1. Overdrive Transmission
If your car already has front disc brakes, we think this is the best upgrade you can do to a vintage Mustang. If your car has an automatic, the best choice is an AOD from one of many aftermarket sources like Lentech Automatics or from an '86-'93 Fox-body 5.0 donor car. For three- or four-speed manual cars, a new or used Borg-Warner/Tremec T5 five-speed is a virtual bolt-in.
The advantages of having an overdrive-equipped automatic or manual in a vintage Mustang are numerous. Less engine wear, more relaxed highway cruising, and better gas mileage are just a few. We've owned two AOD-equipped '65-'66 Mustangs (and even a '64 Fairlane), and there's nothing like it. A '69 fastback that came with a Top Loader four-speed behind its 351W medium-block is currently owned by a staff member. Now sporting a freshly rebuilt T5 from National Drivetrain, the entire personality of the car is transformed. Its deeper First gear makes the car more lively off the line, and its .68 overdriven Fifth gear means we can easily keep up with the 75-80-mph Southern California traffic we encounter on a regular basis.
To get the necessary parts for a T5 or AOD swap, start with the following businesses: California Pony Cars, DB Performance Engineering, National Drivetrain, and Windsor-Fox Performance Engineering. And if you think it will be pricey, think again. If you shop around, the conversion can usually be done for under $2,000, especially if you start with a used transmission. Whatever the price, it's worth every dime. For one of the various methods on how to do a T5 swap, check out our July '03 issue.
This '69 fastback has several of our favorite restomod tricks: a T5 five-speed, 16-inch wheels with 50-series radial tires, a PerTronix ignition, and basic, but sound, suspension upgrades. With a little detail work, it'll be an ideal and fun daily driven street car.
2. Front or Four-Wheel Disc Brakes
No big surprise here; this is mainly a safety issue. If your daily driver doesn't already have them, a set of front disc brakes should be the first thing you do. Adding rear discs is another excellent upgrade since vintage Mustangs never came with them. If you're shopping for front or four-wheel disc brakes, check out Baer Racing, Master Power, and Stainless Steel Brakes.
3. Mild Suspension Upgrades
By "mild," we mean basic stuff that better connects the car to the ground and improves handling. Think gas shocks, slightly stiffer springs, larger antisway bars, accurate front-end alignments, and thorough inspection of your car's front shock towers after more than 30 years of wear. There are dozens of places to consider when thinking of suspension upgrades, including California Mustang, CJ Pony Parts, Dallas Mustang, Mustangs Plus, National Parts Depot, The Paddock, and many others.