Nice! That is a great story about car. I went to pick up a 70 mercury montego years back from uncle that sad for 8 to 10 years. I tried everthing to get it started then suddenly the am radio came on and Red Barchetta buy Rush started playing and the car started and idled for me.
Thanks everyone! I'm glad that some of you enjoy this. This is special to me because it's like a family hierloom. I don't remember this thing running or riding in it, but my older cousins/aunts/uncles, etc., remember this car very well. So it kind of exciting for me.
Today I put in the new sending unit, and fixed my brake problem.
I bled them last night but it didn't fix it. So today I put new shoes on the rear, along with new wheel cylinders, spring kit, and adjusting kit. I found a kind of rusted spot on the drum from where it sat for so long, which is why I think they were locking up. So I hit them with emory cloth and they are nice and smooth now. I did the all the fronts a couple of years ago when I got the car.
It stops great now (lol for a drum/drum car anyway!), but I still have a tire rub issue in the front with the 245/45/17 tires. My Dad contributed to the "Family Fairlane Fund" as he called it and said he would buy me the two tires I need just to see it fully operational a little sooner. So I ordered a couple of 205/40/17's, the narrowest, shortest recommended tire size I could find for a 17x8 wheel. I think it will work great.
So to sum it up, here's what I've done (roughly in the order that it was done)
New 68 Mustang dual reservoir master cylinder
New front drums, shoes, cylinders, spring kit, adjusting kit, hoses.
91 302 H.O. engine, with my spare Performer RPM intake, spare 1405 carb
Re-used stock manifolds and exhaust. I had to make adapters to mount the newer 7 inch center to center motor mount bolt spacing to the older 6 inch mounts. EASY!
Had the original radiator repaired.
Converted the generator to alternator, using the alternator and voltage regulator from a 68 Mustang (hey, I have an example to look at for all this 68 Mustang stuff, lol)
Also used the brackets, and water pump from the same.
Swapped to a C4 Trans. The original mount and crossmember work great.
I had to make my own throttle linkage, and something for the factory column shifter to pivot on on the late model block, as well as the linkage between that and the trans.
Made my new transmission cooler lines. For now they go to the cooler in the radiator, but when I dig out the auxilary trans cooler I have somewhere, I'll run them to that and mount it somewhere.
I used the original driveshaft from the 221 V8/2 speed combo, but had to swap the yoke out for one I had in my parts pile, but I also had to cut about 3/'4 inch off the yoke.
I couldn't find the fuel pump eccentric that I know I have somewhere , so I used an electric pump instead. It's mounted right next to the repaired original tank. I ran a new rubber fuel line next to the original metal one for now, all the way up to the carb.
I also just replaced the rear shoes, cylinders, spring kits, and self adjusting kits, and hit the inside of the drums with emory cloth. Stops pretty good now.
That's all I can think of for now.
If anyone cares to ask any questions, even about something that I may have overlooked, go ahead. I like talking about this thing!
So I've had front tire rub problem. I've found that a 205/40/17 is the most narrow/shortest tire that's recommended for a 17x8 wheel. They are getting put on tomorrow. I've got my turn signals working. I only have my brake lights to go (I'm on to a solution here with this) so I should be able to drive it anywhere and everywhere mechanicly and legally tomorrow.
Well, I have to say that no one should ever put 205/40's on a 17x8 wheel. It looks so stupid! At least it doesn't rub, lol! I'm thinking of selling them and going a tad bit bigger.
In other news, it only took 14 hours, a ton of mods to a 68 Mustang brake light switch, and a whole hell of a lot beer, and one zip tie (Shhhhh! don't tell!) to get my brake lights to work correctly.
The pressure switch will not work anymore since I moved it when I converted to a dual reservior master cylinder.
It's 100% legal and driveable now, I'm getting it inspected Monday, and then taking it to town to go get a haircut for my real test drive. It will be about 25 miles round trip but I don't see any problems. If that goes well, then I'm going to drive it to work Tuesday.
I haven't posted in a while because I've been kind of pissed off.
I drove this thing around for about 20 miles Sunday, highway, and stop and go, cruising around town. I didn't have the single slightest issue with this car. No stumble from the carb, no over heating, no shifting problems, NOTHING!
So, the next day, I go to get it inspected, and I get a mile from my house and there is a ginormous cloud of smoke behind me. I pull over to investigate and find a huge gush of transmission fluid coming from between the motor and trans, obviously from the front seal (that I replaced btw).
I left it alone until today when I pulled the tranny out. Ugh. The front seal has the tiniest piece missing in about the 1 o clock position. I don't know if something caused that to happen, or if I did it putting it in somehow, or if it was like that before I put it in and I didn't notice it, put I'm replacing it as well as some bushing behind it that can knock the seal out from what I'm told.
I want this to be the last time I have this stupid automatic transmission ( I hate these things!) out of this car.
Cool car... There are a ton of cars I want to own someday, and and full body 4 door classic is one of them... Looks sweet, I would even rock that paint!
Love the thread. Leave the paint, and interior stock and original. Does it have that incredible old car smell? Man I love that smell. And it doesn't matter what kind of car it is. They all smell the same, if left untouched.
BEAUTIFUL CAR!!!! KEEP GOING!!!!!!!!
Me and my dad are working on a 4 door 63 Mercury Comet.
He has had it for over 30 years and it sat in our garage all my life. Ive been waiting for the day I can take it out for a legal cruise.
He's been working on it and we finaly got it fired up and rolling. But we havent worked on it in about 3 years . You just got me back very inspired. After I finish my Mustang this spring of course!!!!! EXCELLENT THREAD!!!!!!
I put the transmission back in last night after work. I was going to just get it bolted up to the engine, and get the crossmember up and leave it at that, but I felt like I was having good luck so I kept working. I ended up getting a lot done. I just need to put the dipstick tube back in, put the inspection plate back on, and fill it up with fluid. I'm going to make new cooler lines too (not real happy about the first ones I made).
I'm going to try (again!) to get it inspected Saturday. I HAVE TO drive this thing to the family's Christmas.