1973 Mach 1 Restoration Project Photos
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- Опубліковано 15 вер 2024
- This is a collection of photos, and some videos, taken from early October, 2019 through mid-October, 2020, of the 1973 Mach 1 as it progress from being a decent looking driver with a few visible "just spots in the usual areas" to deeply restored vehicle after the multitude of elusive corrosion problems were uncovered one at a time and corrected as fully as possible. In some cases new metal parts were spiced onto the original metal locations, where we saved as much of the original metal as we could. In other cases some parts had to be fabricated as some parts needed to be replaced are no longer available on the market.
No expense was spared during this project. We wanted the work to be to the highest standards, no short cuts, no cheap solutions. We wanted the best possible solution to every issue we came across - and there were quite a few issues when it came to how invasive the corrosion issue proved to have been. In the end the Mach 1 is in no less an excellent condition as compared to when it was initially built.
The original color of the paint was Saddle Bronze Metallic. There are a few photos where the rear shelf behind the back seat area shows the original, when the paint color change to Valspar Sunset was not applied to that one hidden area. In this project the color was changes once again, to PPF Sunset Orange - a fine particle translucent metallic that was shot over a solid base white to get its candy-ish appearance to show so nicely. There are no less than 3 layers each of printer, base white, color, and clear applied. And between each coat the surface was thoroughly wet sanded in order to get the nest possible liquid surface look.
The Blackout Shema on the hood, spoilers, louver slats, and engine compartment were shot with PPG Hot Rod Black Matte. The Matte Black paint was applied to the Sunset Orange color hood with a stancil used for the "351 RAM AIR" Vallout, as opposed to using the traditional white decals.
It is apparent that this Mach 1 is well prepared to go forward in time in excellent condition. We have no doubt it will last no less than its next 50 years. It is a shame we will likely not be present to witness that in its entirety. But, we will enjoy the years ahead with it in our "little corral."
You did an. Awesome job on this classic pony car from start to finish another of time and money we t into bringing this pony back to life looks beautiful 😍
Thank you. Labor of love, for love of the breed no doubt. Crazy amount of money was put into this project - far more than the car is worth n the market. But, since we are not planning to see it, and had the spare cash available, no big deal. I am just glad we were able to save it.
It’s amazing the amount of work but more amazing is the way it ended! Beautiful car love the paint and all the details to make it look this good.
Thank you.
nice! I loved driving my 72 Mach 1.
These Big Nose Mustangs are still quite under-appreciated by folks who do not yet have one. It took me decades to begin to like them, and now having two 1973 Mustangs (Mach 1 and Convertible) I feel the years I disregarded them were years of wasted opportunities to enjoy them like I do now. They really are a nice version of First Generation Mustangs.
I gotta watch your stuff... looks like I could learn some things
We are all capable of, and likely in need of, learning ever more new things. I owned my first Mustang back in 1971, a 1969 Candyapple Red coupe with a 250 CID I-6 engine with a C4 tranny. Plus an aftermarket ARA A/C unit. Life was good in SoCal, Woodland Hills, at the far west end of the San Fernando Valley (L.S. area). I was a high school kid who really, really, really wanted a v-8 Mustang. But, my parents wisely chose to put me into a 6 cylinder car. Otherwise I have no doubt I would not have lived past 17, which given how hard I tried to push that Mustang it is amazing I actually did live past 17. For me, canyon racing in SoCal was so much fun, even with the 6 banger. The best time to race was at night, because as I approached a curve or bend I could kill my lights to see if there were any lights from oncoming traffic around the curve. If not (after turning my headlights back on, of course) I would cit the apex of the curve as I 4 wheel drifted just enough to line up my straightaway shot toward the next curve or bend. I shudder to think of how lucky I am to be alive still, now age 69.
Then, one day in high school still, while running through a residential area far faster than I should have been going, I hit some sand on the road that had been spilled by a contractor installing a swimming pool nearby. Well, that was the end of that Mustang, and a 1968 Firebird Formula 400 I took out as the Mustang's passenger side crushed its trunk in as badly as the Mustang's entire right got caved in. Drag...
I was then relegated to a 1966 Chrysler Newport, 4 door no less, as my form of pergatory until in 1973. In 1973 my dentist decided to trade in his 69 Mach 1 for a Datsun 240Z. The dealer offered him $800 trade value, and he asked if I would want to buy his Mach 1 for $800. I had been working since age 16 at a grocery store, making decent part time money, and actually had enough to buy it - and I was 18! I finally found myself back in a Mustang again, and this time one with a v-8, although it was a very low end Mach 1 with a lowly 351W 2v, single echaust system, FMX auto tranny, 3.0:1 rear axle ratio gear set, and no A/C. No matter, I had a nice platform to begin with while building a mean, snarling street machine. And build I did.
First came the FMX auto tranny. I had just finished a class in auto transmission repair (2 year A.S. program for auto technology), so I ordered a bunch of B&M high performance parts, including a 3,500 RPM stall speed torque converter and a nice street/strip shift kit. Wow, it worked like magic. Crisp shifts, and nice hole shots. Then, after joining the Army I found I was getting a large tax refund check (almost $2,000). Wow! I was rich! What better time to go to the local speed shop and buy everything I could think of to rebuild and pump up that engine. Sure, forged aluminum pistons with 12:1 compression (we still had high octane alcohol free gasoline back then), a nice hydraulic street/strip cam, Holley 780 CFM vacuum secondary 4v carb, Offenhauser 360 dual plane high rise intake manifold, Hooker long tube competition headers, high performance fuel pump, Mallory dual point distributor (electronic ignition was not the rage yet, especially aftermarket), Perfect Circle valve guide seals and cutting tool kit, bronze wall valve guides with a high flow triple cut valve job and moderate head milling, double roller high performance timing chain and gears. Imagine all that back in 1975 for under $2,000.00. I was on my way. And man, did that engine run good!
