K model Mustangs

[IndianapolisRacer]

Been looking for a 1965 K Model fastback Mustang , man those things have gotten pricey ! Why ?

[paul2748]

High performance, limited production

[scicala]

Even a 1965 Mustang fastback with a regular 289 V8, not to mention the K code 289 is getting very expensive.

Sal

[frank long island]

thanks to the auction shows everyone has a gem worth thousands

[raceron1120]

. . . and to think I scrapped out a plain ol' Mustang fastback in '75 because the engine blew up. And I gave it to the junkyard just to get rid of it.

[scicala]

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Originally Posted by raceron1120

. . . and to think I scrapped out a plain ol' Mustang fastback in '75 because the engine blew up. And I gave it to the junkyard just to get rid of it.

We have all done stuff like that. Just don't realize at the time,

Sal

[jim galli]

Economics 101. Desirability and rarity. There was only one of those for every 10000 plus boring 6 cylinder coupes.

[Lanny]

I worked for the local Ford dealer in 1965, and ordered my New Vintage Burgundy '65 2+2
with 289/4spd and black interior. Was just out of high school, and it's the ONLY New car I
ever ordered, so it's still a one owner. I've had it stored away now, for quite a few years.







.

[Alaska Jim]

those movies featuring the 67 Shelby fastback " Eleanor" cars have made ALL the fastback Mustangs go out of site price wise. even the 6 cyl. cars. I don't think I will ever be able to afford one again.

[rotorwrench]

These cars were common back when I was a kid and a lot of them ended up getting ridden hard and put away wet. I've seen more than a few badly wrecked. The suspension is not much different than the Falcon cars they were based on. The 2+2 fast back has always been one that was sought after so the survivors are up there in price these days. Old guys like me want to relive their childhood with the car they always wished they'd had.

[5851a]

Originally Posted by Alaska Jim

those movies featuring the 67 Shelby fastback " Eleanor" cars have made ALL the fastback Mustangs go out of site price wise. even the 6 cyl. cars. I don't think I will ever be able to afford one again.

I just cringe every time a Ford product is a feature vehicle in a movie. Always wanted a 62 Lincoln hardtop, after the Green Hornet movie
prices seemed to raise dramatically.

[IndianapolisRacer]

Found one but wants 52K

[willowbilly3]

Originally Posted by IndianapolisRacer

Found one but wants 52K

About the price of an average mundane new car, or a 3 year old diesel pickup

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by IndianapolisRacer

Been looking for a 1965 K Model fastback Mustang , man those things have gotten pricey ! Why ?

Unless you want a "correct", all-original, numbers-matching chalk marked car, buy a plain Jane fastback 289 and build the engine into a clone Hi Po 289. It's easy! K code heads have the same valve and port sizes, and same combustion chambers as a regular 289. Just machine the heads for screw-in studs and Hi Po valve springs. Mild port work on the heads if you want. There are plenty of aftermarket intakes that are better than the K code original. Likewise with the carb. A 600 cfm Holley or 625 Edelbrock is far better than the OEM 465 cfm or so Ford carb. Use an OEM electronic distributor and module from a '75-'80 302 (non fuel injection). Have the advance curve set to match the Hi Po dual point distributor. They are extremely easy to recalibrate. Use aftermarket headers or aftermarket Hi Po clone exhaust manifolds (expensive!) Use flat top pistons if you want to use regular gas or OEM style Hi Po dome pistons. Finally, an aftermarket K code clone cam will give you that Hi Po sound!
Don't worry about the bottom end! Stock 289's are tough! I have a '67 Cougar with the original 2 barrel 289 block and crank. Block has been bored .040" but the crank is still standard size at over 100,000 miles (in stock form). Then I modified it with a 4 barrel Performer RPM intake, forged pistons, ported heads and hot solid lifter cam. All I did to the bottom end was install ARP rod bolts (original 5/16" size). Eventually dropped a valve and cracked a cylinder after many runs. Crank was still perfect. Put in one used rod and piston. Ran many more runs all over 7200 RPM and broke a pushrod. Changed to GT40p heads. Used Mr. Gasket head gaskets and they blew. Total runs I think were close to a thousand (have timing slips all over the place but haven't counted them-16 years worth). Then Iwent to aluminum heads and dome pistons. Finally took out the stock rods and went to H beams for insurance. The original stock cast crank is still standard.
So for a little more than the cost of a stock rebuild you can have a K code clone that outruns a real K code! And will hang together!

[IndianapolisRacer]

Thanks for that information

[craig]

FWIW, K engines did not have domed pistons, they were flat top, flycut, same as the 225 horse engine. The con rods did not have 5/16 bolts, they had 3/8 bolts. The original intake is the same as the 225 engine. The crank was supposedly a higher grade of nodular iron than the standard version. They did use a unique thicker harmonic balancer and a steel counter weight behind the crank sprocket. As far as the OE carb, if you can find an actual K code carb, it has a hand choke and is 600 cfm and if properly set up will out perform anything Holley, Carter or Edelbrock will ever produce. Original K exhaust manifolds look neat, but don't flow much better than the standard manifolds

[IndianapolisRacer]

Thanks for that , just bought a 65 K model fastback with original engine but missing the autolite carb has a replacement on original manifold . The tach is not working , have to find a rebuild service

[Lanny]

Does it have the original Rally-Pac Tach/Clock option, or does it have
an aftermarket tachometer mounted somewhere ?
I'm pretty sure there are places that can repair the Rally-Pac Tach.

click on picture to Enlarge

[flatrod]

As a side note K cars had 8000 rpm tachs. And as Lanny said it would be a Rally Pac.

[IndianapolisRacer]

Yes it has the 8000 tach and clock, a rally pac