I begin discussing ALL the work that has to be done to #ProjectSR76 1976 Stingray. There’s a lot!! Spreadsheets are being created and mini projects planned out.
Of course, everything is subject to funding. As you know, Average Guys have Average Budgets. There is no magic number, but no corners are cut for safety.
I created an Eckler’s project and started adding my NEEDS for #SR76. The entire carpet package is $430.00. Which isn’t bad. But the roll of the looped black carpet was only about $30. Can I make it work? Well, you’ll be the second to know.
If you have an idea or have a comment make it here or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLWYRoUPd_SANVjRj77cwkw) or our FaceBook page.
Here is part of my discussion (with myself) on my To Do List:
We begin creating the list of thing that need attention on the 1976 Stingray. We start by inspecting the car. This video the interior.
Now you might have go to back ways in the list of posts and videos to find those showing the condition of my last project 1973 Mustang (#ProejctSR73) and the Vette is in much better shape the than the Stang. Vette is 90% better mechanically and 80% better interior wise then the 1973.
I grew up loving the C3 body styles. I share the same birth as the Corvette (although the brand is a bit older than I am) and 1976 was the year I graduated high school.
So take a look at the interior.
Thanks for checking and there’s lot more coming up.
Well it has been a while since I’ve updated readers on #ProjectSportsRoof and frankly there hasn’t been a lot going on.
As the regular readers know I do all the work I can on my car, when practical. This work happens in my driveway, which unfortunately has a rather steep slope.
You’ve seen the videos of my work pulling out the engine and the transmission and putting the engine back in and attempting to put the transmission back in.
I few weeks ago, after suffering from a huge bout of guilt for not working the Mustang, I attempted one more time to get the transmission reattached to the engine.
This endeavor, required me to put the car up a lot higher than normal on the stands, to get enough room to maneuver the trans and the transmission jack around. this was a huge mistake. After a few tries I decided to pull the transmission back out for under the car and wait for some help later in the week.
Everything went fine and the transmission was safely strapped to the transmission jack and rolled back into the garage. Since the car was lifted higher for the failed attempt, I decided to lower it back on to the ground. As I lifted the car with my floor jack, so I could remove one stand one of the remaining stands slipped from its place and the car dropped about 5″ on to the tires. This didn’t seem to be to dramatic of a fall until I noticed that the motor mounts had separate (broke to be frank).
That was depressing, to say the least and another set back. Of course this depression was compounded by the fact that I had very limited free time coming up to work on the car. I am a full-time Junior High teacher and I had just signed on to coach our boy’s basketball team which was a lot of fun (we when 10 -2 for the season) and very time-consuming.
I purchased the motor mounts and was attempting to schedule a couple of relatives to help out. That proved difficult.
So a relative mentioned a successful automotive shop that was opening a new location here in Tucson and I contacted them to see they wanted to tackle the engine and transmission re-install, build a custom drive shaft and add headers and exhaust. They looked it over and we agreed on the cost estimate.
So off she goes to get the complete drive training straighten out and hopefully back on the road soon.
There is still a lot of work to be done and as I get ready for my summer break from teaching, I should be able to but more time into it!!!
I have a lot more coming up on #ProjectBeepBeep as well.
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, …
If you look back at #ProjectSportsRoof post you’ll see the condition engine bay. During those videos I mentioned that I was going to clean it up and hit it with a rattle can. Again this isn’t going to be a concours restoration, it’s going to look nice and it’s going …
As I posted before, after a vigorous (not read ‘desperate’) I finally found my next personal project. The 1973 Mustang Sports Roof Fastback is what I settled on. Now we start the project that has been dubbed #ProjectSportsRoof (yes I find it necessary to use the ‘hash’). 1973 Mustang Color …
Ok so these were suppose to kick off while I’m over here in Italy, but they failed to post up, so I’m taking a few minutes to fix that. Oh well as long as I’m typing, here is my favorite Italian road sign: Welcome back to Project Sports Roof (#ProjectSportsRoof). We stripped …
In these next two videos, you’ll see just how ‘off’ these fenders are in some areas and surprisingly how well they fit in other areas. If you have an experience or a hit for anyone taking on this part of a restoration – drop a comment here and we’ll share them. https://youtu.be/Ga9EHbDpSfg https://youtu.be/FBKs7EG4kK0 Thanks …
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 …
Thanks for checking on #ProjectSportsRoof. So here is the last set of initial questions. Here is an image of the current set up: 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 …
I thought I’d take a minute and catch the readers up on #ProjectSportsRoof.
I wanted to touch up some of the engine bay components, horns, vacuum canister and battery tray. I didn’t want to alter some of these too much, I like having the numbers, logos and other info visible, not covered under a several layers of primer and paint. So these items were lightly sanded and then sprayed with primer and black engine paint.
