Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. We beginning the actual work on the vacuum system on the projects 351C starting with the valve assembly distributor (the valve on the water pump. Here is a pic:
Here is the video:
As always when I’m holding the camera and recording I miss a few things, like there are only two vacuum connections on the valve assembly distributor and the vacuum hoses I referred to at the end go to the charcoal canister – that supposedly filters gas fumes.
Here are the clamps I used.
I’ve got more coming up on the vacuum system and then we’ll jump into the floor pans.
As I get started I’m reminded of watching my father working though the vacuum systems of the cars we use to own – mostly Chevy. Those always ended with vacuum hose tide off in knots or screws/nails unused holes. But back then in New York emissions weren’t tested as part of the annual State Inspection.
I just have to add one more sleeper car slated to be auctioned off in Scottsdale this week. You might be surprised at this little gem.
Since you know by the title that it’s a Pontiac (or is it?) let me show you a badge on the car to give you a hint. Don’t scroll all the way down yet!!
Hey it’s a Pontiac Sports Deluxe? Not exactly!!
It is a 1967 Pontiac Beaumont!
Looks like a plain Jane Pontiac from the backside!!
It’s got a V8!!
Love the side vents!!!
The Beaumont was a GM based Canadian car sold at Pontiac-Buick dealerships in Canada. Through out it’s production years of 1962 – 1969 it was based on a the Chevelle, the Chevy II and the Nova, all at different point on it’s time line. The Sports Deluxe (SD) was in fact the same trim level as the Chevy Chevelle SS – hence the engine option below.
This one is restored to original, including paint color and it has date-code-correct 396 engine tweaked a bit to produce 375 HP.
Now that’s a sleeper!!!!!
Should be crossing the auction block on Thursday 1/28.
It just a great way to start the New Year, firing up the project car and take it for a quick jaunt down the road. Of course the car is ‘under construction” but still have to take out for a short distance.
The ’73 Stang is a long ways from being completed and yeah…I would be taking it out on the freeway just yet, but I does need to get driving.
My New Years resolution for #ProjectSportsRoof? “Get Her Done!” Next Years Day’s video will be 100% different from this one!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!
Rare trip. Just far enough to get the engine hot, take the C6 transmission through the gears and top out at about 70 mph.
Thanks for checking back on #ProjectSportsRoof. Progress is being made and I’d like to finish up these post on the install of the Mach 1 grille on this ‘plain old’ sports roof.
This was pretty much straight forward, with a small change.
If you recall on the last post we started with a NOS Mach 1 grille I acquired from Ebay…..SCORE!!!
NOS in original box
Box label – so what? Hey it’s cool!!!
For now I’m using the signal lights from the old grille and a new proper pony badge.
New Pony Badge
The new badge is different from the original (that being just a large Mustang running), which I preferred. Of course this new badge is made in Taiwan and not as sturdy as I would have liked. In fact while tightening the one of the nuts provided the prong sheered off. Luckily there were enough threads to make it secure.
Here it is installed:
Here are a couple of videos on the install.
Now there are still a few thing I need to buy to finish up the grille:
This is the wrap up on the compression testing for the 1973 Mustang w/ a 1972 351 Cleveland power plant. You’ll might have notices that I referred to the remote tester, which is my code for remote starter…yeah…that’s it!!! All of these tests were dry test and I should have done a …
As with most plastic exterior trim pieces on Arizona cars, the original grille in #ProjectSportsRoof has seen better days. Although this one is still mostly intact, it is brittle with a few missing tabs. Couple that with the look of the Mach I grille for the 1973 Mustang and I have to say I really like the look of it better than the standard.
Well win some and you lose some. If you’ve seen my other posts related the replacement of the points and condenser for the 351C you’ll notice that I gave conversion high marks. This was all based on the years of use I got out of the conversion I did on the 1970 Mustang 302 engine. One install and no problems.
