200CI TO 289

66PONY · 01-15-2006, 09:02 AM

Hello all, new poster here.
I have just bought my second stang and am trying to find a expert source on a 6 conversion to a 289. I have a 1966 coupe and it is 100% original. I plan on riding on the 200ci for a while but eventually will work towrds dropping in a 289. I want to do it the right way and want to solicite your expert opinions on how to convert. Has anyone made this conversion successfully with good ride and drive train conversion?

Much Thanks

bryanvw61 · 01-15-2006, 11:59 AM

just my 2 cents, but if i got one 100% original, i'd keep it that way... however mine was from a basketcase so i'm going to restomod the living daylights out of it

1garry · 01-18-2007, 03:06 AM

Hi,

I have just joined the Mustang Forum and I am in the same situation as you - a 1966 200CI, however I want to convert it over to a 289. I was wondering if you received any useful feedback on what needs to be done?

Cheers

Garry

scott_m_mil · 01-18-2007, 03:09 AM

Check the FAQ post by Soaring. There is a ton of information in there, including everythign that needs done on a I6 to V8 swap.

JMD · 01-18-2007, 05:34 PM

A while back my son bought a bueatiful 66 6 cyl coupe from one of my co-workers. The first thing (nearly) we did was to start "cuttin stuff up". Well we didnt really cut anything, but it is no longer stock, and it will be less stock as time goes by.

It does kind of hurt my heart to take apart a very nice stock car, but my son bought this car to drive, and in this mindset, if he is going to drive it some updates just make sense. Modern safe brakes, better steering and handling, and if one wants a muscle car then a V-8 is in order.

I said above that it does kind of hurt me to tear up a perfectly good car, (I can see the previous owner cringe everytime the subect comes up) but, I think it comes down to what a driver wants from a car, and nostaliga <sic>? has to play second fiddle.

Besides, where is he going to find an orig. V-8 model that he can both afford and afford to bring into the same condition as the one he has now?

God
Bless!

JMD · 01-18-2007, 05:58 PM

Me and my sons have started a similar or identical project a little while back. We have just started really building the car back up after my son had done a lot of disassembly. I am certainly no authority on this conversion, this is my first real Mustang project. I am kind of learning as I go along, supported by lots of research (online mostly).

I would like to think I am close to half way done with the conversion even though I have neither the motor or transmission installed. What we do have done, is a complete front end and steering replacement (manual rack and pinion, Flaming river), rear axle replacement, 4 wheel disk brakes, and new tires and wheels on the car (5 lug).

Frankly to me it has been a really simple process. Research the diferent kits available, think things out, and put it together. The hardest part thus far has been finding orig V-8 spindles needed for the conversion, but even this was easy thanks to e-bay.

There will be plenty of folks whowill tell you to just find a V-8 and build it, so you dont have to replace so many parts, however, most of the parts that we changed on our project, we would have changed anyway, V-8 or not.

If you want some specifics about what I have done and my sources for partslet me know and I will be glad to help. The best advice for geting through a project like tis is to simply stirke a course and stick to it, one part at a time.

Gods Speed and Good Luck!!

grruminator78 · 01-18-2007, 05:58 PM

just a question, but if you're doing a v8 swap, why limit yourself to a 289? do you just want to maintain an original apperance?

ZZmustang · 01-18-2007, 06:26 PM

Go find a 289 mustang and look under it and write down all the parts you see, go back home, sell your original 6 and buy a 289. Taaa Daaa. converted. The 6 mustang is worth about 1/2 what the V8 Mustang is. Making a 6 into a V8 lessons the value of the 6.

eZ · 01-18-2007, 07:07 PM

i converted my 64.5 from an i6 to a 302 block. changed steering, brakes, spindles, front suspension, rear suspension, rear end, and transmission. it was an expensive conversion but my father was the original owner. if you take these guys advice (good advice too) and sell your i6 to get a v8, make sure you get a v8 that does not need everything i just told you about replaced anyway.a lotof the v8 guys on here have swappedout everything i did on my i6 anyhow. its all in how you plan on building the car.

JMD · 01-19-2007, 01:42 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: grruminator78

just a question, but if you're doing a v8 swap, why limit yourself to a 289? do you just want to maintain an original apperance?

It looks like this post was directed at me,,,, In the case of my sons 66, we have intended on putting a 302 in it. I have thought about a 347, and even a 351, but the information I have gathered says that it is harder to get a 351 under the hood, but a 347 might still interest me.

It is not that important for us to maintain an "original appearance", but I do like the lines of the car as it is. Some mods might be interesting, like maybe a shaker hood, yea that would be cool. In any case, we have already put 17" wheels with 40s on the rear and 45s on the front, so the stock look is already pretty much shot.This tire and wheel change has already made adramatic change. The car went from a "grandma's grocery getter" to what looks likethe hot rodthat it soon will be!

thanks for the post!