Ford Repair: 66 Mustang, blythewood sc, drum brakes

Question
Hi Ken --

I just bought a '66 coupe with a 289 (A) engine (automatic trans)-- the car is very close to original (Pertronix & radiator upgrades).  Questions:

1 - should a high priority be to upgrade the non-power drum brakes?  If so, will conversion to power + dual system be a significant fix, or should I bite the bullet and convert to discs?

2 - there is a dime-sized drip on the garage floor where the rear seal is.  This car rarely was driven far, and I drove it 100 miles at highway speed just to get it home.  Have I blown the rear seal?

Thanks for your advice,
Dale Janik
Blythewood, SC

Answer
Mr. Janik,

1) I would bite the bullet and convert to disk because your drum brakes tend to get hot and then they do not want to break. Be sure to save all your old parts in case you wish to return the car to original state or sell it. The car is worth more that way, should you decide to sell.


2) First I would check all the bolts on the oil pan to make sure they are tight. If the car sat for too long, the rear seal may be dry and just need to swell again. But if it still leaks, yes, you will need to replace the rear seal.


Hope that this helps. Good luck.


Ken