Category Archives: Classic Car Restoration

1973 Mustang SportsRoof – Floor Pan Discovery – Part Three

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Thanks for checking in on the 1973 Mustang project.   Below is the last part of the discovery process for determining the extent rust damage.  Here is the driver’s side.

FloorPanLRr-2

This shot doesn’t look too bad, especially compared with the right side.   Below is a video recap of what needs to happen.

Of course still need to remove the rest of the carpeting. All indications are that everything else is solid!!

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

1973 Mustang Sports Roof – Floor Pan Discovery – Part Two …

Mar 2, 2016 … Among these things are coins and #ProjectSportsRoof had an abundance of lost change. The first coin I found was a nickel. It was under the …
1973 Mustang Sports Roof – Floor Pan Discovery – Part One

Feb 29, 2016 … Thanks for following along with #ProjectSportsRoof. Over the next couple of weeks (giving myself a lot of time to get this all down in the blog) …
vintage muscle car | Tumblr

Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. We beginning the actual work on the vacuum system on the projects 351C starting with the valve assembly distributor ( the …
07 and 73

07 and 73

2nd Annual Team Tanner and Friends Car Show – Benefiting Autism Society 2

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The 2nd Annual Team Tanner and Friends Car Show – Benefiting Autism Society  was a lot of fun.  Some very cool cars  there –  like these 4 beauties!!!

You can see my 2007 C6 and the 1973 Mustang (#ProjectSportsRoof) and my son’s 1991 Chrysler Le Baron vert and good friend’s 2011 Mustang vert(with the nicest seats ever!!!).

 

Constant reader of this blog Bill and my son Ryan

Constant reader of this blog Bill and my son Ryan

This was my son Ryan’s first car he’s entered in a car show.  The 1991 Le Baron is a true collector and is in excellent survivor condition with over 140k miles he is the only the second owner.  Bill (sitting next to my son) was the Le Baron’s first owner – that’s Bill’s 2011 Mustang V6!!!

Besides those cars – here is my favorite late 50’s car at the show.

1956 Ford Club Sedan -1 1956 Ford Club Sedan -2

1956 Ford Club Sedan -3

Clean 282 Engine!!

1956 Ford Club Sedan -4

One of my favorite attributes….a painted dash!!!

1956 Ford Club Sedan -5

The fender skirts are great and the detailed side molding is outstanding!!! (And all original!!)

 1956 Ford Club Sedan -6

This 1956 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan has 282 engine, 3 speed column shift and has just over 30k original miles.  It all original except the tires (the spare is original).  This was an Ebay buy and originated in PA.

There were a couple beautiful pickups and a Lotus and 1988 Shelby Dodge Charger – very cool!!

The voting, interestingly enough, was done by the car owners and everyone that came to view the cars.

Trophies were handed out and one of the winner was this car:

#ProjectSportsRoof took home one in the 1970's/Under Construction category

#ProjectSportsRoof took home one in the 1970’s/Under Construction category

Yup lots of love shown to my 1973 Mustang SportsRoof.

It was a small but fun show.  Lots of time to have long conversations with the owners and the crowd.

Thanks to Hagerty Insurance, Mothers Wax and Car Guy Garage for supporting the car show.  We raised awareness and money for Southern Arizona  Autism Society!!

Oh…and if you are in Tucson, AZ there is a walk that raised money for this worthy cause as well.

Thanks for reading

Tim

10 Annual Autism Walk - Tucson, AZ

10 Annual Autism Walk – Tucson, AZ

 

1973 Mustang Sports Roof – Floor Pan Discovery – Part Two – Incidental Find

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As with most car restoration projects discovering what needs to be worked on and to what extent is an experience to say the least.  Sometimes that discovery is a bit disheartening like the rust to floor pans on the right side, sometimes is a major relief  and sometimes it’s cool.

As I began removing carpet – which I’m now sure was 33 years old, it uncovered the normal dirt, pens, papers (no build sheet… bummer) and just about all the normal things that slide between the seat cushions and work their way under the carpet.  That can show a lot about its previous owners and how the car was used.