Battery Tray – in the process of being sanded with dremel.
The horns were cleaned up with break cleaner then sanded by hand.
A lot of the paint just came off with the cleaning.
Horn in the process of being sanded.. Note the “LO” and other numbers. My goal is to keep them visible.
A coat of Eastwood Rust Encapsulator and then a primer coated applied – tried to keep the numbers, etc. visible.
A little more sanding and then some paint.
Vacuum Canister
Battery Tray and Horns
I think they came out O.K.
There is a quick video.
Coming up distributor install and transmission update.
If you look back at #ProjectSportsRoof post you’ll see the condition engine bay. During those videos I mentioned that I was going to clean it up and hit it with a rattle can. Again this isn’t going to be a concours restoration, it’s going to look nice and it’s going …
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 my 1973 Mustang. The next step is to check the compression. First up was to warm the car a bit and then pull the plugs. Here’s what the …
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 …
Luxstang Wrote: I’m starting to get fed up with the car. The more I do on it the more seems to fail. Replaced the upper and lower control arms a few weeks ago. Took it for an alignment yesterday and the guy tells me he can’t adjust camber on the passenger side.. Turns out the hole in the rear ex-center washer is round so it no longer adjusts the camber properly. (Ok, when I replaced the control arms I could have sworn that washer was ok otherwise I wouldn’t have put it back in….) Now I gotta wait for 2-3 days for a new set of screws with washers to arrive. I had the wheels powder coated (and posted a thread about it) and I don’t like them anymore. The 18 inch rims rub with the new tires, I gotta get new ones but I don’t really want to either. The rear windows are out of the car as I’m waiting for WCCC to fix my pancake motors, so no interior in the back at all. Plus yesterday a big chip of paint flew off the rear quarter extension. I’ll need to try my painting skills on that…. I wonder if I shouldn’t just leave everything and simply drive the car into the ground as a daily driver and call it a day.
Hang in there with the Mustang, Luxstang, it will be even sweeter when you get it done!!!
My 73 is my second Mustang restoration (70 was my first) and my third personal restoration in the last few years. I can attest that you do run in to those periods of time when it seems that the car just doesn’t want to be restored.
Heck I bought and drove the 73, maybe 5-6 times and it bent a rod and burned a valve. Had the heads redone. Drove it 3 or 4 more times and then discovered a bottom end knock had to tear down the entire engine and send it out for machining and rebuild. While trying to get it back together I ran into wiring problem and drive train problems. Don’t even get me started on the rusted floor pans (now complete).
I restored my ’84 Corvette and I will tell you, there were day when I felt just like Luxstang (by the way he’s in Luxembourg). The Vette was powered by the infamous Cross-Fire engine. So many problems with the fuel system and multiple injector rebuilds, it was enough to drive you crazy.
Many folks do give up, you can find thousands projects on the internet looking for a new home.
But before you quit, go to the forums for you car, like Luxstang did, you’ll get some encouragement and maybe even helpful suggestions for getting through those periods. Con some friends or neighbors to give a hand. I found that a good motivator is to have neighbors come and see your progress. I have one neighbor that loves to look at what I’ve done and another (Dan T.) who has even spend more than a few hours giving me a hand with some of the tasks.
Restoring a car is not much different then most things you tackle in life. If you hang in there and stick it out to the end, it will be rewarding.
As with most car guys, I have an active eye for cool cars. I could be walking down the street or driving anywhere and spot a cool car that needs it’s picture taken.
Last Sunday was one of those days. Driving past a gas station that I drive by every day my “cool car spidey senses” kicked in and I had to stop.
The cars were there supporting the opening of a local hair and nail salon. Now I’m not one for gets his nails done…but if they can keep cool car set up out side…I’m might might stop in for a perm!! (If I start growing hair again!!!)
Take a look at the cars that showed up.
Love this line up!!! Reverse opening door on this coupe!!!
Love this rod!!!!
No bright work on this 40’s era car. Great lines for this coupe!
Check out the painted steel wheels…Love that look!
This T-Bird is in original condition.
Love that 390 Engine!
All original ’57 T-bird – 312 engine in awesome condition and it’s driven.
This was my favorite. (No not the SUV) It’s the ’69 Ford Ranchero Fairlane 500 (yes that’s a real thing!)
Love the stripes!!
Interior is as it was when it rolled out of the factory – radio delete, no A/C.
I have to say I loved the 69 Ranchero Fairlane 500. It had the 351C engine. I spoke with the owner who has several classic cars and really loves them, in particular, this Ranchero. I understand why!!!
