A happy combo

llClutchll · Post by **llClutchll** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:24 am

The '68 in primer as of this morning:

And it's new occupant:

The motor is on it's way and I should have the car back on the road by April 15.

BTW: The new motor dynos out at 345HP

woodchip · Post by **woodchip** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:30 am

Ooh la! Gonna take us all out for a ride?

llClutchll · Post by **llClutchll** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:40 am

Wipe your feet, keep the critters at home, and we'll talk!

Pun · Post by **Pun** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:14 pm

wait. this isnt the gray mustang is it? if so, wtf happened?

STRESSTEST · Post by **STRESSTEST** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:24 pm

punisher wrote:wait. this isnt the gray mustang is it? if so, wtf happened?

x2 ??

woodchip · Post by **woodchip** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 7:54 pm

As the fenders are off, it looks like Clutch may only be painting the engine compartment. I suspect he'll let us know.

llClutchll · Post by **llClutchll** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:38 pm

You guys remember how much trouble I had with the painter on the car right?

Well, the only way I got the car back before my 65th birthday was to go in and snatch it! A good decision on my part considering the fact that the previous painter went out of buisness exactly 2 1/2 weeks after I pulled my car!

Anyways, One of the issues I had with the Previous painter (let's just call him Dick from now on) was that he failed to follow my DETAILED instructions to start the car every 14 days and let it run until it warmed up. DICK NEVER STARTED IT IN 3 1/2 YEARS! Needless to say I was Pissed!

I told DICK I'd be back the next day with the proper equipment to start the car. Well, DICK thought he would do me a favor and start it for me (DICK didn't know that you had to prime the oil, lube the cylinders, etc... before starting it. The next day I walked in with armloads of lube, when DICK proudly walks over to the car and bumps the ignition... One more reason DICK needed to DIE!

After running the car all summer, it was obvious the engine developed some issues while DICK had it. On top of that, the engine compartment was so friggin embarrasing to me that I only opened it 3 times in public last year. Given both of these issues, I decided to rebuild the engine and clean up the compartment this winter.

Well, after pulling the motor and breaking it down, I found that my worst fears were true, The forged aluminum pistons were thrashed... skirts had gouges in them so deep you could use them as sanding files. Same was true in the engine cylinders. DICK ran the motor without oil (the pump was not primed properly and must have had an air pocket, or he ran it with low - no oil that night)

So, the block is fried, main bearings are trashed, that means a trip to the machine shop for a bottom end. Add to that I had found a spot on the heads where a water passage had corroded into the head gasket compression ring, making them usless as well.

After some research, I found it much cheaper to buy the crate motor rather than build another one up. Not to mention I'm short on time (I've only got a total of 8 weeks from start to finish, and I'm 4 weeks in right now)

Anyways, that's the reasoning for taking her apart... Trust me, It killed me to remove those panels (You should have heard my wife when she saw this!

) And it's all because of DICK! DICK is BAD! Stay away from DICK... FAR FAR AWAY!

Top Gun · Post by **Top Gun** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:58 pm

Damn, I feel for you man. Anyone who does that kind of damage to a car like that deserves to be shot, no questions asked.

MD-2389 · Post by **MD-2389** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:07 pm

Dude, you should find out where he lives and sue him into oblivion. No car (even if it is a ford

) deserves to be treated like that. That, or you could give his ride the Walking Tall treatment as revenge.

(Those of you that haven't seen Walking Tall won't get that reference.)

llClutchll · Post by **llClutchll** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:40 pm

Oh, we know where he lives!

Heh! Actually we won't need to do anything, he has 5 or 6 other classics rotting away in his back yard...

1970 Mustang Boss 302 - It's been sitting outside in nothing but primer exposed to the elements. If you know anything about primer, it does a great job of ABSORBING moisture if it's not sealed. This guy's car has been in DICK's possesion for the last 6 years. (some people need to learn how to pull away from the DICK!)

