Bobby
Well-known member
Hello all,
I joined a few months back but have been busy with family issues and trying to figure out how to post a thread. As soon as I sent a message asking for help, I figured it out. Anyway I purchased a 1972 Mach 1 last April on eBay. It was very attractive in its pics. When I asked the seller specific questions about it, he was curiously ignorant. I didn't know if the was playing dumb or if he was just a poor clueless bastard. Anyway I negotiated a "decent" price and with some difficulty, I managed to get a transport company to deliver for a thousand bills. Upon first glance, it was all the pic said it was.....It was gorgeous! Upon first drive around the block, it was a near disaster! The brakes were mushy, the power steering cut in and out and the steering was so sloppy that I could barely keep the car centered as I drove between two parked cars on the street! To boot, the interior was infested with MOLD! Yikes! What have I done??? Well, what's done is done.... I proceeded to park the car in the garage...VERY carefully. Several guys from work (self proclaimed experts no doubt) came over and began to give this Mach 1 a complete physical exam.....including a prostate exam...sticking their fingers up the exhaust! Okay guys OUT! Come back later! Anyway, the brakes being shot, I opened the master cylinder and there was only a half inch of sludge at the bottom of both reservoirs. I put more power steering fluid in the pump and it all leaked out within a few weeks. I have my work cut out for me. Getting the right parts is a pain but I am determined. I have since replaced the entire braking system....I upgraded the front with Wilwood discs, upgraded the rear drums with Summit Racing discs, replaced all the lines with stainless and nickel-copper. Replaced the booster (which fell completely apart when I pulled the master cylinder). Finding the right proportioning valve took some time. I ripped out the seats and the carpet. Had the rear seat completely rebuilt with new foam and vinyl and purchase new ProCar seats for the front. I found that the steering gearbox was leaking like a sieve and it was replaced along with the rag joint, pitman arm, idler arm and all the tie rods. This Mach 1 was an H code but the engine was rebuilt with an Edelbrock intake with and Edelbrock 4V carb. It was a Ram Air but all the Ram Air accessories were gone. The hood was and aftermarket replacement. The entire body had been restored to better than new. The original FMX tranny was gone but replaced with a C6 (thankfully). I also replaced the original 2.75 diff with a 3.24 posi-trac. BTW it has a 9 inch rear. Now that I've thoroughly chewed yalls ears off......Here is my deal now. I have grandiose plans to convert this H code monstrosity to a respectable Q code. I have already aqcuired the OEM heads and intake and have the Autolite 4300D on order. Will be ordering the roller rockers, cam, lifters and rods, etc. Is there anything I need to do or be aware of?? The first pics are the ones from the ebay listing in Nebraska and the last one is in my driveway in Houston.
I joined a few months back but have been busy with family issues and trying to figure out how to post a thread. As soon as I sent a message asking for help, I figured it out. Anyway I purchased a 1972 Mach 1 last April on eBay. It was very attractive in its pics. When I asked the seller specific questions about it, he was curiously ignorant. I didn't know if the was playing dumb or if he was just a poor clueless bastard. Anyway I negotiated a "decent" price and with some difficulty, I managed to get a transport company to deliver for a thousand bills. Upon first glance, it was all the pic said it was.....It was gorgeous! Upon first drive around the block, it was a near disaster! The brakes were mushy, the power steering cut in and out and the steering was so sloppy that I could barely keep the car centered as I drove between two parked cars on the street! To boot, the interior was infested with MOLD! Yikes! What have I done??? Well, what's done is done.... I proceeded to park the car in the garage...VERY carefully. Several guys from work (self proclaimed experts no doubt) came over and began to give this Mach 1 a complete physical exam.....including a prostate exam...sticking their fingers up the exhaust! Okay guys OUT! Come back later! Anyway, the brakes being shot, I opened the master cylinder and there was only a half inch of sludge at the bottom of both reservoirs. I put more power steering fluid in the pump and it all leaked out within a few weeks. I have my work cut out for me. Getting the right parts is a pain but I am determined. I have since replaced the entire braking system....I upgraded the front with Wilwood discs, upgraded the rear drums with Summit Racing discs, replaced all the lines with stainless and nickel-copper. Replaced the booster (which fell completely apart when I pulled the master cylinder). Finding the right proportioning valve took some time. I ripped out the seats and the carpet. Had the rear seat completely rebuilt with new foam and vinyl and purchase new ProCar seats for the front. I found that the steering gearbox was leaking like a sieve and it was replaced along with the rag joint, pitman arm, idler arm and all the tie rods. This Mach 1 was an H code but the engine was rebuilt with an Edelbrock intake with and Edelbrock 4V carb. It was a Ram Air but all the Ram Air accessories were gone. The hood was and aftermarket replacement. The entire body had been restored to better than new. The original FMX tranny was gone but replaced with a C6 (thankfully). I also replaced the original 2.75 diff with a 3.24 posi-trac. BTW it has a 9 inch rear. Now that I've thoroughly chewed yalls ears off......Here is my deal now. I have grandiose plans to convert this H code monstrosity to a respectable Q code. I have already aqcuired the OEM heads and intake and have the Autolite 4300D on order. Will be ordering the roller rockers, cam, lifters and rods, etc. Is there anything I need to do or be aware of?? The first pics are the ones from the ebay listing in Nebraska and the last one is in my driveway in Houston.
