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. In this post I’ve pulled the oil pan and we can take a quick look at the crank and mains.
You have to love Ford engineers. Each main is numbered with an arrow…come on…that’s cool!
I was hoping that there would be something obviously out of whack at this point, but everything looked O.K. from what I could see.
Coming up next I’ll unbolt the mains and we’ll look at the bearing, piston and crank.
Jul 31, 2016 … We are moving right along on #ProjectSportsRoof,with the 351 Cleveland rebuilt. Still getting it ready to be pulled from the engine bay In this …
Source: average-guys-car-restoration-mods-racing.com projectsportsroof … for the 73 Mustang, #ProjectSportsRoof, I’m about to remove the intake manifold.
Every now and then I get to tag along with my wife as she hops around the country working on Interior Design projects for her employer Aviar Design (a commercial design firm).
This trip was to Petaluma, Ca, where beautiful farmland meets redwood forests meets the beautiful Pacific Ocean. It also the home of U.S. Coast Guard TRACEN training center and some awesome cars.
But first a shout out to the often unsung heroes – the men and women of the United States Coast Guard. They keep our coast lines and your families safe!! After nearly 35 years of being assigned to and around military installation all over the world (both Jill – ret. E8 and I -12 years- are USAF veterans) I think the Coast Guards training facility in Petaluma is one of the most beautiful anywhere. The facilities are top of the line, the installation pristine and teeming wild turkeys, deer and a host of woodland animals. We’ve enjoyed our both are trips there. The hospitality was unsurpassed. Thanks warriors!!!!!
SEMPER PARATUS
Let’s talk about cars. Although not as plentiful as you might see in Southern California (we lived there for 4 years) but they are there. We didn’t have the time for stop and photograph all we was but there are some awesome trucks (hey…it’s farm country) and a lot of hidden gems with tons of potential. After all this is where they filmed portions of the awesome car movie – American Graffiti. Just outside of Petaluma, there’s a farm with a 69-70 Mustang tucked under a cover to protect it from the marine layer as it rolls in and out of the farmland and redwoods. The hills are dotted with homes that have 1950-1970 truck parked under over or in full service.
Here are a few I was able to get a few shots of some for the unique motor cars.
Take this 1930’s Ford Hot Rod – straight out of the move American Graffiti!!!
Check out those headers!!!!
I had to get a shot of the vintage tread, redline, red steel and wiiiiiiiiiiiiide white walls!!!!
A little further up North in the Anderson Redwoods we ran into the a 9 hole golf course tucked between redwood trees..what????? Parked in the parking lot was a good example of the 1980’s Firebird TransAm
Crager SS mags, fender scopes!!!
There were a huge number of VW vans – heck it’s California after all. There are the traditional VW buses and the Westfalia van’s every where – still! Check out this drop side van.
Nicely restored!!!
Framework is there for the canvas top.
One of the coolest we notice was this work in progress.
Citroen Van
The owner has plans for the French work horse as it’s clearly under surgery. Think of the possibilities:
This is just a sampling of the car culture in Northern California. I’m hopping to make it back there with a couple of days free to just explore and peak under some of those car covers.
Legendary SoCal hot rodder, racer and all-around Corvette maestro Dick Guldstrand passed away on September 2 at age 87. A few years back, we featured Dick in our Hot Rod Hero column for Hemmings Muscle Machines. In fact, I had the opportunity to speak with Dick on the day he was celebrating his 84th birthday. There is nothing quite like the candor of a retired racer, particularly one who has never truly left the arena. (Chase the link below for the rest of the article from Hemmings.)
I didn’t realize there were models for the stamps!
This is an older article.
The two ’32 Ford highboy roadsters that posed for the U.S. Postal Service’s new Hot Rods Forever Stamps will be shown today at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles during a dedication ceremony of the limited-edition collection.The cars – the red ’32 McGee Roadster owned by well-known collector Bruce Meyer and the black-with-flames ’32 Frank Rogers Roadster owned by Mark Graham – will be at the museum with their owners for the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ceremony, along with U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe and emcee Barry Maguiar, host of the TV show Car Crazy.
BEAULIEU’S ever popular Custom & Hot Rod Festival, held on Father’s Day, saw hundreds of colourful customs and stunning hot rods flood into the picturesque parkland of the National Motor Museum.
