The Mustang Project

After putting some miles on and getting used to having a second car around the house we were looking to start a quickie refresh of the interior.    Five or six years ago when we started the small batch manufacturing business we decided we really didn’t need two cars.  It worked well for us to be a one car family.  And we certainly didn’t want another car payment at the time.  Now that the Focus is paid off we don’t want another.

The original plan was to finish the desert toy, a street legal class 7100 off road race truck and use that as a kick around car and desert toy.  About mid way through that build Dad decided he wanted to pass the Mustang on to me as they downsized and moved back to civilization.    The Ranger was sidelined to focus on the Mustang.  It was meant to be easy to get back on the road.  Which it was easy to get started and able to drive it.  But not for long distances or being able to steer or stop.  So a bit more was needed to get it back on the road.  Turned out great.

Obligatory shade tree mechanic photo.  The tree was a mere Festivus Pole when we moved in 10 years ago.  Now it provides actual shade.

Continue reading “I’m floored”

Up until a few days ago I’d been enjoying cruising around, driving to work, running errands.  I put over a couple hundred miles on it since I changed the break in oil.  It drives like an old car.   After I finished the steering rebuilt from the previous post I took it to the local chain joint for an alignment.  Of the places near that could get me in that day they were only ones that would tackle it.  They said they had an “old guy” that worked the alignment rack and he would know what to do.   The toe and camber are pretty easy to set from my racing days.  Setting the caster on this one was cumbersome so rather than spend the time I sent it to the old guy.

Continue reading “No posts, lots of work”

It’s going swimmingly.  With the death rattle mostly fixed by the front bushing/suspension refurb a month or two back the only thing remaining on the front was danger steering.  It was a good quarter turn on the wheel.  I thought it might be the box.  But it wasn’t.  That box wasn’t in bad shape.  I showed the teardown a few posts ago.  What was left after cleaning was to seat the new bearings and install the reconditioned sector shaft.

I got the bearings from an industrial supply joint on ebay, $20.  I got the lower shaft seal,  upper worm seal and housing gasket from C&G Ford Parts.  All in I spent under $40 on parts for the rebuild.

Continue reading “I have control (valve) issues”

It’s been a long wait.  Too long.  My killer deal of a vise fell by the wayside.  Amazon updated the deliver time to right about now, or more than two weeks from when it was originally due.  That meant I had to go buy a vise locally (and pay retail).  It was a similar promotion/package for a Wilton vise but not the bullet style.  Bummer.  But I needed a vise so I could get back to finishing the car.  I got the free hammer and a different funky color but the vise was a Chinese made Wilton 6 1/2″ utility vise.  It’s a nice vise.  But it ain’t a bullet.

Continue reading “Finally the steering goes back on”

While I’m still waiting on the vise I was inspired from a thread at VMF to make a dust separator for the blast cab.  The Amazonians have increased the delivery time another couple of days but at an almost $300 savings for the vise and a 4 lb hammer thrown in for free I can wait.  And so will the steering component rebuild. But I can refurb links and mounts in the meantime.

My cabinet is the smaller HF cab, about 30 lb capacity.  I’ve done some mods so it performs more like a pro cabinet with a few exceptions.  First exception it leaks.  Like the Titanic.  Even with a bunch of RTV along the seams.  I long ago cracked the glass (since replaced), it had no light when I bought it and the gun and tips aren’t that good.  The material hopper doesn’t settle so well so you need to move it back to the pickup tube by hand.  But it’s inexpensive.  It can be made to more of a pro level with minimal cost.  Minimal compared to buying a new higher end cab.  A good high end cab will be a grand plus shipping.  You can buy and mod the HF cab for under $500.

Continue reading “It’s a blast… cabinet”