Welcome back to my 1973 Mustang project #ProjectSportsRoof. In the last post I mentioned that some how the shift linkage bar was lost when I had the car in a local shop to help put with the transmission. They took another look around their place and I did the same…no luck. …
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 …
In case you didn’t notice, the fenders that were on #ProjectSportsRoof look as though car had driven into a half pipe at a skate park. Left Fender – major dent a lot of rebuilding necessary Right Side Fender – lots of crinkles, a few creases and good size dent. Now, these …
Welcome back to my 1973 Mustang project #ProjectSportsRoof.
In the last post I mentioned that some how the shift linkage bar was lost when I had the car in a local shop to help put with the transmission. They took another look around their place and I did the same…no luck. So I purchased a replacement link.
Take a look….warning the audio is not great in spots.
Well we are now moving into, what I hope is an adjustment phase for the transmission. However, it might be something….more expensive!!!
The story didn’t match the damage… View On WordPress. 73 Mustang is back!! Project SportsRoof is Alive! 73 Mustang is back!! Project SportsRoof is Alive!
After many month and some craziness my 73 Mustang is back and it’s sporting a new drive Shaft.
If you recall when I purchased the Mustang the car looked like it had driven into a concrete tube, mashing in both front fenders and doing damage to the front end. Here are the pics from the day I purchased it:
As you can see the damage on the fenders are similar. The story didn’t match the damage but I didn’t care, just interesting. What I didn’t notice then or even when I pulled it off the car was that the drive shaft had been welded about 5 inches from the rear end. I also didn’t notice, when I removed the u-joints that the yoke was damaged – flattened on multiple sides.
When the shop tried to replace the u-joints the new ones would not go into the yoke. (I wish I had saved the pic of that damage.) The specialty shop give an estimate for what the repair might be, but after discovering the welded repair and the damaged yoke, they decided to replace everything. What was really cool is they did it for the same price!!!
Here’s a look at the new shaft. (NOT A CRANK SHAFT….geezzz – you see…).
I have a lot of projects to get to on #ProjectSportsRoof and I can’t wait to get started.
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, …
I thought I’d take a minute and catch the readers up on #ProjectSportsRoof. I wanted to touch up some of the engine bay components, horns, vacuum canister and battery tray. I didn’t want to alter some of these too much, I like having the numbers, logos and other info visible, not …
Well this day was long time coming. My 1973 Mustang has finally returned home and it sounds fantastic!!
You followed #ProjectSporstRoof, you may recall I ran into time issues and ability, to get the transmission mated back up to the engine and the components had to be placed back under the hood and new radiator installed. I had disassembled the engine, send it out to be bored (.040) and crank was milled a bit and rebuilt. That was over a year and half ago. In Feb of this year I decided to get some help getting it running.
A relative had an acquaintance that was starting a second shop here in Tucson to match the success of their first shop that was about an hour way. I wanted to keep the car local so I could check in on the work being done. So I asked and received an estimate and the price was fair. My only stipulation was that the car stay in Tucson and not their out-of-town shop. What I didn’t know was that their idea of starting a shop was to use a garage at a start-up/pop-up used car lot. In return they would be doing really cheap work for the car dealer in lieu of paying expensive rent.
There’s very few times such a plan works out and one day my Mustang disappeared and I wasn’t informed. I eventually (weeks) got a hold of them and found that my car was right where it I didn’t want it…at the out-of-town shop.
Now, I understand business deals falling part, especially when you start-up with little capital and hook-up with another start-up with little capital. What I didn’t like was not knowing that my car was now no longer in the city. Checking on the progress was going to be impossible and as it turned our some of my parts were left/lost at the Tucson shop. An additional problem was that I forgotten to pack a few parts and it took massive coordination effort to get the items to them.
So lets total this up real quick:
1. Missing car
2. Found car
3. Missing/Miss placed parts
4. Lost parts
5. Long periods of un-returned text and voice messages.
6. Lack of trust.
Number 6 is huge!!!
If you don’t have trust in the shop then everything, even the normal things, that arises when you are restoring a car are suspect. Combine that with a newly rebuild engine, never fired-up, well lets just say I was concerned that the proper cautions would be attended to and I’d end up with a pile of ugly Mustang parts in my driveway that I’d have to get rid of or sell the house to afford to fix it!!! So I held my breath and reluctantly had them push on.
Only two real issues came up, one was the drive shaft, it has been repaired a some point in the car’s history and poorly done at that and the yoke was in rough shape. A local shop said that could fix it for a set price, they couldn’t and ended up replacing the shaft and for the original price quoted. The other issue was a panic call/video from the shop, showing my Mustang vomiting radiator fluid in the air like Hawaii’s Kīlauea. That of course is what happens when you put a Windsor thermostat in a 351 Cleveland.
So I reduced my expectations and told them all I wanted was for the car to be mobile. I wanted it driven off the trailer and driven in my driveway and I’d be finished with them. The manual shifting you saw in the video is a result of a lost part.
Now #ProjectSportsRoof is back and I can get on with all the little projects that are left…like installing the shift linkage…yea…that should be first!!!
Thanks for reading and I can now say…there’s more coming up for #ProjectSportsRoof!!!
