72 Mustang Mach1 restoration

72 Mustang Mach1 restoration

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ZR1cliff

Original Poster:

17,999 posts

248 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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Take one 40 year old Mustang that's been stood in an outhouse for the last 23 years. Body is solid, other than fading, pitted paint. Everything that should work, doesn't! Standing for so long has left every motor and switch siezed.

One good thing about this 50,000 plus miles car is the fantastic shape the body panels are in, The doors haven't dropped and clunk shut like they should do.





Have just completed my first step in restoring a 72 Mach1, which has been sat for two to three decades. Work is meant to start in the next couple of weeks at the engine and body shop, who are going to kick start the restoration so it's roadworthy by the spring. In the meantime I'm doing other bits, first task was the carb and as the car is going to be restored totally stock I wanted the best job possible.

I sent the carb to 'Pony Carburetors' in the U.S. where they restored and rebuilt it before running it on a similar engine to finish tuning. They then cleaned it and packed it back to me with other parts like filters, gaskets and DVD on how to install.
Here's a before and after,






Edited by ZR1cliff on Friday 21st September 19:18

Kevin VRs

11,555 posts

279 months

Monday 5th December 2011
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Very impressive. Good luck with the restoration.

ZR1cliff

Original Poster:

17,999 posts

248 months

Tuesday 6th December 2011
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Kevin VRs said:
Very impressive. Good luck with the restoration.
Thanks, if it performs as good as it looks I'll be more than happy. The 302 will be rebuilt and freshened up so the carb should make it run nice, along with one of the only non items, electrnic ignition to make it more efficient.

uk66fastback

16,457 posts

270 months

Saturday 10th December 2011
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Any pics of the car at all?

Any problem with me posting your pics on the MOCGB site? that's an incredible before and after and shows what can be done restoring original parts ...

Are you okay with saying what the cost of the work was?

ZR1cliff

Original Poster:

17,999 posts

248 months

Sunday 11th December 2011
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uk66fastback said:
Any pics of the car at all?

Any problem with me posting your pics on the MOCGB site? that's an incredible before and after and shows what can be done restoring original parts ...

Are you okay with saying what the cost of the work was?
I've put a car photo on the show us your mustang thread recently. No problems with you sticking the carb ones on the MOCGB, was going to do it myself when I found time.

As for the carb - 71 to 73's are becoming thin on the ground and the ones that are around have the vast majority modified, so I want the restoration to be as stock as possible, except for a few additions to improve efficiency. Hence why I went with restoring the carb with Pony carbs.

They've had loads of experience and have ironed out flat spots etc and this should improve fuel delivery. I could have got an inlet manifold and new carb cheaper, however this would have moved away from how I want the car to run.

ZR1cliff

Original Poster:

17,999 posts

248 months

Monday 12th December 2011
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Another company that restores old autolight carbs.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze2gsgu/index.html

bikerkeith

794 posts

263 months

Thursday 22nd December 2011
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I also used Pony Carbs for my 69 302, excellent result, solved the stalling problems caused by previous owner mucking about with the carb. Highly recommended.

ZR1cliff

Original Poster:

17,999 posts

248 months

Friday 23rd December 2011
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bikerkeith said:
I also used Pony Carbs for my 69 302, excellent result, solved the stalling problems caused by previous owner mucking about with the carb. Highly recommended.
That's reassuring to hear. I'm very impressed with it visually and if it runs as good and efficiently as it looks it will be money well spent.

I'm not in it for mpg, however if I can improve the running and smoothness of the 302 by taking special car of fuel and spark delivery it will be a bonus.

malc350

1,035 posts

245 months

Thursday 29th December 2011
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Gorgeous Cliff! When you see what a refurb company can do there's no point doing something like that yourself.

P.S. When am I going to see your Mach 1?!

Malc

ZR1cliff

Original Poster:

17,999 posts

248 months

Friday 30th December 2011
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Alright Malc, Went down the garage today to see how things were going. Hope to have it roadworthy for one of the spring or summer Chelsea cruises.

I've put a pic on the owners' cars thread.

ZR1cliff

Original Poster:

17,999 posts

248 months

Friday 24th February 2012
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I have to use up the equivilant of 3 weeks holiday before April so have decided to take 2 days a week and get stuck in down at the garage doing the restoration work. Works well for both parties, them as I get to do all the dirty jobs and me as I can help progress.

So far it's strip the whole front end out and strip down the engine ready for cleaning, machining and the rebuild.

