Greetings from Downunder

[Mike King]

G'day and welcome from south Australia.

Mike

 

[mach71351c]

welcome form California.

 

[Stewart]

OK, some photos and a few words to go with them... And as always, when you peel a layer back you find more to do...

The dash is back in after major rewiring and tidying up, found it was a Chevy Nova steering column so have new AC Delco turn signal unit and NOS ignition barrel and key and new leather steering wheel - and have fabricated a bracket to use a standard mustang ignition switch. NOS door and trunk barrels and keys. New carpet on order, interior retrimmed, heat and sound proofing installed on the floor, 15" Magnum 500s ordered for a more period look. New front driving lights, converted to chrome bumper and refitted the front air dam. 'Adjusted' the T bar shifter to align correctly with the C6 shift range so D on the shifter matches D on the transmission. Am changing the 3 point seat belts to lap sash only and the 3rd point is too low and it'll be broken shoulder material in a crash. New flexible PCB on the back of the dash cluster and upgraded to LED backlighting (much better) - cleaned out the dials to get rid of the dust on the inside!

Plus lots of little things...

On the conversion, the main wiring loom still comes through the firewall on the LHS - it's now a bulge under the passenger's toes! The heater is disconnected and all the vacuum pipes have rotted away and the air conditioner unit is fitted on the LHS but not connected - I'd say when the conversion and engine transplant happened it all went... The car used to live in northern Queensland which is a tropical environment so not much call for a heater but I'd have thought AC would have been needed. Now thinking about moving the coil pack back onto the inner guard so I can fit a AC compressor up high on the engine where they seem to be typcially fitted - there's spare pulley grooves and I can fit a condenser in front of the radiator - so we'll see...

 

[Fredensborg]

Another dusty bogan for the site! Nice car, and welcome from Minnesota!

 

[Kilgon]

Looking really nice. The seats look great.  Hard to get used to seeing the steering on the right side.  You might want to move your restoration post over to https://7173mustangs.com/forums/forum/78-individual-project-build-threads/.  

 

[1sostatic]

Isnt that a "funnel web" under your dash ? 

I Didn't think Aussies did "cars" ... I thought they were still using horse and cart powered by beer fuelled owners.  :classic_tongue:

aaaaanyway ...welcome - hope you have a fine time here  :thumb:

 

[Sheriff41]

Looks like some nice work! 

 

[c9zx]

Good looking car and with a 460 should be plenty fast. Welcome from Oklahoma. Chuck

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

Welcome to the Forum for North Carolina, USA, a former colony of England but we won.

 

[Stewart]

Well team, she's back...

Wiring and ancillary stuff sorted, new steering wheel and interior and new carpet fitted. Like a new car, well almost!
Not to mention new period wheels to finish the look.
Am most happy

 

[rodgeydodge]

OK, some photos and a few words to go with them... And as always, when you peel a layer back you find more to do...

The dash is back in after major rewiring and tidying up, found it was a Chevy Nova steering column so have new AC Delco turn signal unit and NOS ignition barrel and key and new leather steering wheel - and have fabricated a bracket to use a standard mustang ignition switch. NOS door and trunk barrels and keys. New carpet on order, interior retrimmed, heat and sound proofing installed on the floor, 15" Magnum 500s ordered for a more period look. New front driving lights, converted to chrome bumper and refitted the front air dam. 'Adjusted' the T bar shifter to align correctly with the C6 shift range so D on the shifter matches D on the transmission. Am changing the 3 point seat belts to lap sash only and the 3rd point is too low and it'll be broken shoulder material in a crash. New flexible PCB on the back of the dash cluster and upgraded to LED backlighting (much better) - cleaned out the dials to get rid of the dust on the inside!

Plus lots of little things...

On the conversion, the main wiring loom still comes through the firewall on the LHS - it's now a bulge under the passenger's toes! The heater is disconnected and all the vacuum pipes have rotted away and the air conditioner unit is fitted on the LHS but not connected - I'd say when the conversion and engine transplant happened it all went... The car used to live in northern Queensland which is a tropical environment so not much call for a heater but I'd have thought AC would have been needed. Now thinking about moving the coil pack back onto the inner guard so I can fit a AC compressor up high on the engine where they seem to be typcially fitted - there's spare pulley grooves and I can fit a condenser in front of the radiator - so we'll see...

