Tag Archives: AutoBlog

73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Rebuild – Removal Part 1

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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.

Below is the beginning of the this long process.  I guess long might be an exaggeration, but any day I can’t drive the Mustang is a long day   (:^ 0)  !!

 

I don’t usually ‘star’ in my videos, (yes I spelled videos wrong in the subtitles) but you’ve got to love my stylish hat!!

More coming on 351C rebuild.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

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1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof – Pertronix Ignitor Update

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 …
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 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 …
1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression Test Part II

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 …
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 …

 

Classic Mustangs – #ProjectSportsRoof’s Marti Report

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Mustang lovers check this out.  There is place in El Mirage, AZ called  Marti Auto Works.  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.

If you have a classic Mustang you’ve got to get this report.  I thought I’d share mine with the readers.  The link below is to the .pdf and here is an image.

73SportsRoofMarti

Whether you are just interested in the car history or doing an original restore this report comes in very handy.  It’s pretty cool to see when it was ordered and build and all the original options are there to match.

The Statistics section – so cool!!!  This section lets you know where your car ranks compare to those produce that year.  As you can see above #ProjectSportsRoof is o1 of 76 with that paint and trim coat.   If nothing else it bragging rights and in some small way this may add to the value of the car, but that’s tough to measure.

The list of items in the Door Data Plate Info, helps you determine how original your might be.  For example you can see that my 73 Mustang left the factory with 302 and if you’ve followed my posts on #ProjectSportsRoof you’ll know it now sports a 351C V2 date coded 1972 and a C4 transmission but now it has a date code 1972 C6.

Visit the Marti report site and see what they offer.

https://www.martiauto.com/reports2.cfm

To you have a Marti report for your Ford?  Share it!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1973 Mustang SportsRoof

1973 Mustang SportsRoof

 

1973 Mustang SportsRoof – Carpet Laid

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Thanks for picking backup with blogging of the work done on the 1973 Mustang Sports Roof (#ProjectSportsRoof).

The floors are done and the heat and sound barrier are completed and it’s time for the carpet.

I’ve seen some pretty awful quality carpet for cars and I’ve had friends that attempted to use the one piece kits with not great success.  I chose to go with ACC Carpet 2 piece set.  Because my car was ordered special ordered with the Mach I Interior I went with their “Original Style Molded Fastback Mach I for 1971-1973” (CJ’s Part Number MC9-V).  It is really well-formed and pre-cut for steering column and even dimmer switch.

The pieces come folded in a box and needs to be laid out flat for a while before installing. Luckily I live in Arizona and the sun makes quick work for that.

Carpet2

Here are the two pieces laid out on the hood of #ProjectSportsRoof.

Carpet1a

This image shows the pre-cuts and forming in the front piece.  ‘A’ is the cutout for the steering Column, ‘B’ is the quality built-in vinyl floor mat, ‘C’ is the cutout for the dimmer switch and  ‘D’ is the very well-formed door jamb and finally ‘E’ is the transmission tunnel formed part.

Here’s a pick of how it just lays there and conforms to the floor.

Carpet5

Now check out the full shot with the front sections in place and the shift bezel in place.  Looks pretty good, yes?

Carpet8a

At point ‘A’ you can see the contour of the floor mat portions of the carpet piece.  ‘B’ is the hole with the seat mounting stud protruding (you have to cut that) and both ‘C’ locations show just a simple X cut to allow the seat bolts to slip through.

This last still shot is with the rear pieces laid out.

Carpet16a

 

You can see the forming in the carpet where the rear mount of the front set lays.  The circle is where I had to cut to allow the bolt to slide in.

Here is  little video.

 

I’m very please with this carpet.  As of this blogging I haven’t finished trimming it. In real-time it’s been a few months.  I had to put the seats back in and get it to a charity car show.   Before I had a chance to get back to carpet, the Cleveland developed a bottom end knock and that’s were we are today.  I can finish up more interior work while the engine is out.

The 351C rebuild is coming up next for #ProjectSportsRoof.

Thanks for reading!!!

