New Member with a 1969 Mach 1

[cobra3073 24]

It has been a couple of years since I updated y'all on my progress. LOL

 

I will now start trying to provide regular updates as I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  So far, the major actions have been::

 

1.  added TCP subframe connectors, staggered shocks, re-enforced the shock towers, added Addco 1 1/8"  (on front) and 3/4" (on rear) sway bars, 31 spline 3:91 Traction Lok rear end and axles, KYB GR2 front and rear shocks, and big block front springs.

 

2. installed Dakota Digital VLC-69F and VLC gauges, Corso Feruce Steering Wheel, Autosound Model Two sound system, Vintage Air 951170 AC, an original fold down rear seat, repop door panels, original tooled dash pad, ACC Essex Mass carpets.

 

3. Upgraded the cast iron tail shaft C6 with a Broader rebuild kit.

 

4,  Pulled the 428CJ from the '73 Mach 1 and had it machined for -030 forged Sealed Power pistons, switched out the Comp 294S cam for a Comp 282S and freshed up the heads to include adding hardened valve seats.

 

5. Paint job (Raven Black) has been completed.  Still have to add hood and fenders.  Will do that after I installed the motor.

 

Here are a couple of photographs. The first one is what I started with.

 

 

This is after paint.

 

 

This is a shot of the Dakota gauges

 

 

Some interior shots:

 

 

 

 

 

BT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RPM 1,190]

Welcome back! Quite the list of improvements, kudos.

[cobra3073 24]

Thanks, Bob!

 

I actually have been here all along; I just have not been posting up on my progress with the '69.

 

Initially, I was just going to pull the 428CJ from the '73 and transplant it into the '69 but as all you probably know, this "sickness" has a tendency to make you go above and beyond.  I finally decided that I would just build an "updated" 428SCJ themed car.  Hence the reason for going with the staggered shocks and re-enforced shock towers.  The "update" comes in the form of the gauges, AC, stereo system and a bit hotter mechanical camshaft than what came in the original 428SCJs.

 

It helps that a friend of mine is having his original '70 428SCJ restored at the same shop.  Since his car is so rare, he is trying to keep it original and that helps me in making my '69 "better", in my estimation.

 

Here is a picture of the 428CJ as it was pulled from the '73.

 

 

Here is a picture of the shortblock after return from the machine shop

 

 

Plans for this week is to finishing putting the motor together and perhaps installing it in the next week or so.

 

BT

 

 

[cobra3073 24]

Here are a couple of photographs that I took today.

 

The Yellow/Black '73 Mustang next to the '69 is the car from which I took the 428CJ. This bad boy is getting the bored and stroked 429SCJ (545) which has been dynoed in excess of 700HP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More to come!

 

BT

[cobra3073 24]

It is getting there!

 

Long block buttoned up. 

 

 

 

 

Long block after receipt and installation of Performer RPM Intake

 

 

 

Waiting for receipt of Edelbrock Water Pump And Fuel Pump.

 

BT

 

 

 

[rwcstang 201]

2. installed Dakota Digital VLC-69F and VLC gauges, Corso Feruce Steering Wheel, Autosound Model Two sound system, Vintage Air 951170 AC, an original fold down rear seat, repop door panels, original tooled dash pad, ACC Essex Mass carpets.

 

i've been on the fence between Dakotas gauges vs New Vintage gauges, was dakota an easy install?

[cobra3073 24]

Yes, I thought they were pretty easy but I started from "scratch" in that I had to build the dash.

 

As received and before install into the bezel

 

 

 

After install into the bezel

 

 

After install into the car

 

 

 

BT

 

[cobra3073 24]

Received my billet rocker arm stands and the rocker shafts have now been rebuilt and installed.

 

 

Have also received the Edelbrock water and fuel pumps

 

 

Making REAL progress now; hope to get the motor and Cast Iron Tailshaft C6 installed this coming week.

 

Getting EXCITED!!

 

Bt

[RPM 1,190]

Looking real nice! Damn, I just love the FE.

[cobra3073 24]

Looking real nice! Damn, I just love the FE.