1968 RoadRunner - Only 3 years at this point, but it's been without paint for 2 1/2 of those. He keeps this one in a polebarn, in bare metal, no humidity control, no heat. For those of you in the southern states, Michigan will still rot a car under these conditons because of the humidity in the air.

1967 GTO - These people have also been without for 3 years. The guy's girlfriend set everything up as a valentines day present long, long ago. They have since split up, and both of them still call once a week and threaten lawyers, cops, mafia (SP?) beatings. Funny thing is that they call without ever knowing what the other is saying to DICK!

There are many others, Old Wylis, a Mercedes, couple of 2 seater Jaguars.

Pretty sad. I'm almost tempted to add them to this site:
http://www.carsinbarns.com

Oh, and if you love old classics, and you have a weak stomach, don't click on that link! You will be crying in minutes!

MD-2389 · Post by **MD-2389** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 10:20 pm

Heh, I forsee a hanging in his future....and not by his neck.

Top Gun · Post by **Top Gun** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 10:43 pm

That site is the saddest thing I've ever seen. Someday, I hope to learn enough about restoring a car to take one on of my own. I'd absolutely love to have one of those beauties to tinker with, even if they were in that type of shape.

World War Woodi · Post by **World War Woodi** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 3:35 am

Ugh, that was suprisingly hard to look at. I see cars like that everyday as my job puts me on the road.

Would love to have the time and a garage to do some restores, but since I dont I just bought my wife her dream car for Valintines day, an 88 Pontiac Firebird non leaking t-tops, all original and in pristine condition. All it needed was a new distributer dropped in and now it purrs. It isnt exactly a muscle car with its 2.8 liter crossfire injection motor, but heh it gets up and goes very nicely, and I got it for a song.

Hope your driving yours real soon clutch.

[]V[]essenjah · Post by **[]V[]essenjah** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 11:31 pm

ME EYES ME BLEEDIN' EYES!!

snoopy · Post by **snoopy** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 12:19 am

I have a friend who is dropping a 450 into her mustang.... the engine barely fits.

Sorry to hear about the dude screwing you.

llClutchll · Post by **llClutchll** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:11 am

I'm pretty much over it.

Well, honestly... I get a little pissed and run around doing a little war dance every time I find a new problem that DICK caused. After I calm down, I take lots of pictures and fix it.

As for my wife

She warms up the car and starts calling friends/relatives/neighbors and tries to form a lynch party before I can stop her.

Oh well, I'm working on tying the frame together right now. Added HP = more likely to twist the body up. Better safe than sorry. I'll post some updated pics tomorrow.

I really can't believe how much I missed working this car! I'd recommend it to anyone who has a garage.

As for CarsInBarns... any time you feel bad about the condition of your ride... a quick visit fixes it right up! Still makes me sick to see some of those. I think the worst one is the '67 shelby sinking in the front yard of some guy in NewYork. I wish they gave addresses... I'd be doing some Midnight Auto runs, if you know what I mean!

[]V[]essenjah · Post by **[]V[]essenjah** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:21 am

I want anything better than my NISSAN

Dude, Clutch, anytime you feel bad about your car, look at what I'm stuck with. An 89 Nissan Sentra 4-Door Hatchback with a wimpy ding dong, ding dong everytime you open the door. No automatic locks, no power windows, no air conditioner, no anti-lock breaks and no cruise control... nothing.

I at least take good care of her.

I was a dumbass at one point though. I decided to put some ugly stripes on the front to give it more personality at least. Well, I decided I was sick of being a riceboy so I went out to rip off the stripes before last winter and discovered that the material I used breaks apart so easily that there is no way to get it off without scratching up the paint on my hood!

