1973 Mustang – Project Sportsroof – Leaks, Pertronix & Leaks! Part I

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As I march down the dark path that is the diagnostic process to find out the health of the 351 Cleveland, the first steps are to clean up a few leaks (mainly so it doesn’t bleed fluids all over the garage floor and driveway) and replace the points and condenser with a Petronix system.

If you are not familiar Petronix it’s a simple electronic ignition system (as compared with a MSD electronic ignition system) that keeps your car looking stock, as it all tucks under the distributor cap.

First I need to trouble a few leaks.  If you wonder why I’m whispering in the any of the video it’s because to avoid the 100 plus temps I get started early.

Of course the power steering has nothing to do with the engine, but it is substantial and annoying.  As a side note, when is a garage not a garage?  When it’s the most used entry way into your home.   Hence the desire to tackle these leaks before  move the Mustang under cover.  Of course I can put something on the floor but you know as well as I do, that doesn’t matter, because one of the unpublished laws of physics, that goes something like  “Car fluids defy all published laws of physics and go where the hell they want.”

Here is the power steering cleaned up a bit.

We'll see if leaks again. On to the next leak!

We’ll see if it leaks again. On to the next leak!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now we’ve got one more leak to take care of and that is the valve covers. Check it out:

 

I’ll get Part II post up here shortly.  I’m breaking it up as too many videos tend to slow the loading on the page.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

pertronix ignition projectsportsroof

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – What are You Gonna …

I get a lot of questions on just what I’m going to do with the Sports Roof. Some of those are posed as inquires of interest and others can be interpreted as “What the.

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof

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.

1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Interior Walk-Through

Welcome back to the #ProjectSportsRoof. As the discovery process continues we move to the interior. Now each area of the car (engine, body, interior,

 

 

 

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – What are You Gonna Do?

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I get a lot of questions on just what I’m going to do with the Sports Roof.  Some of those are posed as inquires of interest and others can be interpreted as “What the hell were you thinking when you bought that!!!”.   Truth is I don’t have that all planned out yet and the direction can change base on the results of the discovery process.

It would be very difficult to produce something horrifying if you stick to the bare bones of the car.  There may be some catastrophic cause such as the 351 Cleveland not being able to perform up to par.  That would allow for a host of different directions, such as bringing it back to originality by installing a slightly beefed up 302 or dropping a monster crate engine in, maybe even a conversion to a manual 4 speed.  There is always a ripple effect – carb changes, exhaust changes (it just isn’t loud enough now) and more.  Having plan set in stone is not in the cards for this project at this point.

Here is what I can tell you.  The car will be returned the factory color Bright Red.  The interior will be redone most likely with kits from TMI kits and back to stock, with Dynamat as sound and heat barrier.  A/C will be re-installed.  There will be changes to the wheels for sure and everything else will be as stock as can be.

So number one priority is to shake down the Cleveland and go from there.  That is where we start and the next few posts will cover getting the 351 to run a well as it can – removing the little things that can impact functionality.  For example, removing the points and condenser and replacing with Pertronix system, new distributor cap, rotor, plugs and wires and tackle the vacuum system (NIGHMARE!!).

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#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 video…a slight improvement.

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 – 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, …

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof

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.

1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Interior Walk-Through

Welcome back to the #ProjectSportsRoof. As the discovery process continues we move to the interior. Now each area of the car (engine, body, interior,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Ford Mustang Shelby GT350Rs Roll Off The Line At Flat Rock Plant

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2,633 views Aug 21, 2015
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It’s a great week for muscle car fans all around the country as the Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] has started building customer examples of the new Mustang Shelby GT350 and GT350Rs. The cars are built at the same Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan responsible for the standard Mustang and the first ones off the line are actually 2015 models.

Just 137 of these ’15 models are being built to honor the original 1965 Shelby GT350 built by Shelby American—100 GT350s and 37 GT350Rs—and no doubt all of them are accounted for. Once this initial batch of cars is built, Ford will switch over to 2016 models that will be built and sold in higher volumes. Deliveries commence this fall.

