QuestionHi, I took your advice and bought that 69 mustang, and I have to say, I love this car. But there is one thing that I'm considering altering, I want to switch the automatic transmission to a manual transmission. However, I've never done anything like this before, and don't even know where to start. So I was wondering, could you could tell me what tools I'm going to need to carry out the modification; and do you know where I can get step by step instructions for making the conversion.
AnswerI'm glad you are pleased with the car, but I'm very sorry you bought it with a modification in mind. What must seem like a simple thing to do is actually very much a project, and one that I would not be able to help with. As I say in my bio on this site, I do not advise on modifications, and I will try to talk you out of them. There is a lot more involved than I can even think of (Steering column, shift linkage, rear axle ratio, rear springs maybe, speedometer calibration, throttle linkage, carburetor and ignition calibration, frame crossmember changes, rear motor mounts, universal joint and driveshaft differences - and on and on. These cars were designed by skilled and experienced engineers who had the facilities of a major corporation to back them up with testing and other support people - unless you have the same training and resources, you are asking for a big mess if you try to do this yourself. Make the car as nice as you can, sell it, and start looking for one that has the equipment you really want. Second generation Mustangs were built in the millions - another nice one will turn up soon.
Sorry not to be more encouraging about this.
Dick
