Documenting the restoration of my growing collection of classic Mustangs
While the convertible is pretty solid, it does have a few items that need attention. The most pressing is the convertible top. It is pretty ragged and has several holes in it. While it is a summer car and the top is down for the most part, its pretty important to me to have a structurally sound top for the times where unexpected weather happens, or even just needing to park it outside over night at some point. So, that’s project number one.
Continue reading “New Convertible Top”
I got the parts in for the linkage and took a few minutes to put it together. I should get a couple nuts to lock it down, but I don’t think it’s going to do any moving anyhow.
Continue reading “Update: Carburetor linkage upgrade”
The dash lights on the convertible don’t work. The bezel is faded with the chrome areas turned to faded grey and peeling. The lenses are fogged, though not as bad as my coupe was. All of this combined tells me it’s a good project to replace some parts and see why the lights aren’t working. Maybe some upgraded bulbs along the way.
Continue reading “New Instrument Bezel and Lenses”
Digging into the convertible, I found a manual choke pull lever under the dash. On the carburetor end, I found a bent cable and a poorly operating choke. Combine this with an early 70’s cable throttle and a jury rigged gas pedal, and I found my next project.
Continue reading “Carburetor and Pedal Replacement”
With the spindles loaded with the new brakes, it is time to tear apart the front end and rebuild it with all new parts. I have new upper and lower control arms from OpenTracker Racing, as well as Street or Track adjustable strut arms, and a roller spring perch from OpenTracker. Since I am replacing drum brakes, I will probably have to fabricate some lines as well, so they line up with the new disc demarcation point for the flexible lines.
Continue reading “Front Suspension Replacement”
When I picked up the convertible, the front end shook and it was nearly uncontrollable when I hit a pothole. The pothole problem turned out to be the front right lower control arm not being tightened down, so the camber went all over with every bump. After fixing that, it still shakes. I decided to get a fresh starting point by replacing the control arms, the strut rods, the spring perches, and the idler arm. I think the shake may be the idler, so I will replace that first and give it a test drive. I ordered all the parts at once though, so no waiting a week in between for parts.
Continue reading “CSRP Stock Style Disc Brakes”
I am a list oriented type of individual. If there are sets of things, or lists to be done, I am compelled. Since there are 3 body styles for the mustang, I am somehow required to have all 3. Today I finished that list and brought home a 67 convertible.
Continue reading “Adding to the Herd”
I have wanted sequential tail lights on my mustangs for many years. This is also a project I had considered on the 2005 when I first bought it, but just never did it. When I was building the 67, I knew I wanted to do it, but I didn’t want to add more variables for issues during the build, so I put it off to later. Later has arrived.
Continue reading “Vintage LED Sequential Tail Lights”
After replacing the rear end with a stock V8 rear with 2.79 gears, the poor inline 6 engine just feels like a dog behind that 3 speed transmission. I worry if I have to start out on a hill, it won’t be able to go. That pushed me into using the 4 cylinder T5 transmission I have in the garage for this car. I am hoping that the gearing in this T5 means I wont have to replace the rear gears later as well. Gear math isn’t my thing, so I will just have to wait and see.
Continue reading “Swapping a 3 speed for a 5”
I finally got the engine tuned up and running right. It has been about 25 years since I have built an engine, so all that experience is basically lost and needed to be re-learned. I had a book back then, but I have Google now, which is both good and bad. In the end, I learned some things and made it through.
Continue reading “Engine Tuning”
Brad Albrecht's Mustang Restoration Projects 