Tag Archives: AutoBlog

Knock..Knock…Who’s There? It’s the bottom end of your 351 Cleveland!!! Rebuilding.

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The option that, perhaps, makes the most sense is to rebuild the existing engine.   These days there are so many rebuilding scenarios, it can make your head spin and really lighten you wallet.  With each one of the scenarios brings with it even more decisions and a host of mathematical calculations.

The major concern is just how bad it might be in the block.  You can see much with just the heads removed, but what I could see of the cylinders and piston heads, seemed serviceable.  Scored cylinder walls – bad; just trashed bearings – not so bad.  This is the first unknown you need to know.  From this point you’ll know the cost of just making it run again and how much $$$ you need or have left in the budget for any upgrades.

For me I don’t think I’m in this for just a ‘repair’-  e.g. bad bearings – replace them and snap it back together.

Option 1: Rebuild it just like it is.  Simply get a $600.00 kit and replace everything and put it back together – same heads, same intake nothing changes other than the knock goes away.

Typical 351C Rebuild Kit

Typical 351C Rebuild Kit

Option 2:  Rebuild it better.  For my 351C  2v, the simplest way is to add the kit and give it more room to breath.  Add a 4 barrel carb and matching intake.

Option 3:  Rebuild it bigger.  Have the engine bore to 0.030 or 0.040 and find the matching kit (you can buy the rebuild kits to match the new bore) and add a 4 barrel carb and matching intake.

Option 2 and 3 give you more decisions you’ll have to make.  How much horse power and torque will this changes make?  Can you existing stall converter and transmission handle that increase? (My concern as I have  C6 automatic)  Will you need to change the gearing in the rear end to optimize the new power?  Will this new power impact handling or frame/body?  (The concern here keeping that body from twisting/rolling – my Mustang still has the sub-frame – being a unit body – installation of sub-frame connectors is on my list.)     You are looking at a few Benjamin’s to make this all happen like it should – all based on the basic rebuild direction.

So these are some of the considerations I’m weight now for #ProjectSportsRoof.

Give me your thoughts?

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1973 Mustang SportsRoof

1973 Mustang SportsRoof

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 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 Sports Roof – Vacuum System Part I

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I am sooooooooooooo  far behind in my blogging in general and specifically with the work on #ProjectSportsRoof.  I’m catching up this weekend (actually it’s going to take a week or more to go through the videos) with the work I’ve done on the vacuum system.

The goal started out to get this all completed before the end of January when I had to renew the registration, but first it needed to pass emissions.  So I had to hustle.  The next few blog post cover this process.

There are some questions that come up and most of them were solved.   In particular the Vacuum Distribution Solenoid locations.  All the diagrams I pulled off the web were for non-A/C cars.  This solenoid was moved to the back when A/C was installed.  Take a look.

Of course the long vacuum hose leading down under the firewall does in fact run to the transmission.

More coming on the vacuum system.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

projectsportsroof

Car News Now (C.N.N.) The Case Against a Mid-Engined Corvette

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Take a good look at the picture below. If you thought there was a fuss  about  the C7 styling, just wait for them to roll this out!!!

 

They say it’s really going to happen: my friend Chris Doane used his massive telephoto Canon lens, nicknamed “The Stanley Cup” by his friends, to catch what looks a lot like an engineering mule for a mid-engined Corvette. Either that, or there’s going to be a mid-engined Holden Ute with no available space in the bed coming to Australia real soon. Supposedly this is going to be called the “Zora” or the “ZR1” or, predictably, the “ZR1 Zora” and it will go on sale at the end of 2017 alongside the current C7-generation ‘Vette.If that’s truly the case—if the first production Corvette to locate its engine behind the driver is just a limited-production, megabuck special—then I suppose I have no real beef with the idea. If, on the other hand, they’re proposing to replace the traditional Stingray with a mid-mounter, then that’s totally freaking crazy and we all need to take the strongest possible action before it’s too late.

Source: The Case Against a Mid-Engined Corvette

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

mid engine corvette zora

73-17

Barrett-Jackson Car Auction, Scottsdale, AZ 2016 – Are You Ready?

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Opening day is today in Scottsdale, AZ and follow me live on Twitter @agcarrestore for live shots, videos and commentary!!!!

