Mustang GT350 Restomod Part 1

Upgrading the chassis, steering and suspension

Actually, the car shown here is not an authentic Shelby GT350, but a re-creation like so many thousands of others produced over the years. In comparison to the paltry number of original GT350s produced in 1965 (562 in all), Ford manufactured a bazillion stock models, so it really makes more sense to focus on these sincerest forms of flattery. (Ironically, Carroll Shelby is now endorsing reconditioned GT500 Mustangs that look and perform like the "Eleanor" model that appeared in the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds." So if cloning is good enough for Shelby, himself, why not the rest of us?)

350 Feet

Historical authenticity aside, there's a lot that can be done to improve on a 1965 Mustang. Automotive technology has come a long way since the pony cars first rolled out of the factory, so now you can have a car with modern performance but classic looks. We've broken down the process of modifying a '65 Mustang into several main areas, starting with the chassis. In following segments of this series we'll cover the engine, transmission, rearend and exhaust system.

First, a bit of history: The original GT350 was arbitrarily named for the number of feet between Shelby's race and production shops. There were both S and R models, for street and racing, respectively. This particular car, owned by Danny Holm, was inspired by the S model, but he uses it for racing in Open Class events (it doesn't qualify for vintage racing).

Solid Frame

Since this Mustang sees some track time, it made good sense to start with a firm foundation. A stiff chassis is essential for all those performance parts to do their job correctly. If the frame is flexing too much, you'll be wasting your money on any suspension upgrades.

For a more rigid platform, Danny welded on some subframe connectors to the underside of the chassis. These can dramatically reduce chassis twist by linking the car's subframes together, creating a unified structure. To those connectors, he also added traction bars that are secured to the rear axle at each end and stiffen up the handling markedly.

Recirculating Ball

In the steering department, early Mustang systems are known for excessive play, but a new recirculating ball unit that reduces the number of turns lock-to-lock also helps improve wheel response.

Urethane Bushings

In addition to a need for stiffening up the chassis and improving the steering, one of the major shortcomings of classic Mustangs is their overly soft suspension, due in part to the rubber bushings. These were replaced with more resilient urethane bushings, which help to reduce unwanted deflection that can cause erratic handling in hard cornering. The vehicle was also lowered to bring down the roll centers for more stable handling.

Commenting on the suspension mods (see accompanying photos), the car's owner/driver Danny Holm says that, "I really notice a difference in the turns. I could've done even more to the suspension, but the car handles well with just these changes, and you've got to know when to stop."