Tag Archives: AutoBlog

Auto Factoids for the Week of Jan. 15, 2016 – Ford, Caddy, Turbo Bus!

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Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the week of January 15, 2016.

 

Jan 16
– A.J. Foyd’s birthday – born this day in 1935 in Houston, Texas

A legend’s Birthday

– Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon were debuted on this date in 1977.   Who would have thought that one of them would sport the Shelby name plate?

4 Cylinder Turbo – AWESOME!!

Jan 17
 – Cadillac shows off its first car at Madison Square Garden on this day back in 1903 – the Run-About.

1903 Cadillac

 – Corvette debut, at the NYC Motorama in 1953

From the 1953 Motorams – Corvette Display

 – Ford Motor Co. begins offering public shares in 1956 – everyone loved the T-Bird!!!

Stocks and T-Birds offered!!!

Jan 20
– Chevy builds the last car back in 1942 just before WWII. They were one of the holdouts after the first Presidential request to stop production to support the war effort.

1942 Grill – No more Brightwork for a while!!

Jan 21
– GM produced the 1st Gas-Turbine vehicle was exhibited in 1954 in NY.  It sported the GT-300 engine.

http://www.turbinecar.com/mags/trueauto55/trueauto55.htm

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

www.agcarrestortion.com

Auto Factoid for Week of Nov. 30, 2014

Hope you all had a great Turkey Day!! Here is the line up of Auto Factoids for the first week in December!!!   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 …
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 & C.N.N for Week of 7/26/2015 – Studebaker to Viper

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 …
Auto Factoids and C.N.N for week of Sept 6th 2015 – TBird and Studebaker

Here is your #AutoFactoids and Car News Now for this first full week of September 2015. Auto Factoids Sept. 7, 1954 – Production of Ford Thunderbird begins 1955 T-Bird 2002 Thunderbird             Sept. 8, 1903   Preston Tucker was born in Capac, MI. While dubbed “Tucker Torpedo” during production no ‘Torpedoes’ were produced. Beautiful …
Auto Factoids for the Week of 1/25/2015

Wow it’s the end of January already.  Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the last week of January 2015. Jan 26th 1920 – Lincoln Motor Company formed. Lincoln Motor Company was actually started in 1917 and produced  Liberty engines with Ford parts for World War I.   After the war they began …
Auto Factoids for the Week of 2/22/2015 – Firebird, Thunderbird, AMX

Got a few huge debuts this week’s Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids), so lets get started.   Feb 23, 1954 – Ford shows off the Thunderbird for the first time. Although the Thunderbird wasn’t available until 1955 it was in design.  Originally it was going to be called the Vega!! 1955 T-Bird   Feb 23, 1967 – …

 

73 Mustang – The 351C Has Landed – Merry Christmas!!!

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Well there still are Christmas miracles.  The rebuilt, over-bored to .040 351 Cleveland is now sitting under the hood where it belongs. 

Won’t be long until #ProjectSportsRoof will be chewing up pavement!!!


Still have to hook up the C6 and add other components. Having it in place was my Christmas goal!!!

Thanks to a long time friend DG for coming all the way from the East coast and giving me a hand!!!!

Merry Christmas to all my readers and I hope the New Year treats you well!!!!

Merry Christmas

Yeah…I know it’s just a Mopar….but we’re on a budget!!!

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

projectsportsroof

Lift Classic Mustangs and Avoid Suspension Damage

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How To Chassis Suspension

Lift Classic Mustangs and Avoid Suspension Damage

Lift it Right: Raising classic Mustangs on a lift requires a special tool to avoid shock and strut rod bushing damage

Jerry Heasley
December 6, 2016

Anytime you need work on the suspension on anything under a Mustang you have to lift it in the air, whether on a floor jack or a lift. But what you might not have ever heard is that raising a 1965-1973 Mustang on a regular two-post lift without a support between the upper control arm and the frame rail will damage the shocks and strut rods. There’s no telling how many times over the last 50-odd years of lifting a Mustang for a simple oil change that possibly has broken shock and strut rod bushings. The numbers must be in the millions.

Ford supplied dealers with a factory service tool, which they also used on the assembly line, to support the front suspension. Without this support, lifting the car drops the front suspension down and places all that weight on the front shocks and strut rod bushings. This damage is much more than cosmetic. The car will now be unstable at speed, more or less depending on the severity of the damage. Maybe one gentle lift will not result in visible damage, but with multiple unsupported lifts, the damage gets worse.

Bob Perkins of Perkins Restoration (www.perkinsrestoration.com) showed us how to avoid busting out shock tower and strut rod bushings when raising a Mustang on a conventional, two-post lift—or any lift with side arms.

