Category Archives: Classic Cars

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 I

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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.

Install is quick and easy….yeah…right!

 

 

More coming up on #ProjectSportsRoof.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

projectsportsroof

 

 

Restored ’65 Ford Fairlane Racer Reveals Texas Shop’s Talent at MCACN

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Truly a worthwhile restoration.

Just out of the old warehouse

Just out of the old warehouse

Beautiful!!

Beautiful!!

 

 

 

Among the main attractions at this year’s Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals was the unveiling of 13 rare muscle cars, several with drag racing pedigrees. In this group, the freshly restored silver-blue Performance Associates 1965 Ford Fairlane revealed the talent of the crew at A&R Classic Restorations in Emory, Texas.

The car’s journey to the MCACN floor took more than 35 years.

Check our the entire story of this historic car at the source link below.

Source: Restored ’65 Ford Fairlane Racer Reveals Texas Shop’s Talent at MCACN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading.
Tim

saralogan213

shannonstone7: The Benefits of Muscle Car Restoration https://t.co/1JCEWUVxWJ https://t.co/EQ3KvJsPmO

 

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof – Pertronix Ignitor Update

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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.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

 

Auto Factoids for Week of Nov 29, 2015 – Ford, De Soto, Front Wheel Drive

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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 Windsor

1961 DeSoto

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

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

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.

1927 Model A

1928 Model A

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

If you’d like to sponsor a week of Auto Factoids contact me directly.

#AutoFactoids

Auto Factoids – Week of May 31, 2015 – Ford, Olds, Model T

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 …

 

 

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Wheels?

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Ok…decision time.    Slots or American Racing Wheels ?   Window sticker says it came with slotted mags.

What do you say?

Slots or Not?

Slots or Not?

 

Let me know what you think?

Thanks for reading.
Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

#ProjectSportsRoof

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – What are You Gonna …

#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 …
1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Money!!

#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 …

Auto Factoids for the Week of Nov. 15, 2015 – Buick, Ford and Edsel

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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

1955 Ford Mahwah New Jersey Plant

Triple F (Ford Fairmont Futura)

Triple F (Ford Fairmont Futura)

This car was in fact, a fox body, but gets as much respect as a K-Car.

1978-Ford-Fairmont

You can understand why that is when you see it  in the 4 door configuration

78Fairmont2Dr

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!!!!

YES!!!!

AND 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

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

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 last Edsels - 1960 Edsel Ranger sedan

One of the last Edsels – 1960 Edsel Ranger sedan  🙁

Thanks for reading.

Tim

autofactoidsautofactoids

Auto Factoids for the Week of Nov. 1, 2015 – Packard Week

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.

 

 

 

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Power Steering Fluid Cooler

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Thanks for checking back on the 1973 Mustang #ProjectSportsRoof.

The power steering cooler is pictured below.  It’s pretty ugly even when cleaned up.

Keeping the Power Steering fluid cool!!

Keeping the Power Steering fluid cool!!

Non-A/C car power steering fluid cooler

Non-A/C car power steering fluid cooler

Here is a little info from a fellow Mustang owner.

Steering coolers were an option from what I understand. My A/C car did not come with a cooler. I added one to my car later as it was just a simple bolt on.

Originally the extra long return line for the power steering box was U’d on top of the drivers side cowl brace that acted as a primitive cooler before returning back to the pump.

Someone told me that the ‘competition suspension’ option included the variable ratio power steering box and included the power steering cooler. However I have seen cars with the competition suspension option that did not have coolers. The owners claimed it never had one.

There are 2 different coolers one designed to be bolted on A/C cars over the compressor and the one designed for cars without A/C.

Ford had a revision to the return line in later cars, originally the return line was U’d on top of the drivers cowl brace then later they shortened the return line and just left it next to the high pressure line going to the box.

For the variable power steering box there was another power steering pump that had a different tag on it. HBA-CG was used with the variable box and HBA-CF was used with the standard box, nobody knows if the pumps are in fact different or not internally.The variable box was tagged SPA-T or SPA-V. The normal box was SPA-S and SPA-U.

I have a 72 H code originally with a FMX, A/C car, no competition suspension.

