69/70 GT500 modification questions

[Brian350]

Looking at buying a 69/70 GT500. What I want to know is what would be good improvements/upgrades to the car, especially handling, ride and horsepower. I am not looking for a concours level car, so restoration is not my goal. I want the "look" of the 69, but with any improvements that can be made without completely wrecking the car. Things like shocks, stance, coaxing more HP out of the motor. Thoughts? Suggestions?

[aj]

Brian,  depends on how you intend on using the car and what objectives are. My 70 GT500 was my daily driver for 7 years. 

As a former dealership mechanic, i'll say living with a 69/70 GT500 is a challenge. 

Do you intend to drive long distances,  urban driving,  drag race, parades, cars/coffee, or what.  Hot weather or not

Before anything,  cooling system, brakes, tires, fuel hoses and front suspension need to be verified and optimized.

Next tune quality (carb, timing).

Then mods can be considered and will depend on budget, tastes, intended use, etc.  mild to wild

[Brian350]

Thanks AJ, good answer to an overly broad question. This will be my weekend car for car meets, shows and local runs. No big distance, but since I live in Vegas, lots of hot weather driving. No racing, but fun local hot rodding around the valley. I recently sold my 72 De Tomaso Pantera, and that was definitely a challenge, thankfully everything that really HAD to be done to the car was already done. So I have some familiarity with owning a vintage car. I just really want to maximize performance and handling, not afraid to own a "not 100% original" car.

[aj]

Hard to say which mods without knowing the condition and specifics of the particular car.  Then go from there

[shelbydoug]

Brian,  depends on how you intend on using the car and what objectives are. My 70 GT500 was my daily driver for 7 years. 

As a former dealership mechanic, i'll say living with a 69/70 GT500 is a challenge. 

Do you intend to drive long distances,  urban driving,  drag race, parades, cars/coffee, or what.  Hot weather or not

Before anything,  cooling system, brakes, tires, fuel hoses and front suspension need to be verified and optimized.

Next tune quality (carb, timing).

Then mods can be considered and will depend on budget, tastes, intended use, etc.  mild to wild

Yes, this is an understatement.

The entire history of modifications is available and that fills volumes.

As Commander Scott once said, "you remind me of the man who demanded to be taught the knowledge of the world while standing on one foot".

Where to begin? Pick a spot but someone needs to set some limits.

[Brian350]

Hard to say which mods without knowing the condition and specifics of the particular car.  Then go from there

Roger that

[Brian350]

Brian,  depends on how you intend on using the car and what objectives are. My 70 GT500 was my daily driver for 7 years. 

As a former dealership mechanic, i'll say living with a 69/70 GT500 is a challenge. 

Do you intend to drive long distances,  urban driving,  drag race, parades, cars/coffee, or what.  Hot weather or not

Before anything,  cooling system, brakes, tires, fuel hoses and front suspension need to be verified and optimized.

Next tune quality (carb, timing).

Then mods can be considered and will depend on budget, tastes, intended use, etc.  mild to wild

Yes, this is an understatement.

The entire history of modifications is available and that fills volumes.

As Commander Scott once said, "you remind me of the man who demanded to be taught the knowledge of the world while standing on one foot".

Where to begin? Pick a spot but someone needs to set some limits.

"Limits"?

[shelbydoug]

Brian,  depends on how you intend on using the car and what objectives are. My 70 GT500 was my daily driver for 7 years. 

As a former dealership mechanic, i'll say living with a 69/70 GT500 is a challenge. 

Do you intend to drive long distances,  urban driving,  drag race, parades, cars/coffee, or what.  Hot weather or not

Before anything,  cooling system, brakes, tires, fuel hoses and front suspension need to be verified and optimized.

Next tune quality (carb, timing).

Then mods can be considered and will depend on budget, tastes, intended use, etc.  mild to wild

Yes, this is an understatement.

The entire history of modifications is available and that fills volumes.

As Commander Scott once said, "you remind me of the man who demanded to be taught the knowledge of the world while standing on one foot".

Where to begin? Pick a spot but someone needs to set some limits.

"Limits"?

I would think so, yes. There are literally volumes of modifications available. "A man has got to know his limits"- Dirty Harry.

[Cobrask8]

Having owned a 69 Big Block, I can offer some areas that I focused on:

Engine health - Especially in Vegas, cooling system 100%
Engine mods - I did a cam upgrade to make it a little happier mid-range. Headers and better exhaust, but still stock-ish. Maybe look into the throttle-body EFI so no vapor-locking and better running? Hides under the air cleaner for a good look.
Brakes - YES!!!! Best you can put inside the `15" wheels
Better shocks and sway bar connections. Connect it better to the road.
Front suspension & steering - New & Tight!

[Brian350]

Having owned a 69 Big Block, I can offer some areas that I focused on:

Engine health - Especially in Vegas, cooling system 100%
Engine mods - I did a cam upgrade to make it a little happier mid-range. Headers and better exhaust, but still stock-ish. Maybe look into the throttle-body EFI so no vapor-locking and better running? Hides under the air cleaner for a good look.
Brakes - YES!!!! Best you can put inside the `15" wheels
Better shocks and sway bar connections. Connect it better to the road.
Front suspension & steering - New & Tight!

Thanks!!

