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 Cars!!
Sept. 9, 1935 – Studebaker exports 163 Presidents to England.
These are what were shipped
All Aboard!!
Car News Now (C.N.N.)
Automobile reports that the 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S get Turbocharged!!!
That’s the 3.0 liter flat six engine. The twin turbo will produce 379 hp w/ 331 lb-ft fo torque in the Carrera and Carrera S will have 420 hp with 368 lb-ft. That is 20 more horses the current 3.8 liter produces for Porsches.
2017 Porsche Twin-turbo Flat 6 – smoking hot!!
Car Buzz took a look at Audi’s A8 with Armor – it will be bullet and bomb proof – meeting VR 9 ballistics protection standards.
You are gonna need some extra punch to get these moving so there are two engines available. The are the 4.o liter V8 with 429 hp and a 6.0 liter W12 with 495 hp.
With its world premiere headed for the IAA Frankfurt, the refreshed seventh generation Porsche 911 Carrera (991 series) should represent an epic showcase of efficiency, technological advancement, engine development and design curation. Innovative …
Mercedes-Benz’s next C63 AMG is due in about a year and we have some fresh details on the car straight from the head of AMG. The good news is that the car will continue to offer a V-8 and rear-wheel drive, but this time around it will be turbocharged.
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 wet test on cylinder 2 to help determine if the rings were shot, I’m thinking it’s just a valve issue.
The left bank of cylinders looked like this:
Cylinder 5 (front right) – 160
Cylinder 6 – 155
Cylinder 7 – 160
Cylinder 8 – 140
Here are the videos.
Cylinder 5
Cylinder 6
Cylinder 7
Cylinder 8
Those are some pretty good numbers. But the heads will have to come off and sent out for a spa day…UNLESS…I replace them with something else? Like?????
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.
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 video…a slight improvement.
#ProjectSportsRoof will be the way I want it, which I haven’t nailed down yet, so suggest way by dropping me a comment (got your crate motor idea swimming around in my head, Bill) and that will happen fast or slow and cost …
Continuing on with the leaks and Pertronix install on the 351C, below you’ll see the cleaned up valve covers (BTW – only the right side was leaking – which may explain.
During the course of a restoration that are the major processes that need to be tended too, like body work, engine rebuild or interior work that takes the lime light and a the bulk of the time spend on the project. There are often small gaps when there’s a some free time, like waiting for parts, etc. or just a break for the big stuff to take care of some of the little.
For example: If you’ve watched the videos, in particular the engine walk through post (Link it) you’ve seen the radiator reservoir was….um…a little lower than what would be considered normal.
A tad bit low.
Broken!
Here’s a little clip on the repair.
It’s always great to accomplish something on a project, even the little things.
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 video…a slight improvement.
Continuing on with the leaks and Pertronix install on the 351C, below you’ll see the cleaned up valve covers (BTW – only the right side was leaking – which may explain.
#ProjectSportsRoof will be the way I want it, which I haven’t nailed down yet, so suggest way by dropping me a comment (got your crate motor idea swimming around in my head, Bill) and that will happen fast or slow and cost …
Thanks for checking back on the #ProjectSportsRoof progress. Wrapping up the Pertronix install, I’ll had an issue. After install the system the car would not start. So I re-gapped the Pertronix and still it wouldn’t start. I was sure I didn’t screw up the firing order when I put the new cap on, but I pulled out the book and rechecked. Not the problem.
So I went about putting the points and condenser back in and it still didn’t fire up, put the old coil back on and still no luck. I put the Pertronix back in and of course the beast would not fire up.
This video covers it.
If you read the previous post and watched the video, you would have noticed gas seeping from a crack in the rubber line just above the “steam punk” fuel pressure gauge and the collection of hose clams. Truly a work of art – no doubt, but totally a mess.
Ye,s I should have looked that over better and replaced it prior running the car. However, it’s better now and a solid temporarily fix. Here a clip.
Again, this is a temp fix and a proper line will be installed eventually.
Here’s a wrenching tip: When install hose clamps on a gas line, be sure you’ve tighten them all before your start the car. Gas has a tendency to not flow in the desired direction, when not well contained. Yeah…gas everywhere and not just a little. Here’s garage tip: Cat Litter – buckets full!!! ‘nough said!!!
Thanks for reading and as always….let me hear from you.
As I march down the dark path that is the diagnostic process to find out the health of the 351 Cleveland, the first steps are to clean up a few leaks (mainly so it.
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.
Continuing on with the leaks and Pertronix install on the 351C, below you’ll see the cleaned up valve covers (BTW – only the right side was leaking – which may explain.
Continuing on with the leaks and Pertronix install on the 351C, below you’ll see the cleaned up valve covers (BTW – only the right side was leaking – which may explain the gunked up spark plug).
