I want to inquire if any member has been successful in converting an old Mustang (1966) to run on Hydrogen or electric motor. The old ones are relatively heavy so don't know if either type of retrofit would be possible? (Mother won't part with car). Thank you, Julie
Ford has done a lot with hydrogen in the V-10, mostly for use in small buses and hybrid full size buses. I know they have also produced prototype Focus hydrogen cars. M aybe check their web site and offer your mom's as a test vehicle.
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Mustang owner since 80
06 GT bone stock, I'll start procrastinating tomorrow
As a cool project, meh I guess. But for me part of the allure of an older car is the way it sounds. Converting to anything but maybe alcohol would destroy that. Also, you are talking about 10s of thousands of dollars here. What for? If you are looking to save money on gas... not gonna happen. If you are looking to "go green" you could always slap a pair of catalytic converters on there and be much cleaner, for a fraction of the cost.
The issue with electric is that you are never going to have the range of a gasoline car, barring rapid developments in battery technology. You are also not going to have the same power. If you look at the Tesla Motors prototype electric car, it has a theoretical 200 mile range. However, track testing the car resulted in only 51 miles of operation. Obviously track driving is much harder then regular driving, but it was also only a quarter of the advertised potential. Keep in mind that this is an ultra-light bodied car with years of development and $100,000 price tag, most of which goes for the batteries. So for a heavier car (your mustang) you aren't going to go as far. I would guesstimate that for 20 or so thousand you could have an electric mustang that would be able to travel maybe 90 miles on a charge, if driven conservatively.
Hydrogen is much trickier and adds even more weight. You'd need a pressure tank capable of withstanding a collision (which will be heavy), a totally revamped fuel system and engine, and access to hydrogen. I think that hydrogen may be able to work with a carburetor, but I am not 100% certain. I would consider this to be in the realm of impossible without some form of sponsor-ship. Or more money then you know what to do with.
An easier conversion would be to propane, but you still have the added weight of a pressure tank, and having to deal with spotty availability.
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C/MSG Shimko
1972 Mustang Grande, 351C, A/C, Front Wheel discs.
I would run e85 or propane both are cheap and easy to do so.Even roush has a liquid propane kit for the new f150.And people in aus and nz had had propane cars for years even some high powered ones.
I'm sure either retrofit is possible with the correct skills. I'd go hydrogen for environmental concerns before electric, the batteries required are more hazardous than the old engine.
However, if you are just concerned about mileage, the original engine on these cars often got around 19 miles per gallon, mind you it was on the better octane gas that was available.
An engine rebuild, built mildly, with attention to fuel delivery (conversion to fuel injection) breathing, (better heads and exhaust), with attention to the transmission and rear end gearing would actually be cheaper and gain you better gas mileage. A lot of us older guys did this in the 70's, and now there is better stuff available like heads, exhaust, intakes and fuel injection.
That's why some people convert to modern engines in these.
I watched a show about natural gas cars and all you would have to change is a modified carb and a new fuel system and natural gas tanks. Can even use the motor and all the drivetrain already in the car. Thought that was pretty cool.
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1966 Mustang- "Five liter Fury"
Future mods: Rebuild motor, New paint, Install a 4 speed.
You know your a real GearHead when your friend tells you the IRS has really been killing him lately, and you reply, "Yeah, i prefer live axles too."
Converting to Phev or Hydrogen 