Yes I do too but Love the LIMA more! I can hardly wait to finish this one up and install this one:

 

429SCJ bored and stroked to 545...Dynoed at 706HP and 736 FP Torque - - Going into the '73 Mach 1 which previously held the '69 428CJ

 

 

 

 

I will then go to work on my 2003 Marauder

 

...so many toys!

 

BT

[RPM 1,190]

Cool arse motor! Oh, no doubt the stroked 385's with nice aluminum heads make mucho hp/tq, but I have a soft spot for the FE. A 390 was the first motor I rebuilt and put in my first vehicle, a 56 F100 big window. I have a 460 I was planning on stroking between 500 and 545ci and put in another 56 F100, until I gave away the 56. I still have the 460, ya never know.

[Ash 145]

You ripper, looks fantastic! A lot of drooling going on here! ha

 

I'm building up 69 428CJ as well and have been trying to figure out what to do with the cluster to get a working speedo as I'm installing a TR6060 trans. I'll look into what you have done, they look great.

 

A heads up though on that intake, if you have a shaker hood, the shaker will not align with the Performer. It sits it way back and at an angle. I've since purchased a Blue Thunder MR intake for mine. All yet to be fitted though but it lines it up.

[cobra3073 24]

You ripper, looks fantastic! A lot of drooling going on here! ha

 

I'm building up 69 428CJ as well and have been trying to figure out what to do with the cluster to get a working speedo as I'm installing a TR6060 trans. I'll look into what you have done, they look great.

 

A heads up though on that intake, if you have a shaker hood, the shaker will not align with the Performer. It sits it way back and at an angle. I've since purchased a Blue Thunder MR intake for mine. All yet to be fitted though but it lines it up.

Yes, I did a LOT of research on this and noted there was quite a bit of contradictory information on the Net as to whether or not the Performer RPM would fit or not.

 

It appears a lot of the information relative to the RPM not fitting came about as a result of web searches on the FE forum where even Jay Brown mentioned at one time that the RPM would not fit.  In his book, "The Great FE Intake Comparo", Page 77, he has backed away from this blanket statement by noting:

 

'...One design difference of note that should be considered when using this intake (Performer RPM) on a shaker hood equipped vehicle is that the carburetor is set back a little further on this intake than it is on the factory intakes. The distance is fairly small, only 5/8" or so, but installation of this intake may cause the hood to interfere with the shaker hood scoop when the hood is closed,  It is likely that an adjustment to the shaker hood scoop's position on the air cleaner may render this a non-issue, but each installation will have to be evaluated individually."

 

Lucky for me, a buddy of mine is doing his '70 428SCJ at the same shop.  He is also using the Performer RPM and we were able to mock it up and determine the fit is not a problem.  The hood scoop seal on the shaker has quire a bit of adjustment available.

 

Additionally, the shop owner assured me he has done quite a few of these without having any real issues with fitment of the Perfomer RPM when utilizing the shaker hood.

 

At any rate, I will know in a couple of weeks and will post up the results.

 

BT

[Ash 145]

Here's how the shaker sat with the Performer in my car

 

 

And here you can see just how much the previous owner had to move the shaker forward by drilling new holes in the baseplate

 

[cobra3073 24]

I don't know Ash, but that is not how our "mock-up" look after making some minor adjustments to the hood scoop seal.

 

Anyway, I will post up with photographs once I get my motor and hood installed.

 

Thanks for the feedback!

 

BT

[Ash 145]

It's all good, BT. Hopefully yours aligns much better than mine. I thought it was worth sharing my experience.

 

Here's a pic of my mock up with the Blue Thunder. Took me ages to find a Blue Thunder. Ended up getting one through DSC Motorsports

 

 

Look forward to seeing some more update pics!

[cobra3073 24]

Yeah, when I initially became aware of possible problems with using the Performer RPM with the shaker, I was looking at the Blue Thunder also.  DSC was the only place that seemed to have it in stock at the time.

 

BT

[cobra3073 24]

Well, upon installing the motor on yesterday we encountered another "opportunity."