As you know I had the heads rebuilt for the 351C and after re-installing them and all the components (intake, distributor…etc.) the car would not start. Popping the distributor cap showed why:
Drop me a note if you’ve had a similar experience.
Here are your Auto Factoids for the end of Nov. 2o15. (Yes only 24 shopping days left!!!)
Nov 30 1960 De Soto ceases production. The last De Soto produced were really the Chrysler Windsor, most did not sale, even though dealerships continued to received cars after the brand was terminated.
1961 Windsor
1961 DeSoto
Nov 30, 1900 Germany patented an automobile front wheel drive. Although this is a common historic fact, there is some evidence that the first production car with front wheel drive was a French car. There exists a French Patent around 1898 or 1899. The manufacturer was Société Parisienne and the car was the Victoria Combination.
It was a lightweight two-seater trailer, known as a ‘Victoria’, combined with the back axle and mechanical components of a motor tricycle, but this axle was placed in front of the trailer and steered by a long tiller on which the controls were located. The first examples were powered by 1.75 or 2.5 horsepower De Dion Bouton engines geared directly to the differential, but larger engines of this make were fitted as they became available.
1900 Victoria Combination
December 1, 1925 GM purchased Vauxhall. Vauxhall started out as engine manufacturer mainly for pumps and marine use (1857 – Alex Wilson). They began making cars in 1903. Here is a video of a 1903 Vauxhall. They are still producing cars using the Opel name under GM.
One more of it on a road test.
Dec 1, 1913 Ford fired up the first “continuous” assembly line. (Olds is considered to be the inventor of the assembly line…maybe.)
Ford’s Production Line
And just one day and 14 years later (Dec 2, 1927) Ford unveiled Models A which would soon be produced from this assembly line. The Model A was announced on May 25, 1927 and sold as 1928 model. Ford sold 607,592 units in 1928, nearly double that of the previous year.
1928 Model A
Thanks for reading
Tim
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Here are your Auto Factoids #AutoFactoids for the beginning of June, 2015. May 31, 1927 – Ford produced the last Model T. There is some debate as to actual date and it’s said that the 15th million Model T rolled off the production line on May 26th, 1927 and the Henry …
#ProjectSportsRoof. 73-17. 1973 Mustang Project Sportsroof – Engine Walk-Through. There is a quick walk-through of the 351C tucked between the fenders of the 1973 Mustang Sportsroof. (It took about 5 takes to get this …
#ProjectSportsRoof will be the way I want it, which I haven’t nailed down yet, so suggest way by dropping me a comment (got your crate motor idea swimming around in my head, Bill) and that will happen fast or slow and cost …
Welcome to this weeks Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids)!!!!
Back in 1977 on Nov. 15 Ford produced it’s 100,000,000. It was a 1978 Ford Fairmont and rolled out of the Mahwah assembly plant in New Jersey.
1955 Ford Mahwah New Jersey Plant
Triple F (Ford Fairmont Futura)
This car was in fact, a fox body, but gets as much respect as a K-Car.
You can understand why that is when you see it in the 4 door configuration
Now the two door wasn’t too bad – still not great!
But, you know me, I think any two door car can be made to look awesome…..
YES!!!!
AND YES!!!
Back in 1906 the man who started one of the largest global car (and motorcycle) companies was born on Nov 17 in Iwata-gun, Japan:
Soichrio
Another millionth for the month of Nov. Back in 1940 Buick produced 278,784 cars (about 70k more than in 1939) one of those was the 4 millionth Buick and it rolled off the line Nov. 17th.
That car was a Buick Super Coupe like this one:
1940 Buick Super Coupe
I’ve been doing these Auto Factoids for years and this next event never fails to make me scratch my head. Yup it’s the death of the Edsel. Killed by Ford on 11/19/1959 BOO HISS
One of the last Edsels – 1960 Edsel Ranger sedan 🙁
Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first week of Nov. 2015. I’m going to call this Packard Week (like Shark Week only on wheels)!!! Here is.
Keep up with this and #ProjectSportsRoof – get the feed.
