I'm an old school guy, I had a new '68 GT in high school and serendipitously we found a mint '68 GT for my daughter to drive to her high school in 2010. Part of the charm to daily driving classics is, yes we can make it faster, louder and stop quicker, but it's also good to be able to realize what Ford considered a high performance car in '68 and to be able to drive a factory car as a reference point of how far we've come since then. And by the way, four-wheel drum brakes do work, but you find yourself driving way more defensively. and don't get me started about handling characteristics in the rain. There are none.
Pretty much agree with all 6 recommendations. I have done a few to my 66 Fastback myself. But driving my Mustang since 1975 and now north of 60 years old...I'll pass on 2 of them. Replaced my fruit jar master with a Ford OEM dual master. Ford disk brakes installed up front. During my restore I tried to make it as if Ford did all this when built. Intake, carbs and headers. I bought good headers and had them ceramic coated. Shelby drop....NO...again at my age and having driven the car since 1975 do not feel the need to do the drop now. The original 2.79 rear gear is still in there.....I like the original and low RPM at 70 MPH New bushings, shocks on the rear along with short shackles keep the rear axle in place.....enough for me!!! Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, but then the list becomes longer or just focused on one area. I tried to find a balance, and not everyone cares about the front sticking to the corners like it's on rails. :)
I just came across your youtube page like a month ago, i have a 67, upgraded some stuff, but next on my list is rear end gears and doing some carb work. But youve got a lot of useful videos 👍
Great video I just finished my 64 and 66 and your throttle pedal rod fit perfectly. I had to add some washers to move the angle away from the carb so it wouldn’t rub but pedal response is much better. I also resolved my overheating issue at idle. My shroud was too deep hahah I removed my shroud and got way more air flow. I May put the stock thin shroud on but too lazy to take off the mechanical fan so enjoying it as is until I need to take off the fan again.
Yeah, I figured there'd be a handful of throttle lever to carb scenarios where a spacer might be needed, but it's hard to know what everyone's setup is like. I'd rather leave it up to the buyer to do what you did, that way I'm not including extra parts that some won't need, and in turn I'd have to increase the price to accommodate for it. I'm glad it worked! :)
@@AndyKruseChannel Nah no complaints loved the system no issues simple to add a few washers since the hardware you included was long enough to accommodate the extra washers. I polished the metal and fit good and pedal feels so much better now! Highly recommended
Good video and tech tips! I see you upgraded your rear leaf spring mounts to heavy duty ones, those have the tie downs built-in. I' m running reverse-eye rear leaf springs from Open Tracker. I used Global West Del-a-lum bushings as well. Handles great! I got rid of the polyurethane rear-leaf spring bushings. They were horrible, rode stiff, and squeaked like an old dump truck. Keep up the great videos and tech articles. Check out Open Tracker Racing for their roller bearing front spring perches, front upper and lower arms! Cool stuff!
Tons of options to choose from - but you hit some good ones. I would also consider a full rewiring as 60 year old brittle wiring is not something to trust. I proper radiator should be next on the agenda - overheating is not fun.
Doing a list like this is difficult, because these cars are in various states of restoration and overall condition. I think someone could easily put together a separate list of 5 or 10 things that would all be valid. 🙂
We have nearly identical builds, and I did the same things you did, in the same order. But instead of the panhard bar I think my #6 mod will be 3-point seatbelts. My girlfriend doesn't like just the lap belts and she's probably onto something. Holding off on my rear axle upgrades because I'm weighing the options between multi-link setups or an outright IRS w/discs.
Good tips here, but before spending a lot of money on more hp or the differential, etc. I think the basics should be right first to start enjoying your Mustang. Therefore I think a cooling system upgrade is a must have in any top 5.
