How Dashing….

Another little job that’s in your face!

What I mean by that is that the main thing you look at in the car, besides the road, is the dash area. If the dash looks tired and old then it just feels like that. I knew I had work to do in that area and this weekend was the result of that work.

This dash area was a job I have been thinking about for a long time now, and the main cause of concern was the Ammeter to Volt meter conversion for my dash that I wanted. My replacement American Autowire loom did not recommend or even allow the fitting of the ammeter as a standard option straight out of the box. My 100amp one wire alternator would be pushing out over twice the 47amps that the original produced. That on its own was enough to make me nervous and I didn’t want that gauge there for a little safety. My options were; I could leave it in place as a dead dial, or fit a clock there, not ideal but an option never the less. My research has led me to a couple of people who have done similar and got them working, so it’s hats of to them for doing it. But in my opinion they just didn’t look right for the era of the car. I eventually found a VDO model that was for outside or inside case mounting. I took the plunge and bought it from the far east. It took me a little over five hours to complete the task, but I was checking everything was going to plan before I started the drill work etc. The full guide and walkthrough of the process I took can be found under my Photo Menu – Inside The Car – Ammeter to Voltage GT Dash Conversion or click here. There is nothing worse than having half the dial showing. The finished result is I think it looks great and above all it works and a better gauge than the Ammeter fitted as stock. While I had the unit apart I also reconditioned the dials, the orange fluorescent paint was a perfect match to the original colour that could be seen at the top of the needles and wasn’t faded.

Sunday, the rain has stopped and there is a little sun if you look hard for it. So I managed to push the car out and rub down some door pillar work I started a couple of weeks ago but again not aas exciting as the dash work but it all needs to be done regardless. Let me know what you honestly think of the conversion, was I right to stay black and white or even have the needle going up instead of hanging down?

completed dash

secure nuts removed from rear allows the workings to be removed

Plastic to stop over spill and splashing

Quick links: Photos Menu – Inside the Car – Ammeter to Volt Meter GT Dash Conversion click here

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Dilemma time

Any thoughts?

Saturday, and its Mustang time. Not sure what to do, I may start to lightly rub down the undercoat on the bumper guard then take out the brake booster to do that again as its tarnished due to the terrible weather.

Dilemma, do you paint a classic Mustang back to its original powder blue colour, or do I go for a nice classic black, maybe white? I like the idea of aqua and white interior, pics on the forum pages if you want you want to have a look. I like the idea of original colour but I also love the idea of black and chrome. The car is nowhere near ready for paint, but I can’t help thinking about it.

Please leave me a comment on what you think. I will post later this weekend what I have been up to on my car.

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Eau de Mustang

It’s freezing, and small flurry of snow flakes which didn’t come to a lot, but I know it was cold. The down side is that the work I wanted to do more work on my bumper stone guards, it’s looking like I will have to wait till the slightly warmer weather. I doubt that the Dinitrol body filler will set very well in -2degrees let alone trying to put rust treatment on or spray some undercoat. The tins of spray were sold cold the balls inside didn’t want to move, I know that feeling all to well today. (Sorry ladies, but it was cold). Nevertheless I still went out to play cars. I took a selection of sockets out with me and opened the garage. Then it hit me; Eau de Mustang. That unmistakable odour of old metal, slight hint of super octane petrol (due to the fact I have no exhausts at the moment) & underseal coating. Perhaps I should approach these plug-in air freshener people to create a mans version, Mustang, BBQ, Fry Up and Pub. I’m sure it would be a big hit. That classic car odour is the smell that all petrol heads love, it’s loved almost as much as the delicate smell of perfume from a loved one once they have left the room. (Did I really just say that? Note to self: Must man up on these posts!) It also means that I have to put a ventilation brick or three in my garage wall in the summer and nicer weather decides to arrive.

I digress, I went out to look under the car a tighten up anything and everything that looks like it needed tightening around the transmission without going mental of course. The garage floor was almost as cold as me, I managed to find a couple of nuts that needed quarter turn to nip up properly. There was the return ATF connection coming from radiator that needed a turn as well, that was after I had to go and get some spanners.

Yesterday I posted that I had a new oil/drip tray, that was put in place as well under the transmission to see if there are any more episodes of my Mustang scenting her ground. Time will tell. My slow puncture has slowed a little, but it will need taking to me ol’ mate Will to have a little look for me.

I have posted my swaging tool review here (or look under the Tools Review in the header bar). From my stats on this blog, I have had searches for, how to use swaging tool and review of swaging tool etc. So as it was cold and I had done what I wanted to do today on the car I thought I would write-up the review. Hope you like it or find it useful.

Come on Summer!

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What Have I learned?

What have I learned about Christmas 2012?

