[reenmachine]

I've got the front bodywork together to fit the lights, grilles, oil cooler, etc.

With the other 2 projects off to paint, I have more time to devote to it, so the updates should be coming more frequently now.

It's motivating to see the front end together!

[65mistress]

Oh man, This thing is schweeeeet.
I'd sell my friends kids so that I could buy this thing.

Question: Are you going to put a grill in the valance or leave it open with the cooler?

[reenmachine]

Originally Posted by 65mistress

Question: Are you going to put a grill in the valance or leave it open with the cooler?

The top pic has the grill in place. I'll probably use it, but the cooler looks sweet down there, and won't be so obvious when the bumper is in place and the car is on the ground. It would probably be best to put the grill in front of it though for safety reasons.

[reenmachine]

One of my buddies I worked on the Mars rovers with at JPL has been sending this around...I deny any infringement!

[mustbereel]

The similarity in the wiring is obvious! Aren't you glad the Mustang doesn't have to operate in the Martian environment?

My dad worked on the landing radars for Surveyor, Apollo and Viking. Although he was less hands on and more management as the years passed he was an avid electronics hobbiest. His wiring was meticulous and worthy of an engineer who helped put a man on the moon.

Brad

[65mistress]

That's classic, you're building a space age ground pounding street stomper.

[1320stang]

Reen, I notice your not using the waxed string like they used on the rover.

Working in telecommunications for a while, I had to help swap out some power supplies (24v) in some cell sites. They used waxed string to tie all the wiring together. Thought it was wild they didn't use cable ties, but the guy I was helping was so swift in using the string, I think he could tie it with that faster than I could put a cable tie on it.

[reenmachine]

Originally Posted by 1320stang

Reen, I notice your not using the waxed string like they used on the rover.

Working in telecommunications for a while, I had to help swap out some power supplies (24v) in some cell sites. They used waxed string to tie all the wiring together. Thought it was wild they didn't use cable ties, but the guy I was helping was so swift in using the string, I think he could tie it with that faster than I could put a cable tie on it.

Well, here's a tangent, but why not...

The rovers are packed with ultra-sensitive sensors and optics, so a primary concern is outgassing of materials. See, if any material (adhesives, plastics, etc.) on the spacecraft outgasses (loses mass as vapor) in any way, it can contaminate optics and sensors, potentially rendering part of an $800 million project useless. Anything that can outgas immediately will when exposed to the vacuum of space. Thus, the string tying the cabling together isn't waxed string, but special non-outgassing, thermally stable, UV-proof miracle string. Yes, the cable techs can tie that stuff up in their sleep!

Another huge concern with operating a spacecraft on Mars is thermal cycling. The place goes from freezing-ass cold to almost comfortable on a daily basis, and the rovers are over 700 Martian days into the mission. Plastic cable ties would have become embrittled and failed long ago. I think there are spaceflight-qualified cable ties out there, but JPL doesn't use them. First, the string works great, is thin, pliable, etc.; second, it weighs a lot less than cable ties. This may sound funny, but every gram counts on spacecraft and you can tell even from that small pic that there would be a hell of a lot of cable ties on that thing.

[351carlo]

Reen,

The car seems to be coming along beautifully. I am thrilled to see a project of this caliber being done properly. So often we see a car that just gets a 5.0 HO EFI motor, a Mustang II front end, and a nice new interior and it's considered done. This is a true ''frame off'' restomod project that I believe is that one step above the rest kind of deal.

I hope to see a good video of it when it is complete.

Carlo- By the way. I was once an active member of an organization known as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). By any chance do you know Dave Lavery?

[reenmachine]

Originally Posted by 351carlo

Reen,

The car seems to be coming along beautifully. I am thrilled to see a project of this caliber being done properly. So often we see a car that just gets a 5.0 HO EFI motor, a Mustang II front end, and a nice new interior and it's considered done. This is a true ''frame off'' restomod project that I believe is that one step above the rest kind of deal.

I hope to see a good video of it when it is complete.

Carlo- By the way. I was once an active member of an organization known as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). By any chance do you know Dave Lavery?

Carlo-
Thanks for the compliment. There will be tons of photos and video when the car is done.

I have met Dave Lavery, but he's waaaaay to far up the NASA food chain for me to have interacted with him professionally.

Coincidentally, I was an engineering mentor for FIRST team #22 at Chatsworth High School in Chatsworth, CA for a few years before I moved away. We even went to the nationals a couple of times! FIRST is a fantastic organization and I had a great time being a part of it.

[havack]

Originally Posted by 1320stang

They used waxed string to tie all the wiring together.

Did a few telecomm installs for the military. I think the logic on wax is it is faster to do a long bundle, cheaper and will hold up in a fire better than a plastic strap. Once you learn to use it you never want to go back....

[reenmachine]

Here's how the oil cooler install turned out. It is mounted in front of the hood latch support on two brackets extending outward from the core support crossmember. The lines extend to the driver's side and are nicely hidden behind the nose support. They go through the core support to the engine and remote oil filter mount.

[reenmachine]

Just got three solid 12-hour days in on the vert and it shows. All of the wiring from the firewall forward is complete. These lights can draw a lot of current, so I wired everything with high-temp, high-current wiring, and everything runs through relays and circuit breakers.

Yes, I forgot to have the turn signal housings painted body color . I used them to wire everything up and they'll be painted ASAP. Hey, if that's the worst oversight I come across I'll be psyched!

