By Jeff Glucker
It’s been a while. Progress on my 1967 Ford Mustang has fallen off a cliff, and it’s mostly because I started the process of re-wiring the car, and my brain said, “Nah… don’t like this!” But I am pushing forward with mechanical updates now, and it feels good. Especially since the most recent work feels like a major step forward. I’ve installed a rear axle, which means I’ve also installed the rear suspension and brakes.
I found a guy on Craigslist who claimed he rebuilds Ford rear ends. I’ve seen the ad many times in my searches for various parts. Typically, I think about sending the guy a note and seeing what might be possible, but I usually just move on. Well, this time around, I reached out, and I am glad I did.
I met up with this Internet savior at his home in Downey. In the driveway were a few scattered old Fords, including a nice old Mustang. Once he lifted his garage door, I saw another Mustang, but this one was essentially in pristine shape. Also, I spied tons of parts, including a few freshly resprayed axle housings.
I told him what I wanted, and about a week and a half later, I was back at his home picking up my “new” axle. My Mustang now has a 9″ rear. The axles are beefier than stock. That center section? It’s a posi setup with 3.89 gears. All of that is to say that this car should be a nice amount of fun and not totally awful on the freeway.
For those of you who’ve done lots of wrenching, a rear axle install is probably pretty darn easy. It went well for me, too, which felt great. I had a friend come over to assist, and we made relatively short work of it all. Even though the actual amount of wrenching was fairly easy, the result felt like a tremendous victory. It’s helping my Mustang to look less like a junk table and more like a car once again.
Next, I’ve got a set of front brakes on their way. Once I install those and connect all the steering bits, this car is just a set of wheels and tires away from being a roller. A local shop that has done work for me in the past is going to assist with finishing up the wiring. After that, I already know who I am talking to for a gearbox, as the gentleman who built my axle also has a line on rebuilt T5s. Finally, another friend has reached out with an offer on an engine he no longer needs. If all of these remaining chips fall where they are supposed to, it might not actually be that long until I can twist the key on this thing.
We earned some “victory beers” after this bit of work, for sure.
Kamil Kaluski
Not that I want to be THAT GUY, but I think you didn’t intend to call a Ford rear end “posi”.
Fair point – the end result should be both tires go SKRT when engines go VROOM, which is all that really matters.
Yeah but Posi is sort of the default term for a limited slip differential even if it isn’t an actual GM Posi-Traction differential. However since this is a fresh build I do cringe a bit hearing that, since presumably the diff was replaced to achieve that limited slip action, so I’d expect to see the brand of diff used and/or whatever moniker that brand uses.
Some dude put it together in his garage in Downey, CA. He gave me the fluid to fill it with too, and a bottle of Yukon gear additive. He called it Posi, so I just went with it.
I like your 67 stang project as I have one too. Keep on reporting your progress and share any tips that you come across. My tip to you would be to drink while you are working on it, That way your not at the bar wasting build time.
We do both, haha – have a beer or two while wrenching, for sure.
Congratulations on the progress, keep at it and it won’t be long until you can turn that key, it actually starts an engine, and you can drive it off into the sunset.