73 mach 1 build

I started a thread in the talk section(http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/810808-73-mach-1-build-thread.html) to more or less talk of the work I had ahead of me. Here's the technical part of it. Forgive my welding, it's getting better :nonono:. I can set the heat and feed levels nicely now and my technique is improving. I am in the process of replacing the cowl panel, and like every other part I need.. it isn't available.

I had to fill all the holes in the lower panel from drilling the spot welds, so I used small squares cut from sheet metal and held them from behind with a magnet while I welded the holes shut.
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I cut out the clapped out section of the lower cowl and brought it to a local sheet metal shop, Kuehnel Steel and had a nice 3 piece assembly made up that made it easy to lay in and hammer it to the right shape. The new panel consisted of a flat part for the bottom with a hole cut in it with the edges trimmed to the correct angle; a round section with a flanged edge, which allowed the piece to lock into place; the toothy piece, which was bent to the angles that match the flat piece.

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not pretty welds, but they did penetrate. I've gotten better since these.


1st coat of POR15 with alot of seam sealer.

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3rd coat of POR15.. painted right over the seam sealer. Can't be too safe :rolleyes:.

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Making the upper panel fit nicely. I needed to add a couple patch panels and still need to add a couple more little ones.

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Driver's side patch panel.. not done yet.

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Tommorow I will do more work on the upper panel. After I patch all the rusty parts and put it all back together, itll get more seam sealer, some duraglass to smooth it out and more por 15. :nice: then I can do fun stuff like actually roll the car out of the garage.
 
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I'm tuned in for the duration. This takes me back to my first car - a 73 Mach 1 I bought in 83 when I was 17. She served me well for several years but an electrical fire put her to rest around 1988. I still miss that car, loved the flat back glass.
Now 20 some years later I have another Mach 1. This one is world's better than the ol 73, but, as stated, I still miss her.

See the attached before and after (the fire) photos...

Best of Luck on this restoration and build up.

Chris
 
I'm tuned in for the duration. This takes me back to my first car - a 73 Mach 1 I bought in 83 when I was 17. She served me well for several years but an electrical fire put her to rest around 1988. I still miss that car, loved the flat back glass.
Now 20 some years later I have another Mach 1. This one is world's better than the ol 73, but, as stated, I still miss her.

See the attached before and after (the fire) photos...

Best of Luck on this restoration and build up.

Chris

Thanks for the support :nice: Your old mach looked nice, sorry to hear about the fire :(. I got mine when I was 16 and dailied it until I got out of high school. I eventually got a crossfire to daily and lost interest the mustang; it didn't do anything better. I came close to buying a newer mach as a daily but I couldn't justify having 2 lol. I always had big plans for the mustang but never had the means to pull it off until now.
 
Great build, we have similar plans with the fuel injection and turbos.

My first step was to put together a EFI system from a foxbody and tune it. Now that the system is installed and working (gained about 15rwhp over carb) it's time to begin taking the car apart for a fresh coat of paint.

Wes
 
vey nice, a lot more work than i could undertake........:nice:

keep us posted,,,

Thanks, it's taking a long time.. but the work isn't so bad.


Great build, we have similar plans with the fuel injection and turbos.

My first step was to put together a EFI system from a foxbody and tune it. Now that the system is installed and working (gained about 15rwhp over carb) it's time to begin taking the car apart for a fresh coat of paint.

Wes

Thanks, I'm really itching to get to the injection and turbo stuff.. Congrats on the swap, usually guys throw the FI stuff out and bolt on a carb lol. What color are you painting it?
 
That is good to know.

I have a mush floor pan on my 67. Its cracked right in the middle of the passenger side rear. I am going to cut out a 6x6 hole, then lay a patch panel into it.

I really did not want to re apply por to the bottom side of the car.
 
Just be careful, Por15 will maintain a flame once it ignites.

While you have access, you might want to consider putting a screen over top of the chimney that will prevent mice from entering the heater box.
 
Just be careful, Por15 will maintain a flame once it ignites.

While you have access, you might want to consider putting a screen over top of the chimney that will prevent mice from entering the heater box.

Thanks for the heads up.. I found that it would just briefly flame up and put itself out, but I guess I'll have to be more careful. Good idea with the screen too :nice:..

I'm considering black with argent stripes or keeping it blue but changing to the new Mach 1 azure blue with black stripes. Leaning towards the new Mach 1 azure blue.

Nice.. I'd go with the blue and black, I like that combo. :)
 
Here's my '73 in blue/black, I like the combo. What color is your car painted and what color are the stripes, I like the combo, gives you car a sinister look. And it will really be bad-ass when you get done.
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I welded the upper panel back on today. No flames, no drama. I used two bolts to align the panel, then rotated clamps around the panel to bring the 2 panels together for a tight fit. The panels were a little bent from prying them apart, but I did my best to straighten them. The welds on the section where the windshield mounts are ground down. I just have my fingers crossed that the windshield will mount up nicely. No pictures for now, I forgot my memory card at home today lol.

This is how the car used to look.. Blue with argent stripes. The last owner must have done a cheap paintjob, the paint started to peel and rust was forming underneath. It'll get another paint job after I'm satisfied with driving it lol.
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