Category Archives: #ProjectSportsRoof

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

By | | , , , , , , ,
2 Comments

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

By | | , , , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

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

By | | , , , , , , , ,
2 Comments

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

By | | , , , , , , , ,
4 Comments

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 …

 

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – This Just In – Cooler and Gauges

By | | , , , , , , , ,
1 Comment

Just received a few more parts in for the 1973 Mustang project.

Check out the video.

 

Thanks for reading.  Keep checking on #ProjectSportsRoof.

Tim

1973 mustang mach 1

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 …

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression, Rods and Heads Part II

By | | , , , , , , , , , , ,
2 Comments

So after inspecting the head further, I noticed  a few more reasons to have them reconditioned.  Take a look:

Gonna Need some touching up.

Gonna Need some touching up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see there a lot of rust and old stuff plugging up some of the water passages.

The heads were sent out to a local machine shop run by an old hot rodder.

Here’s a quick video of the valves that were removed. You can see the build up as the oil (from the tappet hole) and the gas was continually ignited by the spark plug.

The good news the heads are back and installed.  The bad news in my haste to get the car back together,  I forget to get some shots of the completed heads.   By the time I realized it was too late to go back.

 

 

The Cleveland is running strong, but needs a lot of work on the vacuum system and – I’m thinking of replacing the carb.  Send me your on what to replace it with.

Motorcraft?  Holly?

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#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 a compression test on all.
1973 Mustang Project Sportsroof – Engine Walk-Through.

Next up will be the install Pertronix system and cap and rotor, then plug and wires. Thanks for reading and drop me a note. Tim. #ProjectSportsRoof. projectsportsroof. 1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Interior Walk-Through.

IMG_20150923_162001327_HDR

Lisa’s 1973 Mach I Restore!

By | | , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

I love it when a fellow car enthusiast shares their projects.

This is Lisa’s 1973 Mach 1

1973 Mach I

1973 Mach I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saved after sitting in a junk yard for 21 years.   WAY TO GO LISA!!!   Daunting project to be sure…but you GOT THIS!!!

Lisa73MachI-b Lisa73MachI-c

Lisa wrote:

“Thank you. That is the stock engine out of the original car. The car sat in a junk yard for 21 year before I got it, I thought for sure that it would be too far gone to do anything with but I was completely wrong. The fluids still looked new and once we had the engine out and sitting on a pallet, we rigged it so we could see if it would turn over and sure enough it did. Mine is also a 2v with a 4brl intake. ”
“I wanted to rebuild the engine as affordably as possible so the cam and lifters and the valve guides and seals are the only thing new other than the valve covers which I had to get because sand blasting the factory ones was pointless. The oil pan a friend of mine bought for me after I helped him install his transmission.”
My husband and I own a performance shop that also does machining and I was able to learn how to do the machining on my heads and block to save money on labor. I’ll definitely keep you posted as I progress. I hope you decide to get that mustang and restore it. I would love to see pictures.
You can definitely use my pictures on your blog.”

Here is the engine for Lisa Mach I.

So nicely done!!

Getting ready for some paint!!

Lisa73MachI-Engine2

So nicely done!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lisa, we are looking forward to seeing the progress on this beauty!!!

Oh…and google #ProjectSportsRoof or just stop by http://www.agcarrestoration.com/ and you can follow the progress on my 1973 Sports Roof.

Thanks again for sharing your project.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Exterior Walk-Around

Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof.  I run my car projects much like I run my IT projects.  You always have to know where to start and know the end game.   As with any project that isn’t being built from scratch, in other word, you have to work with what you’ve got, …

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression, Rods and Heads

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 the cylinders.  The 351C was running rough (to put it mildly) and smoked like a pile of tires on fire (only the smoke …

1973 Mustang Project Sportsroof – Engine Walk-Through.

Next up will be the install Pertronix system and cap and rotor, then plug and wires. Thanks for reading and drop me a note. Tim. #ProjectSportsRoof. projectsportsroof. 1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Interior Walk-Through.