 

See you there!!!!

Timbarrett jackson scottsdale 2016

1973 Mustang -Project Sports Roof – Mach 1 Grille Part II

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Thanks for checking back on #ProjectSportsRoof.  Progress is being made and I’d like to finish up these post on the install of the Mach 1 grille on this ‘plain old’ sports roof.

This was pretty much straight forward, with a small change.

If you recall on the last post we started with a NOS Mach 1 grille I acquired from Ebay…..SCORE!!!

NOS in original box

NOS in original box

Box label - so what? Hey it's cool!!!

Box label – so what? Hey it’s cool!!!

For now I’m using the signal lights from the old grille and a new proper pony badge.

New Pony Badge

New Pony Badge

The new badge is different from the original (that being just a large Mustang running), which I preferred.  Of course this new badge is made in Taiwan and not as sturdy as I would have liked.  In fact while tightening the one of the nuts provided the prong sheered off.  Luckily there were enough threads to make it secure.

Here it is installed:

GrilleEmblem-2

 

Here are a couple of videos on the install.

 

 

Now there are still a few thing I need to buy to finish up the grille:

GrilleNeeds

But it’s looking pretty good!!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

projectsportsroof

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 Sports Roof – Mach 1 Grille Part I

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As with most plastic exterior trim pieces on Arizona cars, the original grille in #ProjectSportsRoof has seen better days.  Although this one is still mostly intact, it is brittle with a few missing tabs.  Couple that with the look of the Mach I grille for the 1973 Mustang and I have to say I really like the look of it better than the standard.

Install is quick and easy….yeah…right!

 

 

More coming up on #ProjectSportsRoof.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

projectsportsroof

 

 

Ferrari Officially Separated From Fiat-Chrysler After Shareholders’ Vote Of Approval

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Ferrari Divorce

Fiat Chrysler shareholders voted in favor of the separation of the Ferrari brand from FCA as part of Sergio Marchionne’s plan to raise cash and reduce debt of the Italo-American company.The shareholders’ meeting was held in Amsterdam where about 98 per cent of them approved the separation, with Fiat-Chrysler to distribute the remaining 80 per cent stake in Ferrari back to its own investors by early next year.This comes after FCA already sold 10 per cent of Ferrari in a public offering, raising around $1 billion. The whole company is burdened with a total of €10.9 billion in debt, with FCA raising about €3.8 billion from the divorce with Ferrari.This deal will reduce FCA’s debt by about €1.6 billion but at the same time, the seventh-largest automaker in the world loses its most valuable asset. Piero Ferrari, Enzo’s son still holds the remaining 10 per cent of Ferrari.“The separation will better enable Ferrari to realize its full potential,” Marchionne said at the shareholders’ meeting. “It will also allow Fiat investors to benefit directly from the substantial value inherent in Ferrari.”Ferrari had announced earlier on Monday that they are borrowing a total of €2.5 billion to finance their demerger from Fiat-Chrysler and help their former parent company in the funding of Sergio’s ambitious growth plan.

Source: Ferrari Officially Separated From Fiat-Chrysler After Shareholders’ Vote Of Approval

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Auto Factoids for Week of Nov 29, 2015 – Ford, De Soto, Front Wheel Drive

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Here are your Auto Factoids for the end of Nov. 2o15.  (Yes only 24 shopping days left!!!)

Nov 30 1960 De Soto ceases production. The last De Soto produced were really the Chrysler Windsor, most did not sale, even though dealerships continued to received cars after the brand was terminated.

1961 Windsor

1961 Windsor

1961 DeSoto

1961 DeSoto

 

Nov 30, 1900 Germany patented an automobile front wheel drive. Although this is a common historic fact, there is some evidence that the first production car with front wheel drive was a French car. There exists a French Patent around 1898 or 1899. The manufacturer was Société Parisienne and the car was the Victoria Combination.

It was a lightweight two-seater trailer, known as a ‘Victoria’, combined with the back axle and mechanical components of a motor tricycle, but this axle was placed in front of the trailer and steered by a long tiller on which the controls were located. The first examples were powered by 1.75 or 2.5 horsepower De Dion Bouton engines geared directly to the differential, but larger engines of this make were fitted as they became available.