[69Rcode_Mach1]

All I can say is WOW!!!! I wish I would have checked out this thread earlier.

[reenmachine]

OK -- some real signs of life today! I powered up the electrical system for the first time. Everything I checked out worked 100%:

- headlights, high and low beam
- headlight dimmer switch (on end of turn signal lever)
- tail lights
- backup lights
- horns
- stereo
- turn signals
- starter
- wipers, high and low
- fuel pump

It was super motivational to see life in the car!

[65mistress]

Excellent Smithers...

[67FBack]

Reen,

Just read the entire post and I think you have done it right!

Glad to see your electrical worked out on first try. That is amazing.

I have several questions. Why did you choose the MII, Heidt, Cobra Suspension instead of Total Control or Unique Performance? Is there any undesirable things about those products?

This is my first post and I am planning on doing my own restoration this year. Complete rotisserie on a 67 C. No rust, almost completely stock. Will try to take it to a Super Car. I know it will cost me between 60-90K. But I love these cars!

This post has helped and has inspired me immensely.

[reenmachine]

Originally Posted by 67FBack

Reen,

Just read the entire post and I think you have done it right!

Glad to see your electrical worked out on first try. That is amazing.

I have a several questions. Why did you choose the MII, Heidt, Cobra Suspension instead of Total Control or Unique Performance? Is there any undesirable things about those products?

This is my first post and I am planning on doing my own restoration this year. Complete rotisserie on a 67 C. No rust, almost completely stock. Will try to take it to a Super Car. I know it will cost me between 60-90K. But I love these cars!

This post has helped and has inspired me immensely.

For the front, I did the MII because I wanted/needed the room in the engine compartment. It really opens things up and gives you a ton of space to put whatever. I also like the design of the Heidt's MII suspension in particular and love how it rides and handles.

For the rear, I wanted to do something different. This is not intended to be an all-out musclecar, rather a smooth, sophisticated touring car. Hence, I chose the ride quality of an IRS versus the hard launch ability of a solid rear axle.

There's not anything particularly undesirable about the Unique/Total Control setups, they just weren't appropriate for what I am building here.

[70vert]

Originally Posted by 67FBack

I have a several questions. Why did you choose the MII, Heidt, Cobra Suspension instead of Total Control or Unique Performance? Is there any undesirable things about those products?

67, try reading the Corner Carvers forums for a few days - http://www.corner-carvers.com/ and especially their opinions on the Unique rear. They came to a consensus that the design introduces too much bind and that a 3-link, modified 4-link, or Satchell style 4-link may be the best way to go, performance wise with hard launches out of a corner being a priority in there.

I totally agree with Reen about the ride quality issue and Heidt's or Cobra being the best way to go on that front.

In any case, before you do anything read Corner-Carvers for a while and come to your own conclusion. If I could afford to do a Grigg's rear (stick axle) I would, but I am settling on fiberglass leafs with a Watt's Link due to my budget and preferences.

[67FBack]

Originally Posted by rekenmachine

For the front, I did the MII because I wanted/needed the room in the engine compartment. It really opens things up and gives you a ton of space to put whatever. I also like the design of the Heidt's MII suspension in particular and love how it rides and handles.

For the rear, I wanted to do something different. This is not intended to be an all-out musclecar, rather a smooth, sophisticated touring car. Hence, I chose the ride quality of an IRS versus the hard launch ability of a solid rear axle.

There's not anything particularly undesirable about the Unique/Total Control setups, they just weren't appropriate for what I am building here.

Reen,

Thanks for the reply. It makes me question my motives for my car.

Anyway, when is your car going to be making its debut? I know you are getting close. I can't wait to see this beautiful machine in person.

[67FBack]

Originally Posted by 70vert

67, try reading the Corner Carvers forums for a few days - http://www.corner-carvers.com/ and especially their opinions on the Unique rear. They came to a consensus that the design introduces too much bind and that a 3-link, modified 4-link, or Satchell style 4-link may be the best way to go, performance wise with hard launches out of a corner being a priority in there.

I totally agree with Reen about the ride quality issue and Heidt's or Cobra being the best way to go on that front.

In any case, before you do anything read Corner-Carvers for a while and come to your own conclusion. If I could afford to do a Grigg's rear (stick axle) I would, but I am settling on fiberglass leafs with a Watt's Link due to my budget and preferences.

70Vert,

This is exactly why I joined this forum. Your information and knowledge is invaluable. Thank you!

[reenmachine]

Originally Posted by 67FBack

Reen,

Thanks for the reply. It makes me question my motives for my car.

I know what you mean. So many people think horsepower, horsepower, horsepower first and end up with a car that only gets driven occasionally because the ride is super harsh, the thing is way loud, and it gets 6 m.p.g.

Originally Posted by 67FBack

Anyway, when is your car going to be making its debut? I know you are getting close. I can't wait to see this beautiful machine in person.

I plan on being at some large national shows this summer, and I'll certainly post the itinerary here as soon as I have it hammered out.

[reenmachine]

I put sound and vibration damping material inside the door skins, put in the restored courtesy lights, and added dual-cone door speakers. While this car was originally a deluxe interior car, it didn't have the door speakers so I had to cut the openings. I rounded them to match the curvature of the speakers.

After that, new deluxe grilles finish everything off.

[reenmachine]

The Moto-Lita steering wheel and Flaming River tilt steering column are in place and all wired up. I'm building the instrument cluster now as well since all of the underdash wiring is pretty much done.

[1320stang]

Looking good dude!!!