Okay, so I know that the fact that I am posting this question on a forum dedicated to getting the most out of a Mustang will sway the responses I get, but here goes anyway.
I am the second owner of an ALL ORIGINAL '66 Mustang convertible, red, 289, C4. I bought it from the original owner in '03. When I mean all original, I mean the seats had never seen the light of day since the original owner sewed some seat covers and put them on the upholstery when she got the car. The convertible top cover was still in the attic and she had to go find it. I still have the original sales brochures, owner's manual, sales receipt, window sticker, etc. There is still chalk markings on the radiator support, "paint 9" marked in yellow on the firewal, original radio still works, FOMOCO stampings on every nut and bolt, yaddah yaddah. I just got done admiring the F-C (Ford Motor Company I assume) stampings on the original oil drain plug as I changed the oil just now.
So I'm trying hard to resist putting on some tri-y's and dual exhaust, ditching the original hubcaps and whitewalls for some real tires, chucking the 2V carb for a 600cfm, intake, good heads, good midrange cam, and then it's all downhill from there.
What would you do if you were me? Keep it stock, hot rod the darn thing, or something inbetween.
I would have a hard time butchering that car. Find one not quite so complete to rod out. I was looking for a Model A once to build a rod and happened on a coupe with the original upolstry still in tact, no rust and I could drive it home. I decided to let a collector have it because I couldn't bring myself to chop it up.
i agree with a car like that i would leave it like it is maybe get one of those batteries that looks exactly like the original and take it to car shows displaying all of the papers and stuff you have for it
You might get another set of wheels with radials to switch out from time to time just for a change of pace or for making longer trips.
<<Edit[8D]Yes,,, finally made it to a cool "gear"!500 posts, 4th gear at last!!
Yep, imagine that, made my first post advising "butchery", and my 500th advising against it....
Maybe I am turning concurs,,,, yikes!!! Ummm... Not
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39 Ford Coupe, 30 Year "Project Car" to be done by mid May 2009
408 Windsor, Tremec TKO 600, E85 Fueled
Custom "ground up" TCI Chassis
9" Track Loc.
If you are not quite as smart as you think, are you smart enough to know?
Just kidding. That's a nice car, very rare to have all that original stuff. When I bought mine it was already far from factory, so it really didn't matter what I did. If mine was like that I would have kept it factory.
Well, the problem is that the whole thing has been around for 41 years and does need TLC. Last year was a new oil pump, water pump, radiator since the originals were starting to give up the ghost. New rear brakes are tomorrow. So little by little it gets less 100% original. And if you've seen one restored Mustang you've seen 'em all. So I keep working on it I see catalogs with headers, stroker kits and I start to shake and twitch and reach for my pocket book.
Put the Tri-y's, different carb, what ever you want to do to the car. Thats not really doing a "hot rodding" it's doing what you want with your car. BUT don't throw any of that stuff away, it can be put back on at later date if you sell the car. Plus the parts you take off and store will be in good shape and not all wore out. i.e. worth more.
Stay stock or hot rod? Chime in!
keep that one stock.