As I was cleaning up the valve cover gaskets and notices a couple more issue that need addressing.
Let me know your thoughts on the transmission cooling lines.
Finally we get to the main event for this past weekend wrenching, the install of the Pertronix Ignition system. (Yeah…I didn’t think I’d get here either.)
This a relatively easy install, unless you are me!!!! You’ll see in the video – it really wasn’t related to the Pertronix.
Here’s what is being installed.
It will replace these.
Now I’m not going to show the install CJ Pony had a good video on the process and I don’t have a camera guy to take the shot. Here’s a link: CJ Pony Install
So the audio is not that great on this clip but it is running better then previously. You’ll notice toward the end of this clip…a new problem!
I’ll address that in the last part of this section.
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 video…a slight improvement.
#ProjectSportsRoof will be the way I want it, which I haven’t nailed down yet, so suggest way by dropping me a comment (got your crate motor idea swimming around in my head, Bill) and that will happen fast or slow and cost …
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, …
I get a lot of questions on just what I’m going to do with the Sports Roof. Some of those are posed as inquires of interest and others can be interpreted as “What the.
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.
I get a lot of questions on just what I’m going to do with the Sports Roof. Some of those are posed as inquires of interest and others can be interpreted as “What the hell were you thinking when you bought that!!!”. Truth is I don’t have that all planned out yet and the direction can change base on the results of the discovery process.
It would be very difficult to produce something horrifying if you stick to the bare bones of the car. There may be some catastrophic cause such as the 351 Cleveland not being able to perform up to par. That would allow for a host of different directions, such as bringing it back to originality by installing a slightly beefed up 302 or dropping a monster crate engine in, maybe even a conversion to a manual 4 speed. There is always a ripple effect – carb changes, exhaust changes (it just isn’t loud enough now) and more. Having plan set in stone is not in the cards for this project at this point.
Here is what I can tell you. The car will be returned the factory color Bright Red. The interior will be redone most likely with kits from TMI kits and back to stock, with Dynamat as sound and heat barrier. A/C will be re-installed. There will be changes to the wheels for sure and everything else will be as stock as can be.
So number one priority is to shake down the Cleveland and go from there. That is where we start and the next few posts will cover getting the 351 to run a well as it can – removing the little things that can impact functionality. For example, removing the points and condenser and replacing with Pertronix system, new distributor cap, rotor, plugs and wires and tackle the vacuum system (NIGHMARE!!).
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 video…a slight improvement.
#ProjectSportsRoof will be the way I want it, which I haven’t nailed down yet, so suggest way by dropping me a comment (got your crate motor idea swimming around in my head, Bill) and that will happen fast or slow and cost …
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, …
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.
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 video…a slight improvement over the earlier attempts.)
As you can see there’s work to be done. Below is a quick video on the cap/rotor/points and condenser.
While taking a look at the plugs, I discovered a good use for Rewards Cards.
There you have a quick overview and a little insight in to what needs to be done. I think I’ve talked my self in to keeping the 351C, even though it’s not original to the car and a year older, I just like the idea of a period 351C – yup a re-manufactured is a an option, but let’s see what this is looks like first. Your thoughts?
Next up will be the install Pertronix system and cap and rotor, then plug and wires.
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.
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, …
#ProjectSportsRoof will be the way I want it, which I haven’t nailed down yet, so suggest way by dropping me a comment (got your crate motor idea swimming around in my head, Bill) and that will happen fast or slow and cost …
Wade Hiscock of Carbonear poses in front of his impressive 1973 Mach I Fastback Ford Mustang. It was one of three vehicles Hiscock had on display as this weekend’s Shine and Show in Carbonear. Hiscock moved back to Carbonear last year after 26 years …
No I’m not going to ask for donations…although….well…nah! HEY…maybe a Go Fund My Ford website? Well if any parts house (@NPDLink – you guys rock), restoration supplies or tool distributors send something – even a t-shirt, I’ll post up an ad on AGCarRestoration.com for you, heck I’ll wear the shirt during one my unprofessional videos!!! Um…not that I’m doing anything unprofessional….just not a professionally produced videos.
Seriously now, I was asked to day – thanks Bill for reminding me that I should touch on this – what my budget is for this project. My real answer is I don’t have one. Not…”I don’t have one” as in it’s unlimited – remember average guy, average budget – more like “I don’t have one” as in “I don’t know where that moneys coming from” .
I didn’t set a budget with my 1970 Mustang, things just happened and I went with it.
1970 Mustang Mods for 300 HP
It will be the same with this project. #ProjectSportsRoof will be the way I want it, which I haven’t nailed down yet, so suggest way by dropping me a comment (got your crate motor idea swimming around in my head, Bill) and that will happen fast or slow and cost what it costs. I’m not going to flip the car – this one is a keeper. (So was my 1970, up to a certain dollar amount.)
