Stairway To Car Doors

It seems that car culture here in Arizona is everywhere.  (Or is it just me?)  I always have my eye peeled for cool cars and car artifacts, I’m sure my wife thinks I need therapy, sometimes they pop up in surprising places.

In a recent trip to the cool Southern Arizona town of Bisbee – which is right next door to Lowell, AZ (check out my post –  click – Road Tripping – Cars – Lowell, Az. we ran across something unique.

Bisbee is a mining town build, mostly, on the side of a mountain.  One of its main attractions are the many stairs that you can climb to reach different street levels.

So many stairs that they hold the Bisbee 1000 – The Great Stair Climb annually an it’s a big deal!!

Stairs!!!

Stairs!!!

Well the stairs we claimed only number 181 and well.. they are pretty steep.  As we climbed I had to stop twice…to view the follow….not because I was winded…much!!!

Check these out these yard gates:

img_20161008_122107666 img_20161008_122228266

Cool!!!

Thought I’d share these.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1000+ images about Lowell AZ on Pinterest | Bisbee Arizona …

Road Tripping – Cars – Lowell, Az – The Lost Blog Posts http:/. Save … Downtown Lowell, Az Road Tripping – Cars – Lowell, Az – Part I http://wp.me/p2YxYx-1A1 …
The XP 798 Firebird concept Auto Factoids for the Week of 2/22 …

… StagedPeriod CorrectPostboxGas Pump Gasoline Pump Petrol Pump. Road Tripping – Cars – Lowell, Az – The Lost Blog Posts http://wp.me/p2YxYx-1An …

1973 Mustang Heater Box Part 3

Thanks for checking in on #ProjectSportsRoof.  I’m working on the heater box and it is now out from under the dash.

Although the box was easy to remove, unfortunately that might have been because the two brackets that hold the unit to the firewall were broken and dropped down only hanging by the A/C block still sticking through slot in the firewall.

Take a look:

 

 The rust isn’t too bad.  I’ll clean that up and see how much damage exist, cut out what I can and make a patch for it.   You can clearly see the condition of the brackets and the box.

Coming up next I attempt the repairs.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

newprimedhood

 

Average Guy’s Car Restorations, Mods, and Racing

… Box Part 2 https://www.average-guys-car-restoration-mods-racing.com/1973- mustang-heater-box-part-2/ · http://wp.me/p2YxYx-4ZS. Tagged: ProjectSportsRoof.
73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Rebuild – Removal 2 – YouTube

Jul 27, 2016 Prepping the engine and engine bay for removing #ProjectSportsRoof power plant.
classic ford mustang | Tumblr

Thanks checking back in with the 1973 Mustang (#ProjectSportsRoof). I’m moving right along with getting the progress on the 351C tear down posted up.
Classic Cars / Car Projects / Car Shows – Your Car/Truck Projects …

Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. With the floor pans welding, sealing and coating finished the next step was to apply the heat and sound barrier. This is …
restored-cars | Tumblr

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 …

1973 Mustang Heater Box Part 2

I’m finishing the labeling of the components for the heater box before I pull it out.  These videos help with replacing any “left over” parts and memory joggers.

Unfortunately I did discover an area of rust and that is never a good thing!!!

Take a look:

 

 

Coming up next the box comes out and we take a good look at it.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

newprimedhood

classic ford mustang | Tumblr

Thanks checking back in with the 1973 Mustang (#ProjectSportsRoof). I’m moving right along with getting the progress on the 351C tear down posted up.
73 Mustang 351C is Out – YouTube

Aug 9, 2016 Finally #ProjectSportsRoof gives up it engine. Thanks to my neighbor Dan Thomas for helping me getting this out.
Classic Cars / Car Projects / Car Shows – Your Car/Truck Projects …

Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. With the floor pans welding, sealing and coating finished the next step was to apply the heat and sound barrier. This is …

1973 Mustang Heater Box Part 1

Maybe one of the worse task to tackle on a car is the heater core.  In particular on some older cars.  In most cases you have to remove the entire dash.   I know this because when the heater core sprung a leak in my 1974 Cobra Jet Torino, I didn’t have the time to fix it.  I took it to a shop and the cost was hefty.