 

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression, Rods and Heads

By | | , , , , , , , , ,
5 Comments

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 the cylinders.  The 351C was running rough (to put it mildly) and smoked like a pile of tires on fire (only the smoke was blue).  Clearly there were some issues.

Here are the links to the posts were you can view the compression tests – RIGHT BANK – LEFT BANK.

To summarize, the cylinders topped out like this:

Cylinder 1 (Left Bank) – 130

Cylinder 2 – 25, 35, 60, 90 (Fail!!!)

Cylinder 3 – 140

Cylinder 4 – 135

Cylinder 5 (Right Bank) – 160

Cylinder 6 – 155

Cylinder 7 – 160

Cylinder 8 – 140

Clearly cylinder 2 has a serious problem and it could a host of things.  Since it was so bad, I didn’t feel it necessary to conduct a wet test and just planned out pulling the heads.

Well the time came to get take care of that and it wasn’t long to disassembling that it was clear what was wrong with cylinder 2.

What the....?

What the….?

At first we thought…”Hey Cool!!! Extra parts!!” But of course that’s just not the case!!

Tappit-3

 No extra parts.

It couldn’t be that the tappet just rolled there. Something else has to be an issue.

Oh…maybe…one of these was the problem?

Rods

Ya Think???!!!

Close inspection of the piston in cylinder 2 showed no signs of impact. As it appears thus far, that the bottom end of the engine is in good shape and the compression numbers for all the other cylinders and we bolstered that assumption with a visual inspection.

Think the heads need to be rebuilt and machined?

That’s coming up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

IMG_20150923_162001327_HDR

 

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression Test Part I

Thanks for reading. Tim. #ProjectSportsRoof. projectsportsroof. 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.
1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression Test Part II

#ProjectSportsRoof. projectsportsroof. 1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression Test Part I. I’ve done all the clean up and all the adjustments necessary to get a good reading on the health of the ’72 351C engine in …

 

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof – Fender Fitment – Extensions I

By | | , , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

With still some adjustments need on the fenders, I need to tackle the fender extensions.   If you recall the first video at the beginning of the fender fitment series of post you can see that the there’s no way it will fit (view the link HERE).

As I fitted them up here is what the left site looked like (this is after the altering the hole):

 

Gap

Gap

Pretty large gap.

Pretty large gap.

The right side was better with almost no adjustments to the holes.

Not to bad right out of the box.

Not to bad right out of the box.

Almost acceptably gap

Almost acceptably gap.

This video clearly shows the difference in quality of the fenders.  Quality control measures are that great.

Clearly the right side was much better formed then the left.

With a little more adjustments with a body dolly I was able to close the gaps.

Thanks for reading.   Next up “What caused the compression issue?”

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof – Fender Fitment Part I

Nothing But Curves – Should have packed the Vette!!!!! Welcome back to Project Sports Roof (#ProjectSportsRoof). We stripped the old fender and retained all the usable parts. Next we are going to fit the new fenders up to the …

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Fender Removal

In case you didn’t notice, the fenders that were on #ProjectSportsRoof look as though car had driven into a half pipe at a skate park. Left Fender – major.

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof – Fender Fitment Part III

By | | , , , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof – the fender edition  (:^o).    Here is the next set videos that show the fenders on the 1973 Mustang.

 

There’s more coming up on the fender extensions but here is how the other fender fit.

 

The gaps need to be addressed with some shims  and a little persuasion, but these are going to be near perfect!!!!

 

Thanks for checking back in with the project.   Don’t forget to drop me a note.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof.

1973 ford mustang sportsroof

The Automobile and American Life: Cars in Film: A List

Gone in Sixty Seconds 1973 Ford Mustang Sportsroof “Eleanor”. Horatio’s Drive 1903 Winton. Iron Man 2008 Audi R8. Lawrence of Arabia 1920 Rolls Royce. Lemans 1970 Porsche 917K; 1970 Porsche 911S. Mad Max 1973 …