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 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?????

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 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.

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 video…a slight improvement.

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Money!!

#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 …

1973 Mustang – Project Sportsroof – Leaks, Pertronix …

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.

 

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 plugs looked like:

 

A very handy device to have is a remote starter (it keeps you from having to run back the cockpit and turning the key).  Just clip on to the positive terminal and S terminal on the starter rely and push the button.

 

The left side Cylinders 1-4.

They shaped up like this:

1 – 130

2 – 25, 35, 60, 90 (Fail!!!)

3 – 140

4 – 135

Here are the videos:



 

No doubt cylinder #2 has some issue.

Other bank coming up in the next post.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 projectsportsroof projectsportsroof

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 video…a slight improvement.

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Money!!

#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 …

1973 Mustang – Project Sportsroof – The Little Things

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.

1973 Mustang – Project Sportsroof – Leaks, Pertronix …

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.

1973 Mustang – Project Sportsroof – The Little Things

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.

A tad bit low.

Broken!

Broken!

Here’s a little clip on the repair.

 

It’s always great to accomplish something on a project, even the little things.

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

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 video…a slight improvement.

1973 Mustang – Project Sportsroof – Leaks, Pertronix …

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.

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Money!!

#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 …

 

 

 

 

1973 Mustang – Project Sportsroof – Leaks, Pertronix & Leaks! Part III

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.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

 projectsportsroof projectsportsroof

1973 Mustang – Project Sportsroof – Leaks, Pertronix …

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.
1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof

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.
1973 Mustang – Project Sportsroof – Leaks, Pertronix …

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.

 

1973 Mustang – Project Sportsroof – Leaks, Pertronix & Leaks! Part II

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.

Here’s what is being installed.

It will replace these.

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.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

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 video…a slight improvement.

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Money!!

#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 …

1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Exterior Walk-Around

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, …

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – What are You Gonna …

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.

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof

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.

1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Interior Walk-Through

Welcome back to the #ProjectSportsRoof. As the discovery process continues we move to the interior. Now each area of the car (engine, body, interior,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1973 Mustang – Project Sportsroof – Leaks, Pertronix & Leaks! Part I

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 doesn’t bleed fluids all over the garage floor and driveway) and replace the points and condenser with a Petronix system.

If you are not familiar Petronix it’s a simple electronic ignition system (as compared with a MSD electronic ignition system) that keeps your car looking stock, as it all tucks under the distributor cap.

First I need to trouble a few leaks.  If you wonder why I’m whispering in the any of the video it’s because to avoid the 100 plus temps I get started early.

Of course the power steering has nothing to do with the engine, but it is substantial and annoying.  As a side note, when is a garage not a garage?  When it’s the most used entry way into your home.   Hence the desire to tackle these leaks before  move the Mustang under cover.  Of course I can put something on the floor but you know as well as I do, that doesn’t matter, because one of the unpublished laws of physics, that goes something like  “Car fluids defy all published laws of physics and go where the hell they want.”

Here is the power steering cleaned up a bit.

We'll see if leaks again. On to the next leak!

We’ll see if it leaks again. On to the next leak!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now we’ve got one more leak to take care of and that is the valve covers. Check it out:

 

I’ll get Part II post up here shortly.  I’m breaking it up as too many videos tend to slow the loading on the page.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

pertronix ignition projectsportsroof

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – What are You Gonna …

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.

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof

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.

1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Interior Walk-Through

Welcome back to the #ProjectSportsRoof. As the discovery process continues we move to the interior. Now each area of the car (engine, body, interior,

 

 

 

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – What are You Gonna Do?

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!!).

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#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 video…a slight improvement.

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Money!!

#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 …

1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Exterior Walk-Around

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, …

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof

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.

1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Interior Walk-Through

Welcome back to the #ProjectSportsRoof. As the discovery process continues we move to the interior. Now each area of the car (engine, body, interior,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Ford Mustang Shelby GT350Rs Roll Off The Line At Flat Rock Plant

Follow Viknesh

It’s a great week for muscle car fans all around the country as the Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] has started building customer examples of the new Mustang Shelby GT350 and GT350Rs. The cars are built at the same Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan responsible for the standard Mustang and the first ones off the line are actually 2015 models.

Just 137 of these ’15 models are being built to honor the original 1965 Shelby GT350 built by Shelby American—100 GT350s and 37 GT350Rs—and no doubt all of them are accounted for. Once this initial batch of cars is built, Ford will switch over to 2016 models that will be built and sold in higher volumes. Deliveries commence this fall.

Chase the source link for the rest of the press release:

Source: First Ford Mustang Shelby GT350Rs Roll Off The Line At Flat Rock Plant

 

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#AGCarRestoration

Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang Pricing Leaked, Starting Under $50k

The folks at Mustang6g have gotten ahold of the pricing for the 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang and it is much lower than we expected, with pricing beginning under $50k for the GT350 while the GT350R starts just over $60k – making the new GT350 …
2016 Shelby GT350R Allegedly Laps ‘Ring in 7:32.19, 5 Sec Faster Than Camaro Z/28

Official 2016 Shelby GT350R specs are not available at this time, but early speculations believe the GT350R will use the same 5.2-liter flat-plane-crank V8 motor as the standard Shelby GT350 and will make identical power as well. However, the beauty of

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 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.

Thanks for reading and drop me a note.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

 projectsportsroof

1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Interior Walk-Through

Welcome back to the #ProjectSportsRoof. As the discovery process continues we move to the interior. Now each area of the car (engine, body, interior,
1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof

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.
1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Exterior Walk-Around

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, …
1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Money!!

#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 …

1973 mach i

Carbonear car show concludes on successful — and loud — note

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 …

 

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Money!!

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

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.

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).

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof

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.
1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Interior Walk-Through

Welcome back to the #ProjectSportsRoof. As the discovery process continues we move to the interior. Now each area of the car (engine, body, interior,
1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Exterior Walk-Around

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, …