[shelbymann1970]

Having owned a 69 Big Block, I can offer some areas that I focused on:

Engine health - Especially in Vegas, cooling system 100%
Engine mods - I did a cam upgrade to make it a little happier mid-range. Headers and better exhaust, but still stock-ish. Maybe look into the throttle-body EFI so no vapor-locking and better running? Hides under the air cleaner for a good look.
Brakes - YES!!!! Best you can put inside the `15" wheels
Better shocks and sway bar connections. Connect it better to the road.
Front suspension & steering - New & Tight!

Are you referring to my 428 SCJ on the cam upgrade?

[shelbymann1970]

First off if I was looking for what you are I'd buy a Gt350 4 speed. They are cheaper than a 500 and gives you more $$$ for upgrades. Why a 350? well you mentioned handling. Better handling cars to start with. MUCH easier to work on. I own a 68 Gt500, a 69 Mach1 R code and a 70 Gt350 vert. So take you savings and buy a Paxton and a Holley on the 351W and you have your horsepower. Want more? well there are nice aluminum heads to choose from. Add a 5 speed. Lots of suspension upgrades available to choose from. to buy a 500 and modify it for "handling and power" when you will always have a more balanced car with the Gt350 and adding the Paxton could give you the power you need might be a way for you to go. Also with the price difference you might even get yourself a nice crate engine to start with if you want more plug and play and keep the original engine off to the side. Good luck on your endeavor. 

[FL SAAC]

Excellent question and a very wise decision to enjoy your car

We first went through the engine with a stock rebuild bearings rungs etc. and valve job.

Only change was that we bought a crane "fireball" cam and lifters from a friend who had acquired it before they moved from Hallandale Fl in the 1980s.

Living in Floridaland it gets warm down here, we added another row to the stock radiator.  Really does not go over 180 degrees day or night.

Went through the complete front end with all new components ball joints, bushings, new bearings and seals.

Used neoprene energy suspension  components on the sway bar links and sway bar bushings.

Tires was a hard decision go with the stock reproductions and join the frufru-squad or go with new age radials a bit wider than stock.

We went with the BF Goodrich tires.

Great grip and ride.

Installed KYB schocks, I think we got the firmest possible.

Dropped the suspension close to two inches.

All these suspension mods made a significant difference in its handling.

As far as brakes we opted to stay stock, rebuilt calipers, rear wheel cylinders, master, did go with all new brake hoses and added stainless steel brake lines all around.

Fuel system stayed with the Holley and stock fuel pump.

Purchased new stainless steel fuel lines and replaced all the gas rubber components.

Ignition stayed stock with the exception of a h.d. brass cap, rotor, addition of a petronix unit and coil.

Exhaust stayed stock exhaust manifolds, but took it to a local muffler shop, had them go back from the h pipe and ran two individual maganaflow mufflers back like the Boss 302 cars, still exits through the shelby rear center port.

You look at the car and it looks stock, the exhaust sounds a bit deeper and handles  tight with the old boat anchor 428 up front.

Well that's all we have for now and best of luck on your endeavors

[Brian350]

First off if I was looking for what you are I'd buy a Gt350 4 speed. They are cheaper than a 500 and gives you more $$$ for upgrades. Why a 350? well you mentioned handling. Better handling cars to start with. MUCH easier to work on. I own a 68 Gt500, a 69 Mach1 R code and a 70 Gt350 vert. So take you savings and buy a Paxton and a Holley on the 351W and you have your horsepower. Want more? well there are nice aluminum heads to choose from. Add a 5 speed. Lots of suspension upgrades available to choose from. to buy a 500 and modify it for "handling and power" when you will always have a more balanced car with the Gt350 and adding the Paxton could give you the power you need might be a way for you to go. Also with the price difference you might even get yourself a nice crate engine to start with if you want more plug and play and keep the original engine off to the side. Good luck on your endeavor. 

Thank you. Psychologically, I need a GT500. I currently own a 2020 GT350, possibly the best Mustang ever built.

[Brian350]

Excellent question and a very wise decision to enjoy your car

We first went through the engine with a stock rebuild bearings rungs etc. and valve job.

Only change was that we bought a crane "fireball" cam and lifters from a friend who had acquired it before they moved from Hallandale Fl in the 1980s.

Living in Floridaland it gets warm down here, we added another row to the stock radiator.  Really does not go over 180 degrees day or night.

Went through the complete front end with all new components ball joints, bushings, new bearings and seals.

Used neoprene energy suspension  components on the sway bar links and sway bar bushings.

Tires was a hard decision go with the stock reproductions and join the frufru-squad or go with new age radials a bit wider than stock.

We went with the BF Goodrich tires.

Great grip and ride.

Installed KYB schocks, I think we got the firmest possible.

Dropped the suspension close to two inches.

All these suspension mods made a significant difference in its handling.

As far as brakes we opted to stay stock, rebuilt calipers, rear wheel cylinders, master, did go with all new brake hoses and added stainless steel brake lines all around.

Fuel system stayed with the Holley and stock fuel pump.

Purchased new stainless steel fuel lines and replaced all the gas rubber components.

Ignition stayed stock with the exception of a h.d. brass cap, rotor, addition of a petronix unit and coil.

Exhaust stayed stock exhaust manifolds, but took it to a local muffler shop, had them go back from the h pipe and ran two individual maganaflow mufflers back like the Boss 302 cars, still exits through the shelby rear center port.

You look at the car and it looks stock, the exhaust sounds a bit deeper and handles  tight with the old boat anchor 428 up front.

Well that's all we have for now and best of luck on your endeavors

That is a great list! Adding all that to my "Maybe To Do" list. Thanks!