Tim's 1973 Mach 1 rebuild thread - it's done in 2023 on it's 50th birthday!

[Stanglover]

Geoff, 

thank you very much for your lovingly congratulations, I will share them with my family! Yeah, you are right - with kids your time runs even faster! I exactly know how the birth was on my little daughter before - and boom, now it's 3 years after and she is a lovely little princess with her own strong will! But best is: she loves "loud cars" as she says always and enjoy driving in my Challener R/T. How might she look and enjoy when time has come and the Mustang is ready? And even little Aaron? We will see... In the meanwhile I enjoy time with my kids whenever I can - theses times are worthwile! 

Absolutely Tim, make the best of it. 

My son will be 45 tomorrow, 12th, but it seems like only yesterday he was born. Unfortunately I only got to enjoy him for the first 4 years until my wife and I split up. Being a part time Dad SUCKED!! And still does.

 

[timachone]

I will, Geoff! 

Too bad you had to make such experiences, but hey, in my life not everything went good the last 10 years, too, you know. But these are stories to tell I do not want to in the public. I hope, that your son and you have still somewhat a good relationship to each other though. To let your kids feel you're always there for them it's what still counts in my opinion, even 40 years later. Finally we have to let them do their decision. But every life is different, there aren't rules for one you could transplant to somebody other, so I cannot speak generally. That said, feel hugged, Geoff! 

 

[timachone]

Here is a little update, enjoyed family life a bit more over Happy Fathers Day  :whistling:

Painted the new after market rear springs towards a more factory finish. Will do the paint daub these days on them. According to my research in my '73 Q-code with a manual trans without A/C they would have had ONE single stripe in Gold at the back. So I bought some paint at the hardware store...  :classic_tongue:







Afterwards I applied one more coat to the rear axle. It was not perfect to my eyes and too much fuzzies in the paint. Light sanding and a good coat of semi black - now it is perfect. Even showing the factory scratch marks  :thumb:





Then onto the brake booster. Of the original and reapplied paint with some paint remover and little elbow grease - now like new again: 









Then some Concourse work - it felt like painting in elementary school. But the outcome was satisfying  :biggrin:

I orientated on the original colors found on the driveshaft to its exact locations. One yellow paint daub is at the top rear site (which will mounted to the rear differential yoke):



















Next will be the last paint steps in painting and detailing some more parts (hope to see Motorcity Mike's strut rods soon) then assembling - I am looking forward to it... 

I am wondering about if I should paint the upper and lower control arms factory correct or if I should leave them as is (New Moog Heavy Duty, black)...  

 

[timachone]

Update: 

My friend Oliver has built a Distributor Test Machine and had my current dizzy in to determine the best advance curve to my engine. He came to the following curve and that the theoretical best initial timing will be at 12 degrees before TDC, so 37 at total advance by 4.000 rpm. So that's the numbers to start with and when the engine will be driven in I could see on at least two dyno runs if that's the optimum  :thumb:  





NICE  :wrench:

And cudos to Oliver  :thankyouyellow:

 

[timachone]

In the meanwhile I restored my original and still holding vacuum '73 brake booster with a small kit from Harmon Classic Brakes, which contained of some felts, front seal, vaccum check valve and seal and the rear bellow. As the original firewall seal has disintegrated I fabricated my own with some gasket material and self sticking foam. 

 

[timachone]

Then I worked on the rear axle, going towards concourse, I did some of the original paint daubs and markings which where mostly still visible during restoration. This included the concourse correct paint of the third member or as it was originally on my differential. After that I reassembled the axle tube with brake components and the axles. 















































Then I filled it up with some fine rear axle oil, REKTOL GEAR 500 SAE 80W-90 LS - it has that limited slip additive already in there... Next will be the drum brake assembly, then the rear axle is ready to install  :wrench:



In parallel I redid the whole outer front end fram in a nice satin black which is now ready for all new suspension and brake parts  :biggrin:

Before: 



After: 





Next will be refreshening of the original dealer undercoating here and there in the wheel wells then reassembling suspension and brake system  :wrench:

 

[Sheriff41]

Great progress and attention to detail.  Good to see you're putting your pit crew to work with the paintwork!

 

[Fabrice]

Soo much work... glad I have an AOD rebuild break, seen engine bay only every weekend for the past 6 months!
Looking good Tim!

What are the 3 nuts/rivets you have on the passenger front apron? The retainer on top is for the regulator I guess?

 

[mach71351c]

What a incredible  job!! Nice work. 