Since I’m doing a lot more of my own work on #ProjectSportRoof and I’m going to dive in and replace the heater core and like the Torino it is an A/C car.

Now the goal is to attempt to remove the box without taking the entire dash out – that is a huge time sync and it leads down the road of ” since I have it out, I might as well  fix…”.

I refer to the heater box as the portion to the right of the blower, there are some references that include the blower as well.  There are only 3 bolts holding the heater box in place, two are behind the unit and poke through the firewall and one is in the front.  I’m hoping the rest is just getting it in the right angle to pull it out.

I don’t have a camera guy only a small tri-pod  that I can set in limited flat spots and record what I can.

HINT:   Remove the passenger seat, it sure does help.

Here we go:

 

Coming up we’ll take a close look at the box, access what needs to be done.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

newprimedhood

 

73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Tear Down Video 7 – Mains and Pistons …

Aug 25, 2016 Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. This the beginning of rebuild of the 351 Cleveland for the 73 Mustang. 73 Mustang 351 Cleveland …
Average Guy’s Car Restorations, Mods, and Racing

Tagged: ProjectSportsRoof. Source: … Tagged: ProjectSportsRoof · 22nd September 2016 … Thanks for continuing to follow #ProjectSportsRoof. The 351 …
collectors cars | Tumblr

The 351 Cleveland is out of #ProjectSportsRoof. Yeah…I know!! It seemed like to took … Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. I’m getting ready to pull the 351C …
73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Rebuild – Removal 2 – YouTube

Jul 27, 2016 Prepping the engine and engine bay for removing #ProjectSportsRoof power plant.

projectsportsroof

 

 

 

73 Mustang 351C Rebuild – Tear Down’s Final Conclusion

Thanks for continuing to follow #ProjectSportsRoof.   The 351 Cleveland has been torn down and you’ve seen the major components and their deplorable condition and it is time now to get it to the machine shop.

It’s not easy finding a good shop.  While I was hunting around for a machinist I asked a few car guys I know for suggestions and found the two that were recommended were out of business.  That is not uncommon.  It is often times more expedient to just drop in a crate  or re-manufactured engine (long or short block) and that’s tough to compete against.  I was concerned that I’d have to transport the 351C block 100 miles away to check get the work done.

While I was searching for a shop, I was simultaneously search for a re-man’ed long or short block.  Of course I was specifically looking for a closely date code 351C and I was told that those blocks are not plentiful.   I took my local search to the hot rod shops (by hot rod shops I mean, shops that sell hot rod parts) in town and the shop I chose was recommended by several.  I double checked the review that were available and these guys have a very good rep.  I’m going to withhold the name until I get the block back.

 

 


 Luckily I had the block still bolted to the engine stand.  That and my cat-like reflexes (HA) kept a disaster from occurring.

Hoisted!!!

Hoisted!!!                                                                                                                                                                    ^^^ lots of Mustang parts

Not withstanding my attempts to bounce the block off the garage floor it is finally suspended and ready to get loaded.

Tied Down

Tied Down – This is the fastest this engine has done in months!!!

 

Upon arrival at the machine shop two guys unloaded the block and I asked them to measure the current bore and the size of the crank.

The results were as follows:

The stock bore is 4″ and the measurements of the current bore is .030  under making the bore 4.030.   You’ve seen the condition of the cylinders and the shop recommended to take another .010 off making the proposed bore 4.040″.

Now the crank was measured as well and it was .010 machined from stock thickness.  Purposed is to take it down another .010 to .020 under.

The shop recommended to replace the cam, so that will happen.

This ended the speculation about the originality of the engine.  Clearly this was rebuilt at least once.

Now decisions need to be made.  But first let’s take stock of where we are and then play a little “What If”, shall we?

Using this standard formula for determining displacement:  Bore2 X Stroke X 0.7854 X Cylinders  (laid out below from a spreadsheet)

Bore X Bore  X Stroke X 0.7854 X Cylinders = Displacement
Stock 4 4 3.5 0.7854 8 351.8592
Current 4.03 4.03 3.5 0.7854 8 357.1568801
Proposed 4.04 4.04 3.5 0.7854 8 358.9315699

Just cleaning up the cylinders will move  the displacement  from 351 (stock) to 358 as proposed.  That is currently where we are.

