Pony Shifter

We've got a couple of cool projects for our Hot New Pony Express. So hang with us

today on horsepower TV.

We'll help our pro touring pony keep its cool with a cooling system upgrade

before we shift our attention to its need for an updated means of banging gears. We'll head west for a crash course on how the experts lay down, eye popping graphics

and take you on the front lines of I hr A racing for the profile of ST

and Steve. Let.

So hang on for horsepower TV.

That'll do it.

Hi. Welcome to Horsepower TV, where it's pony time in the shop today.

Now we're getting ready to give my 65 fast back a shifter and cooling system upgrade, but looks like she's got some pretty fast company. What do you got there? Chuck. Well, it's a 70 Mustang fast back that belongs to a good friend of ours. Now under the hood here, he's got a blown 351 Windsor that's back by AC six

transmission

and that slam stance. Well, that comes from an air R

technology suspension. Well, speaking of that,

my old pony Express steers like a dream since we installed that new rack and pinion set up.

But I got a new nightmare. See, the previous owner installed a five speed, which I love. But trying to grab gears with that stock shifter is a real stretch.

Now, that's a common problem for anybody that swaps A T five overdrive transmission into a classic Mustang. But

there is a way to get a handle on changing those gears.

It's this billet plus shifter from hurst and it comes with AC NC machine aluminum base that's a lot stronger than stock. Plus it bolts into the original locations.

But here's the real key to making it work. These two bolts allow us to take the original shift or handle off and swap it out for this one that's gonna make shifting gears a lot less of a stretch.

Now, the first step in this project is to remove the console, we'll put her back here,

but the shifter neutral and remove the knob.

Next, the boot comes out.

Then the four boats holding the factory shift are in place

and finally the shifter assembly.

Now, the next thing you want to do is remove this little plastic bushing from the transmission, inspect it for wear damage and replace it if you need to.

Ours looks ok

before you bolt in that new shifter, make sure that you clean the mounting base on the transmission,

then lay a little bit of silicone right here on the shifter base to seal things up.

Well, now we can drop the shifter in place, making sure that the shifter ball engages that bushing that we inspected earlier.

Both the shift are down using the new bolts from the kit

and torque them to 15 ft pounds.

Now we're ready to set the shift or stops

and to do that, you pull the transmission into second gear,

then adjust the stop screw until it just contacts the lever

and back it out at half a turn.

Once that's done, you can go ahead and lock it in place

with the jam nut,

then repeat the procedure

up in third gear.

Well, that takes care of the stop cool. Now we're ready for this new stick and it only involves removing a couple of boats,

just check out this new shifter location.

Plus I think this chrome adds a nice nostalgic touch to this old fast back.

Don't forget to install this boot that comes with the kit.

Now it'll keep the dirt out of your shifter and it attaches at the bottom with this nylon tie.

Of course, once that's done, we can go ahead and reinstall the console.

Oh man, this new shift there is a lot more solid. Plus, I don't have to reach under the dash to B

gears anymore. Well, that's a definite improvement. Plus it's a fairly affordable upgrade too. Now, the shifter and handles will only set you back a couple of $100 and a couple of hours out in the driveway. Well, since we have so much time left, why don't we shift our attention to my cooling system? This thing runs a little bit warm. Well, I've got a couple of cool solutions for that problem.

But when you say we take a look at some hot stuff from our sponsors first,

we'll be right back

drag racing. Ain't it cool?

Later on, you'll meet the coolest guy in I hr a drag racing staging Steve

and a graphic. Look at how to make a cool car statement. So stay tuned

for the latest news on horsepower TV. Check us out online at horsepower tv.com.

Hey, welcome back to the shop. You know, most of us just can't get enough horsepower.

And the problem with that is, is when you add more horsepower, well, it places an additional strain on the cooling system. So

it makes good sense that when you upgrade your power plant,

well, you need to upgrade your cooling system as well. Of course, that usually happens when it's too late.