Among these things are coins and #ProjectSportsRoof had an abundance of lost change.   The first coin I found was a nickel.  It was under the underlayment which I found to be a tough place for nickel to have worked its way.   Interesting enough it was dated 1973.

1973 Jefferson Nickel. Placed by a a worker at the factory? hmmmm....

1973 Jefferson Nickel. Placed by a a worker at the factory? hmmmm….

This reminded me of an often told tail of auto workers leaving tokens of some sort in an inconspicuous place.  Wouldn’t that be interesting.

Over all nearly $30.00 in coins were found and of those 3 were from 1973 (a nickel, a quarter and a penny).  With a huge cap between 1979 and the 2005 (perhaps indicating it’s break in service when the car was left in a field, junked and then saved.

Someone in the Ford factory back in the day leave this 1973 Jefferson nickel so that someone years later might find it?   Interest thought!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

projectsportsroof

1973 Mustang Sports Roof – Floor Pan Discovery – Part One

2 days ago … Thanks for following along with #ProjectSportsRoof. Over the next couple of weeks (giving myself a lot of time to get this all down in the blog) …
restored-cars | Tumblr

Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. We beginning the actual work on the vacuum system on the projects 351C starting with the valve assembly distributor ( the …

 

1973 Mustang Sports Roof – Floor Pan Discovery – Part One

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Thanks for following along with #ProjectSportsRoof.  Over the next couple of weeks (giving myself a lot of time to get this all down in the blog) I’m going to take you through my process for repairing the floors in the 1973 Mustang.  I’ll be interrupted by  (air quotes)REAL (end air quotes) work and a couple of car shows between now and then.

As much as I’d like to say I was aware of the rust on the floor of the Sports Roof, I can’t.    I really missed seeing the extent of the damage.  Needless to say I was a bit depressed when I brought it home and climbed in the back seat and notices the floor seemed a bit….’crunchy’.

Take a look at these videos:

You might be able to tell by my voice that I wasn’t overjoyed with the condition of the passenger side floor.  To make matters worse I eventually found out they don’t reproduce a patch for under the rear seat for the 1973 Sports Roof.  More to come on that in a future post.

Just to issue a reminder as you might be wondering why you see the back seat now in the car as in the previous video it was out, but my goal is to have this as a rolling project and able to at least speed on down to the local petrol station fill it up and grab a Pepsi. (You just can’t work on a car without a Pepsi!!! – Hey maybe they’ll sponsor this rebuild and I’ll change the license plate to read “1973DrinkRealSugarPepsi”.)

O.K. so if you were listening closely you’d realize that I started the floors back in Dec (2015) and it’s now the last day of the Feb 2016 and I’m just getting to post this up now.  So it’s taken me a good chunk of time to do this all by hand – including all the cutting with just a hand-held dremel and some metal snips.

I appreciate any and all comments so let ’em fly!!!!

BTW day on this Leap Year day – we’ve surpassed 20,000 registered user on this blog, thanks everyone!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

projectsportsroof

1973 Mustang Sports Roof – Vacuum System Part IV

1 day ago … This will be a longer post as I finish up the vacuum system on #ProjectSportsRoof , the 1973 Mustang Sports Roof. We have to make a repair, …

 

1973 Mustang Sports Roof – Vacuum System Part III

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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:

 

Vac-31-L

 

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.

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.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

www.agcarrestoration.com

Barrett-Jackson Car Auction, Scottsdale, Az 2016 – Sleeper Pontiac

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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!!

Hey it’s a Pontiac Sports Deluxe? Not exactly!!

 

Can you tell yet?

It is a 1967 Pontiac Beaumont!

Looks like a plain Jane Pontiac from the backside!!

Looks like a plain Jane Pontiac from the backside!!

 

It's got a V8!!

It’s got a V8!!

Love the side vents!!!

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.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

barrett jackson scottsdale 2016

 

Barrett-Jackson Car Auction, Scottsdale, Az 2016 – Sleeper Chevelle

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It is tough to pick out favorite cars at a place like Barrett-Jackson’s Classic Car Auctions.  There is too much to like.  I can say I just like Mustangs or I just like Corvettes, but in reality, I can find lots to like about many classics.  But when you sit back at the end of the day of previewing the cars and think about the beautiful works of art, there will be a few that come to mind right away.