01. This 1973 Mustang front suspension drops and “hangs free” when raised on a two-post lift. This lift picks up the car with arms at the side for access to the undercarriage.

02. Most of these Ford suspension support tools from the 1960s and 1970s have disappeared. Ford shop manuals instructed mechanics to place this support between the upper arm and the frame side rail. Notice the notch on one end. This original suspension support tool has a Ford part number.

03. Because original support tools are scarce, Bob Perkins has fabricated his own for everyday use. On the left are two supports he made. On the right is an original Ford support tool from the 1960s.

04. This illustration from Ford’s 1965 Mustang shop manual shows where to place the support tool when lifting a Mustang on a lift with side arms. The shock is inside the coil spring on top of the upper control arm.

05. The Perkins-built suspension tool, as seen on this 1973 model, fits between the frame rail (bottom) and the upper control arm under the ball joint. To install, first lift the car enough for the tool to fit.

06. Bob Perkins shows us damage to this shock on a car that was lifted without a support tool. The suspension dropped down and tore the rubber bushings in the top of this original shock.

07. Installing a support tool also protects strut rod bushings from damage.

08. On 1965-1970 Mustangs, the shock bushing at the top is apt to break when the suspension falls without support.

09. Likewise, the shock bushings in the 1971-1973 shock tower will have to absorb the weight of the front suspension if the support tool is not used.

Sources

Perkins Restoration

Juneau, WI 53039
920-696-3788
www.perkinsrestorati…

I thought that was a great article.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
Ford Mustang (first generation) – Wikipedia

The first-generation Ford Mustang was manufactured by Ford from March 1964 until 1973. …… “1973 Mustang Grande Hardtop – Mustang Monthly Magazine”.
1964-1973 Mustang Parts

CJ Pony Parts features 1964-1973 Mustang Parts at amazing prices. FREE shipping is included on most products, no minimum order is required. Find your First …

73 Mustang Lifters Adjustment

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Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof.  My goal to get the engine by Christmas is in jeopardy, so I need to get cranking on getting it all back together.

There’s been a few set back – like losing a couple of bolts that had to be ordered.  A career change has slowed me down some as well.  But I’d like to have the engine in by Christmas and driving it by the end of Jan. 2017.

So, as my self-imposed deadlines are coming fast, I picked up with the adjusting the lifters.  Here how that looked:

 


These will have to be adjusted several times when after it’s run a bit.

Coming up next I have to put the intake on, carb, distributor, fuel pump, so check back and see the progress. Grab my feed and you’ll get notified when I up date the progress.

Thanks for reading.
Tim

projectsportsroof

1973 Mustang – Engine Bay Work

If you look back at #ProjectSportsRoof post you’ll see the condition engine bay.  During those videos I mentioned that I was going to clean it up and hit it with a rattle can.  Again this isn’t going to be a concours restoration, it’s going to look nice and it’s going …

1973 Mustang Original Invoice and Window Sticker – Marti Auto Works

Oct 22, 2016 … I didn’t purchase the window sticker for 1970 Mustang but I did for # ProjectSportsRoof. Check it out: 1973 Mustang SportsRoof Window Sticker.

73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Rebuild – Removal 4 – YouTube

Aug 1, 2016 … I’m So close to getting #ProjectSportsRoof engine pulled and starting the tear down.

They Made How Many? 1959

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I haven’t done one of these in a while, but I was reading an article from the ” Worlds Most Excellent” automotive publishing enterprise – Hemmings.  An article in the January 2017 issue of Classic Cars publication is a piece written by Jeff Koch (who is their – West Coast/Southwest guy) on GM’s Flattop designed cars of the 1959-1960 era.  These were massive cars with huge trunks and tons of  wrap around glass.

This a 1959 Pontiac Bonneville Flattop 4 door

This a 1959 Pontiac Bonneville Flattop 4 door- ain’t it huge?

According to the article these were just a two-year deal – ’59-’60.  So that got me to thinking how many were made?

Over all car production for 1959, which still saw the likes of DeSoto, Edsel (its last gasp of breath), Studebaker,  Imperial (as a separate brand…again) and even the Metropolitan, as producer of cars.    The leader for that year was Chevrolet in first place with just over 1.46 million cars produced followed by Ford in close range with 1.45 million cars produced.  The rest of the field looked like this:

Plymouth with 458, 261 (in third place which gives you an idea how the rest fared) followed by  Pontiac with 383k, then  Oldsmobile with 382K and  Rambler with 374k.   Buick managed 285K and  Dodge produced 156k, which was just slightly than Mercury with 15ok and Cadillac with 142K cars produced.  The field rounded out with Studebaker driving 126k out of the factory and a substantial for Chrysler with just 69, followed by Desoto with 45k, Edsel with 44k and Lincoln/Continental with just 26k.  At the bottom stood Metropolitan and Imperial 22k and 17k respectively.

