73 Mach1 Project

[Aus73Mach1]

Some more progress over the last few weeks. Concentrating mainly on getting the engine bay finished as it's easier to reach and fit hoses, etc with the guards off.

Engine Bay



New AC compressor.



Headers back from ceramic coating and fitted.



Some of the other items finished.

Exhaust brackets repaired.



Kickdown rod was missing so a new one made from aluminum tube.



Instrument cluster refurbished.

 

[OzCoupe72]

Looking good and some quality work done

Seems like you have got the wiring sorted out

I put mostly LED globes throughout and upgraded the headlight wiring with relays and H4 beams, work much better now

Like the shorty headers which should work well with your combo

Keep up the good work and you will be cruising in no time at all

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Despite the heat I have managed to do more on the dash and gauges. It's all ready for assembly. I replaced the amp meter with a digital voltage gauge.

The central gauges have been re-aligned to the right to suit the RHD conversion.











New Glovebox. I re-used the existing staples. 

 

[Aus73Mach1]

A new RH linkage for the transmission/ignition lock has been finished and installed.



wh auden the unknown citizen analysis

 

[OzCoupe72]

Looking good

Like what you did to re-orient the central gauges

I didn't do this to mine and although the gauges slant to the left I can still read them well enough

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Despite the ongoing hot weather, 44 degrees C in the shade a couple of days ago (46.5 degrees C in the workshop), I have finished the dashboard and re-wiring all the gauges, lights, etc.

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Update.

Wiring now complete. All harnesses to dashboard, etc finished. I reconnected the key and headlight buzzers even though the new harness assumed a ground point at the door courtesy light switches so I changed this to powered contacts. All this has been difficult with continuing temperatures over 35 degrees C and + 65% humidity.

Before



After

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Engine bay almost finished. Radiator is off getting an updated re-core.

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Now working on final touches to the various body panels ready for painting.

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Radiator is back with the new core and came painted in 2 pack gloss black, so ready to bolt straight in.

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

I'm about to fix the rear spoiler mounts to the spoiler. What's the best method to attach these. Are the pop rivets suitable as the original ones were quite loose?

Brackets still to be filled and smoothed as the castings are quite rough.

Just going through your project this morning. On the spoiler assembly there were no pop rivets. The brackets that are on the spoiler I think have 6 phillips screws three on each side of each bracket so 6 on each side. Your brackets do not look right for 71 - 73 model. Here is my 73. No good pics of the brackets.

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

Power steering pump finished.

I was missing the pulley and pressure relief valve and a special thanks to member OzCoupe72 who found spare ones among his bits & pieces.

Humm never seen that style of pump on a 73 or 72 do not have a 71. If it works fine I guess.

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Thanks for your comments David.

The Saginaw/Ford pumps with "teardrop" tanks were used extensively on many vehicles in the early 70's. My pump has been matched to the RHD steering box used in our Mustang equivalent, the XA, XB Falcons. I have no concerns whether it will work. My 73 project will never be "concourse" correct with the RH conversion, so the spoiler brackets also do not concern me as they were attached and did not detract from the overall look of the spoiler.

David

 

[secluff]

Hello David (Carolina_Mountain_Mustang)

Your eyes are not failing you, the Saginaw P/S pump was never production installed on any Mustang from 1964 production to present. The only exception was some Eaton pumps on some early 64 1/2-65 built Mustangs.

The first use of the Saginaw pumps started in 1972 on the T-Bird, Lincoln Town Car, and Mark Series. The pump was used starting in 1974 on full-size Fords with 400, 460 engines, some 351C/M, and all models with hydro-boost. The Econoline van used the Saginaw pump on some applications starting in the '80s.

The advantage of retrofitting the Saginaw pump was a plentiful salvage yard supply, and they were not noisy and prone to leaks like the pre-1978 Ford "Metal Can" pump. A lot of my friends who off-road with their Ford trucks switched over to the Saginaw pump since the pump and brackets were easily sourced from the E series van. A quieter pump and one leak less to chase is also an advantage considering the abuse these trucks receive! 

 

[Aus73Mach1]

About time for another update. I had to take a month off from the project but back on track again.

Engine bay is 99% complete. Radiator and shroud in, all hoses, cables, etc connected.





Finishing off panels, front bumper, etc prior to final painting.

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Fitting the rear honeycomb panel.

First I cut out a piece of corflute to match the rear taillight panel center.



Then marked the holes from the honeycomb panel and bolted the panel to the corflute.







Checked the alignment and drilled the holes in the rear panel.





Fitted nicely no holes out of place.

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Bonnet underside painted yesterday. Making the most of the great weather here.



pontiac firebird insurance rates

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

I could not take the heat you have there for sure, whew. With all the news being about the virus have not heard much about the fires there. Has it rained and have the fires burnt out? I know some of my buddies that shoot lots are upset about the Hogdon powder plant burning down. They cannot get the powder they use for shooting 1,000 yard range. They are nuts about accuracy. Heck I haven't shot a target in a long time. I just get rifle out go shot a deer and put it back up. 

Your car has moved along quite good with all the modifications you have to make to do the R.H. drive. Do you just eliminate the parking brake or are you doing something off a Falcon for that?

For your honey comb panel they cars originally had a little section on each side blacked out beside the tail lights here is a pic of how they were. I guess they just wanted the black to carry out to the lights.

Great work and keep on pushing. At the factory they painted the black first then stuck some masking tape over it and sprayed body color. 

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Thanks David,

Fires are all out now and the grass green again. Will take some years for all that damage to recover.

Point noted on the small blackout section near the tail lights. I did see that in one of your earlier posts.

Park brake is the original, now mounted to the left of the steering column. Just swapped the park brake cables, anchor point, etc L to R.

Not a great picture but this is how it looks.

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Progress update.

Sound deadening and insulation under way.





Exhaust system installed.







Body work finished and off to paint shop next month for final finishing and painting.