Now let’s play What If!!!  What if I increased the bore a bit more?  Here is what that look like in displacement terms.

Taking up the bore one more .010 to 4.05″  looks like this.

Bore X Bore  X Stroke X 0.7854 X Cylinders = Displacement
Option 4.05 4.05 3.5 0.7854 8 360.710658

4.05 is the furthest  I want to do with the bore – if it’s possible.  I know one Mustang owner that has his bore 4.06″, however, I’m not comfortable with that. So we’ve increased the displacement 360.

Now let’s work on the stroke.  The machining of the crank will net little to no change in the displacement. To increase that I’d have to go with a different crank.  So what do those number look like?  Leaving the bore at 4.04 and increase the stroke yields the following increases:

Bore             x                  Bore                      x             Stroke                    x                   0.7854                    x        #Cylinders                                            Displacement

Option 4.04 4.04 3.75 0.7854 8 384.5695392
Option 4.04 4.04 4 0.7854 8 410.2075085 Basically the 400

Let’s go a bit further with the increase in bore:

Bore             x                  Bore                      x             Stroke                    x                   0.7854                    x        #Cylinders                                            Displacement

Option 4.05 4.05 3.75 0.7854 8 386.475705
Option 4.05 4.05 4 0.7854 8 412.240752
Option 4.05 4.05 3.85 0.7854 8 396.7817238 Off the shelf long stroke cranks
Option 4.04 4.04 3.85 0.7854 8 394.8247269 Off the shelf long stroke cranks

Care to share your thoughts on the build?   Drop me a note!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

HoodPrimer-14

 

projectsportsroof

73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Tear Down Video 7 – Mains and Pistons …

Aug 25, 2016 Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. This the beginning of rebuild of the 351 Cleveland for the 73 Mustang. 73 Mustang 351 Cleveland …
collectors cars | Tumblr

The 351 Cleveland is out of #ProjectSportsRoof. Yeah…I know!! It seemed like to took … Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. I’m getting ready to pull the 351C …
classic ford mustang | Tumblr

Thanks checking back in with the 1973 Mustang (#ProjectSportsRoof). I’m moving right along with getting the progress on the 351C tear down posted up.

73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Tear Down – Crank and Cam Removal/Inspection

Welcome  to #ProjectSportsRoof and the seeming never ending processing of tearing down the 351C.  We are in the final stages and I wanted to show you the crank and cam condition.  I put together the video below.


 As you can see the crank is not in great shape and the cam is a bit worn.  The crank is going to have to be turned and the cam might be beyond polishing.

Leaving the flange on was a time set back as I had to stabilize the engine with the hoist so that I could unbolt it from the engine stand.  I had intended to drop it on an engine cradle but I hadn’t even un-boxed it yet so I removed the flange and the flex plate and bolted it back on the engine stand.

It’s now clear that the engine had severe oil starvation at some point and this caused all the damage – ring wear in the cylinders (you’ll see that coming up), severe wear crank and main bearings.

It just about time to get this block off to the machine shop.  I’m going to have them do some measurements for me and help decide what needs to be done to save this engine.

I have a couple more posts for the tear down and those are coming up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

HoodPrimer-14

projectsportsroof

73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Tear Down Video 7 – Mains and Pistons …

Aug 25, 2016 Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. This the beginning of rebuild of the 351 Cleveland for the 73 Mustang. 73 Mustang 351 Cleveland …
collectors cars | Tumblr

The 351 Cleveland is out of #ProjectSportsRoof. Yeah…I know!! It seemed like to took … Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. I’m getting ready to pull the 351C …
Great American Muscle Cars – muscle cars – Community – Google+

Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. With the floor pans welding, sealing and coating finished the next step was to apply the heat and sound barrier. This is …

 

Auto Factoids for the Week of Aug. 28, 2016 – Goodyear, Porsche

Here are your Auto Factoid for this last week of August 2016.

 

Aug 29 1898  Goodyear Tire & Rubber incorporated – With a capital stock of $100,000 and 13 employees, they began November 21, 1898, with a product line of bicycle and carriage tires, horseshoe pads, and poker chips.

First Goodyear Factory

First Goodyear Factory

 

Aug 29 1876 Charles Kettering Born Dayton, Ohio 1876 – Kettering founded Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (Delco) (which started in a barn) and later became head of research for GM (1920-1947)

Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company, or Delco.

Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company, or Delco.

 

Sept 2 1893  Frank Duryea car driven  – it wasn’t much just the typical ‘run-a-bout’ and I think kudos goes to Frank’s brother Charles as well 

1994 Duryea

1994 Duryea

Sept 3 1895  Duryea Motor Co.  incorporates –  Almost two years to the very day of the first drive, Duryea Motor Co. becomes a reality.  They produced some beautiful cars like:

This is the Model C Touring car. Production continued until 1927.

This is the Model C Touring car. Production continued until 1927.

Sept 3 1875 Ferdinand Porsche born  Mafferdorf, Bohemia – You may have heard of Freddy (as his Mom called him) Porsche, if not you know his cars:

 

Oh..BTW...it's a Hybrid!!

Oh..BTW…it’s a Hybrid!!

1976

1976

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Average Guy’s Car Restorations, Mods, and Racing

It was a 3 act comedy and had 344… View On WordPress. Tagged: AutoFactoids Auto HistoryAuto RestorationAutoBlog · 21st August 2016 · Video with 1 note …

They Made How Many? 1916 Automotive Production

Feb 25, 2013 Interesting enough, Kaiser had no automotive business experience. In 1953 the company became… August 2, 2015. In “#AutoFactoids” …

73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Tear Down – The Pistons

Moving right along with #ProjectSportsRoof.  I’m pulling the piston in this posting.

A couple of things to note.  I record these days before I actually get to post them (in case you can’t tell) and many times the entire days work is broken up into multiple posts.  So you might hear similar comments in new posts, that I’ve already corrected in the previous one.  For example, it might seem I’m obsession over the oil situation, “There’s lot of oil….blah…blah…blah.” Of course that’s true at that point and time, but as the Cleveland came a part – it’s clear that great lubrication wasn’t always the case, barring foreign matter getting in the engine – given damage seen thus far it would have been a pile of sand dumped in the block.

There’s also the fact that there are indications that the engine might have been apart previously (not just the heads).  Maybe a ring job.  I just can’t tell for sure.  What I can tell is that at least the piston rods are original Ford equipment if not original to this engine, as they have the Ford Oval and are coded D0AEA – D0 = 1970.  It’s not a stretch that think that Ford used piston rods from 1970 in a 1972 engine.  Take a look and see what you think:

 

pistonMark-5

BS9 Markings on piston rod.

pistonMark-2

D0AEA markings on the piston rod. D0 = 1970

pistonMark-3

“F” is one of the markings along with an “S” in a shield.

pistonMark-4

Marking “1”

Now I pulled out the right side first (pistons 5-8) as it as the side I happened to have the engine turned over on.   Take a look:

 

 

Although the all of the bearings will be replaced, I do note the ones that aren’t too bad.  This is for documentation and any possible troubleshooting later on.  Here is the removal of the pistons 1-4:


 

So now the pistons are out and we can get a good look at the crank and get pull the cam.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

projectsportsroof

collectors cars | Tumblr

The 351 Cleveland is out of #ProjectSportsRoof. Yeah…I know!! It seemed like to took … Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. I’m getting ready to pull the 351C …
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 …
collectors cars | Tumblr

The 351 Cleveland is out of #ProjectSportsRoof. Yeah…I know!! It seemed like to took … Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. I’m getting ready to pull the 351C …

Auto Factoids for Week of 8/21/2016 – Oldsmobile, Broadway, Caddies and Rolls

Here are your Auto Factoids for the last full week in Aug 2016.

On Aug. 21st back in 1897 Oldsmobile incorporated to form Oldsmobile Motor Vehicle Co.

1897 Oldsmobile

1897 Oldsmobile

 

Taking a trip back in time to 1921 and NYC’s Broadway and the first play about cars opened – “Six Cylinder Love”.

– Produced by Sam H. Harris  and held on Broadway in the Sam H. Harris  Theater.

– It was a 3 act comedy and had 344 performances from Aug 25, 1921 to July 1922.

– In 1923 it was adapted to the big screen – albeit silent and again in 1931 with Spencer Tracy!!

Six Cylinder Love (1931)

Six Cylinder Love (1931)

 

Happy Birthday Charles Rolls – (the Rolls part of Rolls Royce).  He was born Aug 27, 1877 in London, England.