Now, my Pony's engine's been replaced with a late model 5 L and we'll eventually upgrade that to a 351 Windsor

that'll put a lot of additional strain on the system. Plus, you know, after 35 years, I think my temperature gauge is trying to tell me something.

What it's probably trying to tell you is you either have insufficient cooling capacity

or you have insufficient coolant flow Now, if it's the flow, well, your problem could be down here in the water pump or maybe your thermostat isn't opening properly. Of course, you could also have a collapsing radiator hose or maybe some of the passages in your radiator are clogged.

Well, in the case of my own mustang, probably all the above. So we're gonna replace the original water pump with this high flow unit we got from Edelbrock. It's got a computer designed impeller that pumps up to 20% more coolant

and helps prevent cavitation inside the pump. Now, we'll also install this new HP thermostat for Mr Gasket.

It's got these larger openings here to handle the increased flow. That's a cool piece. Now, while you've been explaining,

I've been over there draining your coolant system. That is,

now we're gonna replace the hoses in the mustang. And, well, here's something I want you to check out.

The lower hose is the suction hose and most manufacturers use a coil like this one to keep it from collapsing.

This hose came off that old mustang. And as you can see, there's nothing there to keep it from collapsing and cutting off the coolant flow.

So, replacing the hoses is some pretty inexpensive insurance.

All right. Well, I got the radiator out and the pump installed. Now, here's something to remember.

Your water pump works better when it's driven 1 to 1 that is the same speed as the crank or slightly over driven Now, you can achieve that by increasing the size of your crank pulley or decreasing the size of your water pump pulley,

this stock system slightly over driven. So we'll leave it alone. But of course, we are going to change out this thermostat.

Chances are this 35 year old radiator

is clogged with about 35 years worth of crud. Now, we could have gone ahead and had it record at the local radiator shop. But hey, for not a whole lot more money.

Well, we got a whole lot more efficiency with this aluminum radiator from B cool. Now it's a direct bolt in that

is about 40% less than the stalker and cools with about 15% more efficiency.

Of course, that efficiency is helped out even more with this small electric fan that we've added. Now we're gonna wire this thing in to kick in at about 100 and 80 degrees. Well, just like that thermostat I just installed, but, hey, you forgot something very important, man.

This original radiator has both outlets on the same side here to work with the original water pump. But

hey,

I had the lower outlet moved over here, especially to work with our replacement pump. Pretty smart. Huh.

Huh.

Not too bad there. Blue oval breath. Now, let's see if you're smart enough to follow me to the car with the radiator. O breath. What's he talking about?

All right.

Pretty snug fit. I'm glad we got the slim line fan.

All right. Go ahead and fire it up and turn the heater on too.

Now, the reason that you want to do that is to fill the heater core up with coolant

and also help eliminate air from the system. Now, we'll go ahead and install the radiator cap loosely for now while the engine warms up,

go ahead and check your upper radiator hose and once it's warm, well, that means that the thermostat is opened up and you can go ahead and remove your radiator cap

so you can check your coolant level. Now, you're probably gonna have to add another two or three cords to top it off

a catch can like this one will help keep your radiator topped off since it retains the overflow when the engine gets hot and keeps it there until it's siphoned back into the system when things cool down.

Sure beats the old days when coolant just overflowed to the ground.

Oh, it's good to keep a 5050 water coolant mixture for several reasons. Of course, it keeps the engine from freezing, but it'll also help lubricate your water pump and prevent corrosion from getting in the system.

I think I'll just mount this thing right here by the radiator.

Well, that tops off our cooling system upgrade for today. Now, if your engine still runs hot, you've probably got a mechanical problem like a blown head gasket or your timing might not be set. Right. Or your fuel mixture might even be set too lean. But I guess it's time for us to talk about how this project will lean out your wallet.

You can count on spending from 4 to 500 bucks for the custom fit radiator. Oh, another 100 for the fan water pump goes for just under 100 50

we count on 30 bucks for the hoses and thermostat. Not cheap. But, uh, sure beats losing your cool. Well, we've got even more cool stuff coming up later in the show. So stay where you are

tv's Race of the week is brought to you by Edelbrock.

