What did you do to your car today?

[mwilson7]

I prefer hood up as that's where you can see just how well someone has detailed their car. If you know your cars well it's also a great opportunity to compare differences between years and engines.

 

[tony-muscle]

I leave mine up, with the windows down and the trunk open as well.

One guys asked if he could open the door and look inside, and I was cool with that. Lots of room between the cars, and I was standing right there as well. I probably even would've let the guy have a seat and check things out (he was someone I'd met before that works at the base - probably wouldn't do that for just everybody, though).

How'd it go? Did you have fun?

It was a fun day. It was nice to talk to people about my car and listen to them talk about theirs. The overall winner was a 1967 GT350 that was beautiful and it was well deserved. Besides the typical GT500s, a KR, and all the 2000+ Shelbys, there was a nice Torino and an incredibly looking Thunderbird Boss 428 (pictures attached)

1971 M-code Mach 1

 

[tony-muscle]

Something else impressive with this Thunderbird is that it has 5 vacuum canisters. Everything that moves in the car is via vavuum, such as door buttons, headlightd, etc. The wipers are operated by the power steering fluid, so they have infinitely adjusting speed. Never heard of anything like that. Inreresting technology from the 60s.

1971 M-code Mach 1

 

[Mister 4x4]

It's hard for our cars to compete against the older years, despite how well your car represents the '71-'73 class. Partially thanks to the 2nd GI60S movie, '67 Shelbys are still raking in the kudos more than ever - I still have mixed feelings about that, but I'm sure the car that won was really sharp and deserved it, as you said.

Honestly, I think I got lucky with my People's Choice award because it was literally the only classic Mustang there... plus it was a smaller show (1st time new format, not very well publicized, and taking place the same day as a much bigger show on the other side of town). I believe there were roughly 60 cars there, with 20-ish awards handed out. Next time, I expect a bigger turn-out and much stiffer competition.

Your pic shows that you represented very well, though - gotta be proud of that! :bravo:

 

[EdM]

I got the Street or Track upper A-arms installed today.

 

[Mister 4x4]

So, yesterday I took Frank back to his [re]birthing center - the Auto Hobby Shop at Goodfellow Air Force Base. The people that run the Arts & Crafts Center were totally blown away at how nice it came out - they couldn't believe it was the same car that was unceremoniously booted from the shop in April 2014 when they made the unpopular decision to close it. The car ran great all the way there and back, and I think I'm getting used to driving with limited rearward vision - just gotta pick your battles, as it were.

I worked on some minor things and finally installed the Pypes polished stainless exhaust tips, Scott Drake 1" extended shackles, and the speedometer cable. Before I left the house, I re-adjusted the AOD's TV cable to where it was absolutely neutral (pretty much where the factory setting was, since I didn't monkey with the factory adjustment when I installed it) - I just lengthened the Mr. Gasket cable bracket I'd bought for it by getting another bracket, cutting off the adjustment portion, and sandwiching it between the mounted bracket and the slider L-bracket the cable end sits in... making an 'extended slider,' if you will. Looks a little ghetto, but at least it's all chrome pieces, so it's still cool (plus, the air cleaner pretty much hides it as well).

While I had Frank in the air, I discovered that the fasteners on the strut rods were pretty much only hand-tight. Fortunately, they were all still there - so I tightened them up (still need to get an alignment), and noticed that the 'clunking' noise I've been hearing every time I change direction of travel (going into reverse, then going into drive, etc.) went away. Totally makes sense, and only builds my confidence in the car.

I also remembered I'd forgotten to install the fasteners for the AOD's inspection plate - which was still hanging in there being held in pretty much by friction. I found some cool stainless allen head (header bolts) in the 'Drawer of Plenty' and they fit perfectly - even found a spare, as well (SCORE!).

Here are a couple of shots - this is the first time on one of the lifts in the 'new side' of the shop - can't wait to go back for more bigger projects needing the lift (rather than continue to roll around in the driveway, which takes WAY longer).

 

[mpbsr]

My son spend some time at Goodfellow around 2000. Nice town.

