> "Olin"
comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:kIednUNTTq9MZDHanZ2dnUVZ_h-vnZ2d@comcast.com...>>>> Faye wrote:
>>>> Welcome home, Faye. How are things up on the ridge after the storm? I
>>>> imagine it tracked to the west of you....
>>>>
>>>> BTW, that 'is' a real car. Unfortunately I couldn't get the video to
>>>> load, but it looks just like my high school wet dream '72
>>>> Challenger...not reminiscent of it, like the current Mustang, or a
>>>> couple of retro offerings from GM, but 'just' like it.
>>>>
>>>> How many gallons to the mile, I wonder....
>>>>
>>>> jak
>>>
>>> The new Mustangs look better (to me) than the sport compacts they were
>>> turning out with a Mustang label in the 70's and 80's, but I'd like to
>>> see
>>> what an original (I'm partial to the 1969 fastback) would be like if it
>>> were
>>> put through an extensive upgrade. For starters, the IRS rear axle from
>>> a
>>> 1989 or newer T-Bird *might* fit in the older Mustangs...
>>
>> The guy who runs the FAA office in our building just got a new 300 HP
>> Mustang GT. White, and he's putting some rather classy decals on it. It
>> sounds sweet, and actually gets decent mileage, all things considered. He
>> told me he got 25 mpg on a recent trip to Memphis... not too shabby for
>> that much horsepower.
>>
>> As for those old Mustangs, I'd think you would have to trick 'em out
>> pretty good to come up to braking and handling standards... especially
>> the ones from the sixties.
>>
>> I've got my dream hot rod all designed out in my head. All I gotta do is
>> win the lottery, because I'll never afford it working for a living.
>>
>> It's a 1940 Ford pickup truck... as stock appearing as it can be made,
>> but with entirely modern suspension and brakes, a 12-volt electrical
>> system and either a small block V-8 or more likely a V-6 under the hood,
>> with just a few "enhancements." Nice interior, with A/C and other bells
>> and whistles, all painted up either a very deep purple or that lovely
>> Chevy deep metallic blue, with very modest white pin striping.
>>
>> Not likely to happen, but there it is.
>
> The newer (1989 and newer) T-Bird did have 4 wheel disk brakes as
> an option. Find one of the 4 wheel disk T-Birds (I think they were the
> ones with V-8 and supercharged V-6 engines), and you'd have a donor
> for not only the IRS rear axle, but also better brakes. That would go a
> long way toward getting the old Mustang up to modern standards for
> braking and handling.
>
There are any number of fabrications one can use. You're probably right
about the T-Bird undercarriage fitting up under one of the older Mustangs.
It'd probably take some cutting here and bending there, along with some
custom made brackets, but any good rodder could make it work. ;^)
I've actually talked to a couple builders about my pickup dream, and I've
been led to believe an old Plymouth K-Car front axle assembly almost bolts
on to the front rails of the '40 Ford. Stronger leafs in the rear, sway bars
and disk brakes should be available to fit.
In either car, the 'Stang or the truck, the conversions would not be
cheap... even if you did all the heavy lifting yourself.
A friend's son down in Austin used to be an '80s Mustang guru. He had one
tricked out that would probably run the quarter mile right around ten
seconds, maybe a little under. He told me once that he had nearly fifty
grand in the motor if he took his time and labor into account.
