Updated  28th February, 2009

My Ford Mustang Description page

New stuff done on the Mustang

Rebuilding my '65 Mustang's 289 V8

Spec. page on Mustang VIN numbers

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The main suppliers and links for my Mustang Parts...

This page has the additional items and other stuff I've done to my Mustang, some will be of interest to you if you are trying to do the same things yourself.  See my Edelbrock page for other new stuff. The Newer stuff is at the top of this page............

       I know, the date on he TAX disc says '66, could not get a '65....

February 2009 Bits and Pieces.

This years bits are from CJ Pony Parts. They took 5 days from Harrisburg, PA, (East Coast) USA to UK, many thanks guys. New Aluminium valve covers. Always wanted a pair of these, and the 289 ones are fairly new to the range. They do look a lot better than the original gold ones that I re-sprayed a long time ago.  All the original parts are still in the garage when and if I sell the car.

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New seat belts, the old, original ones were ok, but were very hard to adjust, so these are the deluxe ones. Also a new vacuum pipe for the auto box, the old one keeps dropping off, so you don't get top gear. 2 new sets of the little plastic bit that goes behind the seat side trip, I lost the others when I had the seats recovered, and lastly a C4 auto box gasket and filter. The gearbox has never had a new filter in, so I thought it a good idea at long last.

January 2006 bits and pieces.

It has been a while since I bought anything decent for the Mustang, so a trip to Mustangs Unlimited web site , and a new years present was ordered.  I bought a repo fuel sender in 2003, it never worked right, so I dug the original one back out and replaced the filter, float and rubber, and re-installed it, works great now. Also, very odd, but when travelling about, with full beam headlights on, they used to start flashing. I was told this was caused by a faulty spring in the contact breaker as part of the headlight switch. So ordered a repo, no original ones left, lets see what happens. Also getting a 3/4" sway bar for the rear end, the car will go round corners flat on rails now....   The car has never had and decent carpet mats, always cheap rubber ones, so bought a set of embossed black carpets with logo on, nice.  A new Dash instrument bezel and lens as the chrome has worn away on original one...    Lastly was a little device to lock my gas (petrol) cap from inside, pic below right, for about £7 ($9.99), why would you want to make one yourself.....

The New Face Lift in 18th November, 2001!!

The Mustang has had a face lift, in the expert hands of Myles at The Mustang Shop near Norwich, UK.

New Wimbledon white paintwork and blue GT350 side stripes (without the GT350). They are wider than the normal GT stripe, and look a lot better.

New fender badges and mustang lettering.

Front top suspension arm lowered 1" as in a 65/66 Shelby GT350 for much much better handling. It works, highly recommend you do it !!!! There is now no over steer round corners, it bites in and grips all the way. see photo left.

Over traction bars welded on the rear. These keep the wheels in alignment when accelerating, and also when cornering. As used on the 65/66 Shelby GT350

New rear GT lower rear valance with Edelbrock exhaust tips they sound very very deep and V8 ish..  New rear window weather stripping ,

3/4" front sway bar with Urethane bushes. The car now handles just as it should do, flat round bends, and grips.  With the old springs and thin sway bar, the car would wallow round corners. Now it stays level. There is a rear sway bar on now (2006 Feb) to complete the package

Also, if there is anybody from Durango, Colorado out there, do they remember this car. FEK-515

Previous stuff done and sorted out on the car over the years.............

Hydraulic Valve clearances.

Having read the correct books and procedures, the hydraulic valves are now silent. All I can now hear is the power steering pump. Anybody having trouble, this is how it is done.....

To adjust Hydraulic valves, wind the adjuster off, so that the push rod to just nipped up and no lash, then a ¾ turn clockwise on the top nut to tighten adjuster. That's it.   I put a dab of liquid paper on the top nut for ease of adjustment.

Point 1 and 2 are easy, remember you must turn crank clockwise at all times. To get Pot 1 on TDC compression, turn crank with your finger in No1 plug hole, you will feel the compression rising as you near TDC mark. Don't worry, it won't hurt.At Position 1, to the valves indicated black as in Diagram 1 below. Then turn crank 180o clockwise, and do valves as indicated black in Diagram 2 below. The Turn crank a full 270o clockwise, NOT 90o anticlockwise !!! and do the valves indicated black in Diagram 3. I did the 90o anticlockwise, and what a noise !!!

Below diagrams are for 221, 255, 260, 289 and 302cid engines only, with a firing order of 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8

The 351W has a different firing order, so NOT this process !

            Diagram 1(Point 1)                                 Diagram 2 (Point 2)                            Diagram 3 (Point 3)

Electronic ignition.

There is now a Crane Cams Fireball XR700 electronic ignition on, as well as Crane Cams PS40 high intensity coil. These I have but on the left side shock tower. It keeps them well away from engine vibration and heat, and is in direct cool air from the radiator fan. The engine starts great now. As you can see from the pictures below, the unit is very small at 2.5inch x 3.5inch. All wiring is hidden in cable tidies, and behind the "Monte Carlo" bar.

Electric fuel pump.

Also I have installed a Facet Silver top electric fuel pump, behind the radiator support, and below the voltage regulator, so it is not very visible. No more cranking and cranking the engine after been in the garage for weeks to get fuel up to the carb. Just 5 seconds and then start. There is now a nice Aluminium blanking plate where the old pump was.

Magnum 500 wheels.

Probably one of the big expenses was the new wheels and tyres. I became fed up with the scabby old Turbo-Vec wheels, so I bit the bullet, and ordered 4 , 14inch, 7J Magnum 500s. I had them sitting in the front room for weeks they looked so nice !!! Then I shod them with Firestone Firehawk 215x60x14 (Big tyre!) . Not many manufacturers do a tyre of 215x60x14, except the Goodyear F1 (very expensive!), and the Firestone. I managed to get the tyres trade at £54 each, and the fitting was haggled down to about £9 each , so saved a fortune!

           Horrible Turbo-Vec wheels as before,             and the new Magnum 500s, far better !!!

New Bumpers.

New bumpers and guards front and rear to replace the tatty and polished out ones. At the same time, I fitted a new front valance and indicators. Also the rear had new reversing lights and stainless steel exhaust tail trims, which come through slots in the back valance, doing away with the rear bumper guards.  This has now been tidyed up with a GT rear valance panel, Myles at The Mustang Shop near Norwich, UK.

Interior upholstery.

I sent for a complete interior kit and new foam  from NPD Florida, which arrived in a week. A local old lad did all seats for £80. The foam seems a little on the large side, hope it beds down. There are also new door side panel kits in. Looks really neat and tidy now. note paint worn off the top of the doors, this is never going to be repainted, shows it has been used......

also new...

650Lb front coil springs and poly seat, rear leaf springs with new poly bushes.

upper and lower ball joints with top and bottom arm bushings.

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