 "1TUFF66"
Max and Mary VanderLinden brought us their newly purchased 1966 Fastback
for some well deserved upgrades. The flawless black paint job and custom
running horse pinstriping seemed to outshine the 14 inch rally wheels
and the rest of the standard upgrades. While this was a beautifully restored
Mustang it still drove and felt like a 1966 automobile.
 The
first item on the list of improvements was the steering system. The factory
power system was replaced by a TCP power rack
and pinion and KRC power steering pump.
The tighter feel of the rack and pinion made a significant improvement
but the car still did not have the sporty feeling they had grow accustomed
to from their late model Corvette.
 To
make the car feel more along the lines of a sports car the chassis would
require some stiffening. This car would be used on a somewhat regular
basis so a roll bar was not a practical option. The engine bay already
had a newly installed monte carlo bar so the TCP
tower brace kit was added. A two-stage TCP
subframe connector system was installed to really tie the uni-body
chassis together. The additional bracing was enough to make a noticable
difference in how the car entered turns and responded to steering input.
Next we moved on to improving the recently restored front and rear suspension.
A coilover conversion kit with Bilstein
shocks and 400 lb. springs was the perfect remedy for the front end.
The rear shocks were replaced with a brand new factory replacement shock
also from Bilstein. Del-Alum bushings went in to tighten up the leaf springs.
The gap between classic car and late model sports car handling was getting
smaller with every upgrade.
 The
chassis upgrades could not be fully realized or taken advantage of without
a decent wheel and brake upgrade. For wheels and tires Max and Mary decided
to go with 17" x 8" Torque
Thrust II's from American
Racing with 235/45ZR17 Yokohama's.
The larger diameter wheel and wider section width puts more rubber on
the ground for improved acceleration and braking. Responsiveness from
steering inputs was also enhanced due to the lower profile sidewall and
reduced deflection. The stock discs up front and drums in the rear were
upgraded to a 4 wheel disc kit from Stainless
Steel Brakes.
 The
interior is outfitted with just enough accessories to improve the feel
and comfort without destroying the original styling of the car. TCP
pedal covers were added for that extra bit of grip when shifting through
the gears. Simpson
lap belts were a welcomed improvement over the original belts. And the
finishing touch is a woodgrain steering wheel to add to the woodgrain
dash pieces.
 You'll
be able to see this classy restomod Mustang at many of the Ford and classic
car shows in the northern California area. At their very first show they
managed to pull down a well deserved 1st place trophy. I'm sure this is
the first of many.
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