ok, i was wondering if a 86 thunderbird rear end will match up to my classic 66 mustang, i know the 5.0L engine will work in my car, which is why i am going to try and buy the t-bird, but i was wondering if it was worth my time to pull the rear-end and put it in my car, i know most of the forum has to do with more modern stangs, but i was wondering....

 

not really, at least not as a bolt in. You can usually use an 8" (looks like a 9" but has a distinct flat spot on top of the pumpkin).

If you're willing to do some pretty serious custom work and know how to weld then it's not that big a deal. There's at least one guy I know of in SoCal with a 67 fastback that has an 8.8 in it.

Remember that old stangs are leaf spring type rears and modern 79+ stangs are 4 links with coil springs. You'd need to weld a flat onto the axle tube for the leaf springs to sit, and weld the shock mount to the correct spot.

 

oh, so its probably not worth it...oh well, thanks anyway

 

it's very worth it but pretty difficult and kinda expensive. Check craigslist for a 8" or 9" from a leaf spring car. They're better designs IMHO anyway.

 

Yeah, Thats what i was thinking, i'm going to be getting a new engine, because i'm doing a LONG term restomod on an inline 6 cyl 66, other than suspension and brakes(besides drivetrain) what would be good things to do...

 

I'd start with a bit of chassis reinforcement. a new wiring harness (the wire gets brittle after so long) would be a good idea. maybe a little back-half action if you're going to slap a lot of power down.

Classics take a LOT of work to do a full resto-mod on. You can do a basic clean up and hop-up with less but if you want it all the way, start all the way and tear that baby all the way to the metal.

 

at this moment, i'm not really able to tear it all the way down, i dont have a second car, but i was thinking if i get all the parts to plop in a 5.0 engine with tranny and rear end, suspension and all, i could take a weekend and pull it all together.

 

That shouldn't be too hard. It will be full of details but it sounds like a good time to me. If you can weld you shouldn't have any trouble.