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, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Bill takes a look at MOPAR Body Bumper Kit for #ProjectBeepBeep and shows a common mistake made when a car is painted. Bill is correct that the bumper are painted over show an oversight that might just tank the value of your car. I grew up working in my Dad’s body …
Welcome back to the #ProjectBeepBeep. We are still following Bill’s progress on the front disc brake conversion for his 68 Plymouth Road Runner. Did I say this is the final chapter? Well…. Sometimes during a project you just can’t afford the time to do a video, especially when you have a friend …
While trying to warn a real life coyote of his ‘rapid’ approach, Bill’s 1968 Road Runner (#ProjectBeepBeep) failed to issue the famous BeepBeep, or was that just part the car’s instinctive DNA based response to coyotes in general? Either way Bill tackles the problem. Here’s a shot of the horn. More coming up …
1968 Ply Road RunnerProject BeepBeep Welcome back to #ProjectBeepBeep. Bill is looking at the brakes and gets some professional assistance to help him make a crucial decision. You know if you’ve got a lot of GO…you need a lot STOP. It not an easy decision to alter a car’s originality, especially …
Welcome back to #ProjectBeepBeep. Thanks for checking in on the progress of Bill’s 1968 Plymouth Road Runner. If you recall mixed in with some brake updates, Bill mentioned that he had sent out the circuit board for a restored. Here is an update on the status of the dash. Next up an …
While trying to warn a real life coyote of his ‘rapid’ approach, Bill’s 1968 Road Runner (#ProjectBeepBeep) failed to issue the famous BeepBeep, or was that just part the car’s instinctive DNA based response to coyotes in general? Either way Bill tackles the problem. Here’s a shot of the horn. More coming up …
Bill takes a look at MOPAR Body Bumper Kit for #ProjectBeepBeep and shows a common mistake made when a car is painted. Bill is correct that the bumper are painted over show an oversight that might just tank the value of your car. I grew up working in my Dad’s body …
While trying to warn a real life coyote of his ‘rapid’ approach, Bill’s 1968 Road Runner (#ProjectBeepBeep) failed to issue the famous BeepBeep, or was that just part the car’s instinctive DNA based response to coyotes in general? Either way Bill tackles the problem. Here’s a shot of the horn. More coming up …
Ready for some more #ProjectBeepBeep? Bill takes you through a few tips for restoring your B-Body door panels. Take a look: Great stuff!!! Thanks Bill!!! Have a few Mopar tips – Post them up or drop me a note @ agcarestoration@cox.net and we get you video/tip posted on the site. Thanks for reading Tim Introducing …
Bill takes a look at MOPAR Body Bumper Kit for #ProjectBeepBeep and shows a common mistake made when a car is painted. Bill is correct that the bumper are painted over show an oversight that might just tank the value of your car. I grew up working in my Dad’s body …
Welcome back to #ProjectBeepBeep. Bill is working on finishing up the brake conversion. Here is a progress update. Note: I forgot to add the credits for these videos: Starring Bill B as himself; BeepBeep as ’68 Road Runner; Wild E. Coyote in effigy Camera Production; Mrs. Bill B and SamB Editing Tim …
Welcome back to #ProjectBeepBeep. Thanks for checking in on the progress of Bill’s 1968 Plymouth Road Runner. If you recall mixed in with some brake updates, Bill mentioned that he had sent out the circuit board for a restored. Here is an update on the status of the dash. Next up an …
Wrapping up the oil pan gasket and what’s next for the 68 RoadRunner?
Take a look:
I have to add my note and this might rub someone the wrong way but I am going to toss it out here.
I took my 1970 Mustang to a shop run by a guy I trust with my cars. After getting the Mustang back I leaked from two spots. When I asked his mechanic about the said “Old cars leak.” That phrase really irritates me every time I hear it. This day in age with all the improvement in gaskets from rubber to rubber coated metal to make your or form you own, this just no reason for your car to leak. After the incident above, I took my Mustang home and replaced the gaskets and drove it for about a week and then went back to my friends shop and had the mechanic look under the car…it was bone dry.
Unless you have a part that can’t be found there is almost no reason, given all the options, for your old car to leak. Having said that, Bill makes a good point – there are times when a leak, a non-engine killing leak, becomes to expensive or time consuming to fix. But if I know Bill, you’ll be seeing a video with him fixing all the leaks. (;^o)
Did you think I sold #ProjectSportsRoof? Nope. I’ve been busy and I’ve been serving as editor to another cool project – my constant reader Bill’s ’68 Plymouth RoadRunner (#ProjectBeepBeep). However, I have been doing some work on the sports roof and in this video you’ll see a little bling under the …
I’d like you to take a look at one of my constant readers classic muscle car. First let me say that Bill has been an a long quest to find a car to replace this car: Back in the day. It was a long search with lots of phone calls with many …
While trying to warn a real life coyote of his ‘rapid’ approach, Bill’s 1968 Road Runner (#ProjectBeepBeep) failed to issue the famous BeepBeep, or was that just part the car’s instinctive DNA based response to coyotes in general? Either way Bill tackles the problem. Here’s a shot of the horn. More coming up …
Did you think I sold #ProjectSportsRoof? Nope. I’ve been busy and I’ve been serving as editor to another cool project – my constant reader Bill’s ’68 Plymouth RoadRunner (#ProjectBeepBeep). However, I have been doing some work on the sports roof and in this video you’ll see a little bling under the …
1968 Ply Road RunnerProject BeepBeep Welcome back to #ProjectBeepBeep. Bill is looking at the brakes and gets some professional assistance to help him make a crucial decision. You know if you’ve got a lot of GO…you need a lot STOP. It not an easy decision to alter a car’s originality, especially …
