straight stock restore or modify?

[jamesgl]

I just received a 64.5 coup when my father passed away should I do a straight stock restore or should I modify it. The car has a 289 4v with a 4sp toploader the entire car is stock no rust with 68,000 original miles the motor has just been debilitated with no upgrades. I would love to drive her as much as possible but the traffic and drivers in Seattle suck and the car has stock manual drumbeat brakes and Armstrong steering. Any suggestions would be great

 

[rbohm]

it really depends on what you want from the car. since you want to drive the car daily, or somewhat daily, i suggest adding front disc brakes, borgeson power steering, perhaps even power brakes as well. do however keep all the stock parts you replace so that you can put the car back to stock if you want to sell the car, or show it in a restored class.

 

[Realmongo]

Typically a car that was in the family is restored to original condition and retained within the family, but it is yours to do with as you wish. As rbohm pointed out above, anything you do remove make an effort to retain.

Is it a D code or a K code car?

 

[68keyblr]

Modify, but don't do any cutting and keep original parts to return to stock in the future

 

[jamesgl]

I have been fortunate to have received a k code so I leaning to doing some modifications but saving the parts as I know this is a rare car but it needs to be drivable and safe in this traffic up here thanks for the advice

 

[2+2GT]

I have been fortunate to have received a k code so I leaning to doing some modifications but saving the parts as I know this is a rare car but it needs to be drivable and safe in this traffic up here thanks for the advice

A 64/5 K code is an extremely rare bird. This means you will need to lean more to the restore side and less to the modify side. The good news is that if you show up with a clean, non-butchered 64 K code at shows, your biggest problem will be the circle of drooling fans standing around the car.

Lucky for you the 64-65 (early) K code exhaust is now reproduced.

Properly adjusted drum brakes should be no problem at all. The 65-66 manual discs actually required more pedal effort than the drums. Perhaps a power booster is all you need for that "modern car" pedal feeling. The 64-66 K code was not available with power steering, so what you have is quick-ratio 4-turn steering. I agree, put a Borgeson unit on the car and box the rest. Or you could just go with the exercise, knowing the strength in you forearms will impress Olive Oyl. If you learn the trick of only turning the steering wheel when the car is moving at least slightly, you'll find, as I did driving that same steering for 25 years, it's not so bad.

This is Dan Gurney test driving a 64 K code, on the track. It has, of course, drum brakes.

 

[Realmongo]

Thou Shalt Not Desecrate a K Code!

 

[jamesgl]

Well thanks for the advice the only thing not original on the car is the ugly paint originally it was Wimbledon white. What size tires and rims would give it more of an aggressive stance I would like larger and wider but there are so many options and miss information out there

 

[2+2GT]

Well thanks for the advice the only thing not original on the car is the ugly paint originally it was Wimbledon white. What size tires and rims would give it more of an aggressive stance I would like larger and wider but there are so many options and miss information out there

You definitely want to back to Wimbledon. As for wheels and tires, get an early Styled Steel wheel. Not really correct, but you'll get less flak than with aftermarket wheels.

Here's a wheel and tire chart-
Mustang Wheel and Tyre Chart

 

[65fastbackresto]

I`m pretty sure I gutted a true sprint 200 when I got my car. It had 6 cylinder motor, 5 lug wheels, and all the tags on the 8 inch rear, tranny, and motor matched... I didn`t know that till it was to late.