Tim

1973 Mustang SportsRoof

1973 Mustang SportsRoof

Average Guy’s Car Restorations, Mods, and Racing

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 …
Great American 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 …

 

1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Cabriolet at the 2016 Elegance at Hershey — Mind over Motor

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Ferrari ownership and postwar royalty seem to go hand-in-hand, especially one offs. This 1955 375 Plus Cabriolet is a one-off specialty car built for the ex-King Leopold III of Belgium, and is a mix of the older engineering that put Ferrari on the map in the early Fifties and newer styling features that would later […]

via 1955 Ferrari 375 Plus Cabriolet at the 2016 Elegance at Hershey — Mind over Motor

Thanks for reading

Tim

pininfarinapininfarina

Engine Mini-Series Ford’s Small Block V8s Part II – 260 CID

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Welcome back.  I’m continuing on with the Engine Mini-Series – Ford’s Small Block V8s.  This post covers the 260 CID.

I did mention I’d touch on the 255 but that is really out of chronological order and was merely a muted 302 used on for 3 years.  It was dropped for poor performance.

So following the 221 engine (to see the post click here) was the 260 CID.  This came about after the poor performance of the 221 and even with the release of a tweaked version.   Enter Ford’s 260 CID.  It retained the same intake and exhaust ports as the 221, the valves were larger (intake was now 1.76 and exhaust was 1.45).  With it’s bore increased to 3.80 with no change to the stroke the engine put out 164 hp (about 20 more than the 221).  It had a plane jane hydraulic cam and a compression ratio of 8.7:1 and capped off with a two barrel cast iron intake and carb.

The 260 was the engine Carrol Shelby used in his original Cobra and it was selected by the British car maker for the Sunbeam Tiger.

Shelby's 1962 Cobra

Shelby’s 1962 Cobra

1962 Sunbeam Tiger with Ford 260

1962 Sunbeam Tiger with Ford 260

The 260 was in service from 1962 to 1964 and it powered the likes of the Fairlane, Meteor (at least as an option), Comet(at least as an option), Falcon and in 1964 even the Mustang 64 1/2 (F code cars).

Engine was an  overhead valve, Cast iron block with a bore and stroke 3.80 x 2.87 and Compression ratio 8.8:1 with 164 hp. It held 5 main bearings, hydraulic lifters and Autolite 2 bbl carb (Model C40F-9510-B) (Mustang configuration).  The 260 was  also called the Challenger 260 and could to be found topped with  a Holley 2bbl Carb vs. the Autolite.

1964 Ford 260 V8

1964 Ford 260 V8

Next up the Engine Mini-Series Part II the 289!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

STangATWork

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Engine Mini Series – Chevy’s 283 Prt1

So far my writings are about engines have been ones I owned and the 283 was the engine in my very first car.  It was a 1966 Chevy Impala.  It was a gift to me for my 1976 high school graduation.  The car was restored by my father, who was …

Engine Mini Series – Chevy’s 283 Prt 2

Oh yes, believe it or not, the 283 put the Corvette at the cutting edge of performance in 1957, fitted with the RamJet FI (fuel injection) system (“fuelie” was the gearhead term for that).  In 1958 the 283 was the base engine for the Corvette, but the 283 that use …

Engine Mini Series – Chevy’s 283 Part 3

This is the part of the engine series where I list the uses for the power plant.  The 283, as I mentioned, carried Chevy engines to the next level, by being the first engine that car manufacturers were able to coax out the same horsepower as the displacement. From 1957 (its …

Northern California Cars – Driveby (VW-Hot Rods) and U.S. Coast Guard TRACEN

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Every now and then I get to tag along with my wife as she hops around the country working on Interior Design projects for her employer Aviar Design (a commercial design firm).

This trip was to Petaluma, Ca, where beautiful farmland meets redwood forests meets the beautiful Pacific Ocean.  It also the home of U.S. Coast Guard TRACEN training center and some awesome cars.

But first a shout out to the often unsung heroes – the men and women of the United States Coast Guard.  They keep our coast lines and your families safe!!   After nearly 35 years of being assigned to and around military installation all over the world (both Jill – ret. E8 and I -12 years- are USAF veterans) I think the Coast Guards training facility in Petaluma is one of the most beautiful anywhere.  The facilities are top of the line, the installation pristine and teeming wild turkeys, deer and a host of woodland animals.  We’ve enjoyed our both are trips there.  The hospitality was unsurpassed.   Thanks warriors!!!!!

