Category Archives: Car Restoration

Original Engine? Should you keep it?

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I’m not a “huge” numbers matching guy, but there are a few cars that I think we should always try to keep their original power plants. Corvettes are one of those cars and Mustang – mostly.

My 1984 Corvette had the much loved (by much loved, I mean hated) GM CrossFire engine (with all of it’s 205 hp). It was a huge pain. I must have rebuild those injectors 5 times in the course of my ownership but there just weren’t that many CrossFires left out there.

So Corvettes should retain there original engines and the same is true as I mentioned  some Mustangs.  Clearly not with my 1970 Mustang that was born with a 250, six cylinder with dealer installed under-the-dash A/C.   It wasn’t going to cut it. Turn on the A/C and you had a peddle car.  I didn’t stray to far, I ordered 302 long block, bored .030.   I caught some flack from the local Ford 6 cylinder crew for the swap…but it might have been because I didn’t offer them the tired old 250.  I donated it to young kid was learning at a local shop and needed a engine to work on.   You can see a lot of those details right here on my blog.   Entirely different story with #ProjectSportsRoof (1973 Mustang). It’s a 351 Cleveland  and there aren’t many of those left out there. I rebuild the engine a year and 1/2 ago.  Just had a lifter go rouge (with only 250 miles on the rebuilt) It now has a new comp cam lifters and rods.  For less than 1/2 of all that was spend I could have dropped in 400hp Windsor crate engine, but I just couldn’t.

What do you say?

 


Thanks for checking in!!

Tim
#ProjectSportsRoof

1973 Mustang -Project Sports Roof – Mach 1 Grille Part II

Thanks for checking back on #ProjectSportsRoof.  Progress is being made and I’d like to finish up these post

Project SportsRoof is Back on the Street Part II

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So what kept my ’73 Mustang from running free around Southern Arizona?

Well, a lot of things, but where to start?

You’ll recall there was that pesky head gasket leak with water bubbling between the block and the left side head.

 

Then here was this:

The transmission leaked around the kick down lever I installed.

The gas tank needed to be dumped and accelerate pump replaced.

Started and coil decided to passed on to the great scrap metal pile in the sky.

Oh and there was that lifter noise. Check out the video:


After the a new camshaft install, new push rods, new spark plugs she runs like new—-ish!!

Thanks for stopping by.
Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

 

Project SportRoof is Back on the Street!

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I know it’s been a while.  But final my 1973, 351 Cleveland powered Mustang (the last of the big Stangs) is back on the streets.

Here the ride’s home.  I’m not sure what’s up with the audio but at times is sounds like I’m recording under water.

 


What keep her off road? I have those details coming up next.

Thanks for stopping buy.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

700 Plus HP – You have to Respect the Power – Kevin Hart’s 70 Cuda.

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I read an account, on Facebook siting TMZ as the source (yes there are 3 problem there, first it’s on Facebook, second it’s TMZ and third it’s TMZ), that the guy driving Kevin Hart’s Cuda is suing Kevin and in turn Kevin is suing SpeedKore for not having enough/proper safety equipment.  Specifically, that the car didn’t have airbags or safety harnesses.

The post goes on to lament the concern that this case may lead California to require that all classic cars be outfitted with current safety equipment.  Should that be the case then classic car collecting and driving would become affordable to just about everyone. Unfortunately, that might not be that much of a stretch.

This brought several thoughts to mind that I’ll share.

I’ve raced my cars, my 1970 Mustang appeared in several charity drag races.  Both of my Corvettes were auto crossed informally (car club sponsored and in SCCA events. )  One of the keys is understanding the ability and power of the car and your driving ability!!!    

At one event a fellow car club member had just purchased a C6 Z06 Corvette with 600 plus hp.  He was a newbie when it came to Corvettes and horse power.  In his first auto cross he lost control of his Corvette and drove through a fence at a well known race course/school here in Arizona.  He had no idea the power of the car and turned off the traction control, something newbies should never do.

Now, I don’t know the driving experience of the guy driving Kevin’s Cuda, nor do I know what driving skills Kevin Hart has for such a powerful car, but I guessing very little for both. At least not enough to request a proper harness be installed.  Of course, if you have the money, you can spend it on anything your “heart” desires, but should you?  Should you by a powerful device without the proper skill set to operate it?  I’ve owned and fired weapons before, I guess purchasing an armored personnel carrier with a .50 caliber M2 machine gun and a 40 mm Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher should be fine.  I can drive a truck and have fired M16s….ya…I’m good.