The Festival, held in association with Victory Wheelers, the south coast’s leading Custom, American and Hot Rod club, welcomed 7,320 visitors.
A large variety of custom cars and motorcycles were on display, with plenty of unusual designs and eye-catching artwork for visitors to admire. A number of trade stands were open for business, selling clothing, Americana memorabilia, merchandise and accessories.
This year, three dragsters formed a special display in a corner of the Beaulieu Arena. The Ratcatcher Resurrection slingshot dragster and Joe Bond’s Nuthin Fancy fuel-altered dragster both fired up for watching visitors, showing off the powerful force of their engines, in morning and afternoon demonstrations.
Europe’s first dragster, Sydney Allard’s 1961 Allard Chrysler, which was officially returned to the National Motor Museum at last year’s Festival, following extensive renovation, was also on display.
Well they’re cool! Yes, that’s true. But what makes them cool?
The shine of the chrome, the rumble of the engine, the ear-splitting sound of no headers that lead to the high-pitched sound of rubber over coming friction. Yup all that too!!
If you are an owner, working on them make it pretty cool too, despite the mess.
I was reading an article in GoodGuys magazine where the writer (a hot rodder) would love to greet new neighbors by revving his hot rod and laying down some rubber in front of their house. In the course of article he matured a bit which improved his standing with the neighbors.
I’m glad he did because frankly he wasn’t doing the hobby of hot rodding or muscle car ownership any favors. It reflects poorly on us and makes it harder to protect the ability to pursue the hobby at home. There’s no reason to be a “Richard Cranium” (I have friends whose kids read this)!!!!
Let me share a story from my own neighborhood.
A few years back a guy moved in next door who was a DPS (State Trooper). I was glad to see that since I’m a former cop and I was “DELIGHTED” when a couple of days later a bright yellow 1962 Chevy II drag car showed up on a trailer outside his house. It was all I could do to keep from running over there and take it off the trailer for him. The car was beautiful. And the first day he fired it up – windows rattled 1/4 mile away. It was awesome!!!
After a couple of months the thrill ran out. The owner would move the car out of his garage on to the driveway and running for long periods of time – while tuning and most of that was a the same decibel level you get at the drag strip that’s just 7 miles way (you can actually hear it on a calm day in my front yard). As much as I enjoy cars, especially those that are fast and loud, there became a point where I starting to think my other neighbors were right to complain.
Now listen, my Mustang is pretty loud, and I’m sure a few of my neighbors are bothered slightly – but this guy made me look like a saint!!!
But, I think the tipping point for me was when he and a buddy (I would loved to help – in fact it might have been better if I did…the ‘why’ is coming up) decided to tear down that monster power plant in the driveway. “Well what of it?” You might be tempted to ask. Well they did so while allowing a wide stream of all the fluids (oil, antifreeze, fuel) to run down the driveway (driveway has a steep angle) into and across the street (which is mid-way a slope) and down the gutter on the opposite side. It traveled about some distance passing about 4 house/driveways. Needless to say neighborhood cars’ tires spread it further down the street and into their respective driveways.
Now, I like working on my cars and the “why” it would have been better if I had helped is the fact that I have all the containers I personally use to capture, hold and properly dispose of these fluids. Oh, I’ve had my share of spills, but nothing as offensive as their failure to even attempt to stem the flow, much less clean it up.
Adding insult to injury, they left that big block GM motor open and dripping for two more days.
This was of course unacceptable to most on the street and as a car guy, I was horrible disappointed that a follow enthusiast had such disregard for those around him and the environment. It wasn’t much after that I saw the car on the trailer and a moving van followed.
Now I know that owning a hot rod or muscle car isn’t perfectly clean but there is no excuse for such behavior.
Do what you can to protect the environment, and the image of the hobby. Don’t be a Richard Cranium and ruin it for the rest of us.
So be reasonable and responsible!!!
1. Keep the mess contained to your garage or property.
2. Capture your fluids in the proper containers and have it disposed of properly. Make friends with the local auto repair places and they may even take it off your hands. Even auto parts stores will help recycle some fluids.
3. If you can’t afford the containers or to have the fluids disposed of, then maybe you should have the car.
4. Don’t run your car at inconsiderate hours and for extended periods. (I try very hard to warm up the Mustang and get out of the housing development a soon a possible. I also do what tune up and testing as necessary but if I have to upon it up I’ll take to outside housing area to do so.
