Category Archives: Restro-Mods

73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Tear Down Video 6 – Mains and Pistons Part 1

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

We are getting to the good stuff.  We’ll be looking at the bearings, piston, crank and cam in the next few posts.  I’ll be able to determine what was causing the knocking in the bottom end  and  if the 351 Cleveland in #ProjectSportsRoof is going to make it.

So I’m starting with removing the mains.  Now I started early to avoid the heat here in Southern AZ.  Doing so I had to also be a bit considerate of my neighbors. So the garage door is closed as the compressor is loud – and there’s just no good way to loosen the mains while on a stand without an impact wrench or air ratchet.  So I loosened up all the bolts on the mains and fatefully the first set of bolt on piston rod (just to see if I needed the impact wrench).

 

There’s a few of things to keep in mind with contradict a few of my comments during the next few videos. First it seems that the bottom end of the Cleveland has never been apart. The piston rods are original Ford part with the Ford logo and Ford date code (in this case the rod are all “D0” indicated 1970 – which is not a stretch to find them in a 1972 engine) and I’m assuming the piston themselves are as well.  Second is the fact that I haven’t torn an engine apart since in over 35 years so I’m not an expert.  Third, I mention that there appears to have been ample oil flow at the time of tear down, but that might not have always been the case (like when the valve was not operating) – you’ll see the relevance of that qualification coming up.

Coming up in the next post is a good look at the main bearings.

Thanks for reading and drop me your comments and thoughts.  Love to hear from you.

Tim

20160722_165829

Mains and Crank

1973 Mustang 351 Cleveland Tear Down Part 1

Aug 13, 2016 … Welcome back to the 1973 Mustang project dubbed: #ProjectSportsRoof. We have the 351 Cleveland out and now I’m going to begin …

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

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 …

 

Fords on 4th Ave Continued II

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

Although the newer Mustang are awesome, you still can’t be the those of the 60’s and early 70’s, you just can’t!

Check out these fine specimens!!

DSC_0011

Nicely restored 289

DSC_0041

#IWantOne of these G.T. 350’s

DSC_0078

Riding low – Nice custom

DSC_0117

#IWantOne of these GT 500 (1967)

DSC_0120

GT 500 (1967) Scoope-ville

DSC_0121

Original interior – You don’t often see the steering wheel!!!

DSC_0123

In case the 1967 GT 500 is a little rough riding, try the new version!

DSC_0132

 

DSC_0142 DSC_0147

 

The Fox bodies had a few beauties as well.

Hard to tell from this photo but this was done in matte yellow.

Hard to tell from this photo but this was done in matte yellow.

Nice and nicer with NOS

Nice and nicer with NOS

Awesome!!

Awesome!!

 

This car show was primarily put on by the Southern Arizona Mustang Club (SAMC) and although there was a higher percentage of Mustang, a few other Fords showed.  Those are coming up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

soutern arizona mustang club

4th Of July 2014 Celebrations Around Southern Arizona …

The Southern Arizona Mustang Club showcases their vehicles from 7-9:00 p.m.. FC Tucson 4th of July Kino Sports Complex, 2500 E. Ajo Way, Tucson 85713. Game starts at 7:30 p.m.. Fireworks start 30 minutes after the game …

Video: A 1964 Tempest Gets Fed The Eye Of The Storm With Vortech – Street Legal TV

By | | , , , , ,
Leave a comment

This is a fantastic car.  Follow the link below on Street Legal TV.

 

1964 Monster Tempest

1964 Monster Tempest

 

Many of the people we come across tell us they’ve had their car for a long time, and that time frame is just barely into double digits. But Paul Minore from Orange, Connecticut, has surpassed many of those people three-fold. His 1964 Pontiac LeMans was purchased right out of high school and has been in his possession for 32 years now. It wasn’t new at the time, with some 18 years under its belt already, but he had plans for it.PM-Tempest09While most people know the musclecar-era LeMans as an A-body, it began as the Y-body Tempest, a sub-compact car that was shared with Buick and Oldsmobile in the early 1960s. Pontiac’s designer du jor from that decade was none other than John DeLorean, who had a hand in making the early Tempest a bit more unique than its Buick and Olds cousins.

via Video: A 1964 Tempest Gets Fed The Eye Of The Storm With Vortech – Street Legal TV.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

326/3-Speed 1964 Pontiac LeMans Coupe | Bring a Trailer

2) The tail lights and rear trim are from a 1964 Tempest Custom. 3) The paint code says the original paint was Alamo Beige (however Sunfire was available in 1964) 4) The trim code says it was originally a saddle interior.

Road Tripping – Cars – Lowell, Az – Part II

By | | , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Ok…a little bit ago I started this article (http://wp.me/p2YxYx-1A1) and I just found it again and realized that I’ve never finished it – sorry    🙁    .

So here we go with more info on the cool little town that spans only about 5 blocks.

As the story goes this was set up by a fellow who was one of the organizers of the mega motorcycle event ever.  Sturgis!!!

You can tell that by some of the items on display in the store window displays.  He has a working custom bike shop there but it wasn’t open when we were there.  Check these bikes out:

Yes, Indian Motor cycles

Yes, Indian Motor cycles

IMG_0061

And Harley (this is the sign outside the working cycle shop)

But those are just signs.  How about these?!?!?!?!!

This Indian racer has been well restored.

This Indian racer has been well restored.

IMG_0049

IMG_0050

Great paint on this beauty.

This BMW is next on the list for restoration.

This BMW is next on the list for restoration.

And I had to show you this one:

Indian wall sign restored

Indian wall sign restored

Notice the missing "R"

Notice the missing “R”

More coming up on Lowell. (No seriously….I will finish it up!!)

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

 

BRIGHT HOT ROD RUN 2012 SATURDAY

By | | , , , , ,
Leave a comment

BRIGHT HOT ROD RUN 2012 SATURDAY.

 

 

 

 

 

I reblog this site all the time.  Love the photography!!

http://crcooperphotography.wordpress.com/2012/11/18/bright-hot-rod-run-2012-saturday/

 

Tim

The First Iron Invasion Heats Up The Cold North

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

The First Iron Invasion Heats Up The Cold North.

 

http://www.rodauthority.com

 

Just about anyone can put together a car show; just throw a few flyers in car windows and tell people where to be. You are bound to have a couple cars show up. However, it takes a whole lot more than that to create an extravaganza that everyone from around the country hears about and is willing to cruise cross-country to attend.

 

 

Read more at www.hotrodauthority.com

 

Tim

 

Steve Strope 1965 Mustang Ford Design Award Winner SEMA 2012 – Hot Rod Magazine Blog

By | | , , , , , , , , , , , ,
3 Comments

Steve Strope 1965 Mustang Ford Design Award Winner SEMA 2012 – Hot Rod Magazine Blog.

1965_Steve_Strope_Mustang_Pure_Vision

 

Is this the best Ford at SEMA?  SEMA gave the Ford Design award to Steve Strope’s ’65 Mustang rally car. “I wanted to imagine what if Martini Racing was involved with Ford,” said Steve at the press conference at SEMA 2012. This re-imagined race car was introduced at SEMA 2012.

1965 Steve Strope Mustang Pure Vision FORD LOTUS Indy Engine 650x433 image