Yes, this is critical. I too spent a bunch of time trying to find the right combo. In the end it came down to my budget, but if the money wasn't an issue, I'd have different wheels. :)
Interesting. I just finished building a 68 firebird, I did disc brakes all around. I’m now getting ready to swap tires up to a 17” so I can hang bigger rotors cause disc all around isn’t enough. I think I’m probly 3-400 lbs more weight, and I am throwing it around pretty hard with a 461 stroker. I’m also working on a 66 fastback and I’ve got discs for the front but I’m actually thinking about dual calipers in The rear so I can do an independent e-brake for some drifting (which means that pan hard bar at a minimum as well)… I guess my point is, everyone seems to think front disc brakes are enough upgrade, but I think that’s stopping short (pun intended) of a full solution, even with the lighter car. I guess I’ll find out…lol
I don't think anyone would argue that drum brakes are sufficient when it comes to performance. But for the guy just going for a cruise, he's not likely to get to speeds where repeated stopping over short distances is a priority, so disc brakes for the rear of their car isn't going to be high on the list. Disc brakes are on my list of things to upgrade, but I've got such a long list and constantly changing priorities, it's hard to know when the perfect time to upgrade them will be. I also want to drastically change the rear of the car, so putting in rear discs now may not work with my plans down the road, and I don't have the budget to keep doing things twice. :)
@@AndyKruseChannel I hear that…. Too many decisions and the ones I’ve had to do twice I really hated…lol I’m looking at Meier racing for the componentry for rear suspension. I have no idea how pricey they are, but the have a design for rear coil overs that actually puts them in the trunk, so doesn’t effect ride height range. Nice ride you have… thanks for sharing..!
@@AndyKruseChannel might want to add you can get a brake proportioning valve to adjust front back pressure and needed if you go disc up front. for your channel you might want to research 78 era ford granada spindle swaps , use much cheaper parts and not sure but possibly a bigger wheel bearing, something also the Boss needed to handle stress. might be other spindels that bolt right in with the cheaper and good single piston calipers. I had two GT 66 coupes for over 28 years and had lots of practice watching parts wear out . LO
I'd say it depends on your driving style. Those Granadas will probably last longer than the car (pads not included). However, if you find yourself pushing the limits of the car often, I'd look into upgrading the brakes. In this case, these 4-pot Wilwoods would be a great upgrade, and they even sell larger units if you think you'll need them. :)
Didn't really understand how the Pan Heart bar worked. Now I do. Its the only thing I havent done on my car. That snap back after sliding around a corner is not good.
Keeping it as original as possible and driving like in the old days can be nice to. But security features are important and of course I do not mean not to do it. Not so in my opinion are the other mechanical upgrades or even restomods. Then, maybe buying a newer Mustang could also be an alternative 😉
My understanding is that power brakes don't actually have more stopping power than manual brakes, it just takes less effort from the driver to push the pedal
Yes, you just need a longer pushrod to cover the extra distance from the pedal to the MC. Call Wilwood and explain your setup, they'll get you dialed in with all the parts you need. :)
The brake upgrades are worth their weight in gold. Plenty of people build their to go fast but not stop. Great list!
I'd do bigger brakes, but then I'd have to do larger wheels, then larger tires, then I'm begging the Boss for more money. It's a vicious cycle. :)
@@Spoon101 Double check the specs on the Wilwood disc brakes. I think they were designed to fit most 14" wheels. :)
I'm an old school guy, I had a new '68 GT in high school and serendipitously we found a mint '68 GT for my daughter to drive to her high school in 2010. Part of the charm to daily driving classics is, yes we can make it faster, louder and stop quicker, but it's also good to be able to realize what Ford considered a high performance car in '68 and to be able to drive a factory car as a reference point of how far we've come since then. And by the way, four-wheel drum brakes do work, but you find yourself driving way more defensively. and don't get me started about handling characteristics in the rain. There are none.
Agreed.
You sure look like you enjoy your Mustang, and I'm enjoying it with you! I own two, and I know your feeling.
Right on!
Pretty much agree with all 6 recommendations.
I have done a few to my 66 Fastback myself.
But driving my Mustang since 1975 and now north of 60 years old...I'll pass on 2 of them.
Replaced my fruit jar master with a Ford OEM dual master.
Ford disk brakes installed up front. During my restore I tried to make it as if Ford did all this when built.
Intake, carbs and headers. I bought good headers and had them ceramic coated.