Chase the source link for the rest of the press release:

Source: First Ford Mustang Shelby GT350Rs Roll Off The Line At Flat Rock Plant

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#AGCarRestoration

Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang Pricing Leaked, Starting Under $50k

The folks at Mustang6g have gotten ahold of the pricing for the 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang and it is much lower than we expected, with pricing beginning under $50k for the GT350 while the GT350R starts just over $60k – making the new GT350 …
2016 Shelby GT350R Allegedly Laps ‘Ring in 7:32.19, 5 Sec Faster Than Camaro Z/28

Official 2016 Shelby GT350R specs are not available at this time, but early speculations believe the GT350R will use the same 5.2-liter flat-plane-crank V8 motor as the standard Shelby GT350 and will make identical power as well. However, the beauty of …

1973 Mustang Project Sportsroof – Engine Walk-Through.

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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 video…a slight improvement over the earlier attempts.)

As you can see there’s work to be done.  Below is a quick video on the cap/rotor/points and condenser.

While taking a look at the plugs, I discovered a good use for Rewards Cards.

 

There you have a quick overview and a little insight in to what needs to be done.  I think I’ve talked my self in to keeping the 351C, even though it’s not original to the car and a year older, I just like the idea of a period 351C – yup a re-manufactured is a an option, but let’s see what this is looks like first.  Your thoughts?

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

Welcome back to the #ProjectSportsRoof. As the discovery process continues we move to the interior. Now each area of the car (engine, body, interior,
1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof

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.
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, …
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 mach i

Carbonear car show concludes on successful — and loud — note

Wade Hiscock of Carbonear poses in front of his impressive 1973 Mach I Fastback Ford Mustang. It was one of three vehicles Hiscock had on display as this weekend’s Shine and Show in Carbonear. Hiscock moved back to Carbonear last year after 26 years …

 

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Money!!

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No I’m not going to ask for donations…although….well…nah!   HEY…maybe a Go Fund My Ford website?  Well if any parts house (@NPDLink – you guys rock), restoration supplies or tool distributors send something – even a t-shirt, I’ll post up an ad on AGCarRestoration.com for you, heck I’ll wear the shirt during one my unprofessional videos!!!  Um…not that I’m doing anything unprofessional….just not a professionally produced videos.

Seriously now, I was asked to day – thanks Bill for reminding me that I should touch on this – what my budget is for this project.  My real answer is I don’t have one.  Not…”I don’t have one” as in it’s unlimited – remember average guy, average budget – more like “I don’t have one” as in “I don’t know where that moneys coming from” .

I didn’t set a budget with my 1970 Mustang, things just happened and I went with it.

1970 Mustang Mods for 300 HP

1970 Mustang
Mods for 300 HP

It will be the same with this project.  #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 what it costs.  I’m not going to flip the car – this one is a keeper.  (So was my 1970, up to a certain dollar amount.)

This project is different than the ’70 Stang, I want this one to be more of my work than the ’70 was – although I did a lot of work on that beast.   This project will be at a slower pace, I think, than the 1970. (If you recall the the ’70 Stang was helped along by the fact that driving a 6 cylinder (250CID – with 159,000 miles) with the A/C on was like peddling a bike up the Washington Monument and the young kid who was to busy entertaining his GF to stop behind me at a red stoplight.

This one will be different.

Like this? Maybe.

Like this? Maybe.

Coming up tomorrow will be the 351C walk-around (actually performed that a couple of days ago, but videos were…bad!!  I even lost the first segment).

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof

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.
1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Interior Walk-Through

Welcome back to the #ProjectSportsRoof. As the discovery process continues we move to the interior. Now each area of the car (engine, body, interior,
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, …

 

 

1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Interior Walk-Through

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Welcome back to the #ProjectSportsRoof.   As the discovery process continues we move to the interior.   Now each area of the car (engine, body, interior, undercarriage) I’m conducting an inventory, gathering all items that need to be replaced or missing and the work that needs to be done.

Here is a quick run through the interior:

 

Just a note:  I not a camera guy, these are filmed with my Android (sometimes my IPhone) so these are the greats shots.  But they will be improving as I learn the art of digital editing.

From these videos I’ll end up with a list of everything – discovered (there will me more).  From this list, I’ll be able to build the project plan and with tasked ordered in what is hopefully a logical approach, with the goal of keeping it on the road as much as possible.