1900 Victoria Combination

1900 Victoria Combination

 

December 1, 1925 GM purchased Vauxhall. Vauxhall started out as engine manufacturer mainly for pumps and marine use (1857 – Alex Wilson). They began making cars in 1903. Here is a video of a 1903 Vauxhall. They are still producing cars using the Opel name under GM.

One more of it on a road test.

Dec 1, 1913  Ford fired up the first “continuous” assembly line.  (Olds is considered to be the inventor of the assembly line…maybe.)

Ford's Production Line

Ford’s Production Line

And just one day and 14 years later (Dec 2, 1927) Ford unveiled Models A which would soon be produced from this assembly line.  The Model A was announced on May 25, 1927 and sold as 1928 model.  Ford sold 607,592 units in 1928, nearly double that of the previous year.

1927 Model A

1928 Model A

 

Thanks for reading

Tim

If you’d like to sponsor a week of Auto Factoids contact me directly.

#AutoFactoids

Auto Factoids – Week of May 31, 2015 – Ford, Olds, Model T

Here are your Auto Factoids #AutoFactoids for the beginning of June, 2015. May 31, 1927 – Ford produced the last Model T.    There is some debate as to actual date and it’s said that the 15th million Model T rolled off the production line on May 26th, 1927 and the Henry …

 

 

Auto Factoids for the Week of Nov. 15, 2015 – Buick, Ford and Edsel

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Welcome to this weeks Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids)!!!!

Back in 1977 on Nov. 15 Ford produced it’s 100,000,000.  It was a 1978 Ford Fairmont and rolled out of the Mahwah assembly plant in New Jersey.

1955 Ford Mahwah New Jersey Plant

1955 Ford Mahwah New Jersey Plant

Triple F (Ford Fairmont Futura)

Triple F (Ford Fairmont Futura)

This car was in fact, a fox body, but gets as much respect as a K-Car.

1978-Ford-Fairmont

You can understand why that is when you see it  in the 4 door configuration

78Fairmont2Dr

Now the two door wasn’t too bad – still not great!

But, you know me, I think any two door car can be made to look awesome…..

 

YES!!!!

YES!!!!

AND YES!!!

AND YES!!!

Back in 1906 the man who started one of the largest global car (and motorcycle) companies was born on Nov 17 in Iwata-gun, Japan:

Soichrio

Soichrio

Another millionth for the month of Nov.   Back in 1940 Buick produced 278,784 cars (about 70k more than in 1939) one of those was the  4 millionth Buick and it rolled off the line Nov. 17th.

That car was a Buick Super Coupe like this one:

1940 Buick Super Coupe

1940 Buick Super Coupe

 

I’ve been doing these Auto Factoids for years and this next event never fails to  make me scratch my head.  Yup it’s the death of the Edsel.   Killed by Ford on 11/19/1959  BOO  HISS

One of last Edsels - 1960 Edsel Ranger sedan

One of the last Edsels – 1960 Edsel Ranger sedan  🙁

Thanks for reading.

Tim

autofactoidsautofactoids

Auto Factoids for the Week of Nov. 1, 2015 – Packard Week

Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first week of Nov. 2015. I’m going to call this Packard Week (like Shark Week only on wheels)!!! Here is.

Keep up with this and #ProjectSportsRoof – get the feed.

 

 

 

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof – Vacuum System Part II

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Thanks for checking on #ProjectSportsRoof.

 

So here is the last set of initial questions.

Here is an image of the current set up:
[Image: Vac-14-L_zpsndlzgozn.jpg]

[Image: Vac-13-L_zpsgbppofla.jpg]

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 right side next to the alternator on the water pump housing.

[Image: Vac-31-L_zpsyrpi8chf.jpg]

The diagram for the 1972 351C shows that instead of going directly to the carb, the hoses from the distributor vacuum run to the Valve Assy. There also seems to be a second line running from the back of the distributor (in the diagram) – but that isn’t very clear.

Any ideas? Clearly the car runs without any of these connected – do I just plug them all?

Tim

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Vacuum System Part I

For the purpose of these series of posts let’s assume that I want to seriously limit the performance and power of #ProjectSportsRoof’s beautiful 351C and restore it back to factory configuration. Now if you are expecting an …
1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – What are You Gonna …

#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 …