Point is you must understand the car’s capabilities as well your skill level and respect it’s power and what that can do.

My second thought is related to regulations restricting the equipment and driving for classic cars.  There is a continued eroding of protections for the hobby and the industry.  With knuckleheads like Kevin and his friends we could be doomed.

There are small organizations out there lobbying to protect/preserve the rights to own, collected and drive this cars.  But I fear that they are too small and under funded to mount a long term fight.

Kevin, you are very funny guy and I enjoy your shows, but this is not funny.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Image result for speedkore charger

 

kevin hart car accident

ProjectSportsRoof – Quick Power Test!!

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Thanks for checking back on #ProjectSportsRoof.

Valve gasket installed, zinc added and now it’s time for quick power test.  I have yet to get the pedal to the floor and now it’s time and I took the captured the fun….and…well…take a look:

 


You can hear how awesome the SR73 sounds and power was substantial. Of course the quick trip ended in a less than optimal way.
The first effort of the power test was successful, that wasn’t captured. I turned the phone on for the second and you can hear that. I had intended a third power sprint but SportsRoof had a different idea. I could feel it start to surge and then nothing. There was no noise, a brief sputter, like perhaps it flooded (entirely possible as the carb is a bit bigger then it should be).
I coasted it to the side of the street.

A quick troubleshooting proved that the car was still getting fuel but would not start. After setting for a bit still not firing up. I suspect distributor. When I have time I’ll dig into.

The day ended with a flatbed trip home. 🙁

More to come!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

1973 Mustang Heater Box Part 1

Maybe one of the worse task to tackle on a car is the heater core.  In particular on some older cars.  In most cases you have to remove the entire dash.   I know this because when the heater core sprung a leak in my 1974 Cobra Jet Torino, I didn’t …
73 Mustang 351 Cleveland Rebuild – Removal Part 5

This is the last post related to prepping the 351 Cleveland in #ProjectSportRoof for removal. Originally, I had planned to lift the engine out with the carb still attached.  However, after the first test fit to see how the Duralast leveler  (I’ve never used one before – last engine I pulled …
Project SportsRoof Shifting Linkage Part III

Welcome back to Project Sports Roof (#ProjectSportsRoof).   The struggle is real!!! You saw in the last video my replacement of the linkage that was lost by the repair shop (along with my new battery and started).   This repair shone the light (as often happens with older cars) on a previous …

73 Mustang – Valve Cover Gasket And Lucas Additive

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Yesterday started out just great, weather-wise.

In the two videos below I talk about valve cover gaskets, the current lack of experts at your local parts store, and online “No Help” clerk and a recommendation for the Mustangs regular dosage of Zinc – not in table form for the Mustang’s  351 Cleveland!!!

First valve cover gaskets:


Lucas Zinc additive:


Thanks for reading. Check out the next post.

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 – Project Sports Roof – Vacuum System Part II

Thanks for checking on #ProjectSportsRoof.   So here is the last set of initial questions. Here is an image of the current set up: Any diagram I find has the hose vacuum from the Distr going to the Valve assy. The Valve assy has nothing attached which is located on the front …

Project SportsRoof – Valve Noise Solved!

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It’s been a while!!!!

Ya know, one would think that as you get older there’s more time for leisurely things.  But as second year teacher (at the age of “past 50”) and coaching our school’s basketball team there is no slowing down.  That’s my only excuse for not working much on Project SportsRoof.  Ok there’s one more….we’ve had a colder and wetter than normal winter.   This episode is purely due to “Spring Break” and having our taxes done (almost).

If you’ve followed along (did you know you can find Average Guy on YouTube as well?) you’ll know it’s been a long road with my 73 Mustang.  Multiple starts and stops, often caused by me exceeding my ‘Average Guy’s’ skill set and man power and even my car disappearing for a couple of weeks (but I found it).  Oh and don’t forget the tow truck driver that “broke” my front end!

Now SR73 (not SR71 the blackbird aircraft) or #ProjectSportsRoof is back on the road.  Having only driving about 30 miles since the engine rebuild, I noticed a lifter noise.  Not something you want to hear after all the time and $$ spent on it’s 351 C, in fact it’s a bit concerning.