Thanks for reading and please feel free to drop a comment or two.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

projectsportsroof

Unusual Dash Configuration, 1971? – 7173MUSTANGS.com

I pulled this dash cluster from a 1973 Mustang Sportsroof that was in a junkyard in 1980. The car had the three center gauges in the mini cluster but had no Tach. Instead it had this clock with a brake warning light in the pod …
1973 Mustang Mach 1: Boss In The Background – Barn Finds

Related Finds. 1973 Mustang SportsRoof 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Under Tarp 1970-mustang-boss-302 1970 Boss 302 · Get Email Updates! Instant Daily Weekly. Categories. Stories · Sightings · Our Projects · Events …

1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Exterior Walk-Around

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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, the final goals may change based on what you start out with.  So here at the beginning an inventory of what we have and what is need is necessary.

This is the part of the project where the list of To-Do’s begins.  Although these videos are short, I did spend significant time looking  over each section of the car.  From this I’ll come up with a parts list and then tasks list.

Keep in mind that I intend to this to be a driving project – keeping it on the road while it’s being restored (we’ll see how that works out).

As you can see the body is in pretty good shape over all.  But there is still a lot of work ahead.

Let me know your opinions, drop a comment.

Next up will be an inventory of the interior.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

#Mach1

1973 mustang sportsroof

Best Collection of Ford Mustang (1964-2015) | iHay Blog

1973 Mustang Sportsroof. 1974–1978 Mustang II. 1985–1986 Ford Mustang GT. 1989 Ford Mustang Convertible. 1999 Mustang GT side view. 2007–2009 Ford Mustang GT/CS convertible. 2010 Ford Mustang GT. 2014 Mustang Convertible …

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof

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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 Code 2B.

1973 Mustang Color Code 2B.

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 and the key to that is knowing what you are starting with.   As with any project that isn’t being built from scratch, in other word, you have to work with what you’ve got, the final goals may change based on what you start out with and/or find later.   To help reduce the surprises, there will always be something that pops up unexpectedly, it’s a good idea to  begin with an inventory of what we have and what is needed and a logical starting point. We (as in me and you the reader) are at the beginning of the project.

Coming up next are the a few videos (maybe on only three, never sure, since the camera guy and I are one in the same) will be my first inspection.

Please feel free to interject via a comment or an email, always welcome the discussions.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

 

1973 mustang sportsroof

Mach 1 Interior: 1973 Mustang SportsRoof – Barn Finds

1973 Mustang SportsRoof. If Mach 1 Mustangs have gotten a little too pricey for you, may I suggest a less flashy fastback like this? The 351 under the hood isn’t as powerful as the top-of-the-line Cobra Jet, but it’s the same …

New Personal Project – 1973 Mustang

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With the near completion of a customer’s project (1975 Model 110 VW) and the beginning of another customer’s Jensen Interceptor, I’ve finally completed my search for my next personal project.

Having recently completed and sold my 1984 Corvette and my 1970 Mustang, I’ve found my next project.

IMG_20150808_113458040

Introducing “Project SR”.  It is a 1973 Mustang Sports Roof.   The VIN breakdown looks like this:

Born:  April 1973 in Dearborn, MI (Code F)

Body Series: 02 Sports Roof  Code:  63D

Engine F Code – 302 2V V8

Color Code 2B – Bright Red

Trim Code GA – Black All Vinyl, Mach 1 Luxury

Axle Code:  8 – 3.00:1 gearing

Transmission Code:  W – C4 Automatic

DSO – Originally delivered to dealership in Omaha, Ne. and then shipped to Arizona(??)

That’s how it left the factory, however, that is not how it’s sits today.  Here’s a little back ground.

Project “SR” is a rescue project for the second time.  The first ‘known’ attempt was by the immediate previous owner.  Pulled from a junk yard by father/son combo for salvation.  This team has spent some meaningful time on this project.  As the factory codes show the car was powered by 302 2V as built.   When the father/son team pulled it out of the desert sun, it had 351 cid engine that was seized.  That is how is end up with the current 351 2v from a 1972 Mustang.  Putting the power to the rear wheels as it drove off the assembly line was a C4 automatic transmission, after all these years it now has a C6 automatic. Front end was completed by the team and then a couple fateful fender benders (both front fender on different days) and a desire to build a rat-rod had led this ‘Stang to it’s new home – my drive way!