 

[timachone]

What a incredible  job!! Nice work. 

Thank you very much, Mike, very appreciated!

Soo much work... glad I have an AOD rebuild break, seen engine bay only every weekend for the past 6 months!
Looking good Tim!

What are the 3 nuts/rivets you have on the passenger front apron? The retainer on top is for the regulator I guess?

Thank you, Fabrice! The screws you meant are for the voltage regulator and this kind of connection thingy:

Great progress and attention to detail.  Good to see you're putting your pit crew to work with the paintwork!

Yeah, thank you very much, Sheriff. He is always with me - glad to share knowledge and pass on the hobby to the next generation. That's so important...

 

[Stanglover]

Wonderful work Tim Way too anal for me though Lol!  Your attention to detail is amazing. Well done.

 

[timachone]

Thank you very much for your words, Geoff, very appreciated. I do what is possible with my knowledge, skills and what the car tells me. But I don't want to overdo it and escalate about the details too much. As I now have the chance to get to some areas of the car I will never get back to afterwards I do what could be done without going too crazy. It makes fun to give the old parts their life back and give them a little touch of detail of the factory. Although many traces are gone forever...  Once done right, never touch it again :thumb:

 

[timachone]

Made some progress, did the whole trunk interior. Used some DupliColor Granite stone decor stuff to simulate the original splatter paint after I looked at several cars over the years. I first did a refresh of the seam sealer, made two of each side sound deadening stripes on the inner quarter panel, then some layers of dark grey undercoating, then some light sprizz' with the splatter paint, after that two layers of quality non gloss clear coat - done. After drying I filled it up with my original inflating spare tire, the canister and the original on-board tools for jacking up. The paint daubs on the wheel are original. Finished with the correct sticker on the trunk lid  :thumb:

 

[timachone]

New Spectra tank install was also successful with pre-bent new straps and original restored bolts. Used the original vapor outlet with a light coat of gold and some stainless steel sponges wool  :thumb:













And don't forget to install the fuel vapor hose before installing the tank! 

 

[timachone]

After that some reassembling of the back area to see it more like a car now and then! 









Will have to paint match the rear quarter end caps - they do not exactly match the paint shades of the rest of the car, that is something the paint guy screwed up. If one does not all do by himself... But that's only a minor thing and could be done easily by myself. I will not remove them anymore for that though. I think it was one layer of gold too less, probably only two. So I will apply three light layers of gold and two of clear as it is on the rest on the car, so that must do the trick. I will try that with the front ent fender caps first unmounted - they seem to have that problem either. But anyway - I will do that later, I am happy to see it more as a car again. Next will be fuel, vapor and brake hard lines under the body, the rear axle and suspension, exhaust and driveshaft, finishing the back of the car  :thumb:

 

[Fabrice]

Niiiiiiiceeee Tim!! 
I see you have only the "butterflies" for the door latch on the floor. Did you find the rubbers somewhere?
If yes, do you have a link for these? I have only one original, it can be reused after the massage I gave it, but the other one was missing...

As you have same weather as we have here, I suggest you grease the restored bolts for the tank straps after install, just a tad. These rust super fast and can make the tank removal a hell. (I know a guy who swore a lot when he tried to remove these rusty long bolts  )

 

[timachone]

Thanks, Fabrice  :wrench:

Yes, I have finally installed the rubber for the trap door catch but I bought it a few years ago. I think it was with all the other rubber parts from Don at Ohio Mustang. So I would give him a call first or visit his web or ebay-page. Mine were missing complete and I ever wondered what was in there... 

Yes, I grease all the bolts I reuse with a tad of fine oil after using them. Although I do not want to change the tank again I do not want the bolts to be rusted again! 

 

[Sheriff41]

Great work!  Nice to see someone go to the level of even detailing parts and areas that may not be seen again for years.  If you hadn't taken pictures like the ones of the topside of the fuel tank no one but you would ever know the lengths you've gone to on your restoration.

 

[Fabrice]

 I do not want the bolts to be rusted again! 

Yeah wouldn't it be nice!? I'm afraid they will not ask permission 

Rubbers: found some... looks like I wasn't searching with the right words...

https://www.npdlink.com/product/bumpers-trunk-access-door-2/152157?backurl=search%2Fproducts%3Fsearch_terms%3Dtrunk%2Baccess%2Bdoor%2Bbumpers%26top_parent%3D200001%26year%3D

 

[tony-muscle]

Wow.. you have done a lot of awesome work to this car. It is looking wonderfull. You have impressive skills and great patience.