1969_Mach1

I am considering installing door speakers in my 1969 Mach 1. It looks like the only speaker grill that will clear the window crank is the original or original reproduction grill. I've read there are different window cranks. The cranks I have are listed for std. interior with door speakers or deluxe door panels. I cannot find any window cranks specifically stating for Deluxe door panels with door speakers. As original, my Mach 1 has Deluxe door panels. Am I correct that only the original or reproduced original speaker grills clear the window crank?

I have the correct knobs. Thanks again danno.

The laboring idle sound can indicate your ignition timing is severely retarded. Turning the distributor counter clockwise as viewed from the top retards the ignition timing. And it sounds like that is what you are doing to try to line up the balancer and pointer timing marks. I too don't think it will not run if the timing chain was off one tooth. I have seen old motors with loose chains jump one tooth and they crank strange and will not start. Since your balancer is new the outer ring probably has not slipped. You can use a positive stop in number one spark plug and through forward and reverse hand rotations of the crank find TDC and mark the balancer. But, I would double check the balancer and pointer combination, it sounds incorrect. Ford had different setups for 351w motors. A neighbor of mine is in that situation and times his motor by ear.

To follow up. I was thinking of filing a flat spot on the shafts to make them D-shaped for each Ford knob. And after close inspection I discovered the shafts on this RCA radio have flat spots (D-shaped) as well as being slotted. So the original 1969 Ford reproduction knobs fit correctly.

malcolm300, If it is still an original Ford Tach that hasn't been retrofitted, then you should get a Ford wiring schematic. I don't know what year you are working with, but the original two wire Ford tachs for 1969 and 1970 Mustangs were wired in series with the pink resister wire going to the positive side of the coil. I've seen these referred to current triggered tachs as opposed to newer voltage triggered tachs. Connecting it wrong can damage the tach. Plus there are also wiring differences going from an ammeter to a warning light.

I like the JME clusters but cannot afford one. I had a factory tach cluster, not original to my car, and used it until the tach quit working. I was never happy with an oil PSI and volt or amp gauge down in a pod on the front of the center console. They were too far out of line-of-sight for my taste. Plus, I wasn't happy with the repair options for the original tach. So I ultimately sold the tach cluster on EBay, reinstalled the original non tach cluster and added an Autometer street tach on the column. I can now easily see all the gauges and the Autometer tach works much better than the original ever did.

I'm not certain about your wood grain discrepancy. In your picture there is definitely a difference between the dash, and door panel and console inserts. On a side note, in a pinch your automatic console will work with a 4 speed. Mine is set up that way in a 1969 Mach 1. Years ago I was told by Perogie Enterprises that even thought they are different, the automatic console will work with a 4 speed but the 4 speed console will not work with an automatic.

Thanks for the offer. This RCA radio has two knobs per shaft, a smaller in front and larger one in back. I saw on EBay the two larger rear knobs for a later Ford, 1974 that looked somewhat period correct and like they will fit correctly. They are NOS being sold by Perogie Enterprises. I'll have to phone Perogie's to find out if they have the front two knobs as well.

Hello, I have a restored 1969 Mach 1 and after many years I am finally installing a radio. For me it is more to fill the opening in the dash and having a period correct appearance. So, I purchased a period correct New-In-Box NOS AM/FM 8-track. It is not an original Ford item but an RCA replacement from back in the early 1970's. It fits perfectly and even has correct wiring adapters to connect to the original wiring harness. Question: Where do I find knobs for this RCA radio? The original Ford knobs fit D-shape shafts and this RCA radio has round shafts with slots in the middle. I guess you can call them split round shafts. The shafts are the same diameters as the original radio's, just different shape. Best Regards, Mike