October 2016 COTM

[will e]

Summary: My car was produced in Oct of 1972. If I win COTM for October I will be the 2017 calendar for October on the 45th anniversary of my Mustang. Nice! This Mustang is the second car I ever owned and shares some pieces off my first car, a 73 Mach 1 that was taken out by a drunk driver. I have owned it for 32 years and have over 300K miles on it. Please vote for me for Oct COTM!

Long story: I learned most of what I know about cars working on this Mustang. Always a rolling restoration in progress. I've done everything myself except paint, transmission rebuilds, setting gears, machine work, exhaust or welding on the subframes.

Its non-stock fate was sealed when I purchased it at the age of 20. I grabbed the Crager rims, the tach, center guages, deluxe door panels and various other goodies off the totaled Mach 1. Shortly afterwards I went with a larger front sway bar, sub frame connectors and shelby style traction bars.

Because of the miles I have replaced the suspension, yanked the motor and tranny and done tons of the normal maintainence tasks.

I had rubbed the paint off of it from washing it too much and a small accident made me decide to get it repainted the same color as stock. I swapped out the hood during the process.

What really cemented the 'non-stock' fate was an Ebay ad for a 351C tripower manifold. I 'won' the auction in 1999 but it was a half a dozen or so more years before I had someone set up some custom carbs for it. Since the tripower ports are the same as 4V heads I set up a set of CC heads and picked up some headers. Like most of you a lot of time was spent collecting parts.

At some point I swapped the FMX for a built C6. I had replaced the 2.73 gears with a 3.25 set for a while but a good deal came up for a 3.5 with LSD so that was an easy choice.

I daily drove it until sometime early in the 2000's. I remember a period of time I always drove around with the top up. One of the lines had broke and soaked the rear seat with transmission fluid. I pulled the seats out and was too embarrased to put the top down. LOL

I don't drive it a lot anymore. When the weather is nice I will take it out. It's like an old glove. I have spent so many hours in the driver seat it just 'feels right'.

I am still plugging away at it. A couple years back I put a Gear Vendors overdrive it in. I need to add a higher stall speed converter and the paint and interior could use some freshining up. It's time to do the suspension again.

Thanks for reading all of this. I hope I can get your vote. Here are some pics!

[John J]

Nice vert. You got my vote.

John

[BeerDontCount]

You had my vote when I saw your intake. Very nice. Pretty cool that you've been able to drive it as much as you have.

Scott

[Jim and Jutta]

Sweet!

[mach71351c]

The intake seals the deal for me as well.

[Vinnie]

I'd vote but where do I do that?

[DK73]

Wow that is so awesome Agree whit you All You got My vote Regards Lars 🇩🇰

Sendt fra min E2303 med Tapatalk

[Aussie67]

Great story with great experience. You've got my vote.

[73pony]

I love that car. Got my vote. The Tri-power is awesome.

[will e]

I'd vote but where do I do that?

Thanks Vinnie. On the first post of any COTM there is a 'vote' button on the bottom right of the posting. It's above the normal 'report', 'quote' and other buttons. I would appreciate it if you click on my 'vote' button for October 16 COTM.

Thanks everyone for the kind words and the votes!