As for requiring a different pump, no, not that I am aware of I use standard power steering pump with the cooler, works fine.

Typical hose layouts for the coolers

Power Steering Fluid Coolers Diagrams

Power Steering Fluid Coolers Diagrams

I’ve seen a with the cooler painted or powder coated. However, that would severely hamper it’s ability to cool the fluid. They do look better.

Here is the example in an A/C car - unpainted.

Here is the example in an A/C car – unpainted.

Another Mustang owner recommended spraying the cooler with black radiator paint.  That should do the trick.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Money!!

#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 …

Project SportsRoof – This Just In – Cooler and Gauges

#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 …
#ProjectSportsRoof

#ProjectSportsRoof

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof – Vacuum System Part II

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Thanks for checking on #ProjectSportsRoof.

 

So here is the last set of initial questions.

Here is an image of the current set up:
[Image: Vac-14-L_zpsndlzgozn.jpg]

[Image: Vac-13-L_zpsgbppofla.jpg]

Any diagram I find has the hose vacuum from the Distr going to the Valve assy.

The Valve assy has nothing attached which is located on the front right side next to the alternator on the water pump housing.

[Image: Vac-31-L_zpsyrpi8chf.jpg]

The diagram for the 1972 351C shows that instead of going directly to the carb, the hoses from the distributor vacuum run to the Valve Assy. There also seems to be a second line running from the back of the distributor (in the diagram) – but that isn’t very clear.

Any ideas? Clearly the car runs without any of these connected – do I just plug them all?

Tim

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Vacuum System Part I

For the purpose of these series of posts let’s assume that I want to seriously limit the performance and power of #ProjectSportsRoof’s beautiful 351C and restore it back to factory configuration. Now if you are expecting an …
1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – What are You Gonna …

#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 …

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Vacuum System Part I

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Most car enthusiasts know that by the 1970’s all cars even ‘former’ muscle cars, were strangled in terms of power by a host of tubes, solenoids and funny looking flat or funnel like space age devices that were responsible for eliminating harmful emissions.  In some cases they funneled fumes back in to the engine to be burned and supposedly rendering them less harmful.

When you are restoring a car of this vintage – especially one like my 1973 Mustang that has been sitting around a while, those tubes/hoses are often cracked, dried, split or ends stretched at the least for missing all together.

You have the option to remove all the space ag hardware (depending on the emissions regulations in your area) or replacing it all to restore to factory specifications.  For the purpose of these series of posts let’s assume that I want to seriously limit the performance and power of #ProjectSportsRoof’s beautiful 351C and restore it back to factory configuration.

Now if you are expecting an expert run down on the care and feeding of the vacuum system for this project – you aren’t going to get that right up front.  Why?  Because it’s really not that straight forward at first and I have a few questions.

As I look at the diagrams for the vacuum system on a 1972 351C, I am not seeing anything that matches my set up.

Let me start back of the engine.

There is a solenoid on the back of the manifold (only bolted there) that I think is some diagrams is shown on the opposite side and in the front.

[Image: Vac-21-L_zps2rgxlj0p.jpg]

Here’s a better shot.

[Image: Vac-23-L_zpscwrovtl4.jpg]

As you can see it has no power connected nor hoses. Is that the Solenoid Dist vacuum?  I think so.

For the 1972 351C. The solenoid is #12 in the diagram

For the 1972 351C. The solenoid is #12 in the diagram –

Source:  www.mustangbarn.com

As you can see it’s in the front.

So the vacuum hose travels back up front to the Valve Ass. Distributor vacuum control?

Maybe because this is a A/C car the Solenoid Dist vacuum was relocated to the back, that is a lot of tubing!!

That’s the first set of questions, the front of engine is coming up next.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression, Rods …

Thanks for check in on #ProjectSportsRoof. If you remember a of couple months back, shortly after bringing the ’73 Mustang home, I conducted a compression test on all.

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression, Rods …

#ProjectSportsRoof. 1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression, Rods … Thanks for check in on #ProjectSportsRoof. If you remember a of couple months back, shortly after bringing the ’73 Mustang home, I conducted …