SEMPER PARATUS

SEMPER PARATUS

Let’s talk about cars.  Although not as plentiful as you might see in Southern California (we lived there for 4 years) but they are there.  We didn’t have the time for stop and photograph all we was but there are some awesome trucks (hey…it’s farm country) and a lot of hidden gems with tons of potential.  After all this is where they filmed portions of the awesome car movie – American Graffiti.  Just outside of Petaluma, there’s a farm with a 69-70 Mustang tucked under a cover to protect it from the marine layer as it rolls in and out of the farmland and redwoods.   The hills are dotted with homes that have 1950-1970 truck parked under over or in full service.

Here are a few I was able to get a few shots of some for the unique motor cars.

Take this 1930’s Ford Hot Rod – straight out of the move American Graffiti!!!

Check out those headers!!!!

Check out those headers!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had to get a shot of the vintage tread, redline, red steel and wiiiiiiiiiiiiide white walls!!!!

I had to get a shot of the vintage tread, redline, red steel and wiiiiiiiiiiiiide white walls!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little further up North in the Anderson Redwoods we ran into the a 9 hole golf course tucked between redwood trees..what????? Parked in the parking lot was a good example of the 1980’s Firebird TransAm

Crager SS mags, fender scopes!!!

Crager SS mags, fender scopes!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were a huge number of VW vans – heck it’s California after all.  There are the traditional VW buses and the Westfalia van’s every where – still!  Check out this drop side van.

Nicely restored!!!

Nicely restored!!!

Framework is there for the canvas top.

Framework is there for the canvas top.

One of the coolest we notice was this work in progress.

Citroen Van

Citroen Van

The owner has plans for the French work horse as it’s clearly under surgery.   Think of the possibilities:

CitroenVan H Van Citroen Van Citroen Hy Van

 

This is just a sampling of the car culture in Northern California.  I’m hopping to make it back there with a couple of days free to just explore and peak under some of those car covers.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1973 Mustang SportsRoof

1973 Mustang SportsRoof

 

 

 

1973 Mustang SportsRoof – Floor Pans Getting To It! – Finishing Up

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Greetings followers.

If it seemed to you like I was never going to get to the end of the floor pan part of #ProjectSportsRoof,  you weren’t alone, it seemed that way to me as well.  With power plant problems (Knock..Knock…Who’s There? It’s the bottom end of your 351 Cleveland!!!), digit maiming (Injury Time Out – 1973 Mustang SportsRoof) and life occurring in between the actually completion of the install and getting to the blogging/sharing part of this project.   So here is the final two posts.

After my neighbor Dan Thomas skillfully tacked the panels in place it was time to seal the seams and give the passenger cabin floor a coating.

Here is what I used to carry out the next to last task.

 

The Eastwood seam sealing putty was warmed up by rolling it around in the palm of my hand and then wedged into the seams like those indicted in this pic:

seams-1

If you recall we just tack welded the panel so there were a number of seams that need some putty.

 

I roughly sanded and vacuumed the rest of the floor and then used the truck bed liner from a rattle can and made several pass over the entire floor.

Take a look:

This was just the first coat.

This leaves the application of the heat and sound barrier and replacing the carpet to finish up the this part of the project.

I’ll cover that in the final, final post.   🙂

Thanks for reading.

Tim

STangATWork

 

 

 

 

 

 

projectsportsroof

1973 Mustang SportsRoof – Floor Pans Getting To It! – Welding

1 day ago … Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. Floor pan are ready to be welded into place on the 1973 Mustang Sportsroof. Now I’m not a welder and …
1973 Mustang SportsRoof – Floor Pans Getting To It! – Part Four …

Apr 19, 2016 … Finishing up the right side rear foot-well on #ProjectSportsRoof.