 

[tony-muscle]

Eric.... car looks awesome. I like how the wheels look and match your paint so good.

Do you have tinted windows?. I have been thinking about tinting my rear "solarium" window to keep the car a bit cooler.

1971 M-code Mach 1

 

[Mister 4x4]

Thanks, guys!

No, I haven't gotten the windows tinted... yet. I'm still not at the point where I think I'm ready for that - and now, I'm not so sure that I'm going to have them done. On most other cars, the 'greenhouse effect' is much greater, since there's so much more window area... with these cars, even with the 'flatback' glass, it seems less pronounced. After I installed the louvers, probably 80% of the sunlight I figured would be bothersome kind of went away.

If you're not into the look of the louvers, then yeah I'd say get [at least] the back light glass tinted. If you're worried about rearward visibility with the louvers, don't - the slats aren't much more obtrusive than having really thick defroster tracks.

So, this is not a very good picture, but the slats really don't impede the rearward visibility all that much, all things considered. About the only loss of what little visibility there is would be the 'saw-tooth' structures on the sides.

 

[EdM]

I removed my recently installed upper control arms after realizing my kit shorted me some washers. I hate rework.

 

[Austin Vert]

Your Mustang is looking very good Eric.::thumb::

Ed,

Yeah, i really get annoyed when that sort of thing happens myself - no joy at all.

Greg.

 

[73pony]

Got the rebuilt third member installed. 3.70 gears with traclok. Was a 2.75 open. Added the friction modifier and started pumping oil in. Thought I read two quarts somewhere but I put two in and it is not coming out the hole yet. Damn. Was going to drive it to work tomorrow. Supposed to be 72 and sunny in Iowa in October.

 

[EdM]

Your Mustang is looking very good Eric.::thumb::

Ed,

Yeah, i really get annoyed when that sort of thing happens myself - no joy at all.

Greg.

With my last helper son off to college this year I had to hire my dear wife to hold a wrench on one end as I worked the other. All is apart, tomorrow I will reassemble and get the lowers in as well. She's going golfing...

 

[timsweet]

Started engine bay clean up.

Ordered my edelbrock 350-1413 CARB 800 CFM ELEC CHOKE carb

Engine should be back on Monday.

Got in the NOS grill molding.

 

[73pony]

Ordered my new speedo gear. After the T5 swap then changing from 2.75 to 3.70 rear gears I was about 20+mph off on the highway. Glad I have a GPS speedometer on my phone.

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

Today was a big day for my cars new home and stable. Passed the electrical and framing inspection, YAHOO. Hundreds of feet of wire and conduit and every outlet, lift, welder, compressor, lights every wire was right. I always us wire one size larger than code so never any doubt about how it is going to work. Never use the quick wire receptacles and switches always use ones with wire clamps and screws for sure contact. They cost very little more and are much safer. I was really concerned on the framing of the work room three or four wires are pretty simple. Fire codes were met for inside the wall fire stops. Since there is no design except in my head I did not know what the inspector would want. I left to go to town came back and was installing windows and went to permit box and there was the OK sticker, he came while I was gone. Now insulation and inspect that and then drywall and sheeting on the work room and then FINAL INSPECTION for COO. I will have all the proper inspections so if ever there was a fire or anything to take the 15 vehicles I am covered nothing done without inspection and passing. So many tried to get me to just put the building up and get COO then do the inside. Why take the chance it cost no more to do it right. Just like doing a restore on car only one right way. What a relief and a cool adult beverage tonight, the end is in sight.

 

[will e]

David, if I had a shop like that I would just move in. My wife would think I either died or left her.

For my car I ordered some new rear springs and the accessories to put them in.

 

[tony-muscle]

Thats what I call a great shop David. Now you can start your own car reality show. .... just dont call it Monkey or similar..

1971 M-code Mach 1

 

[Mikes73]

Worked on getting my aluminum head swap finished. I am getting close, hopefully have it up and running again this weekend.

 

[Pastel Blue]

Finished setting up the car on the hoist for the winter... Glad I have a hoist at this stage, will make the remainder of the restoration a little more "fun"...