The two-cylinder Royce 10 - Born 1904

The two-cylinder Royce 10 – Born 1904

Check out this great site on Rolls Royce https://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/en-GB/the-rolls-royce-story/the-history-of-rolls-royce.html

Jump forward 25 years and Cadillac became a company on the same day in 1902.

This Runnabout is top of the line Caddy back in 1902.

This Runabout is top of the line Caddy back in 1902.

 

Thanks for reading #AutoFactoids.

Tim

Auto Factoids for the Week of 2/1/2015 – Kaiser Week

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first week in Feb. 2015!!! I think we can call this Kaiser Week as 3 of our factoid are related to the Kaiser auto manufacturing. In fact the month starts right off with Kaiser factoid. Feb 1, 1947 – Graham-Paige sold out to Kaiser. …

Auto Factoids for the Week of 3/29/2015

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) to finish out March and kick off April 2015.   March 29, 1980 – Audi introduced their all wheel drive 1980 Quattro – Not a bad-looking car at that!!! Here are some specs for the Quattro: Engine     2.1 L I5 SOHC 10v Transmission     5-speed manual Dimensions Wheelbase     99.4 …

Auto Factoids for the Week of 4/19/15

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for last full week of April 2015. April 22, 1954 – Nash and Hudson merge to from AMC When does this: Nash Rambler PLUS THIS: ’53 Hudson Hornet EQUAL THIS?  : Javlin Well that’s the equation formed when Nash merged with Hudson and produced AMC.   AMC (American Motor Corp) …

 

 

73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Rebuild – Engine is Out!!!

Time to celebrate!!!   The 351 Cleveland is out of #ProjectSportsRoof.

Yeah…I know!! It seemed like to took forever!!!  Seems longer since I haven’t driven it in months.

Now if you missed the last post and you are expecting to see a video of the engine coming out, that’s just not going to happen.  Here’s a recap of just why there’s no video.

I had made arrangements with my neighbor Dan (Dan did the welding on the floor panels for me) for a Friday he had off to pull the engine.  I was going to “work” from home that day and we’d carry out the task in the morning – it’s pretty hot here in Southern Arizona this time of year.  Well, I had an issue at work and I had to run in for what I hoped would be only a few minutes – it took until noon.

By then, it was over 100 degrees and when I pulled into my driveway Dan was outside working on one of his projects.  After apologizing  I changed in to some grubby clothes real quick and we got to work.  By then it was about 106 degrees out and of course we are doing this outside.  We should have been done by  time we actually started and Dan’s adorable twins we hoping to make it the pool before their Dad had to head off to work for the evening.

I mention this all because I’m setting up you for the disappointment, (there is nothing more exciting than getting the engine out – well maybe putting a new one in, it’s a milestone worth capturing on video).  Given the above circumstances, I felt it very unfair to ask Dan and the twins to hang out while I stopped to talk you all and then perform a task and then record.  So I have no shots or video of pulling the engine out.

351C finally on the stand!

351C finally on the stand!

It was an effort but here it is:

And there you have it.  #ProjectSportsRoof gave up its 351c power plant and boy does it need an overhaul!!

So keep checking back here (www.agcarrestoration.com) and watch it all unfold!

Thanks for read and drop me a note, love hearing back from readers.

Tim

1973 Mustang SportsRoof

1973 Mustang SportsRoof

projectsportsroof

Average Guy’s Car Restorations, Mods, and Racing

http://wp.me/p2YxYx-4V. Tagged: projectsportsroof … We are moving right along on #ProjectSportsRoof,with the 351 Cleveland rebuilt. Still getting it ready to be …

73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Rebuild – Removal Part 3

Jul 31, 2016 We are moving right along on #ProjectSportsRoof,with the 351 Cleveland rebuilt. Still getting it ready to be pulled from the engine bay In this …

restorable classic cars | Tumblr

Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. I’m getting ready to pull the 351C from between the fenders of the 1973 Mustang SportsRoof for a complete rebuild.

73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Rebuild – Removal Part 5

2 days ago Tagged: projectsportsroof … We are moving right along on #ProjectSportsRoof, with the 351 Cleveland rebuilt. Still getting it ready to be …