[bobvitas]

Hi all...

First real posting for me. My wife and I have a 1967 Convertible Mustang, but it's been garaged for about a year while I keep hunting for whatever fluids are leaking out of it.

Anyhoo, we were thinking about modernizing the Mustang as a graduation present for our daughter. This pretty much means redoing everything under the body: disc brakes all around, new electrical, modern engine, smoother tranny, etc. With gas prices they way they are, and with an eye toward the future, I had the harebrained idea of installing a hybrid engine in it, instead of a standard late-model EFI setup.

I figured the first thing to do was ask around and see if anyone has a) tried this already and got it working; b) tried this already and it won't work; or c) thought about it but never got started. No need to re-invent the wheel if it's already been done.

Any help out there? Thanks in advance for any help / advice / humor at my expense!

Bob
bobvitas@nc.rr.com
March 2, 2008

[andrewmp6]

Heres a idea sell the mustang and buy a geo metro.The hybrid systems are a wiring nightmare the dead weight of the batteries and slower then hell.If you go efi over drive tranny and gear the rear end to match you might see 20 to 30 mpg highway depending your driving style.Id use a diesel over any of the hybrid systems there heavy and really useless a geo metro and 82 civic get the same gas milage as the prius really does.I drive a 1ton big block truck i get 8mpg but i love the truck.

[paul289]

Not worth it. Currently, with a built Windsor motor, stock drivetrain, grill block-off plates and chin spoiler, I get 18-19 mpg freeway and 10 city. With 3:50 rear gears and an overdrive tranny, I hope to achieve 14 city and 24 highway. But, I drive a Focus to make up for the gas mileage.

[paul289]

bty, my motor's over-carbureted (750 cfm, only needs 570cfm) with ported heads and a relatively aggressive cam, so a base EFI motor will get even better mileage, as Andrew said. MSD ignition is a must, either way.

[andrewmp6]

Only hybrid system worth a damn is gm since there electric motor used the tranny so it can run at high way speeds.Everyone elses systems have them in the back wheels and they are limited to 45mph.Do you really wanna make a fwd mustang i wouldn't.

[Claybone]

If you are really serious about installing a hybrid and willing to do all the wiring then just take an easier route and get one of the GM 5.3L V8's with AFM (active fuel management) will take jsut as much wiring, puts out 320 hp and 340 torque and ive seen it push a tahoe at 35mpg once the afm kicks in. But i would honestly just stick with an EFI set up. a lot easier on the pocket book and the biggest plus is that most mechanics anywher would be able to fix it if something happened. Not every dealership has hybrid tech's and the battery for those can run upwards of 2500 bucks.

[c6matt]

As an engineer working on RWD hybrids for one of the big 3... its not somthing I would recommend the average backyard mechanic attempt. If you want it for the cool-factor it would be a first, but its not simple cheap or easy..and the fuel milage increase will be neglible compared to the cost of the components and programming. The control systems and operation optimization is VERY complex. as you research this project more I think you will be able to see the road blocks... a sho 4 cyl turbo swap or perhaps a small diesel engine would be unique and get you decent milage...

[paul289]

Very true. And if it already came with a six, turbo charge it. There is a good aftermarket for the Mustang sixes, so you could probably find an overdrive transmission swap and EFI for it, too.