We're in the process of several upgrades to our '65 Mustang convertible, and for visual enhancements, we wanted better rolling stock as well as new grillework. The new Weld wheels and BFGoodrich Radial TA tires look great, which leaves the grille to do next.
We wanted something that would both brighten and simplify our front end. While the original running horse and corral are nice, they have a busy look. Besides, every other '65 Mustang on the road has them. After some deliberation, we settled on a new billet grille from Mustangs Plus.
When the grille arrived, we were impressed with its quality, in both construction and finish. Installation didn't look difficult, and we were able to accomplish the job in about an hour.
Join us as we head down to the Primedia West Coast tech shop, and you'll see the job is a good-looking upgrade, accomplished quickly and easily.
Here's our new billet grille...
Here's our new billet grille from Mustangs Plus. It has a slick, shiny look and will really dress up the grille opening on our '65 Mustang convertible. The solid construction makes the factory arrangement seem flimsy by comparison, and it has a quality look and feel that we like. This Mustangs Plus billet grille will set you back $190.95.
We begin the installation...
We begin the installation process by undoing the fasteners that attach the factory corral to the grille opening.
The grille center star, which...
The grille center star, which is part of the corral assembly on the '65 Mustang, is held in place on the outboard positions with the 51/416-inch fasteners we are removing here. They are attached to the vertical grille-mounting supports. A '66 Mustang doesn't have the star ornamentation; the corral floats by itself in the center of the grille opening. Cars from both 1965 and 1966 will have additional fasteners if equipped with the optional GT foglights.
At the bottom of the grille...
At the bottom of the grille opening, the bolts for the lower corral support are removed. You'll need a short extension or a deep well socket to access the fasteners from underneath.
With all of the fasteners...
With all of the fasteners removed, the corral assembly is removed from the car. For easier storage and to prevent breakage, the horizontal bars can be undone from the center section.
With the decorative trim pieces...
With the decorative trim pieces gone, we begin removing the grille. Here, the small 5/16-inch fasteners are removed from the upper grille-support bracket.