[royce76]

I have a 1966 coupe with the original 200 inline 6 and 3 speed transmission. The car runs great. My dilema comes from the fact that the guy I bought it from, threw in a 302 he was building for it. The debate is originality vs power... I know the swap means a front suspension upgrade and lots of other work... I just wonder what you guys think about it? originality vs power... you may begin

[RSALSUP]

I finished my swap about a year ago to a 302 and I love it. It was costly. Had to also upgrade to a nine inch rearend and radiator for a v8. I took it to a car show with the six in it and no results. The next year showed up with the 8 and won a top 10 award. And the power!!!! I love the roar of the headers and cherry bombs. When I first bought mine with the 6 in it I too thought I'd leave it alone. But I have a little bit of Tim Allen in me and wanted MORE POWER. Good Luck man.

[bamf69]

Go with the 302 or 289 and call it a GT lol. You'll need more power and originality doesn't really matter unless it's a GT or something special.

[Cobra6]

For the $$$ you have to spend and the trouble, I think you are better off starting with a V-8 coupe.
by the time you redo front suspension (springs, spindles, brakes) and rear suspension (rear end, springs, brakes) and wheels, I would look for an original V-8 car.
I am not even getting into the tranny and motor mounts, etc.

My $.02

[Jay H 237]

Originally Posted by Cobra6

For the $$$ you have to spend and the trouble, I think you are better off starting with a V-8 coupe.
by the time you redo front suspension (springs, spindles, brakes) and rear suspension (rear end, springs, brakes) and wheels, I would look for an original V-8 car.
I am not even getting into the tranny and motor mounts, etc.

My $.02

+1, very well said.

Either keep the 6 cyl one as a 'second' show car , a weekend driver, or sell it and find another car for the V8 that had one originally.

[Kebean]

I say either get a stock V8 and mod that if you want to, but leave the six alone. Besides, with todays gas prices, the six will get you great mileage.

My other advice is appreciate the car for what it is. I've seen a few 60's six cylinder mustangs around here with loud dual exhausts, wide tires flashy paint etc.... and all that attention then becomes focused on a car that looks like it should go like a bat outta hell... and can't.

[jim293]

I would try to keep it all original. And if at another time you run into a V8 powered Mustang you like can can buy that one.

[royce76]

I love mustangs, but it seems to me that the v8s are just everywhere. Its rare to find a really nice 200 inline 6. I think I'm going to keep the 200 inline 6 in it, and make the most out of it. That way it'll be kinda different.

[The Greek]

Build up the 6. Classic Inlines has a new line of aluminum cylinder heads and separate bolt-on intake manifolds for the 200 ci six. It would be fun to build up that engine.

There was a recent build up in one of the Mustang mags. with the new components. The price for the parts was a lot less than I expected. They got that six to put out V8 numbers. I love sleepers, just something to consider.