Why pick this particular car out of the thousands I’ve viewed online and 30 or so I’ve looked over?  Well, I have a thing for Mustangs (and Corvettes) and this one is significant.   It is the last year for the big Mustangs as the 1974 models were…..um…..different.   What’s more the Code 63D Sports Roof/Fastback has a limited production for the 3 years is was offered.   1971 shows a production number of for the 63D 23,956 units, 1972 end with 15,622 Sports Roof examples and 1973  bottoms out the list with only 10,820 units – that is less than production of convertibles.  So out of the total Mustang unit produced of just over 518,000 for 1971-1973 only 53,358 63D’s were produced.  So you have last year production for the big bodied Mustangs and for the 63D and the lowest production.

So we are going to have some fun restoring this one and my followers on WordPress, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and a couple more will be able to keep up.  Search on #ProjectSR.

Over the next few weeks I’ll do a project shake down that will uncover what it needs which will help me arrive and what I want to accomplish with this beauty.   Follow along and I’d love to hear your thoughts,  suggestions, hints and tips.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSR

 

1973 mustang sportsroof1973 mustang sportsroof

Ford Mustang

A 1973 Mustang Sportsroof
Mach 1 Interior: 1973 Mustang SportsRoof – Barn Finds

1973 Mustang SportsRoof. If Mach 1 Mustangs have gotten a little too pricey for you, may I suggest a less flashy fastback like this? The 351 under the hood isn’t as powerful as the top-of-the-line Cobra Jet, but it’s the same …

AUTO FACTOIDS & C.N.N for Week of 7/26/2015 – Studebaker to Viper

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Kaiser-Fraser formed July 26, 1945 – The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation was the result of a partnership between automobile executive Joseph W. Frazer and business man Henry  J. Kaiser. In 1947, the company acquired the automotive assets of Graham-Paige.  Interesting enough, Kaiser had no automotive business experience.   In 1953 the company became just Kaiser and a few years later acquired Willy-Overland company.

This how Henry J's originally appeared

This how Henry J’s originally appeared

This often how you see them today!!

This often how you see them today!!

Studebaker-Packard and Curtis-Wright management agreement on  July 27,  1956 – Found this tidbit and wonder if maybe Studebaker/Packard in an attempt save a sinking ship wanted to use Curtis-Wright’s rotor engine.

Nash Motors incorporated on July 29, 1916 – Nash Motor Company as founded by Charles Nash when he purchased a company called Jeffery Company which made a car called the Rambler.  I bet you can guess what came eventually  American Motors and their Rambler.  Shots below are from ones I took at the Good Guys Regional here in AZ

Nash American Rambler

Nash American Rambler

Engine Bay

Engine Bay
GG15NashRam-2

Great looking interior

Great looking interior

The "N"

The “N”

Buick buys Caddy  on  July 29, 1909 – In what was the early formation of General Motors, Buick Motor Company purchased Cadillac.  Under the tutelage of  William C. Durant Cadillac was the only brand that allowed to carry GM’s luxury car title, the others would share platform and be given “economic class” designations.

Henry Ford Born on July 30, 1863 – He was born in Greenfield Township, Michigan.  His dad (William) was English, but born in Ireland and his mother (Mary)was born in Michigan. Commonly thought of as inventor of the assembly line, which in truth was Ransom Olds (Oldsmobile fame), but was the first to mass produce affordable cars for the public.  He didn’t start out as a car guy, but a farmer and ran a lumber mill.  After that he became an engineer for Edison Illumination Company.

henry ford

July 31, 1911 GM shares go on sale.

 

 CNN – Car News Now

The new 2016 Scion is news.  Looking a lot like a Ford the iA and iM are both under $20k.   The iA has a 1.5 liter engine with 106 hp and the iM has 1.8 liter power plant with 137 hp.  Both have 6 speed transmissions.  While under 3ooo lbs (iM just under at 2943lb curb weight) they but down 0-60 number you would expect – 10 seconds and 9.5 seconds respectively.

Scion iM

Scion iM

 

Have you seen the new Dodge Viper?   The ARC is going to top the pricing scale at near $120k. With that you’ll get the V10 power plant and a mere 645 hp.

The ACR

The ACR

Thanks for reading.

Tim

You can find all the Auto Factoids by search on #AutoFactoids.

Dodge’s most extreme Viper, the 2016 ACR, is here

Dodge isn’t sitting on its laurels with the two Hellcats in its stable. In fact, the brand is doubling down on speed with the 2016 Viper ACR. ACR stands for American Club Racing, and it means the most extreme Viper built for public roads is slithering …