Progress Thread 1978 Mustang II Rallye Overhaul (302, C4, T-Tops)

extra_stout · Mar 2, 2025

did you test for example the temp gauge by grounding the temp wire?

balaseca29 · Mar 4, 2025

I haven't. That's a good idea

balaseca29 · Mar 23, 2025

SHE LIVES! Took her on a test drive last weekend, and she did great, except the brakes. They were there, but more of a suggestion. Come to find out, a previous owner had installed a much too small MC. That's being remedied today.

Still don't have anything on my gauges except fuel. I am going to try cleaning the points where the dash frame meet the body of the car, as it seems that that's where ground comes from. Wish me luck.

All in all, it's a relief that she moves and mostly stops under her own power. I'll get the brakes fixed today, and then its just weather stripping, and working with the dash, and I'll be driving her to work.

She runs fantastic, and the trans shifts quite nicely (at least into 2nd, as I knew my brakes were iffy). Gonna try and post a video here in a bit.

balaseca29 · Mar 23, 2025

First Drive 78 Mustang II

LILCBRA · Mar 23, 2025

Congratulations!

balaseca29 · Mar 24, 2025

Thanks everyone. Still no luck on the gauges. I've checked everything I can with a multimeter, and I'm still not seeing why I'm not getting anything except fuel. It's getting to the point that I may just go the custom dash route and use aftermarket gauges for everything.

LILCBRA · Mar 24, 2025

balaseca29 said:
Thanks everyone. Still no luck on the gauges. I've checked everything I can with a multimeter, and I'm still not seeing why I'm not getting anything except fuel. It's getting to the point that I may just go the custom dash route and use aftermarket gauges for everything.

I've been debating this lately as well. Finding that, in order to keep everything matching fairly well, that it's not a cheap endeavor.... then again, I've been adding all of the gauges I currently have along with replacements for the speedometer and tach.

I'd keep my A/F, V, Temp, Oil Pressure, and vacuum gauges and add a fuel gauge with new speedometer and tach. If I wanted to match them ALL - I'd have to go with Speedhut.com and custom order every single gauge - talk about pricey!!

balaseca29 · Apr 20, 2025

I know it's been a bit, but there has been progress!

I now have a functioning speedometer, and dash lights! The contact in the dimmer portion of the headlight switch looked like it spent some time on the Titanic recently (I'm probably going to replace it). I did ground out my temp sensor wire and learned that my gauge and wiring is fine, the sender/sensor must be dead. The tach is dead, or at least I think the gauge is dead. I can directly plug in the harness without the adapter and I get diddly. There is voltage on the power wire and ground on the ground wire, idk about pulses from the coil, but it runs fine, so I think that should be fine. Any thoughts on the tach?

Now its on to finishing patching the floors and doing interior work. I'm going to see if I can get the radio to function, so wish me luck.

Noobz347 · Apr 20, 2025

balaseca29 said:
Any thoughts on the tach?

Yeah, keep looking your wiring over as you do the other repairs. You will likely come across more shenanigans.

That's right, I said "shenanigans"

General karthief · Apr 20, 2025

Noobz347 said:
That's right, I said "shenanigans

Now can you spell it?
OH, wait.....never mind

Noobz347 · Apr 20, 2025

General karthief said:
Now can you spell it?
OH, wait.....never mind

No, but my spell checker can.

balaseca29 · Apr 21, 2025

Noobz347 said:
Yeah, keep looking your wiring over as you do the other repairs. You will likely come across more shenanigans.

That's right, I said "shenanigans"

Well, she's an auto so it's not "critical", so will do. Today is finishing floor pans and such. Also going to weld up some exhaust for it, open headers are a bit much lol

manicmechanic007 · Apr 21, 2025

Blinking voltage from the negative side of the coil is what to check for the tach
If you have a blinking light at the 2nd wire off the negative side, that is the tach signal
If you have no 2nd wire? that's the problem
Tach wire has been dark green with yellow stripe forever on Fords, find that wire and hook it up?

balaseca29 · Apr 27, 2025

I decided to change tack (no pun intended) and finished up welding and seam sealing the floor pans. No more rust holes!

Floors are painted and sound deadener is going in today. Carpet kit for the passenger compartment is unfolded and waiting, gotta get with CAR and see what they want me to do with the second passenger carpet they sent me when I ordered the trunk area carpet.

Beyond that, I did weld up a "for now" exhaust. Cheapo ebay muffler welded to the flange where the cat used to live and then dumped out right before the passenger wheel.

balaseca29 · Apr 27, 2025

First Drive with Exhaust

extra_stout · Apr 27, 2025

balaseca29 said:
"for now" exhaust

You mean you provisional exhaust that you want to keep for ever, because it sounds like it should

balaseca29 · Apr 29, 2025

So... She's got an interior now. Everything works in the dash besides the ammeter and tach. Oddly, the lights for my HVAC work, but nothing when I move levers and switches. That's a problem for future me.

The current question is why is there a huge gap between my door panel and my window cranks?

LILCBRA · Apr 29, 2025

How big are the gaps you're referring to? I know that there was a plastic "washer" between the handle and the door panel to help alleviate the issue with the crank wearing into the vinyl.... that may have covered a small-ish gap.

LILCBRA · Apr 29, 2025

These are what I'm referring to.

23370B - 1968-77 Ford/Mercury; Door Window Handle Washer Plate; Various Models

Reproduction of the window handle plate/washer designed for 1968-72 Mustangs. The window handle plate/washer installs between the window crank handle and the door or quarter panel.

www.classicindustries.com

balaseca29 · Apr 29, 2025

These gaps are about a half inch. I'll keep playing with it

Progress Thread 1978 Mustang II Rallye Overhaul (302, C4, T-Tops)

extra_stout

balaseca29

Active Member

balaseca29

Active Member

balaseca29

Active Member

LILCBRA

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

balaseca29

Active Member

LILCBRA

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

balaseca29

Active Member

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

balaseca29

Active Member

manicmechanic007

balaseca29

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balaseca29

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extra_stout

balaseca29

Active Member

LILCBRA

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

LILCBRA

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

23370B - 1968-77 Ford/Mercury; Door Window Handle Washer Plate; Various Models

balaseca29

Active Member

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Progress Thread 1978 Mustang II Rallye Overhaul (302, C4, T-Tops)

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I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

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Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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