1929 Detroit Electric Headed Out and 1953 GMC Gas Monkey Garage Build

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I’ll say it again, it’s not part of my daily routine (Although I which it was!!!) that I get to deal with some rare cars.   By day I’m the Director of Information Technology for a retail company with stores throughout Arizona  at home I’m a Corvette and Mustang (check out #ProjectSportsRoof) loving car guy.  But today the two intersected and that equaled a cool day.

If you look back at my post entitled Driving a 1929 Detroit Electric Model 97 http://wp.me/p2YxYx-4Qp you’ll get a good look at the Detroit Electric. Today it is headed back to its owner and the owner of our company.

We pushed the Detroit out of the building and into the sun light again – most likely will be its last bit of Arizona UV rays.  This beauty is on its way to Hood River, OR where the owner is loaning it to a transportation museum. The guys in this video, Tom, David, Lynn have worked and lived with this rare mode of transportation for over 10 years. It will be missed.

As if that’s not enough for one post, there’s more to this ‘most excellent day’ (to steal a phrase from Bill and Ted).

It’s tough to pick a transport company to move your special vehicle across country. I have used my share, transporting a Mustang, a Torino, a VW bug and a motorcycle via different carriers and it’s a big deal. The company selected for this rare car was FSI Transport Service and the care the driver showed was very reassuring that this 1929 electric car was in good hands. FSI is operated by Frank and Laura Martinez, out of El Paso, Tx.  Their rig was perfect for the job – being that the Detroit is a bit taller than the average car.

Often the car you are shipping travels with several other cars that are headed the same way. But this time there was only one travel mate for this trip. It just happened to be a beautiful 1953 GMC Custom pickup, according to the driver it build by the folks at Gas Monkey Garage and headed home to the owner.

That’s a beautiful truck and a worthy travel mate for the old electric car.

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

Out and About!!! #ProjectSportsRoof

Out and About!!!
#ProjectSportsRoof

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

detroit electric car

The world’s fastest electric car? – BBC Top Gear

Remember the Detroit Electric SP:01? Announced in 2013, it followed a well-thumbed recipe and promised to be an esoteric entrant in the eco-friendly sports car class. SP:01 Well, it’s back and in production form ahead of official sales in 2015. And it’s a bit different to before, adopting a new fastback …

1953 gmc pickup

Parking Lot Spotlight – 1969 Mercury Cougar – Awesome!

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I haven’t done a Parking Lot Spotlight in a while and this is a great car to pick the series back up with.  Check this one out!!!!!

1969MCourgar-1

Wheels look great!!!!

1969MCourgar-2

Love the chrome work and the wrap around backup lights. That two tone paint is pretty good looking too!!!

I find these to be such a great looking vehicles and dare I say in some cases even better than some of their Mustang cousins.  The hidden headlights and the full (nearly full) length tail lights make these so distinct and much more difficult to restore then the Mustang – as far as getting NOS parts.

I’m not alone in thinking that the new for 1967 Cougar was unique and that first year through 1970 were the best years.  After that they became cross-bred with a Marauder and then by the mid 70’s virtually indistinguishable from the squared off T-bird not to mention it’s overtly plushiness.

In 1969 you could get the Cougar with a 302, 351W  in either a V2 or V4 configuration or Boss 302.  Previous years a 289 was available and in early 70’s  the 351C, 351 CJ, and  351 Boss were options.  Those are the best engine Ford had to offer at the time!!! (May be ever!!)

For 1969 you could get the Cougar in the Coupe, Convertible with a standard trim, Eliminator or XR-7  packages. Production numbers totaled just over 100k units broken down like this:

 

Coupe –  66,331 Convertible – 5,796
XR-7 Coupe – 23,918 XR-7 Convertible – 4,024

 

Got a Cougar?  Let’s see it!!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1973 Mustang SportsRoof

1973 Mustang Sports Roof

 

Readers Cars 01/03/2010

I enjoy seeing readers’ cars.  Here is a 1982 Mercury Cougar Stationwagon…..YES!!!  That’s what I said…”They did what????” Submitted by Steve Sears. There were 19,254 Cougar wagons built, in GS and Villager trim, in 1982. The only other year there were Cougar wagons was 1977 when 9,700+ built. I’d be willing to bet that …