Shelby drop....NO...again at my age and having driven the car since 1975 do not feel the need to do the drop now.
The original 2.79 rear gear is still in there.....I like the original and low RPM at 70 MPH
New bushings, shocks on the rear along with short shackles keep the rear axle in place.....enough for me!!! Thanks for sharing!
Finding a common ground is a great place to start. :)
check carefully for shock tower cracks . common stress area and Boss 302 had added supports you might be able to add on.
Good to know. :)
bump steer & eccentric eliminator along with a negative wedge on the front end after the shelby drop all helps the front end
Yeah, but then the list becomes longer or just focused on one area. I tried to find a balance, and not everyone cares about the front sticking to the corners like it's on rails. :)
but it IS fun when it does...
Sweet video, your smile going through the gears says it all!
Thanks 👍
I agree,
1st safety upgrades
2nd suspension upgrades
3rd performance upgrades
Last body/paint.
This is a good list.
I just came across your youtube page like a month ago, i have a 67, upgraded some stuff, but next on my list is rear end gears and doing some carb work. But youve got a lot of useful videos 👍
Welcome aboard!
Hey Andy, huge fan keep up the good work!
Thanks, will do! 😁
Great video I just finished my 64 and 66 and your throttle pedal rod fit perfectly. I had to add some washers to move the angle away from the carb so it wouldn’t rub but pedal response is much better. I also resolved my overheating issue at idle. My shroud was too deep hahah I removed my shroud and got way more air flow. I May put the stock thin shroud on but too lazy to take off the mechanical fan so enjoying it as is until I need to take off the fan again.
Yeah, I figured there'd be a handful of throttle lever to carb scenarios where a spacer might be needed, but it's hard to know what everyone's setup is like. I'd rather leave it up to the buyer to do what you did, that way I'm not including extra parts that some won't need, and in turn I'd have to increase the price to accommodate for it. I'm glad it worked! :)
@@AndyKruseChannel Nah no complaints loved the system no issues simple to add a few washers since the hardware you included was long enough to accommodate the extra washers. I polished the metal and fit good and pedal feels so much better now! Highly recommended
Good video and tech tips! I see you upgraded your rear leaf spring mounts to heavy duty ones, those have the tie downs built-in.
I' m running reverse-eye rear leaf springs from Open Tracker. I used Global West Del-a-lum bushings as well. Handles great! I got rid of the polyurethane rear-leaf spring bushings. They were horrible, rode stiff, and squeaked like an old dump truck.
Keep up the great videos and tech articles.
Check out Open Tracker Racing for their roller bearing front spring perches, front upper and lower arms! Cool stuff!
Thanks for the heads up. :)
Tons of options to choose from - but you hit some good ones. I would also consider a full rewiring as 60 year old brittle wiring is not something to trust. I proper radiator should be next on the agenda - overheating is not fun.
Doing a list like this is difficult, because these cars are in various states of restoration and overall condition. I think someone could easily put together a separate list of 5 or 10 things that would all be valid. 🙂
@@AndyKruseChannel I agree Andy.
We have nearly identical builds, and I did the same things you did, in the same order. But instead of the panhard bar I think my #6 mod will be 3-point seatbelts. My girlfriend doesn't like just the lap belts and she's probably onto something.
Holding off on my rear axle upgrades because I'm weighing the options between multi-link setups or an outright IRS w/discs.
That IRS will be pretty slick, you'll need to make a video on it. :)
Great video! I’m just starting my Mustang project - so I’m late to the party
No worries, welcome to the club! Hopefully I've got something on my channel that will help you on your journey. :)
Good tips here, but before spending a lot of money on more hp or the differential, etc. I think the basics should be right first to start enjoying your Mustang. Therefore I think a cooling system upgrade is a must have in any top 5.
Ok
I'm working on what wheels what tires at the moment 🐎🚗🔧🙌🇺🇸👊💪
Yes, this is critical. I too spent a bunch of time trying to find the right combo. In the end it came down to my budget, but if the money wasn't an issue, I'd have different wheels. :)
Great video!!