Just what did I learn? Bearing in mind that I have already been given my Chrome Bumpers for Xmas, I wasn’t expecting anything else for christmas. I had accidentally gave a few presents a prod under the tree, just as I happened to be turning the tree lights off. It was all a big coincidence really 😉 Anyway, Xmas morning we sat down to open our presents, I opened a few items, like new pliers, club hammer and a spirit level (make a mental note 1. at this point). Then I got a Fuel cut of clamp, Interior trim screw set, Headlight Trim kit, Headlight mounting kit all from Scott Drake. I also got a full Brake hardware kit, Radiator shroud with mounting bolts and a Monte Carlo bar. All awesome stuff. (Make mental note 2. at this point). How did she know? Well I have a spread sheet on my PC of everything I have spent so far, what I intend to spend in the way of parts going forward and a wish list. I know it’s sad, but the blog is a visual and a written record of what I am doing and then the spread sheet is for the finance manager, my wife.

Ok, so it goes like this, (mental note 2. to be recalled here), while I was at work and working on the car (parts) in the shed, it appears that the missus, my better half, has been studying my spread sheet. I have been so particular about it all, I have a hierarchy of projects I need to do and what I need to do them. I have noted down who has the parts and from where. Mostly from one place, but I will get to that in a moment. So, as I was saying, she has contacted my good mate Adam at Mustang Maniac, who she has been in contact with and arranging things with for a while. Adam was kind enough to open up especially for her to pick the parts up from him so I had them in time for Xmas. Now me, being daft as a brush, I hadn’t twigged any of this until I got to the second or third present, thinking to myself – this is all just what I wanted. It was after I realised what had been going that she told me the full story of what had been going on. So, if you’re reading this Adam – Thank you for looking after her and sorting out my most excellent Xmas presents.

The not so good bit, (mental note 1. required now), as I was in a moment of weakness admiring the new parts for my beloved classic, she slipped in the immortal words, “for the rest of my Xmas present you can paint the bathroom for me.” Before I knew it – I had agreed. As Homer Simpson would say, and I had just said – Dohh! To be fair it does need it. So there you have it. I have given up valuable Mustang time, while still full of mince pies to paint a bathroom. Considering what I got and the effort she had gone too – it’s more than a fair deal. 🙂 The silver lining of this darkest of clouds that looms heavy above me, it’s not a to big a room to paint so it shouldn’t take to long.

So did I answer the question? I don’t think so. To re-emphasize the point, the wife is a lot smarter than me at playing these secret games than I am, or ever will be! To top that she knows how to play me. Women, who would have ’em? as long as they were all like my wife – ME!

The car:

My car now has a new radiator shroud to go in, new headlight hardware, mounting kits for the headlights, full set of brake hardware to go on, a set of interior screws to go in and a front end strengthening Monte Carlo Bar. I cant wait to get out there and put it all on. I can feel a review of shroud coming on! The car has had a good Xmas, as have I.

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Redesign of website!

Blog improvements?

Before you panic and say “he’s broke it” I haven’t.

On the right hand side there were menus that were getting longer and they looked a little messy. I still had people ask me where the photo’s were!

So, I decided to split things up a little for the better, at the top under the header there are now, 7 buttons; Home, Forums and Discussions, Best Mustang Ever, Photos, Tool Reviews, Part Review & Consumable Reviews. If you click on them they take you to the places or the will drop down into menus and subsections. This means everything of importance is at the top now, so no excuse to not find anything. The book reviews I have still left on the right, there are now menus that tell you what is coming soon for each section.

I hope it now works better for you and more natural to look at. The site has got bigger than I expected a lot faster too. I have added a Tags section, click on the words and should show the posts that mention it, or just do a plain ol’ search.

Please let me know what you think, leave it or change it back – I hope not anyway 🙁

Cars

At the weekend I hope to do a little work with Bumper Stone Guard and see how it goes. I intended to take some photos for the review of the Dinitrol filler as well, two birds with one stone and all that! Still not decided on the final colour of the car and the interior colours, I have added forum here or go to all the forum sections and let me know what you think on a number of subjects. .

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Hello world!

Welcome to the inner sanctum within my own little world that revolves around a 1966 Ford Mustang v8 289 Coupe Auto.

This is my first attempt at writing a blog, a written and pictorial history of my project Pony car.

My aim is to give you an update on how things have gone, and what needs to be done. Like all these things it all depends on the money. The restoration is on a budget, and yes, that budget was breached months ago. The car is not in a road worthy condition. It looks a bit of a mess at the moment. But look past the various colours of paint and the missing bits and you will share my vision; she will be Epic.

I plan on writing about my experiences: things I have bought, and things I have found out. I want to write a review of the products, tools and anything I can think of that may help others. This site is for the enthusiast, those who are thinking of doing it and those who are just curious.

Please feel free to let me know your thoughts, things you would like and things you would rather not see. This is a learning process for me just as much as the car is itself.