The first year for the Ford Mustang was exciting for those who lived through it, but it can be a bit confusing for those of us maintaining and modifying first-gen ‘Stangs today. Ford began production on the Mustang five months before the normal start of the 1965 production year, creating 121,538 early versions now referred to by purists as 1964 ½ Mustangs.

But not to worry! Whether you’ve got a traditional ‘65 or an early ‘64 ½, we’ve got your back.

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, has created a guide to your first-gen Mustang bolt patterns that’ll keep you, and your wheels, on the right track. And we’ll help you save on your

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1965 Ford Mustang bolt pattern

The bolt pattern for the majority of Ford Mustangs

—including the 1964 ½ and 1965 V8 Mustangs—is 5x4.5. But the V6 trims featured smaller wheels with a 4x4.5 lug pattern. But what does all this mean, anyway?

The first number in a bolt pattern tells you the number of bolts you’ll find on your vehicle’s wheel, while the second tells you the diameter of the circle they form. A quick look at your year-one ‘Stang’s wheels will tell you not only how many bolts are on it, but also what size engine you have.

Sounds easy, right? Maybe a little too easy? That’s because when you’re looking to order parts for a year-one ‘Stang, odds are you won’t see them listed by their colloquial monickers of ‘64 ½ and ‘65, or even by V8 or V6. Instead you’ll see 2.8, 3.3, 4.3, and 4.7. These numbers refer to your engine size. ‘64 ½ ‘Stangs feature 2.8L V6s or 4.3L V8s. Traditional ‘65s are equipped with a 3.3L V6 or a 4.7L V8. So, let’s simplify this even further:

1964 ½ or 1965 Ford Mustang 2.8L V6 or 3.3L V6 bolt pattern—4 bolts in a 4.5” diameter circle

1964 ½ or 1965 Ford Mustang 4.3L V8 or 4.7L V8 bolt pattern—5 bolts in a 4.5” diameter circle

If you’re hoping to swap out your rims, though, you still need a bit more information. You need to know your Mustang’s stud size, wheel offset, center bore measurement, and torque specs. We’ll start with the specs for a V6:

Factory wheel size: 14”

Stud size: 1/2x20 (1/2 inch stud with 20 threads per inch)

Offset: 15 mm

Center bore: 61.5 mm

Wheel tightening torque: 55–85 ft-lbs

Now for the V8:

Factory wheel size: 16”

Stud size: 1/2x20 (1/2 inch stud with 20 threads per inch)

Offset: 20 mm

Center bore: 61.5 mm

Wheel tightening torque: 75–110 ft-lbs

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How to measure your Ford Mustang’s bolt pattern

You should have all the specs you need to swap out your ‘Stang’s wheels for a new set, but if you’re looking for a challenge—or you just don’t believe us—you can actually measure the bolt pattern yourself. Grab a measuring tape or a ruler, and let’s get to work!

Pick a bolt on your wheel (doesn’t matter which one), and measure from its outer edge to the hole in the center of the opposite bolt. You can measure straight across on the V6 Mustangs, but for the V8s with a five-bolt pattern, you’ll want to select either of the two bolts nearest the one you chose to start with.

That measurement is the diameter of your circle. In other words, if you measure from the outside of one bolt on a 1965 V6 Mustang to the hole in the center of the opposite bolt, you’ll get 4.5 inches. Looking at the wheel, you can see that you’ve got four bolts there, so your pattern is 4x4.5.

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How to optimize your Mustang’s insurance coverage

When you’ve got a classic Mustang, you’ll probably be tempted to keep everything just the way it was when it rolled off the line—but whether you make a few mods or keep it classic, you’re going to need to make sure you keep it covered with quality car insurance.

Whether you use your Mustang as your daily driver or keep it for hobby work and car shows,

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