on my 69 fastback. Takes a little more pedal effort but stops really well. You can rebuild your drum system for probably less than $50 and get yourself back on the road. Upgrade to disks later when the car is farther along.
 
Long term, I'd do some 68/69 front discs. Short term, just get your drum setup up and running to allow you to move the car as you are trying to do.

Cooling - Why do you feel you need an electric fan, especially with an aluminum radiator? With my 351c, I'm using a aluminum radiator and stock fan set up. Runs just fine at 180* temp.

Just some food for thought.
 
Also not a fan of electric fans. Why go to the complications concerning install and future problems....electrical gremlins and that whirring noise.
Considering your emgine I doubt a cooling problem will be an issue. Stock fan/belt system should be fine.
 
"KBMWRS" said:
Also not a fan of electric fans. Why go to the complications concerning install and future problems....electrical gremlins and that whirring noise.
Considering your engine I doubt a cooling problem will be an issue. Stock fan/belt system should be fine.
Click to expand...
+1 on not using the electric fan at this time. It is easier to put a stock fan in. I have a 341W with a stock fan and brass radiator. Never any overheating problems.
 
I know that americans take it rather simple then going the complex way. :hide :hide
But there is nothing wrong going electrical in asumption you do this the right way.
The use of a fanshroud and a "sucker" instead of a front mounted "blower"
The use of a dual thermo switch mounted on the cilinderhead or thermostathousing "before" the thermostatic.
and the use of resistor to let the fan blow on a lower speed to control watertemps at normal operation.

Sorry , just my 0.02 eurocent opinion. :stu
 
with how low the motor sits and for clearance between the engine and radiator, it would appear that the electric fan is the better way to go. I also look at it that all new cars use electric fans and it can't hurt to free up the engine of one more task. That was my crazy thought any how lol.
 
One notice here : a electric fan setup isn't cheap so, if you are on a budget...
maybe motormounts comes to mind ????
 
I don't have any kind of fan currently. I was going to go to pick a part and grab an electric fan. Also, from friends cars, when it gets 100+ outside and they are at car shows, in traffic, at the races, they seem to not be able to keep the car cool with the fan blade. So that is another reason it would seem that a possible dual fan set up might be the way to go to always keep the car cool no matter what I'm doing with it.
 
Since you don't have your location listed in your signature, I just assumed you lived in Fairbanks, AK. :thu
 
I think what the others are trying to say about the mechanical fan is that it's simple and effective. Electric fans can be reliable too, you just need to make sure you use good parts that are designed to work with eachother. With the electric fan you need to make sure your alternator will support the added load, then you need a decent controller to turn the fan on when it's needed, and shuts off when not required.

Whether you go mechanical or electric, the most important think is to make sure the shroud covers the entire finned area. No sense in adding fans if your not drawing air through the entire finned area to begin with.

From experience, I used a summit 16" fan on a northern radiator on my Mustang's old 5.0. It would warm up terribly in light traffic. I replaced that fan with a '89 Taurus fan and shroud covering every bit of the finned area and no more cooling issues. Fast foward 3 years and I used that same failing summit fan and northern radiator on a built chevy 350, but this time made a shroud for it and it keeps the bigger engine cool in traffic and on hot days. I'm sure if i remove the shroud it wouldn't work worth crap again.
 
Consider this, some electric fans consume considerable power when running and the stock 60 amp (or less) alternators might be taxed beyond their capability trying to run everything (lights, stereos, etc) plus an electric fan.
 
Nothing will beat a clutch fan and a shroud, period. Happy motoring.
 
Oh, drum brakes are OK provided they are maintained and kept adjusted. I would make sure you have a dual bowl master cylinder. If one fails the other should be able to stop the car (but maybe not in a quick fashion). Keep your eyes open for a Ford Granada disc brake setup. Make sure to get the Granada proportioning valve, it is different that the one used for the drum and if you upgrade to disc this is a must. In the past you could find Granada setups for about 100 bucks. Not sure about now though.
 
Have ya noticed ALL the things that have to be JUST right so an electric fans will work properly? And yes new cars are designed/engineered for electric fans these old cars weren't. Not that it can't be done...as stated here some love it. But for a simple engine not needing every ounce of power it puts out for speed/performance I think a clutch fan would be just fine.

Ditto the brakes. Drums will be fine.

As you said you are on a budget and want to get it on the road...basic is fine. No need to complicate things. That will come later with the upgrades..... :yah :yah :yah
 
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