In the end, despite the steep 3.0:1 rear axle ratio gear set, I was ready to take on the world. I was able to now do 0-60 in 5.6 seconds with street tires (could not afford to replace the F70 x 14 tires). I marked off a 1/4 mile segment of Southern Arizona highway on a flat surface (I could see forever on those Arizona highways I was now consistently trapping at just about 13.2 seconds at 115+ MPH. I was tempted to go to a wrecking yard and get a 3.5:1 or 3.91:1 rear axle gear set, but decided to keep the 3.0:1 gears because I liked my high end performance, and did not want to be running 3,000 RPM+ at 60 MPH (and did not have the money anyway). What cinched that decision was when 3 Marines in a 1969 Z/28 that was obviously not stock challenged me to a race outside Yuma, AZ, one night. We staged up at the last light out of town that then led into the highway that went out to Yuma Proving Ground (my Army station), and beyond. In my car there was me, my wife, and a fellow soldier we were friends with. So, we were not holding any real weight advantage against them re: how many occupants were inside the two cars. Sure, I had a 351 vs his 302, but as nasty as his cam sounded I was not betting I was going to win, especially considering he likely had a 4.11:1 rear axle gear set vs my high fuel mileage oriented 3.0:1 ratio economy gears. The light turned green, and it was on. For the first few hundred or so feet the Z/28 was ahead of me, but not by a lot. We had not marked off and stated an ending point, so I figured I would do my best to catch up to him, and maybe even outrun him with my taller rear axle ratio - if only I had enough strength in the 351W to pull off some magic. Well, after the first 300 feet or so I was gaining on him. We were still nowhere near a 1/4 mile mark, had one been identified, and I began to pull ahead of him. Not creeping up on him slowly, but very decisively gaining. Then I passed him, where I was increasing my speed at an ever increasing rate, and he was losing ground, a lot.
About the time I hit 115 or so he was several car lengths behind us, and he decided to turn around and scamper home. I let the Mach 1 slowly back down to about 70 MPH or so and cruised on back to our base (I had on-post housing we lived in). That is when I decided the 3.0:1 gears may not be so bad after all, as I still launched out of the hole pretty nicely. Not as fast as the Z/28. But, he ran out of breath at his top end about when the Mach 1 was beginning to really hit its stride.
I was later transferred to Germany, and did not have enough rank to qualify for the Mach 1 to be sent over with me. Another stroke of good fortune no doubt as I am certain I might have found my end on the Autobahn trying to compete with Porsches and Ferraris. I sold the Mach 1 about a year later to a friend in order to help build a cash reserve for when I left the Army, in case I could not find a job as fast as I needed to. I never should have sold it as I found a job as a tech at a Lincoln store my first day looking. And, within 3 months a Ford dealership made me an offer I could not refuse. At that point I was hip deep into Mustangs to work on, and other Fords. Then "life happened" and I was out of the pony car game for a few decades. Kids and career reigned supreme for a bit of time. No regrets.
Fast forward, after migrating from auto repair, to designing computer solutions, and later (1991) starting my own computer consultancy, I decided about 6 years ago to get back into pony cars. I was making really good money with my business. I now had employees to help with all the work. So, long story short, I picked up the following pony cars (and one sports car) over the next three years:
1 - 1969 Shelby GT500 with factory A/C
2 - 1973 Mach 1, built for street strip. A/C was added
3 - 1973 Mustang Convertible. This is a True Survivor currently with less than 21,000 original miles after being literally barn stored over 40 years.
4 - 1997 Honda Del Sol SI - 2 seater sports car my wife found, 30,000 original miles
5 - 2020 Shelby GT500 - special ordered through a client Ford dealer in our area. He must have liked what I did for him with my trechnologies!
Anyway, I hope I have not bored you too badly with all that. I did subscribe to your channel, and gave you a thumbs up. I ask you consider c to my channel also, please. And if you find the various videos of value please hit me uo with a thumbs on them.
Finally, in the spirit of always trying to do right by my fellow enthusiasts, if ever you want to run something by me, technical or otherwise, please feel free to do so. I am at gilhale@gmail.com... My UA-cam channel is: www.youtube.com/@gilberthale7777
@gilberthale7777 I am going to start a live stream podcast for my channel, would you be interested in coming on to talk mustangs?
@@GorillasGarage I would be interested , but my voice is very hoarse and at times halting due to the side effects of several life saving surgeries to help me survive brain cancer. I am a 10 year survivor at this point. And all looks good other than anticipated side effects which included one of my vocal cords becoming paralyzed. Drag. But I am still alive and cancer free so no complaints from me.
Otherwise I would love to participate. I would need some advance notice to make sure I am able to carve out time for the session.
@@gilberthale7777 Your still here and that is what matters the most! I still would like to have you on the show, I read through your really long comment that detailed parts of your life with mustangs. The pod cast I want to do would be talking to people about their car or cars and sharing stories about their life with cars. I will reach out to you when I get my feet under me with the show... I will reach out on here or to your email..
Yes I to have a RUSTANG I’m forgoing a lot of mine an doing a crown Vic swap
DISCULPE
QUE MEDIDA SON LOS RINES 14 o 15 ?
Those wheels are Magnum 500 15" x 7"