1965–1970 Ford Mustang Restoration Parts Checklist

Restoring a first-generation Ford Mustang is one of the most rewarding projects in the classic car hobby. Parts availability is excellent, the community is huge, and the payoff — a gleaming pony car in your driveway — is hard to beat. The hard part is staying organized. This checklist walks through every major system so nothing sneaks up on you mid-build.

Start with a plan, not parts

Before you buy a single component, decide what kind of restoration you want:

• Concours / factory-correct — every part matches original specs and date codes.
• Restomod — classic looks with modern brakes, suspension, and electronics.
• Driver-quality — clean, safe, and reliable without chasing perfection.

Your answer changes almost every purchasing decision below, so lock it in first.

Engine and cooling

The 200 inline-six and the 289/302 small-block V8s are the most common engines you'll encounter. Whether you rebuild or replace, budget for:

• Carburetor or fuel-injection conversion
• Radiator, water pump, and hoses
• Belts, gaskets, and seals
• Ignition components (or an HEI-style upgrade)

A fresh aluminum radiator is cheap insurance against overheating in traffic. Browse cooling and engine options on our Mustang parts page.

Brakes and suspension

Early Mustangs left the factory with four-wheel drums. For any car you actually plan to drive, a front disc brake conversion is the single best safety upgrade you can make. Round out the chassis with:

• Front coil springs and shocks
• Control arm bushings and ball joints
• Tie rod ends and idler arm

Body and exterior

Rust is the enemy. Inspect floor pans, torque boxes, cowl, and lower quarter panels carefully. Reproduction sheet metal is widely available:

• Floor pans and trunk pans
• Quarter panels and fenders
• Grille assembly and emblems
• Weatherstripping kit

Interior

A tired interior can undo an otherwise stunning restoration. Common refresh items:

• Door panels and seat upholstery
• Carpet set and dash pad
• Instrument cluster and lenses
• Headliner and package tray

Electrical

Fifty-year-old wiring is brittle and unsafe. Consider a complete reproduction harness plus:

• Alternator conversion (if converting from a generator)
• New switches, relays, and bulbs
• Fuse box and battery cables

Putting it all together

Work system by system, label everything, and take photos as you disassemble. When you're ready to source parts, filter by your exact model year on our Mustang parts database so you only see components that fit your car.