Mach 1 Club

I recently purchased a 69 Mach 1 "S" code. The car originally came with the a c6 transmission but I was thinking of converting to a 4 speed manual transmission. I already have a RUG-C2 toploader transmission and a Ford FE bellhousing. Although not the correct transmission for a Mach 1, I am considering using it. Any opinions/thoughts on not sticking to the original build sheet on this restoration?

A lot of people tell me I should keep the car original down to its color but I have always owned manual transmission cars and not a huge fan of champagne gold.

Also, I am looking for a passenger side door since the shell is rotted on the bottom. If anyone out there can help me locate a good door I would welcome any lead.

Thank you

Mike

Its all in what you want in my opinion.If you save all the old parts like I did so if the option to sell ever arises heaven forbid.So i dont think it hurts the value.I had a friend took a fully restored 1950 studebaker and made a streetrod out of it and sold it for 30k an all original sells for around 5000 so what did it hurt.[/u]

MIKE,
IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU PLAN ON KEEPING THE CAR OR LOOKING AT IT AS AN INVESTMENT. IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT AS AN INVESTMENT THEN KEEP IT ORIGINAL. IF YOU PLAN ON KEEPING IT, DO IT HOW YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO BE. I STILL HAVE THE 65 MUSTANG COUPE I BOUGHT WHEN I WAS FIFTEEN THAT WAS ORIGINALLY DYNASTY GREEN. WITH A GREEN AND WHITE PONY INTERIOR. THE CAR IS NOW POPPY RED (ORANGE) WITH A BLACK INTERIOR. AFTER 27 YEARS OF OWNING IT I STILL LOOK AT IT AND SMILE AND FEEL LIKE THAT 17 YEAR OLD ( TOOK TWO YEARS TO RESTORE) WHEN I AM OUT DRIVING IT. BESIDES AS LONG AS YOU DON'T HACK THAT 4 SPEED IN IT CAN ALWAYS BE CHANGED AS WELL AS PAINTING IT BACK ORIGINAL. GOOD LUCK TO YOU

Thanks for the feedback everyone. You guys are right, it can always be changed back. And I do plan on keeping this car awhile and enjoying it.

I will keep everyone posted on the progress. I am sure I will have some technical questions once I get going on the restoration. Right now I am trying to locate parts that were missing from the the car when I purchased it. One thing for certain, I noticed it is a bit harder and more expensive to locate parts for the Mach 1's opposed to the 65/66 Mustangs. Do you guys agree with that?

(08-09-2012, 11:16 AM)Mustangmike Wrote: [ -> ]Thanks for the feedback everyone. You guys are right, it can always be changed back. And I do plan on keeping this car awhile and enjoying it.

I will keep everyone posted on the progress. I am sure I will have some technical questions once I get going on the restoration. Right now I am trying to locate parts that were missing from the the car when I purchased it. One thing for certain, I noticed it is a bit harder and more expensive to locate parts for the Mach 1's opposed to the 65/66 Mustangs. Do you guys agree with that?

Do some homework alot of fastback stuff as well as cougar stuff fits.While searching on ebay I look for mach1 or fastback stuff.

You can't go wrong with putting a 4 speed in it. Looking up prices on muscle cars it's always a deduction for an auto. Origional or not the 4 speed car will always sell before an auto does, people like to grab gears in muscle cars, autos are for girls & I don't know about anyone else but at any show the first thing I do is look inside for a 4 speed shifter, if it's not there I just shrug my shoulders and walk away, I don't care how nice the car is.

It's funny, my wife and I have never owned an automatic car our entire lives. When it's time to by a new car we always joke with with the dealer that we don't know how to drive an automatic so were looking for a manual shift. They always look at us funny.

I found a FE bell housing to do the conversion on my 69 with but was not happy with the price I paid off e-Bay. The big block 390/428 bell housings are going for $400-$500. But there are certain things I will I pay for.