’71 Mach 1 Resto Project

[tpj71mach]

Yesterday, the center section arrived. I opened it up and inspected it last night but did not have any time to work on it. I am hoping today to get it painted so it will be cured enough to install it tomorrow.

 

[Sheriff41]

You may want to look into swapping the pinion yokes. Your new one looks to have the short yoke. Our cars came from the factory with the long yoke.

 

[tpj71mach]

You may want to look into swapping the pinion yokes. Your new one looks to have the short yoke. Our cars came from the factory with the long yoke.

Thanks, I noticed that and planned to swap them out.

 

[tpj71mach]

I painted the center section this afternoon and will let it cure for a day or two. It is a satin clear so it should dull down after it cures fully.

My 23-year-old son, the body builder, said he is available tomorrow afternoon or Saturday morning to lift that bad boy into place for me. I have lifted a few 9-inch center sections into place when I was younger but that is what the young guys are best at, haha.

I also got my axles back with the new bearings pressed on, so I am ready to put a bit of gear lube on the new seals and slide them in after the center section is installed. Hopefully it will be back on all four tires by Saturday afternoon and tucked away back in the corner of the garage for its long winter nap.

 

[tpj71mach]

I was able to assemble the rear differential today and get her back on all four tires and tucked back into her corner of the garage.

The next project will be reupholstering the seats, but that won't be for a couple months. A few weeks ago when I ordered the comfort weave, SMS told me that it would be a minimum of 10 weeks before they ship the comfort weave that I purchased from them to TMI. TMI told me it would take 6-8 weeks to make and ship me the seat covers. Kind of funny how it takes 2-4 weeks longer to walk to a shelf and cut two yards of fabric off of a roll and place it into an envelope than it takes to sew together a full set of seat covers and ship them, oh well it is what it is. So, once I know the seat covers are about to be shipped, I will remove the seats and start tearing them down and media blast and paint the frames. Hopefully, I can time it right to where the frames are ready for foam and upholstery about the same time that all shows up.

Here are a couple pics of my new center section with a limited slip and 3.25:1 gears.

I also bought new hardware from NPD just to make it look pretty, haha.

 

[Sheriff41]

When you tear down your seats check the rear corners of the bottom seat frames for cracks. Also, some of the holes in the frame where you'd fasten hog rings may have cracked open and may need repair. Check out this thread: https://7173mustangs.com/threads/help-finding-1973-mach-1-seat-frame.45270/#post-456371

 

[California 72]

Very nice!


Umm, err uhh, does your old one have a new home yet?

 

[tony-muscle]

I got my axle bearings and seals in and I dropped the axles off to my buddy to have the bearings pressed on. My center section shows out for delivery already today, I didn't expect it until tomorrow so that will be a pleasant surprise. I will have more time to paint it and get it ready to install when the axles come back it may even be in the rear end housing, haha.

Of course, the bearings were made in China, but the seals were made in Taiwan. I wonder, does that make them better or worse? LOL

I checked everywhere I could think of, but I could not find any American-made bearings for this application.

Timken and SKF are worldwide know as mentioned.
However, I have been using Moser's with the o-ring that you can get away with no seal. I have been using this design for 5+ years. I had to replace once but it is because I autocross and race my car which is very hard on the bearings. I will be removing the axle next week to check the bearings but it is something I have to do every year to be in the safe side and be ready for the annual beating. For normal street use they should last a long time.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/MSR-9507T

 

[tpj71mach]

Very nice!


Umm, err uhh, does your old one have a new home yet?

Thanks!

Sorry, but yes it has found a new home, a friend of mine, (guy that helped me build the 454 for my Chevelle) wants it and is planning to swing by this weekend to get it. He asked what I was asking but I told him just to take it, it needs to be rebuilt, it would only be good as a case to build anyways. The pinion seal started to leak shortly after I got it running and driving. I noticed that the pinion bearing was a little noisy right from the first test drive I took but it was good enough until I saved my pennies and upgraded, ha-ha.