How to spend 50x the money and be happy

[Twins]

I know the 73Q was never offered with ram air but a PO slapped those 351 Ram Air stickers on the hood. The choice was to remove the $10 stickers or spend more and get the ram air. Why make it simple?

I know for a lot of you this job would be as easy as breathing. For me, it was the first real work I've done under the hood on the car and I had a blast sourcing an original plenum on Ebay, cleaning it up, getting the flappers rebuilt and painting the reproduction air box. We'll see how that holds up.

Removing the block offs for the scoops was particularly satisfying!

 

[1973grandeklar]

Easy choice. Get the Ram Air working! Besides, tell everyone that removing those $10 stickers would cost more due to repaint or something.

 

[Kit Sullivan]

The vacuum hoses need a little adjusting. It is too tight or maybe just too short. It should be attached near the rear-most portion of the underhood plenum.

It looks great, but I also like the look of the chromed "CJ" air cleaner!

 

[Twins]

The vacuum hoses need a little adjusting. It is too tight or maybe just too short. It should be attached near the rear-most portion of the underhood plenum.

It looks great, but I also like the look of the chromed "CJ" air cleaner!

I know. The hoses are a tad short. Gonna re route the whole thing.

Funny, I was not a huge fan of the chrome cleaner - until it was gone. Now, I realized I kind of liked it! Still, Ford didn't make those scoops to be blocked off so I'm not going back. Ram Air it is!

 

[Twins]

Easy choice. Get the Ram Air working! Besides, tell everyone that removing those $10 stickers would cost more due to repaint or something.

You know damn well I would have ruined the paint and caused more problems! So, you are right!

 

[c9zx]

Good decision, looks great. Chuck

 

[Twins]

Good decision, looks great. Chuck

Thanks Chuck. I lucked out. There was a direct manifold source for vacuum. I was plugged. Just pulled the plug and tapped in there. I tried the one unused of the (sorry - I don't know the correct name) 4 ports on the firewall that are directly attached to that manifold source but it seemed that there was not strong enough vacuum left from that source.

 

[Mikes73]

Yeah I would just leave the stickers, 99.9% of the public have no idea what these cars came from the factory with anyway. By the way great car.

 

[Boss1Ray]

Both look nice. "Owner added" Ram Air. That works for me. You are not trying to pass it off as being delivered that way from Ford... Vacuum hose is begging for some more length for sure.

Nice job on the detail work.

Ray

 

[rpmcarter]

Yeah I would just leave the stickers, 99.9% of the public have no idea what these cars came from the factory with anyway. By the way great car.

no worries.... we are contacting the car shows nationally to have visitors fill out a questionnaire regarding their knowledge. Only those who can pass the questionnaire will be allowed in. This will reduce any frustration by owners......

 

[Twins]

Yeah I would just leave the stickers, 99.9% of the public have no idea what these cars came from the factory with anyway. By the way great car.

Thanks Mike. The color is definitely one of those that either you love or hate. took me a while. Now, I cant stop looking at it. It's a really clean car and since the color and stripes are not correct for a 73 anyway the Ram Air couldn't hurt.

Both look nice. "Owner added" Ram Air. That works for me. You are not trying to pass it off as being delivered that way from Ford... Vacuum hose is begging for some more length for sure.

Nice job on the detail work.

Ray

Thanks Ray. Yup. Not trying to pass it off. I'll have people come up and ask if it is 72 or 71 because of the stripe etc. and I have no problem telling them the car is a 73 that has been done with those years color etc. Same would hold true for the Ram Air. If anyone is interested or if I went to sell it I would explain the addition. It can always be removed if someone was inclined to do it.

I don't really see myself brining the car to concourse correct shows. I generally just like driving it around and I've brought it to a couple of "all make" shows where the so called judges have absolutely no idea what they are looking at. If they like the car they like the car. I could throw a Dyson vacuum under the hood and tell them it was a supercharger and they would not know the difference!

 

[Mister 4x4]

Perfect - I love it... and I would've done exactly the same thing. ::thumb::

Marti Reports are wonderful tools to help in getting the car close to original, but until it leaves the dealership after being purchased, all bets are off. Lots of dealerships would go back and add options as necessary to "sweeten the pot" for slow-moving sellers. Mine for instance was released to the dealership in Oct '70, and didn't sell until Oct '71. I'm sure they tossed around the idea of adding spoilers or "something" else to move that car along - even though I didn't find anything special in mine when compared to its Marti Report (aside from the Hillbilly customization, that is rofl ). They might've possibly installed dual exhaust - that's the only explanation that sounds plausible for mine being a 351C-2V having dual exhaust and a factory-correct cut-out valance (the Hillbillies would've just used a torch to make the "cut-outs" - like they did with everything else).

Good lookin' car... and nice job on the Ram Air! ::thumb::

 

[Twins]

Perfect - I love it... and I would've done exactly the same thing. ::thumb::

Marti Reports are wonderful tools to help in getting the car close to original, but until it leaves the dealership after being purchased, all bets are off. Lots of dealerships would go back and add options as necessary to "sweeten the pot" for slow-moving sellers. Mine for instance was released to the dealership in Oct '70, and didn't sell until Oct '71. I'm sure they tossed around the idea of adding spoilers or "something" else to move that car along - even though I didn't find anything special in mine when compared to its Marti Report (aside from the Hillbilly customization, that is rofl ). They might've possibly installed dual exhaust - that's the only explanation that sounds plausible for mine being a 351C-2V having dual exhaust and a factory-correct cut-out valance (the Hillbillies would've just used a torch to make the "cut-outs" - like they did with everything else).

Good lookin' car... and nice job on the Ram Air! ::thumb::

You know you bring up a good point. I worked for a dealer about 20 years ago and we made all kinds of changes and additions to cars at the customers request or to make it sellable. Added stripes, spoilers, changed radios. I guess I never thought about that going on in the early 70's but of course it did. This car has the original engine and tranny and seems to be solid. It would take a gold glow paint job, a vinyl top and 73 mag wheels to bring it back to match the Marti report! Maybe someday. Right now, I'm digging the incorrect Grabber blue and the hockey stripe...and of course the Ram Air.

I recently realized why I was fixated on these year Mustangs. I was always a fan of the 68 and owned one as a kid. But, years before there was a blue Mach 1 with argent stripes parked around the corner from me and when I did my paper route that was the car I would stop and stare at. I was blown away by that car. It sounded exotic and it was the only one in my area.

On my car somewhere along the line someone also added what looks like factory air. The legend on the car is that the original owner ordered it and was pissed when the car did not come through with it. He then had it dealer installed. Like I said. It's legend only. Missing equipment did happen to the dealership where I worked and when we could we put in the stuff.

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

 

[Jim and Jutta]

Looks great, my car wasn't original ram air either but the unique period correct addition does add to the cool factor.

Jim