This project is different than the ’70 Stang, I want this one to be more of my work than the ’70 was – although I did a lot of work on that beast. This project will be at a slower pace, I think, than the 1970. (If you recall the the ’70 Stang was helped along by the fact that driving a 6 cylinder (250CID – with 159,000 miles) with the A/C on was like peddling a bike up the Washington Monument and the young kid who was to busy entertaining his GF to stop behind me at a red stoplight.
This one will be different.
Like this? Maybe.
Coming up tomorrow will be the 351C walk-around (actually performed that a couple of days ago, but videos were…bad!! I even lost the first segment).
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.
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, …
Welcome back to the #ProjectSportsRoof. As the discovery process continues we move to the interior. Now each area of the car (engine, body, interior, undercarriage) I’m conducting an inventory, gathering all items that need to be replaced or missing and the work that needs to be done.
Here is a quick run through the interior:
Just a note: I not a camera guy, these are filmed with my Android (sometimes my IPhone) so these are the greats shots. But they will be improving as I learn the art of digital editing.
From these videos I’ll end up with a list of everything – discovered (there will me more). From this list, I’ll be able to build the project plan and with tasked ordered in what is hopefully a logical approach, with the goal of keeping it on the road as much as possible.
Thanks for reading and please feel free to drop a comment or two.
I pulled this dash cluster from a 1973 Mustang Sportsroof that was in a junkyard in 1980. The car had the three center gauges in the mini cluster but had no Tach. Instead it had this clock with a brake warning light in the pod …
Related Finds. 1973 Mustang SportsRoof 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Under Tarp 1970-mustang-boss-302 1970 Boss 302 · Get Email Updates! Instant Daily Weekly. Categories. Stories · Sightings · Our Projects · Events …
With the near completion of a customer’s project (1975 Model 110 VW) and the beginning of another customer’s Jensen Interceptor, I’ve finally completed my search for my next personal project.
Having recently completed and sold my 1984 Corvette and my 1970 Mustang, I’ve found my next project.
Introducing “Project SR”. It is a 1973 Mustang Sports Roof. The VIN breakdown looks like this:
Born: April 1973 in Dearborn, MI (Code F)
Body Series: 02 Sports Roof Code: 63D
Engine F Code – 302 2V V8
Color Code 2B – Bright Red
Trim Code GA – Black All Vinyl, Mach 1 Luxury
Axle Code: 8 – 3.00:1 gearing
Transmission Code: W – C4 Automatic
DSO – Originally delivered to dealership in Omaha, Ne. and then shipped to Arizona(??)
That’s how it left the factory, however, that is not how it’s sits today. Here’s a little back ground.
Project “SR” is a rescue project for the second time. The first ‘known’ attempt was by the immediate previous owner. Pulled from a junk yard by father/son combo for salvation. This team has spent some meaningful time on this project. As the factory codes show the car was powered by 302 2V as built. When the father/son team pulled it out of the desert sun, it had 351 cid engine that was seized. That is how is end up with the current 351 2v from a 1972 Mustang. Putting the power to the rear wheels as it drove off the assembly line was a C4 automatic transmission, after all these years it now has a C6 automatic. Front end was completed by the team and then a couple fateful fender benders (both front fender on different days) and a desire to build a rat-rod had led this ‘Stang to it’s new home – my drive way!
Why pick this particular car out of the thousands I’ve viewed online and 30 or so I’ve looked over? Well, I have a thing for Mustangs (and Corvettes) and this one is significant. It is the last year for the big Mustangs as the 1974 models were…..um…..different. What’s more the Code 63D Sports Roof/Fastback has a limited production for the 3 years is was offered. 1971 shows a production number of for the 63D 23,956 units, 1972 end with 15,622 Sports Roof examples and 1973 bottoms out the list with only 10,820 units – that is less than production of convertibles. So out of the total Mustang unit produced of just over 518,000 for 1971-1973 only 53,358 63D’s were produced. So you have last year production for the big bodied Mustangs and for the 63D and the lowest production.
So we are going to have some fun restoring this one and my followers on WordPress, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and a couple more will be able to keep up. Search on #ProjectSR.
Over the next few weeks I’ll do a project shake down that will uncover what it needs which will help me arrive and what I want to accomplish with this beauty. Follow along and I’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions, hints and tips.
1973 Mustang SportsRoof. If Mach 1 Mustangs have gotten a little too pricey for you, may I suggest a less flashy fastback like this? The 351 under the hood isn’t as powerful as the top-of-the-line Cobra Jet, but it’s the same …
