In 1966, Ford introduced a beefy three-speed automatic transmission that was stuffed into anything that required a strong transmission including trucks, high-performance Mustangs, and sedans. The Ford C6 transmission would go on to enjoy a 30-year service life as Ford phased it out in 1996 to make room for overdrive versions of its big transmission line-up. Today, the C6 is still the go-to Blue Oval piece when you are looking to harness big horsepower. Credit the beefy guts and many aftermarket upgrades for the tough label.

Photo Gallery: Ford C6 Transmission Upgrades – Built Tough – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: Ford C6 Transmission Upgrades – Built Tough – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

It’s so easy for enthusiasts to get excited about horsepower numbers, rpm levels, and sound, while skipping some very key factors of a well-designed engine. Some build requests are realistic while others are not even close. And it’s actually just as important for the engine builder to clarify the needs of the customer, as a totally mismatched engine can easily be an embarrassment to the builder and to the driver/owner.

Photo Gallery: Engine Building Part 1 – Power Principles – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: Engine Building Part 1 – Power Principles – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Like Rodney Dangerfield, a driveshaft gets no respect. Or even much thought, for that matter. Until we exceed its design limits, that is, at which point the extreme importance of this delicately balanced, high-revving power transmitter comes suddenly, and sometimes frighteningly, to the forefront. Consider this: the factory driveshaft under your vintage Ford was engineered to withstand the rigors of OEM power levels, traction limits, and speed/rpm capabilities for many years, which it likely has. But we’d never go broke by betting that all those factory power, grip, and speed parameters have long since been exceeded in most of our readers’ rides, ’cause we don’t call this Modified Mustangs & Fords for nothing.

Photo Gallery: Dynotech Driveshaft Install – The Straight Skinny – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: Dynotech Driveshaft Install – The Straight Skinny – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Last month, we introduced you to Nick Licata and his ‘64 Falcon Futura that Total Cost Involved (TCI) has been using for R&D of new suspension products. We showed readers TCI’s new front coil spring based double A-arm suspension system in that story. This month, in Part 2 of our look at Nick’s Falcon, we’ll be focusing our cameras on TCI’s new Triangulated 4-Link rear suspension kit for the ‘60-’65 Falcon, ‘62-’65 Ranchero, and ‘62-’65 Comet.

Photo Gallery: TCI Suspension Upgrade – Get A Handle On It!, Part 3 – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: TCI Suspension Upgrade – Get A Handle On It!, Part 3 – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Classic Fords of the ’60s were rarely optioned with factory air conditioning (unless you are discussing high line vehicles like the Thunderbird or a Lincoln). The early A/C systems of the time period often bolted to the underdash area and hung down between the front seat passengers (a few non-Ford systems even mounted in the trunk!). Later in the decade, as the option’s popularity grew, Ford engineered in-dash A/C solutions for assembly-line-installed, factory-optioned systems.

Photo Gallery: Classic Auto Air Perfect Fit System Install – Cool Like That – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: Classic Auto Air Perfect Fit System Install – Cool Like That – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

You’ve probably heard the comment that the Mustang was derived from the Ford Falcon to save on engineering and design costs. While this is true, the Mustang is far from being a “re-skinned Falcon” as some say. All you have to do is ask a Falcon owner/builder or lay hands on a Falcon yourself. You’ll quickly see that, while similar, the Falcon is different enough from the Mustang that many popular Mustang upgrades flat out will not work on the Falcon, and thus Falcon-specific versions must be created. This is true of many components, including the suspension on the Falcon.

Photo Gallery: TCI Suspension Upgrade – Get A Handle On It! – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: TCI Suspension Upgrade – Get A Handle On It! – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

While the 427 FE engine often gets its share of fame when seen between two Mustang fenders, the Boss 429 is probably equally as popular. For a while, though, it was easier to build a 427, but thanks to Jon Kaase Racing Engines, it’s now more feasible to put the monstrous Boss engine back into your Mustang or classic Ford vehicle.

Photo Gallery: B2 Motorsports 529ci Engine Build – Muscle Builder – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: B2 Motorsports 529ci Engine Build – Muscle Builder – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

More and more people are driving a classic car nearly every day for the commute to work, college, errands, and so on, but it can be a harrowing experience for some. Substandard brakes, thin steering wheels, uncomfortable non-locking seats, and more (all by today’s vehicle standards) can mean just half an hour of driving your classic Mustang or Ford can really be a workout. While you’ll never achieve today’s five-star crash certification in a classic Mustang, even with the upgrades we’re about to walk you through, you will be much better off tackling some of these changes/updates to your ride if it sees a lot of street use.

Photo Gallery: Modern Safety Upgrades – Playing It Safe – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: Modern Safety Upgrades – Playing It Safe – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Many people think fuel injection is akin to the dark arts, like Voodoo or something, but it’s not really that scary if you understand the basics of how an electronic fuel injection (EFI) system works. Without sounding like geeks in white lab coats, EFI is, essentially, a more precise way to control the fuel requirements of an engine. Where a carburetor is sized to an engine by its cfm rating and certain sized fuel jets are used to control fuel flow to the engine, EFI does the same thing via the cfm rating of its inlet, called a throttle body, and by the EFI’s fuel injectors. Think of the injectors as an electronic version of a carb jet, only they can vary in size, making the EFI system more precise for the engine’s fuel demands.

Photo Gallery: EFI Buyer’s Guide – Fueling Around – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine

Photo Gallery: EFI Buyer’s Guide – Fueling Around – Modified Mustangs & Fords Magazine