Thanks!
Interesting. I just finished building a 68 firebird, I did disc brakes all around. I’m now getting ready to swap tires up to a 17” so I can hang bigger rotors cause disc all around isn’t enough. I think I’m probly 3-400 lbs more weight, and I am throwing it around pretty hard with a 461 stroker. I’m also working on a 66 fastback and I’ve got discs for the front but I’m actually thinking about dual calipers in The rear so I can do an independent e-brake for some drifting (which means that pan hard bar at a minimum as well)…
I guess my point is, everyone seems to think front disc brakes are enough upgrade, but I think that’s stopping short (pun intended) of a full solution, even with the lighter car.
I guess I’ll find out…lol
I don't think anyone would argue that drum brakes are sufficient when it comes to performance. But for the guy just going for a cruise, he's not likely to get to speeds where repeated stopping over short distances is a priority, so disc brakes for the rear of their car isn't going to be high on the list. Disc brakes are on my list of things to upgrade, but I've got such a long list and constantly changing priorities, it's hard to know when the perfect time to upgrade them will be. I also want to drastically change the rear of the car, so putting in rear discs now may not work with my plans down the road, and I don't have the budget to keep doing things twice. :)
@@AndyKruseChannel I hear that…. Too many decisions and the ones I’ve had to do twice I really hated…lol
I’m looking at Meier racing for the componentry for rear suspension. I have no idea how pricey they are, but the have a design for rear coil overs that actually puts them in the trunk, so doesn’t effect ride height range.
Nice ride you have… thanks for sharing..!
Hey Andy keep on doing the video we enjoy your content. Cheers Milton Mike.
Thanks 👍
Thanx
Welcome
67 brake master will bolt in also . two chamber
Good to know. :)
@@AndyKruseChannel might want to add you can get a brake proportioning valve to adjust front back pressure and needed if you go disc up front. for your channel you might want to research 78 era ford granada spindle swaps , use much cheaper parts and not sure but possibly a bigger wheel bearing, something also the Boss needed to handle stress. might be other spindels that bolt right in with the cheaper and good single piston calipers. I had two GT 66 coupes for over 28 years and had lots of practice watching parts wear out . LO
I have Granada disc fronts. Would you upgrade those to Wilwood or keep em?
I'd say it depends on your driving style. Those Granadas will probably last longer than the car (pads not included). However, if you find yourself pushing the limits of the car often, I'd look into upgrading the brakes. In this case, these 4-pot Wilwoods would be a great upgrade, and they even sell larger units if you think you'll need them. :)
Didn't really understand how the Pan Heart bar worked. Now I do. Its the only thing I havent done on my car. That snap back after sliding around a corner is not good.
Yeah, if we don’t count things like the Engine or Transmission, the Panhard Bar is still my favorite mod. 😁
Keeping it as original as possible and driving like in the old days can be nice to.
But security features are important and of course I do not mean not to do it.
Not so in my opinion are the other mechanical upgrades or even restomods. Then, maybe buying a newer Mustang could also be an alternative 😉
Yeah, everyone has their wants to build their car their way. :)
What about power brakes?
My understanding is that power brakes don't actually have more stopping power than manual brakes, it just takes less effort from the driver to push the pedal
Yes, this is my understanding too. :)
@@AndyKruseChannel it's true but when I did my engine swap I opted to switch to a brake booster, too, and it's definitely worth doing.
Hey I love your car, but im asking can power be add to the willwood setup?
Yes, you just need a longer pushrod to cover the extra distance from the pedal to the MC. Call Wilwood and explain your setup, they'll get you dialed in with all the parts you need. :)
i probably would have added a alum rad. but then again im in flordia its friggen hot here.
Yeah, that's another good item for an upgrade list, but when you're limited to five...... :)
flow master makes 2,5 inch over axle pipes, gained 5 mph in quarter with these .
Good to know. :)
Seems like there is a 7th… 5 speed!
You’re not wrong. 😁
✅ *PromoSM*
Sorry, not understanding what you're saying here.
Great stuff Andy!
Thanks!! 👍🏻