So an estimated 2,655,686 cars were produced by GM in that year.  That’s a lot of flattops this include Cadillacs that didn’t escape the design.
1959-cadillac-sedan

chevrolet

Nor did the Corvair!!

So where are the now?  I just don’t see that many around and I’m sure it’s due to the 2 year only style and finding all that wrap around glass.

Have you seen one of these cool designed GM Flattops?  Drop me a note and pic and I’ll publish it up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

I don't really need a Lambo....but.....

#TheyMadeHowMany

#projectsprotsroof

Car Production Numbers. They Made How Many? 1901

This is it. The beginning of it all.     What were they making in 1901? The top producer was the Locomobile car company with a total out put for the year 1,500 cars. Winton was second with 700 cars. Oldsmobile (ahh one we’ve heard of!!) was third with 425. White came in fourth with 193. Autocar was next …
Car Production Numbers. They Made How Many? 1911

1911 oh… that was a great year!  Well I don’t actually have any proof of that, but there sure were a lot of new car makes that year.  Here the list: Alpena; ArBenz; Atterbury; Carhartt, Case, Chevrolet; Colby, Crow-Elkhart, Dalton, Gaylord, Havers, Hupp-Yeats; King; Lenox; Mighty Michigan; Motorette; Nyberg: Penn; Rayfield; …
Car Production Numbers. They Made How Many? 1922

It is 1922 and the car industry is moving right along.  Small start-up car companies pop up here and there in the 1920’s. Here is how they stacked up for 1922. Top spot was Ford  producing 1,147,028 cars. Dodge was a very distant second with 152,653 car rolling off their assembly line. Chevrolet ran …
Car Production Numbers. They Made How Many? 1928

The Roaring Twentys – a great time in US social and economic history.  1928 things still looked pretty good and no indication of the tough economic times that would lead to the terrible 30’s. 1928 saw 8 car companies fighting it out for market shares. Chevy lead the way with just over a million …

73 Mustang Heater Box Part 7 – The Seals & Foam Kit

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Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof.   In this clip we are taking a look at the Seals and Foam Kit for restoring the 1973 Mustang’s heater and A/C box.

 


Next few heater box posts will be putting it back together. I know…exciting…!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

1973 Mustang Original Invoice and Window Sticker – Marti Auto Works

Oct 22, 2016 … I didn’t purchase the window sticker for 1970 Mustang but I did for # ProjectSportsRoof. Check it out: 1973 Mustang SportsRoof Window Sticker.
Average Guy’s Car Restorations, Mods, and Racing

If you look back at #ProjectSportsRoof post you’ll see the condition engine bay. During those videos I mentioned that I was going to clean it up and hit it with a …
73 Mustang 351C Rebuild – Removal 3 – YouTube

Jul 31, 2016 … Getting closer to pulling out the engine for #ProjectSportsRoof. The 1973 Mustang (last of the big ‘Stangs) 351C will be pulled part and rebuilt.
The Walking Dead -Car Window Sticker- ‘Don’t Open, Dead Inside …

1973 Mustang #ProjectSportsRoof · 1998 Chevrolet Corvette Indy Pace Car Festival Car. Save Learn more at mecum.com · Corvette 1998Corvette Indy1998  …

73 Mustang Heater Box Part 6 – Fiberglass Work

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Thanks for checking back in on #ProjectSportsRoof.  If you recall there was a lot of damage to the heater box, but rather than purchase a new one I opted to see if I could repair this original.

As of this post I’ve cleaned up the box and used JB Weld to put the pieces back in place and I’m ready to apply some fiberglass to harden everything up.

Here is a look at the fiberglass work.


What’s coming up next on the heater box work is a good look at the kit that you can buy that has some of the rubber seals, clips and replacement pads for the internal air flow doors.  We are going to install those and but the box back together.  I know you are on the edge of your seat for that one.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof – Fender Fitment Part II

In these next two videos, you’ll see just how ‘off’ these fenders are in some areas and surprisingly how well they fit in other areas. If you have an experience or a hit for anyone taking on this part of a restoration – drop a comment here and we’ll share them. https://youtu.be/Ga9EHbDpSfg     https://youtu.be/FBKs7EG4kK0   Thanks …
Average Guy’s Car Restorations, Mods, and Racing

I know…it’s a bit of let down moving back to the heater box for # ProjectSportsRoof when the beautiful 351 Cleveland that’s going to power the 73 Mustang is …
351C Removal and tear down – YouTube

Jul 19, 2016 … Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. This the beginning of rebuild of the 351 Cleveland for the 73 Mustang.