So here is one of my favorites I saw on opening day.

Lot #1563 1966 Chevy Chevelle 300 Deluxe

Great looking 66 Chevelle.

Great looking 66 Chevelle.

It is a 300 Deluxe

It is a 300 Deluxe

Just a great little every day (back then) commuter car.

Just a great little every day (back then) commuter car.

Just love the painted steel wheels and center hub caps. Hey..what's that badge on the fender?

Just love the painted steel wheels and center hub caps. Hey..what’s that badge on the fender?

What?!!!!1

What?!!!!

 

What a sleeper car!!!!!   Check out the options:

  1.  502 GM crate engine with 502 horse power
  2. Aluminum heads
  3. 12 bolt Posi-Traction rear end
  4. Dual Exhaust
  5.  Richmond 6 speed manual transmission
  6. 4 wheel disc braker
  7.  Aluminum radiator
  8. Tach

Should cross the block on Sunday, Jan 31.  I’ll watch to see what it brings!!!!

P.S. – It’s NO RESERVE!!!

Thanks for reading

Tim

#barrettJackson

barrett jackson scottsdale 2016

 

 

 

 

 

barrett jackson scottsdale 2016

How to Start The New Off – Take the ’73 Mustang for a Drive!!

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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.

Out and About!!! #ProjectSportsRoof

Out and About!!!
#ProjectSportsRoof

Got a “Car Resolution” for 2016?   Let’s hear it!!!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

projectsportsroof

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drive-By in Jerome, Az ’69 Nova, ’71-’72 Mustang and 2016

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Thought I’d end up the year with a Drive-By.

These little snippets are by chance photos of interesting cars.

During a trip to Jerome, AZ I was investigating this nicely cared for 1969 Chevy Nova.

Great Body Style

Great Body Style

Love the Poverty Caps

Love the Poverty Caps

Got the Camaro taillights.

Got the Camaro taillights.

 

The ’69 Nova was really just a pedestrian car and perhaps the worse evolution possible of the Chevelle, Chevy II of the early ’60. (Of course it got much worse in the late ’70s and early ’80s!!!)

These came in  3 main engine groups….4, 6 and 8 cylinders – yes 4 cylinders!!! There were 6,103 4 cylinders produced (make them a rather rare find in original condition), 157,400 6 cylinders and 88,400 V-8s ( 17,654 of those were in Super Sport trim).  The horse power ranged from a weak 90 hp to meager (by todays standards) 200 hp.

As I was standing back to get the little more distance on the shot I noticed something in the view finder:

In the background

In the background

Getting closer

Getting closer

Oh so nice!!!

Oh so nice!!!

And a wave!!!

And a wave!!!

Yes a very nice ’71 or ’72 Mustang.   One year later I’d own a 1973 Mustang, the last of the big ‘Stangs!!!

So this is my last post for 2015.

I wish all of my readers/followers and other fellow gear heads, car nuts, car peeps a super New Year and all the best in 2016!!

Coming up in 2016 I’ll be working straight out to finish the 1973 Mustang Sports Roof (#ProjectSportsRoof) – got to get is show ready in the next year – so keep checking back for updates (floor pan, vacuum system and much more coming up next month).  We also will attempt to get pod-casts rolling but you’ll also be able to keep up on our hobby with C.N.N. (Car News Now), special pieces on the 351 Cleveland engine and more parking lot spotlights, AutoFactoids (#AutoFactoids), Engine Line Ups and much more.

See you all in 2016 – maybe at Barrett Jackson in Scottsdale, AZ Jan 23, 2016?

Thanks for reading.

Tim

www.agcarrestoration.com

#ProjectSportsRoof

#ProjectSportsRoof

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

1973 Mustang -Project Sports Roof – Mach 1 Grille Part II

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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

NOS in original box

Box label - so what? Hey it's cool!!!

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

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:

GrilleEmblem-2

 

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:

GrilleNeeds

But it’s looking pretty good!!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

projectsportsroof

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression Test Part II

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 …