The leader in automotive performance for nearly 75 years.

This week's racing feature is a little bit different as, you know, we've covered some of the I HR A competition this year and while the drivers are the real stars,

I want you to meet a guy behind the scenes who's always on the front line.

Oh, we're gonna rock and roll here in just a couple more minutes. Give me some excellent drag racing. I hr a style too.

His name is Steve Lett,

better known as staging Steve to thousands of drivers, crew members and followers of I hr A drag racing.

I'm the race master. Now, it's my job to get everybody pumped up. See to the cars. Keep moving.

If there's a problem in staging, it's my job to go over to straighten it out

Mississippi, I'm owning

pit

crew. That's right. He

has no divisional number on his, on his number. Jackson, Mississippi.

Ernie

Miller. All right. You got to get a number on it.

All right.

He's out of Jackson, Mississippi.

Oh, baby, she's smoking. He's the guy that pumps us all off when we get up there.

Wow. What

was that? A burnout or what?

Send me some more mark.

He sent a job at you and I had an opening

and I called him on the phone and I said, Steve, let this is Bill Vader at the Iha A office. Are you still looking for a job? He said, yes, I said, well, me give you the guidelines. If your feet hurt, you're fired. If your body's tired, you're fired. If it's hot out there, you're fired. If you need a break, you're fired. Now you want this job or not.

He said I want this job. Then I'll say in a year, he has never once said his feet hurt, he was tired, it was hot out there. He needed a break.

Grew up in Sumter South Carolina where he started drag racing at the age of 16, 1st in an H class Anglia.

Then moving on to a Bo Connor

rail powered by a 302 Chevy.

He built another Anglia 1980

was preparing for the winter nationals when a tragic wreck caused him to lose 30% of his leg.

After that, Steve quit driving and started wrenching,

serving as crew chief on everything from top dragsters to top fuelers

and even fulfilling his championship dreams behind the scenes.

Now, as I

staging director along with running a car quest shop,

he's continuing to live out his dreams with timeless energy

and with the people he calls his family,

Steve has more energy than about eight of us put together.

He really does.

He does a great job.

Send me two more. Mark two more. He

has redefined that position because he's so sincere and passionate and enthusiastic at what he does. He hasn't fired me yet. So I must be doing something right.

Take a quick stroll through the staging lanes with Steve and you'll learn more about cars and drivers than anywhere else. This is my family. All these people down here,

we got Rich Davis here. These guys, the regulars are out here racing and stuff. Super nice people. A

good old Chevrolet can't beat that. Baseball hot dogs and there it is. Chevrolet. This is a mustang that basically is stock. We're talking an 11 2nd stocker. This is stock. This is a fast little mustang.

This is his. I love the old mo

parts those babies.

There's not a Mopar here that doesn't carry the front wheels.

One of the, the step ups and a lot of the sportsman cars you move into what they call pro stock

and Pro stock is, is a really

sophisticated

factory hot.

These cars require as much time

to build and maintain as a top fuel car. In many cases, they put

more money

and our in them than a top fuel car

car. You don't mind

if it's got wheels and it rolls. I love it. You know,

after

Steve can't visit the lanes without stopping often to visit members of his family. I can hug my wife. Doesn't mind that.

I think the lines drawn right there.

Watch

it

drag race, ain't it cool?

We have a brand new name for Steve. Now. He uh he's no longer the head of staging official,

but he's not the Beastmaster. He's got to tame the beast. That's his

job.

Hey, it's drag racing man.

There's nothing like it in the world. Absolutely nothing like it.

And Steve let

no longer behind the wheel, but always on the front lines of I hr a drag racing,

a man whose passion for the sport is matched only by his unbelievable energies.

I

need two more. Mark. I need two more.

