Mach 1 Club

Full Version: 1973 Mach Original vs T5
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I have an almost all original 1973 Ford Mustang that was originally sold at Parkway Ford of Winston-Salem, NC. The first owner lost the car after a repossession, the second owner was an old lady who wanted her son to repaint the car, the third owner died an I bought it from his son who needed tax money.

The only unoriginal aspects of the car are the headliner and the paint. The c6 auto transmission leaks and must be refilled every time it is driven, needs a new seal. The shifter has a considerable amount of slack, and if the transmission is going to be taken out then it might as well be rebuilt too.

I have always wanted a standard transmission and I saw a video on YouTube about a conversion kit. CJ Pony Parts sells the kit for around $4000. The only other part that would need to be bought separately is a starter and a clutch assembly. 

Would swapping the transmission for a T5 reduce or increase the value of the car given its condition. Swapping will reduce the originality of the car but automatic mustangs are less desirable than the standard counterparts. I do not plan on selling the car but saying the car is as about as original as it gets besides the transmission at a show may make others wince.

Some Pics: https://drive.google.com/open?id=10R4ir4...rMlkOsO7Mu
First, welcome and second, if you plan on keeping the car make it the way you want it. It's yours and who cares what other people think of changing it to a manual. My only advice is to hold on to the original parts if you ever want to change it back. Just my 2 cents. Nice car by the way.
Welcome.

Well I will add my two cents for what it is worth.

I second Black Jade's opinion - make it like you want it.  No, I do not believe that it will significantly hurt the value of the car and may actually increase it.  By switching to a manual transmission there is nothing to be done that cannot be reverse.  Keep your original parts and all you will be out will be the actual effort to make the swap.

Personally, my 73 is an original automatic car but I will be also swapping in a manual.  I have done the pedal work but the rest is still to come.
Go with the stick you'll never regret it. I also feel like the other guys, keep the parts. They may make a difference someday.
Welcome and good luck with it. 

JTS
Personally, I think the investment will add a some value to the bottom line and if it not it will add value to your driving pleasure.   I think you will be very happy with your choice to convert to manual shift and will quickly forget it was ever an automatic.   As everyone mentioned don't throw the C6 into scrap pile to fast.  It is not too often you find original drivetrains anymore.  Although I don't get too caught up with the numbers matching thing there are still guys who do. 

Welcome to the site and keep us updated on your decision.
Never planned on tossing any of old parts still have all of the old wheels and hubs laying somewhere. I plan on getting a job at the autoparts store and taking advantage of an employee discount. Next on the list would probably be a 4bbl carb and intake from Edelbrock, make discs on the rear. If I swap the trans then I would remove the old carpet and swap in the new carpet that was bought and remove the center console then maybe a radio swap.
Steven Harris,

Hey, l like that signature, how did you make that?
Somebody who is a purist would prefer the original over changing to a T5.  Personally, I think the car would retain more value if it had the original C6.  Information I received from a classic car dealer in my area was classic cars like these always have more value with the original motors and trans regardless of what those are.

If you plan to keep the car then make it to your preference.  But, keep all the original parts and don't make modifications that are not easily reversed back to original.

If you are thinking 5sp for the overdrive feature, also look at a Tremec TKO 500 or TKO 600 before making any decisions.  Their physical size might be an issue.  But, they are much more durable than the T5.  The T5 is not very strong in stock form and was basically used on 302 motors.  You've probably noticed Ford always installed larger transmissions behind the 351C and 351W motors than behind the 302 or 289 motors.
Click on your user name and hit edit signature. Thumbup
(11-16-2017, 05:16 AM)BLACK JADE 69 Wrote: [ -> ]Click on your user name and hit edit signature. Thumbup

I mean the picture...
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