Mach1 Driver

Ok, here is the first day picture of my lovely wife behind the wheel with her bouffant hairdo of the day. Mustang.pdf

Thanks John, you never get over it, you just move on.

What appeals most to me are the headlights, and least is the DA (duck's ass). I always liked the styling but couldn't tell you why. After joining the forums I now think its probably the styling cues taken from the P51 Mustang with the scoops and black hood. I've always loved planes and the P51 was the premiere fighter plane of WW2. I had a boss in the early 80s that explained some of Ford's quality problems. He drove a 68 California Special and worked for them through the 60s. he said that quality was very bad and the assembly guys would also leave their lunch trash in the cars. The United Auto Workers thought they owned the plant. They would hide trash behind the seats and side panels. Ford tried to work through the problems but the union people wouldn't change their pissy ways. Ford finally told them they had to shape-up and shut the Dearborn assembly plant down for a week with no pay. They came back to work and continued as if nothing had happened. Ford shut them down for two weeks. Things started to improve. The fit and finish on my Mach was bad. They touched-up something on the passenger rocker (to this day I don't know what) and left over spray on the lower chrome trim. The carpet wasn't long enough and wouldn't stay under the vent panel in the passenger side foot well. The trunk never sat right, always high on the passenger side. The stripes started chipping and peeling almost immediately. I do have a Polaroid of the Stang with my lovely wife at the wheel sporting her bouffant hairdo of the day (God we were just kids). I think this was Day 1, with the dealer plate on the front. The color of the picture has long since faded. Its in a collage frame with many other pictures and will need to be carefully removed and scanned. I'll work on that.

Hi Tim42, I see that we're about the same age. Its good to know there are other original owners- I thought I was a loner on here. What a coincidence that we have such similar cars. I can't really tell if yours is a 69 but we both have fastbacks that are Jade Black. Mine is a automatic, yours is a four speed. and it sounds like we probably have the same engine, a 351w 2v. Some of the "kids" on here speculate that the original owners just don't hang out on the forums. I don't think that is necessarily the case- I don't think that there are that many of us left. Most of the cars have been sold or the owners have passed. I follow the forums from necessity- the car is old and needs help, and I'm 19 years older than it! I've lived in southern California most of my life: Downey, South Gate, then Lake Forest. When I retired we moved to the burbs of Atlanta. I do not like Georgia's weather but it is 27% less expensive than living in California which is blessed with liberal politicians and the highest taxes in the nation. Its good to finally live in a red state. I was 19, had done the active duty portion of my reserve hitch, and had started working while going to junior college at night. I married my childhood sweetheart. I won't deny that I wanted a Vette but since it was almost twice as much, the Stang was a very nice alternative. My Father-in-law loaned us the money- actually, he held the title until we paid him back. It was about $3800, while a Vette would have been about $6200. The dealership was Taylor Slayton Ford in Huntington Park, which I believe is long since gone. The car replaced my wife's 57 Chevy. I was driving my first car that I had bought in high school, which was a 64 Chevy. I always gave my wife the good cars to drive while I dealt with the beaters. I haven't had a lot of cars, but the Mach was the most reliable of any. She drove it for about 25 years and finally said she wanted something newer. I kept it, always wanting to restore it, always loving the lines. It became a garage queen, and after my wife passed away 14 years ago I did some work on the car to get it running again. We had some trouble with the A/C early on, and I had to replace the water pump once, but that was it until I let it sit too long unused. Then I had to rebuild the brakes, and the FMX transmission leaks at the shift linage (after repeated seal replacements), and the PS had to be rebuilt (and still leaks) but that's about it. She runs but needs a lot of attention, and marks her territory everywhere she goes. I have big plans for her now that I'm retired and have time to devote to a restoration. Oh, and stay off my lawn.

I bought my Mach new with PB, front discs, and it has never behaved like that- you have a problem.

Since your is the 14:1, I would appreciate an update of your impressions when you drive it, and if any tweaks were required. Thanks

yeah but your picture shows you have really skinny legs and your knees articulate backwards

Good point, I would be happier if I did it myself

I've seen this: http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/vintage-mustang-forum/995594-fitech-tuning-steps.html

not my thumbnail

West Coast Classic Cougars has a good video on boosters and has someone who will rebuild yours

Welcome to the forum. Looks like you've got good bones there! You should modify the car as you see fit. I'm the original owner of a completely stock Mach and I intend to improve her with more power an AOD, suspension improvements, a color change, power windows, headlight reminder, intermittent wipers, brighter lights all around and other modern improvements. Things that bring a smile. But I want to keep the original look as much as possible.

That was like my Grandson, he's a one word kid. How was school today? His answer: "fine". What ya doin? "Nothin". How was dinner? "OK". Want some ice cream? "Yeah". Did you clean your room? "NO". Soooooo what did you think of the cables? Were they heavy gauge? Were the clamps adequate? Will the insulation hold-up? Were they the proper lengths? Were they pretty colors? We can hardly wait for your response- now play nice ;)

Looks like our comrades are at it again up above in post #7. More hacking. I thought Obama told those dang Russians to "cut it out"

There was a Ford assembly plant in Pico Rivera (suburb of LA) that closed in 1980, but I don't think they did Mustangs.

I expected something dramatic to happen when you pushed the button, like an explosion or an ejection seat triggering or something! Anyway, good to know.

Obviously not the same animal, but on the 351W 2V, there is an angled pipe on the manifold, a straight hose goes back to the carb and through a clamp mounted to the carb that keeps it next to the choke spring, back a few inches to the valve, then down to the heater core.

Those do look nice and are the ones I was looking at. If you get them let us know if you have any mounting issues. Thanks

Your 70 has different lights than my 69 so I'm not sure. H4s don't work well in the smaller 69 format. Contact Daniel Stern Lighting and he will inundate you with information. There's always lots of interest in better lighting so let us know what he says.

Sam, I would like a tach and gauges with actual numbers on them but I want to retain the stock wood grain bezel. Take a look at the New Vintage USA series 67. I've seen posts that say: "they look great but the way they mount sucks!!". Dakota Digital also has analog gauges that look good and appear easier to mount- look at their VHX. They say they fit directly into the stock instrument bezel of a 69-70 without modification. If you change one you have to change them all to make them look right. That will put you back $8-900, and of course if you are thinking of putting it back to stock this is the wrong direction.

Maybe this will help. It looked like good info and I added the diagram- see attached STARTER SOLENOID.doc

I've been looking but not seen or heard of 69/70 adjustable passenger mirrors. I have heard that the 72 Torino had adjustable mirrors that will fit perfectly in the case of an existing 69/70 factory mirror housing, but the Torino housings are reportedly a little longer. Perhaps this is what you have?

nice job, thanks for the info

I had a box pop up that asked "Would you like to translate this page? Options" Just for fun I clicked on translate but nothing happened. I'm running Linux so there is very little chance of a virus affecting my OS. It appears to advertise large expensive yachts that only a Russian oligarch could afford. Damn commies!

Back in the day Dad would fry up a little Spam with breakfast. I used to like it...then, not so much now.