Join the horsepower TV crew at the Import and Compact Showdown, December 9th and 10th at Moroso Motorsports Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Hi, and welcome back to the shop. You know, we've had a lot of fun building our 32 coup this year. And hey, whenever we take it out on the boulevard, it attracts a lot of attention

and no doubt a lot of that attention is due to the fact that we've got this killer paint job.

Now we're gonna leave the studio for a little while today. We're gonna go to Wyotech and Laramie Wyoming.

That's where Joe is.

He's found a bunch of guys out there that are sharing some tips with him on

eye grabbing graphics that'll turn a dull daily driver into a super slick street machine.

We're about to put a three color paint job on the new graphics of this eclipse here. But

have you ever wondered how to make the graphics the same on the other side?

Well, the trick is first to trace using a large piece of paper at a Crayon Wyotech instructor, Mike Fisher first makes an outline of the design he's created.

He then lays the paper on a board and goes over the lines of the graphic with a punch tool that punches tiny holes.

Of course, this is one of the tricks of the trade he teaches to students here.

The next thing we're gonna do, Joe is we're gonna transfer this pattern to the other side,

making sure it's properly registered.

And then we're gonna use this bag filled with chalk

as a

pounce bag to transfer this pattern to the surface.

Guys. We're gonna take this eight inch fine line tape.

We're gonna lay it on there and follow this chalk just as close as we possibly can

go in as long a length as you can and don't worry about the crossovers because we're gonna fix those later

while Mike and his students finished taping, here's a tip for you, make sure you get the grease off of this service with prep all

then scuff it.

So the new paint will stick to the old.

Next, a sealer coat is laid down to keep the red from bleeding into the new candy colors.

And after adding a strip of thin tape to create an outline, the painter applies the first color, a nice silver purple.

Then after exposing the proper sections of the graphic, the other colors go on including red and orange.

Next, some air brushing for depth and shadows.

And after drying overnight, Mike carefully removes the tape and masking pieces.

And the final steps are wet, sanding

and applying some clear coat to the area.

So after five colors, some airbrushing clear coat and of course a little work

this board compact has become the canvas for a piece of I pop and candy art.

Stay with us. Hot parts is next

and now hot parts brought to you by Car parts.com. Everything for your car, truck van or SUV.

Hey, I was surfing the net the other day and found something new at Car parts.com. It's a track flow air filter from Holly

that uses an active matrix element treated with special oil that's layered between an aluminum grid. Now it'll outflow any paper element, it's reusable and they've got them for most popular applications. The prices start at $35.

The beach boys might have sung about good vibrations, but this A T I super damper will help keep the bad ones out of your 5 L Ford.

It's CNC machine shell is fully degreed and it's Elasmar

construction is especially effective at high RPM where it'll free up to about 12 more horsepower.

Now it's rebuildable and tunable by replacing Elasmar

strips and it'll only strip about 350 from your budget

if you like to strut your mustang stuff at the strip. Well, check out competition. Engineering's 9010 drag struts that bolt up in place of your stockers for improved weight transfer and better traction.

Now they feature chrome plated piston rods for longer life and computer design. Valving for more consistent control control yourself though. Apparel set you back about $230. Well, I think it's about time for this pair to get on out of here, but not before we take a look at next week's show,

we'll turn our project van Casper into white lightning first with a free flowing exhaust, then an air charger to help it breathe before we reprogram the computer for more power. Of course, we'll test the work on our

dyno jacket.

Chuck's got a tip on how to pocket port your heads and I'll take you to the races, the I Hr A summer nationals and the heart of mid America.

And remember

high performance fun is what this show is all about.

Hey, man. I gotta tell you, you look pretty good behind the wheel of that low riding mustang.

Hey, I worked on your mustang. Now. You want me to ride in one too. I'm just saying you look pretty good, but I won't tell any of your bowties

bubba.

Hey, help me put the Ford Wrenches away

for information about the products used in today's show and more. Check us out online at Horsepower tv.com

Horsepower TV is an RTM production.