Doing all this also allows me to make a list of parts needed - I must have jumbo load on the way over. biggrin

Last week we trailored the car down to the shot blasters, where they blasted the whole front clip back to bare metal. The car was trailored straight back and recieved a coat of undercoat.

Various parts have also been shot blasted, including the wings (great to say all parts blasted were totally solid) All parts are now undercaoted.

Also have spent two full days scraping and cleaning off the underside, which thankfully revealed solid metal. This will be treated with a sealer and protected layer next week. The engine bay will also recieve its top coats hopefuly.

Will try and get some pics at some time.

ZR1cliff

Original Poster:

17,999 posts

248 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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I found me a build sheet, in not bad nick either!


jellison

12,803 posts

276 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
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If only you could have bought my Shelby 715 Holley a few months back. 100% restored, but think my father sold it (so much that I'll never use!).

ZR1cliff

Original Poster:

17,999 posts

248 months

Wednesday 30th May 2012
quotequote all
jellison said:
If only you could have bought my Shelby 715 Holley a few months back. 100% restored, but think my father sold it (so much that I'll never use!).
Not sure if would have fitted on my 2 barrel inlet, although I'm happy with the stock route I've taken for now. Will be fitting an LT5 and 6 speed a couple of years after running the 302.

ZR1cliff

Original Poster:

17,999 posts

248 months

Wednesday 30th May 2012
quotequote all
Latest update on the rebuild - sent off the wiring loom to the USA to be restored, old 'added on crap' by previous owners taken out. Rejoined properly, tested and rewrapped.

The loom has been returned now looking 100%, minus a decent size bag of rogue wiring. Will post pics later.

jellison

12,803 posts

276 months

Thursday 31st May 2012
quotequote all
ZR1cliff said:
jellison said:
If only you could have bought my Shelby 715 Holley a few months back. 100% restored, but think my father sold it (so much that I'll never use!).
Not sure if would have fitted on my 2 barrel inlet, although I'm happy with the stock route I've taken for now. Will be fitting an LT5 and 6 speed a couple of years after running the 302.
No you'd have had to get a 4 barrel inlet.

I bought it for an fia spec race 289. Then decided not to go that route (I might get it built up one day), full right number Hipo inc the right heads. Wenet silly power 302 based in the end (and not fia).

LT5 and 6 speed (that is Chevy ain't it!)? IN A MUSTANG!! - REALLY?

ZR1cliff

Original Poster:

17,999 posts

248 months

Friday 1st June 2012
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There's an engine builder, just across from the company who are doing the mustang paint job, who build V8's for heritage racing. They're doing the machining on my 302 and every time I walk in there they have all manner of inlet manifolds, including 8 webber types.

The LT5 is chevy, as far as it goes into a chevy. Other than that it is Lotus designed and put together by a marine engine builder. The ZF gearbox German.

The idea of fitting an LT5 is more about drivability, I'm not too worried about the power, more the Gran touring feel of it. Something I like about my ZR-1 when it's warmed up and running just below the power band - is it's so smooth and efficient. When my ZR-1 was standard it returned up to 34 to the gallon on run.

I've got a spare LT5 short block and have been buying in heads and parts the last 6 months so I can build it up ready.

The main problems I'll have to overcome are ;
1/ mating up the LT5 engine loom with the stock Mustang loom.
2/ cable speedo to sensor type.
3/ Mechanical to hydraulic clutch.
4/ Carb to Injection.

Edited by ZR1cliff on Friday 1st June 18:00

ZR1cliff

Original Poster:

17,999 posts

248 months

Wednesday 8th August 2012
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Further update on the bodywork ;

Engine bay after blasting and painting.



Each panel is being stripped, then clean with an acid process before covering again in paint. The sheet metal has stood up well to the last 40 years. Here a rear panel, half the roof and a door are being taken back to bare metal.



The only panel that took a hit from the tin worm was the rear light panel. A new one has been fitted.



New bonnet arrived today and has been inspected by my inquisitive little helper.




ZR1cliff

Original Poster:

17,999 posts

248 months

Monday 10th September 2012
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Latest updates, working on whatever comes next on the 'parts to be done' shelf. My method in my madness is hitting what ever takes my fancy, wether it's exterior, interior, or whatever and gradually all jobs should come together. smile

One little job was the centre consul that was cracked. The ashtray and carrier stiff and rusty.



A few hours of working with a thin wire brush on an electric drill, painting the carrier and ashtray silver. Then a fine sand down on another consul I found through ebay. Coating with plastic primer and final painting in matt black. Greasing up the ball bearings and it's job done.


KevinA4quattro

11,555 posts

279 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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You really are doing a fantastic job on your car Cliff.