The Mach-A-Reina build thread

[chuckludwig]

Thanks for all the help with electrical! As I ponder the mysteries of Ford wiring, I got some other things done on the gal tonight. Mainly reassembling all the mechanical stuff I replaced / added. New PS pump and a paint job for the bracket.

But GD, I hate the plumbing for all these power steering lines. I ordered a shorter run for the send and plan to cut the return to length and install a filter but I wanted to ask the hive mind: Does the car need a cooler for the PS pump? I know some cars had one, and they aren't super pricey (everything is relative in car world?)

What is y'alls take on it?

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[Sheriff41]

Thanks for all the help with electrical! As I ponder the mysteries of Ford wiring, I got some other things done on the gal tonight. Mainly reassembling all the mechanical stuff I replaced / added. New PS pump and a paint job for the bracket.

But GD, I hate the plumbing for all these power steering lines. I ordered a shorter run for the send and plan to cut the return to length and install a filter but I wanted to ask the hive mind: Does the car need a cooler for the PS pump? I know some cars had one, and they aren't super pricey (everything is relative in car world?)

What is y'alls take on it?

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I've driven mine in Texas and the desert Southwest (AZ & NM) without a cooler for going on 48 years without any problems.

 

[chuckludwig]

I've driven mine in Texas and the desert Southwest (AZ & NM) without a cooler for going on 48 years without any problems.

Well, if it can take Texas that's good enough for me. I'll be happy if I drive it to the city, let alone cross state. Do you have the long extra length of send line on yours?

 

[Sheriff41]

Well, if it can take Texas that's good enough for me. I'll be happy if I drive it to the city, let alone cross state. Do you have the long extra length of send line on yours?

Nope, I have the short hose.

 

[chuckludwig]

Thanks Chuck! Gonna put the shorty on it and call it a day I think.

Meanwhile my wiring woes continue. I'm trying to clean up the area by the starter relay is it looks like a rats nest and I HATE messy wiring. My worry is that it looks like someone removed the fusable link (because of course they did!). I'm not 100% sure what I'm looking at here though.

Where would the fusable link normally be, and how would I know it is there? I'm thinking about just mounting a mega fuse to the wall instead and have that to clean it up in case of an in engine bay short. That is the point of the link right?

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[Cleveland Crush]

Thanks Chuck! Gonna put the shorty on it and call it a day I think.

Meanwhile my wiring woes continue. I'm trying to clean up the area by the starter relay is it looks like a rats nest and I HATE messy wiring. My worry is that it looks like someone removed the fusable link (because of course they did!). I'm not 100% sure what I'm looking at here though.

Where would the fusable link normally be, and how would I know it is there? I'm thinking about just mounting a mega fuse to the wall instead and have that to clean it up in case of an in engine bay short. That is the point of the link right?

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What type of fastners are those on your starter relay and shock towers? I'm not familiar with them.

 

[Sheriff41]

Thanks Chuck! Gonna put the shorty on it and call it a day I think.

Meanwhile my wiring woes continue. I'm trying to clean up the area by the starter relay is it looks like a rats nest and I HATE messy wiring. My worry is that it looks like someone removed the fusable link (because of course they did!). I'm not 100% sure what I'm looking at here though.

Where would the fusable link normally be, and how would I know it is there? I'm thinking about just mounting a mega fuse to the wall instead and have that to clean it up in case of an in engine bay short. That is the point of the link right?

View attachment 97837

As I recall, the fuse link is a yellow wire going to the battery side of the starter relay. I think it had a rubber flag on it stating Fuse Link, or something similar. I had to replace mine back in the late 70s and haven't thought about it since.

 

[chuckludwig]

What type of fastners are those on your starter relay and shock towers? I'm not familiar with them.

They are countersunk washers. You can get them in a variety of sizes on Amazon. I have a thing I do where if I get stuck on one thing in the car I at least try to do something to make it pretty. One the one hand, the car has been sitting in my shop, hood up, and not running all year. On the other hand, she's looking good!