The best place to start troubleshooting is to make sure the engine is getting the oil it needs.  That requires pulling the valve cover and running the engine.   Since I put the heads together myself, it’s a good idea to check the torque on the valves.  What better time to check that than when you have to take the valve covers off anyway?

Here is my quick video recap. There are a couple good tips in this one and here is a one more great tip. I can’t take credit for it because was shared with me sometime back. Should you have an old set of valve covers, cut the tops off to make viewing possible. That way when you let the car run (it’s the easiest way check if oil is flowing) the spraying oil is somewhat contained. You won’t see that in these videos….but you will see the mess it makes when you don’t use them!!!

Don’t forget to drop a comment, if you are so inclined.  Oh, if you have an event you’d like to tell other car peeps about, let me know and I’ll post it up!!

 

 



Follow Up: Reusing the old gasket!!



Thanks for visiting our site. You can find us on Facebook (search groups for Average Guy’s Car Restorations and Projects) and YouTube.

Tim

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 …

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 …

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Compression, Rods and Heads

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 …

1973 Mustang – Project SportsRoof – Engine Bay Components.

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 …

Corvette Mustang – Corvette Mustang – Then and Now

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Over on Facebook one of the groups has a Then and Now series of posts.  That consisted of folk posting the cars they were driving 10 years ago and now.  I thought that was cool so I put quick clip together for my rides then and now.

For sometime now I have a Mustang Corvette combo, my  ’70 Mustang/84 Vette combo and my ’73 Mustang/’07 Vette combo.

 

Just a little trip down memory lane!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Project SportsRoof – 73 Mustang Update

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Let me start out with a couple of pics of something most followers of my sight haven’t see in a couple years.

Project SportsRoof – not up on jack stands!!!!

The Stang getting a full tank….IN PERSON!!!!

It’s great to have it back on the road!!

As you know, I had a recommendation to have some work done on #ProjectSportsRoof. The story was this shop was expanding into Tucson and the son of the owner was going to run local ‘branch’. That was only 20% true. The son (for whatever reason) rented a bay from a garage here in town. Instead of paying rent he was going to do free repairs for the shop owner. Shortly after the Mustang was at the location, his deal with the owner went south and so did my car!!!

For two weeks I could not get hold of guy and when I showed up at the place he was supposed to be working, I was told they had no idea what was going on.  Shortening the story about 2 months, my car is finally returned to me.  Running great, but missing ‘stuff’.  You can see the that part of the story here:  https://wp.me/p2YxYx-5fK

BTW Twisted Addiction was the name of the shop and I still hear good things about the work they do in a town about 50 miles from here.  But my experience was beyond crappy!!!

After wrestling with the shifting lever I needed to get the car on the road (O.K. – more like a want) I turned to a unique garage.   They are unique not because they are one of a kind, in fact they are a chain.   They are unique because the owner/partner pushed the envelope on the range of cars he would allow his team to work on.   Work on older cars was  (and is) not part of the chain’s business model, and certainly helping out the locals on their old project cars wasn’t either.  But they did and with the new owner/partner, they’ve grandfather me and my project in.  They were there when I needed help on my current project.  From my 1970 Mustang to my 1984 Corvette and now with 73 Mustang (#ProjectSportsRoof) they didn’t hesitate.

I had the SportsRoof towed to the shop and the damage to the suspension wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but there was not need for it to occur.  You can see the story here: https://wp.me/p2YxYx-5hV.

I have the Mustang back and there was a mix of used and new parts added to fix the suspension damage.

And now I have it back and still stinging from the series of set backs, but happy to have it drivable again.  Here is a video update.

 




I am looking forward to finishing up the interior, some electoral,  dash components, heater/AC box, and more.  So check back.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

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, you have to work with what you’ve got, …

1973 Mustang – Project Sports Roof – Pertronix Ignitor Update

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 …

Project SportsRoof – 73 Mustang – Suspension Damage.

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So today the Mustang was going to make a quick trip the shop down the street to have the valve body put back in the transmission. The tow truck driver got the ‘Stang off-center on the flatbed and decided to winch it sideways. Only problem he wrapped the chain around the lower control arm. I was on the phone and heard a sickening snap. The bottom of the lower control arm is now facing the front of the car and you can see the rest here.  Video is below the pic.


Hoping the frame isn’t bent…but it might be. That would require some framework. If that doesn’t work then it might require a new front end.

Will update when I have news.

Thanks for reading.
Tim
#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 the compression. First up was to warm the car a bit and then pull the plugs. Here’s what the …