Mach1Mark's '65 coupe restomod

[Mach1Mark]

Today, I finally got the door glass stops installed with some help from Terry. A little more glass adjusting and then install the door upholstery.
http://stangfix.com/threads/65-door-window-mechanism-parts.23713/

 

[Mach1Mark]

After being in the yard more than the garage for the last month I was able to get the fiberglass hood attached and aligned. Took all afternoon. Lots of measuring and trial and error. I had to ditch the billet RingBrothers hood hinges as they would not allow the hood to adjust like it needed to in order to close. I'm disappointed after snagging them at half price. I ended up using some repop hood hinges I bought over a year ago.

 

[Mach1Mark]

Spent time this morning trimming 1/4" from each end of the steering linkage rod ends. I called the Unisteer customer service line after I could not get the front wheels to toe out after threading the tie rod ends all the way on. The rep told me that Unisteer makes all the threaded center rods long on purpose to accommodate more model years. I need to check that the steering mechanism is centered (again) and likely trim another 1/4".

 

[tarafied1]

frustrating but I guess that helps them keep the cost down. How are you cutting them?

 

[Mach1Mark]

frustrating but I guess that helps them keep the cost down. How are you cutting them?

I chased the threads with a thread die, then locked a pair of nuts in place at 1/4" from the end. Adorned proper PPE and used my electric cutoff tool. Proceeded at a slow pace and kept the cuttings from flying and the metal relatively cool. Two cuts done right.

 

[tarafied1]

NICE! I was wondering about the threads. Every time I cut a bolt I have to clean up the threads with a file.

 

[Mach1Mark]

NICE! I was wondering about the threads. Every time I cut a bolt I have to clean up the threads with a file.

I did that too . . . they weren't too fragged after the cut but I rounded them off.

 

[Mach1Mark]

This afternoon I began test fiting the universal plug wire set I ordered yesterday. Also ordered plug wire high heat sleeves and plug wire markers. This way I can fab each wire the exact length I need instead of having them be too long or too short. The set I currently have had three out of eight wires that were the right length.
Finally solved the front wheel toe in/out problem. I re-checked the center location of the rack and pinion unit and it was off a bit. I re-centered the unit and attached the tie rod ends to the front wheel spindles. There is plenty of toe adjustment now.
Also attempted to final adjust the angle of the door glass. Not going very well.
Lastly I test fit the aftermarket air conditioning evaporator on the bottom of the dash. I was pleasantly surprised to find the manufacturer designed the unit to hang from the existing holes for the OEM A/C evaporator (NO DRILLING).

 

[Mach1Mark]

Made good progress yesterday: cut and fabbed the spark plug wires to correct length, test fit/fabbed the upper A/C discharge hose (ready for crimping), test fit/modded the lower hard line for the A/C condensor, re-installed the front valance after installing the A/C hard lines, fabbed a pair of hood hinge rods to lock the hood open, began test fitting the A/C sight glass hard line, began opening firewall pad at A/C hose penetrations. Who knew the stupid thing was so tough to cut through?

 

[Horseplay]

Good progress. I am always amazed at the number of little things involved in each "sub-section" that come up and require time/attention. Especially when you're a tad different and want everything "perfect". Case in point, I am using a second set of plug wires on the engine now until the final tune is set as adjusting the distributor will change the plug wire clock position and mess up a perfect fitment. Yeah. That anal.

 

[Mach1Mark]

Here is how the Old Air Products parts fit when initially installed:

I had to bend the fitting coming out of the bottom of the dryer as it was less than 90. Had to trim the rubber grommet a little to allow the tubing to fit without bunching up the grommet. Also bent the tube going through the rad support a little less than 90 and added a slight reverse bend to clear the opening.

 

[Mach1Mark]

Good progress. I am always amazed at the number of little things involved in each "sub-section" that come up and require time/attention. Especially when you're a tad different and want everything "perfect". Case in point, I am using a second set of plug wires on the engine now until the final tune is set as adjusting the distributor will change the plug wire clock position and mess up a perfect fitment. Yeah. That anal.

Yeah . . . I thought of that too. My distributor is set from when we broke in the motor. I wouldn't be surprised if I have to tweek it for a better tune. Hoping I don't have to jockey the wires again. I tend to be OCD when it comes to details too, Terry. But . . . its the details that make a stunning finished product.

 

[tarafied1]

this looks really good!

 

[Mach1Mark]

Thanks, Craig. I hope it runs as good. Can you tell Im a little OCD?

 

[tarafied1]

Attention to detail is not a bad thing!

 

[Mach1Mark]

Good work day . . . after climbing under the dash/steering wheel a dozen times today I can say I am done installing the new A/C hoses. I received my new a/c hose end crimping tool this week after determining that the two places locally that can crimp hoses are only open business hours Monday thru Friday. Not workable for those who have to be at work those hours. Anyway, I was going to use the extra hose ends to test my new tool and get the feeling of crimping right but after examining the tool and fitting the hose ends that the supplier sent me that are already crimped I decided to dive in. Good news is it wasnt as tricky as I imagined and the three crimps I made came out great.

 

[Horseplay]

Tool envy. I want one of those. Don't know what I would use it for but having it would make me find something!

 

[tarafied1]

Tool envy. I want one of those. Don't know what I would use it for but having it would make me find something!

same here!

 

[Grabber70Mach]

That looks really good.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using Tapatalk

 

[Mach1Mark]

For me this event is another example of deciding to try and fix/mod something on my Mustang having never attempted the procedure before. Im sure many on this board have the same attitude. I thought of looking up the crimping procedure on Youtube but I (we) haven't had access to that learning tool for most of my life so I used caution and it went well. The price of this exact tool varies widely so shop price. I paid $125 + free shipping. The seller immediately raised the price $20 after I made my purchase. Ive been thinking of offering the use of this tool to established Fix members for the cost of shipping. I will probably never use this tool again but I was able to fab my A/C lines without having to run back and forth to a local business open only during the week. I also checked the national parts sellers (Autozone, ORiellys, Advance Auto, NAPA) and non have a tool like this to rent or in the store for their staff to use. They all can order one to sell you though.