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Stewart, I have just joined 71/73 Mustangs and I noticed your thread. I am located in Brisbane and a member of MOCA. I have a red 73 Mach 1 fastback. Not many 71/73 Mustangs about: they seem to be the orphans of the classic mustang. Mine is also RHD and a rough job it is too. The wiring is all to hell, the steering box is a Holden (I think), all a bit bodgey. I want to replace the dash with a tacho version and will get to that sooner or later. Other than that it is pretty much stock. I wouldn't mind getting together with you one day, Covid permitting, to compare notes. Cheers, Roger (rodgeydodge)

 

[RD-72]

Welcome from Alberta, Canada
nice ride
Patience Is key to doing those types small fixes/upgrades, at least in my experience everything took way longer than I originally planned. But we’ll worth it in the end.
good luck

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Stewart & Roger,
Great, another couple of 71-73's in the Brisbane area and RHD. Would be great to catch up sometime and compare notes.

Cheers
David

 

[Stewart]

Hey Roger and David - we must arrange our own coffee and cars meet-up. I've been on a MOCA runs and mine has been the only car of this era - lots of older and modern mustangs...

I'm northside near Narangba and my email is [email protected] - perhaps we can arrange a meet up?

Cheers,

 

[Stewart]

Stewart, I have just joined 71/73 Mustangs and I noticed your thread. I am located in Brisbane and a member of MOCA. I have a red 73 Mach 1 fastback. Not many 71/73 Mustangs about: they seem to be the orphans of the classic mustang. Mine is also RHD and a rough job it is too. The wiring is all to hell, the steering box is a Holden (I think), all a bit bodgey. I want to replace the dash with a tacho version and will get to that sooner or later. Other than that it is pretty much stock. I wouldn't mind getting together with you one day, Covid permitting, to compare notes. Cheers, Roger (rodgeydodge)

I'm not sure what steering box is in mine - just haven't looked and there is bugger all room to see anything...
I was going to do the tacho dash, but my 3 centre guages in the centre console were buggered so put a 2" tacho in there - so job done - and with a 460 and tall diff ratio she never gets above 2000 rpm anyways! - and I could not buy a 4000 or 6000 VDO tacho in 2"
And yes, my steering column is from a Chevy Nova, the ignition key was the first clue then traced the part number on the steering wheel.....

 

[Aus73Mach1]

Hi Stewart, I'm at Dayboro, only a few klm's away. Went to Joe's Diner for the big meet before Christmas, hundreds of cars there but only 1 other 71-73. Yesterday at Samford cars & coffee, I'm on my own with a 71-73. Plenty of interest and photos taken though. I'll pm you and arrange to catch up.
David

 

[Gregaust]

Good to see few Brisbane & QLD guys here

 

[Austin Vert]

Hi Stewart, and welcome aboard the Forum.

Just a quick shout out to the Aussie guys in the Forum, and the Queensland / Brisbane guys as well. Don't know any Brissie guys as yet, so reach out and say hi if you want.

Greg.

 

[paver73]

Hi Greg, Stewart, Roger and David.

My 73 coupe is in reasonable shape but there's plenty still to do before I'm likely to get it on the road again. I'm southside at Greenbank but I'd be keen to take a run if you guys meet up at some stage.

Paul

 

[Austin Vert]

Hi Greg, Stewart, Roger and David.

My 73 coupe is in reasonable shape but there's plenty still to do before I'm likely to get it on the road again. I'm southside at Greenbank but I'd be keen to take a run if you guys meet up at some stage.

Paul

Hi Paul,

Sounds OK. I sent you a PM, so check your message box.

Greg.

 

[Mike King]

I'm not sure what steering box is in mine - just haven't looked and there is bugger all room to see anything...
I was going to do the tacho dash, but my 3 centre guages in the centre console were buggered so put a 2" tacho in there - so job done - and with a 460 and tall diff ratio she never gets above 2000 rpm anyways! - and I could not buy a 4000 or 6000 VDO tacho in 2"
And yes, my steering column is from a Chevy Nova, the ignition key was the first clue then traced the part number on the steering wheel.....

My conversion used an XD falcon power steering box and the original Mustang column but the wiring under the dash left a lot to be desired.