Wow where has 2014 gone?! It’s almost Oct!!!! But that’s a good thing here in the southwest, because that means its peak car show season and there “ain’t” nothing better than that!!! Being a veteran car show participant, both as a spectator and entrant, I attend many hot, dusty car shows …
It’s monsoon season in Tucson and hence we are in a drought as far as car shows go. So today was a great day – clear blue skies, with thunder storm beginning to pop up over the mountains (yes we have mountains in Az). My son is a photographer and I’m …
I kid you not…this is one of the most enjoyable car shows. You get to park your classic, muscle, racer, import or special purpose vehicle on the grass (yeah…lots of it) – no nasty dirt or melting tar parking areas. Grab that blanket out your trunk and spread out …
It’s always cool to catch a car show when you are traveling.
This past week (Super Bowl Sunday) while visiting family in Alpharetta, Ga, (just outside of Atlanta) I got the chance to ride into the ‘big’ city and take in the event – Thanks Brian!!
There often more than 1500 cars on the first Sunday of every month and even though it was cold and damp (and it being Super Bowl Sunday and the home town team was playing) there were a lot of cars!!!
We got there as it was starting to break up but there were still a lot of cars. Here’s a few pics.
Take a look at this awesome creation. Built on a C4 Corvette body to best look like a 1957 Chevy!
Check out this Nissan!!! It’s power plant is in the next pic.
Nice straight six!!!!
Nice custom ride!!
Here is a great look for a Road Runner.
No one standing around new anything about the car.
I wasn’t even able to scratch the surface. There were rows of Mustangs and Corvettes, long with 100’s of European and Japanese high-end rides and not all of them ‘stock’.
Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. My goal to get the engine by Christmas is in jeopardy, so I need to get cranking on getting it all back together.
There’s been a few set back – like losing a couple of bolts that had to be ordered. A career change has slowed me down some as well. But I’d like to have the engine in by Christmas and driving it by the end of Jan. 2017.
So, as my self-imposed deadlines are coming fast, I picked up with the adjusting the lifters. Here how that looked:
These will have to be adjusted several times when after it’s run a bit.
Coming up next I have to put the intake on, carb, distributor, fuel pump, so check back and see the progress. Grab my feed and you’ll get notified when I up date the progress.
If you look back at #ProjectSportsRoof post you’ll see the condition engine bay. During those videos I mentioned that I was going to clean it up and hit it with a rattle can. Again this isn’t going to be a concours restoration, it’s going to look nice and it’s going …
Oct 22, 2016 … I didn’t purchase the window sticker for 1970 Mustang but I did for # ProjectSportsRoof. Check it out: 1973 Mustang SportsRoof Window Sticker.
I’ve mentioned a few times here on Average Guy’s Car Restoration the great work that Marti Auto Works does to help car owners discover information about their Mustangs and other Fords that are important to being able to restore the cars and even help establish a value. They own the rights to the Ford databases and records prior to 1974 (some models up to 1989). These guys have everything..I mean everything. Give them the VIN number and they’ll pile on the data (it’s not free but very reasonable). They are authorized by Ford to reproduce window stickers and Protector Plates (identification plates that go on the inside door jamb) and more.
I didn’t purchase the window sticker for 1970 Mustang but I did for #ProjectSportsRoof. Check it out:
1973 Mustang SportsRoof Window Sticker.
That’s pretty cool but if you want the coolest thing (in my opinion) that they offer it is this:
The original Invoice!!!
This is the original – THE ORIGINAL – not a copy, not a reproduction – but the original – complete with pen/pencil marks and water stains – tucked way in a folder – invoice for my car. That is beyond awesome. The edges of the form didn’t make it into the scan but it all there.
The fact that it still exist is unbelievable and that I was able to purchase was great. It’s a great piece to have and I couldn’t appreciate the folks at Marti Auto Works more!!!!!
Check out the cost of 10 gallons of gas – $4.00!!!
Thanks for reading
Tim
You can find Marti Auto Works @ http://www.martiauto.com/
While the block is out for machining I can turn my attention to one of the MANY other sub-projects on #ProjectSportsRoof. If you’ve followed the blog you know …
Welcome back. This post will show you the removal main bearings for the crank for 351 Cleveland.
You’ll notice that I’ve added some captions correcting some of my theories like there’s seems to be plenty of oil getting around the bearing and the crank. Of course because it’s happening now, or was happening just before removing the engine that doesn’t mean it’s ‘always’ had oil flowing properly. Take a good look at the bearing when I remove them and see what you think.
I’m going to guess that prior to having the heads being done, based I what I see on the mains, there was some oil issue, rather major oil issues. You recall the valve issue on the #2 cylinder?
Oh!!!!
In the next two posts I’ll be removing and taking a look at the pistons and then we’ll inspect the crank, so keep an eye out for those.
The 351 Cleveland is out of #ProjectSportsRoof. Yeah…I know!! It seemed like to took forever!!! Seems longer since I have driven it in months. Now if you missed …