 

As I was gathering parts for this build, I acquired a 1 1/8" front sway bar @ 2 years ago from "CPP" with assurances that it would work with a big block in the '69.  The install of the bar itself went fine but when we installed the motor, we determined that we would not be able to utilize the stock oil filter.  I called CPP to complain and was told that was the only 1 1/8" sway bar in their inventory for my application...so, no more dealing with CPP for me. LOL

 

Anyway, I decided to utilize a Trans Dapt remote dual oil filter kit that I had planned on using for the 545 install in the '73.  That is actually a better approach for me as it will allow me to use 9 quarts of oil instead of 7 with the stock 428CJ baffled oil pan.  My current intent is to mount the kit in the spot normally reserved for the windshield washer reservore.

 

...the journey continues!

 

BT

[cobra3073 24]

Well, Finally got the longblock installed:

 

 

Also, here is a photograph of the cast iron tailshaft C6 that will be going in next week:

 

 

Here is the latest photograph of the car:

 

 

Next week should be a very good one, indeed!

 

BT

[cobra3073 24]

Well, hit a minor "stumbling block" as we could not get the C6 in place as a result of the long tube headers.  We are going to have to disconnect the passenger side header prior to installing the C6. We will then reinstall the header.

 

BT

[cobra3073 24]

SUCCESS!!

 

We got the C6 installed.

 

 

Today, we will be working on getting the front of the motor installed.

 

BT

[cobra3073 24]

Yesterday was pretty productive as we were able to get the remote oil filter installed and have made quite a bit of headway on the front dress.

 

 

 

I will be trying to get some more work done this week, i.e., installing starter,driveshaft, and the rest of the belts and hoses.

 

BT

[cobra3073 24]

Well, we have been pretty busy getting the "little" things together. Here are a couple of the latest photographs of the engine install:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a thread under the "Technical" forum where we are discussing aluminum radiators. I have decided not to use the one in the photographs as it will require too much modifications to utilize the condenser. I have ordered a different one that has more of the "stock

look. It will still be a 2 core aluminum one. Actually, the same one that the OP posted in the thread on the Technical forum.

 

Right now, we are waiting to receive the radiator, radiator brackets and a new neutral safety switch.

 

It is getting there!

 

BT

[cobra3073 24]

Well, we have been pretty busy getting the "little" things together. Here are a couple of the latest photographs of the engine install:

 

 

Motor. March 12 2016.Three.JPG

 

 

Motor. March 12 2016.Seven.JPG

 

Motor. March 12 2016.Four.JPG

 

 

There is a thread under the "Technical" forum where we are discussing aluminum radiators. I have decided not to use the one in the photographs as it will require too much modifications to utilize the condenser. I have ordered a different one that has more of the "stock

look. It will still be a 2 core aluminum one. Actually, the same one that the OP posted in the thread on the Technical forum.

 

Right now, we are waiting to receive the radiator, radiator brackets and a new neutral safety switch.

 

It is getting there!

 

BT

Well, I received the new radiator and posted up a couple of pictures in the "Technical" forum showing the differences between the two radiators that I was considering for this application. Thought I would post the pictures here also.

 

The one on the left has more of a stock appearance.

 

The one on the right has more of the stock appearance.

 

As you can probably see, one of them has more of a "stock" look than the other as it pertains to the top and bottom of the radiators. This means there shouldn't be any problems with utilizing the stock brackets. I will be using the stock appearing one.

 

Incidentally, the "Condenser" issue I mentioned in the previous post has to do with the after market Vintage Air AC that I have installed.

 

I will post pictures once I get the radiator installed.

 

 

BT

[cobra3073 24]

Well, I received the new radiator and posted up a couple of pictures in the "Technical" forum showing the differences between the two radiators that I was considering for this application. Thought I would post the pictures here also.

 

Radiator.2.JPG

The one on the left has more of a stock appearance.

 

Radiator.4.JPG

The one on the right has more of the stock appearance.

 

As you can probably see, one of them has more of a "stock" look than the other as it pertains to the top and bottom of the radiators. This means there shouldn't be any problems with utilizing the stock brackets. I will be using the stock appearing one.

 

Incidentally, the "Condenser" issue I mentioned in the previous post has to do with the after market Vintage Air AC that I have installed.

 

I will post pictures once I get the radiator installed.

 

 

BT

Here are the latest pictures of the AutoCity Radiator install that I have also posted under the "Aluminum Radiator" thread over on the "Technical" forum:

 

 

 

 

Getting close to firing the motor up. After which we will be putting on the fenders and hood.

 

BT