If I can find a way to get those off... I will NEVER EVER DO THAT AGAIN

llClutchll · Post by **llClutchll** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 2:45 am

Mob, My first car was a 1976 Mustang II Mach 1. I paid $250 for it at a dealership. This puppy had no floorboards, no heat, etc. It was red with the black Mach 1 stripe on the bottom. I bought it right around the time Christine came out on video (or theaters, I can't remember ~1985 or 6). I pulled into the backyard with that pig smoking like a steam engine as my sister watched. I proceeded to spend the next 3 weeks of my summer vacation working on it, crashing out in the hatch area whenever I got tired.

My sister would NEVER walk in front of that car! She seriously thought it was going to come alive and kill her one night

She told me how she felt a year after I bought it. I always wanted to rig the headlights to pop on one night as she got out of her car... hehe!

Anyways, I've had my share of crappy cars. I feel for ya bud!

llClutchll · Post by **llClutchll** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:10 am

Whew! That was a LOOOOONNNNGGGGG weekend!

Here's a shot of the new handy-dandy sub-frame connectors I put in to keep me from twisting the car up:

Install time: Drivers side - 45 minutes Passenger side: 1 hour 45 minutes (friggin rear leaf refused to line up with the hole!)

And just to refresh your memory, here's the compartment when I started:

And after hours upon hours of work:

Tricord · Post by **Tricord** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 12:52 pm

Looks like a nice and comfy garage to work in... Too bad I don't have that luxuery.

I started the car work again after the winter today... Did some prepping on the track car to receive the new engine.. I still need to pull the gearbox from a donor car I have, mate it to the block and drop the whole thing in the car.

It's going to be a lot of fun. Next track day is planned 6th of may

llClutchll · Post by **llClutchll** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 2:07 pm

Yeah, it's nice and cozy... I've had my fill of snow suits and propane torches

Did you blow the motor last year, or are you upgrading?

MD-2389 · Post by **MD-2389** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 2:20 pm

I'm sorry, I couldn't help but notice a certain cardboard box in the third picture.

In all seriousness Clutch, best of luck with it dude. I really hope you get to burn rubber with 'er as soon as possible.

llClutchll · Post by **llClutchll** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 4:34 pm

Thanks MD! Oh, um... Magnet wire?

Well, it's here... Oh baby! I'm going to have to keep a leash on myself so I don't rush the small stuff!

Top Wop · Post by **Top Wop** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 6:16 pm

Have fun and good luck!

If I was you I would sue the SOB for the damages that were done, but you are an honorable and classy guy so you wouldnt do that anyway.

MD-2389 · Post by **MD-2389** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 3:58 pm

llClutchll wrote:Well, it's here... Oh baby! I'm going to have to keep a leash on myself so I don't rush the small stuff!

Yeah, spend that time posting updates for us to drool over.

woodchip · Post by **woodchip** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 4:47 pm

Heh, let us know how many parts are left over when you are all done.

llClutchll · Post by **llClutchll** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 6:27 am

woodchip wrote:Heh, let us know how many parts are left over when you are all done.

Ugh! That happened once! I snapped a compression ring while installing it... never heard it hit the ground. Got the whole engine built up and found out when I started it. I had to rip the whole motor down to the friggin crank to fix that little error. I keep the mangled piston as a reminder to slow down and pay attention to detail!

Anyways, the Easter Bunny tried like hell to keep me from working on the car this weekend with little success!

Before:

After:

Yeah, I know, I have to clean up the garage, but time was really tight this weekend.

I also finished up the front suspension on both sides, so this week will be the engine build up and hopefully this weekend the engine/trans will be in the car!

Tricord · Post by **Tricord** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 6:52 am

llClutchll wrote:Did you blow the motor last year, or are you upgrading?

Both actually

I was planning to finish the season with the 2.3 litre, then prepare a 2.7 litre; but we fried the head on Spa-Francorchamps... So the engine had to come out anyway...

By now the 2.7 is built and once I have the gearbox everything is ready to be placed in the car. I don't have a lot of displacement, but the engine is built to rev up to 7000rpm, and should deliver around 180HP max power at 6400rpm. That, and the car is light. Empty weight around 890kg I think. Makes for good fun on a small budget