 

73 Mustang Heater Box Part 5 – Clean Up

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I know…I know…it’s a bit of let down moving back to the heater box for #ProjectSportsRoof when the beautiful 351 Cleveland that’s going to power the 73 Mustang is sitting in the garage waiting to roar back to life, but the heater box has to get done.

As I showed you in the previous heater box post is was pretty much a mess.  So after accessing the damage and apply epoxy to the broken pieces, I needed to clean it up before applying the fiberglass.  Here’s a little look at that:

 

I need give a bit of caution here when doing the cleaning.  Take a look at the part numbers on the heater box:

heaterbox-datecode

Those number are no longer there.  The Simple Green clean removed them.   I’ll mention again that this is not a concourse restoration, but nonetheless it’s always sad when you change or remove something that original that didn’t need to be.  Yes it’s just the heater box and not something anyone is going to notice, but I know it’s gone as do you and all 17k members of this blog.

Coming up next on AG Car Restoration is fiberglass repair of the heater box and maybe I’ll sneak in sometime on the Cleveland.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

postmach-2

 

Average Guy’s Car Restorations, Mods, and Racing

With the heater box for #ProjectSportsRoof out form under the dash, I now have to do the repairs and replace the heater core. Here’s what needs to be done and  …

73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Rebuild – Removal 4 – YouTube

Aug 1, 2016 … I’m So close to getting #ProjectSportsRoof engine pulled and starting the tear down.

restorable classic cars | 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.

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 …

351C Removal and tear down – YouTube

Jul 19, 2016 … Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. This the beginning of rebuild of the 351 Cleveland for the 73 Mustang.

 

 

1973 Mustang Original Invoice and Window Sticker – Marti Auto Works

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I’ve mentioned a few times here on Average Guy’s Car Restoration the great work that Marti Auto Works does to help car owners discover information about their Mustangs and other Fords that are important to being able to restore the cars and even help establish a value.  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.

I didn’t purchase the window sticker for 1970 Mustang but I did for #ProjectSportsRoof.  Check it out:

1973 Mustang SportsRoof Window Sticker.

1973 Mustang SportsRoof Window Sticker.

That’s pretty cool but if you want the coolest thing (in my opinion) that they offer it is this:

The original Invoice!!!

The original Invoice!!!

This is the original – THE ORIGINAL – not a copy, not a reproduction – but the original – complete with pen/pencil marks and water stains – tucked way in a folder – invoice for my car.  That is beyond awesome.  The edges of the form didn’t make it into the scan but it all there.

The fact that it still exist is unbelievable and that I was able to purchase was great.  It’s a great piece to have and I couldn’t appreciate the folks at Marti Auto Works more!!!!!      

Check out the cost of 10 gallons of gas – $4.00!!!

Thanks for reading

Tim

You can find Marti Auto Works @   http://www.martiauto.com/

Average Guy’s Car Restorations, Mods, and Racing

While the block is out for machining I can turn my attention to one of the MANY other sub-projects on #ProjectSportsRoof. If you’ve followed the blog you know …
vintage motors | 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 Rebuild – Removal 4 – YouTube

Aug 1, 2016 … I’m So close to getting #ProjectSportsRoof engine pulled and starting the tear down.

 

Interior Help for the 1973 Mustang

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While the block is out for machining I can turn my attention to one of the MANY other sub-projects  on #ProjectSportsRoof.

If you’ve followed the blog you know that I’ve tackled the heater box (more to come on that) and as well as cleaning up the engine bay.  As you’ve seen the interior needs work.  I’ve completed floor pans (sealed/coated), new under-layment and new carpet.  That was just the beginning, so much more to do on the inside.

One thing that makes restoring the interior go a bit smoother is having all the little things like screws and other fasteners.   That’s where AMK Products comes in.

I saw an AMK commercial on one of the car restoration shows.

I saw an AMK commercial on one of the car restoration shows.

Here’s a brief look at what it contains:


 It is pretty complete and well labeled for application.  You can find more on their website.  Go to https://www.amkproducts.com .

Thanks for reading.

Tim

newprimedhood

projectsportsroof

Average Guy’s Car Restorations, Mods, and Racing

1973 Mustang Heater Box Part 3 http://wp.me/p2YxYx-505. Tagged: projectsportsroof. Source: average-guys-car-restoration-mods-racing.com · 3rd October …
1973 Mustang Heater Box Part 3 | Tim Sweet

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, …
race guy | 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.
vintage motors | 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.