Mustang Road Racer - All Night with Lou

Last week, we made good progress on the Mustang road racing.

Our first attempt at Fiberglass went surprisingly well.

I've got one more show to finish it up and start the engine before we blow it apart. For paint,

hard to do with all the distractions around here during the day,

everybody went to the Hazel as Brent puts it. So I'm going nocturnal, no fiberglass fumes, no phone calls, no paperwork. Just some small challenges that take time to conquer

and a fresh pot of coffee.

Here's my list. The wiring system is still in a box. I found a slight problem with the steering. The whole exhaust needs to come out and get welded up

and I'm not firing this thing up without working brakes. But first the fuel system,

this entire fuel system uses dash eight size A N fittings from the fuel cell to the engine and back.

I've never had that happen before. Usually there's several step ups and step downs that you gotta figure out trips to the parts store. It can be a real pain. How did this happen? It was pure luck. And at this point, I'll take it

the simplest way to regulate fuel pressure on this. Ef I is use the inlet on one rail, go down loop to the second when it comes out, go into this bypass regulator and back to the tank.

I made a bracket mounting it to the engine plate, keeping it right up front for easy access.

Another fab up bracket is for the throttle. Well, actually two,

this one's for the linkage,

the other one's for the cable.

Nothing fancy.

This cable's got nowhere to go

yet because the firewall gets built after the engine comes out.

Pedro,

the radiator bracket was tacked in for fitting.

I widened them out a little bit more to make room for the rubber insulators to limit vibrations.

I keep some universal radiator hoses from Earls different lengths and bends because you never know.

Summit sells these clock

thermostat housing from performance stainless. The thing that's really neat about them is all you have to do is tighten up the ring once you find your position and it locks it down, now we're not going to use this water pump bypass.

So you're probably wondering how a spoon is gonna help us.

No one I know keeps stainless steel stock,

but we all eat

and one spoon won't be missed.

I probably could have ordered a plug for this,

but I didn't think of it.

A tig with some stainless steel wire works best, but I've done it with an, a

welder before. It's just not that pretty.

Now, if you don't have a tig welder, you could always take your base, put it in an oven, let it sit at 400 degrees for a couple of minutes, then take a cold plug, drop it in and when the base cools down the room temperature, it'll contract around that plug, sealing it. No leak,

another hose back to the radiator

and the cooling is done.

The electrics are next, starting with the battery box.

The ones you buy just won't work for this project.

And since I had the time

I'm making my own

optimum batteries are gel filled. So they can be mounted at whatever angle you want.

This fuel management system from big stuff, three is programmable for every cylinder

and it'll eventually be mounted on the firewall along with the MS D box.

I don't like coils in the car or anywhere near the heat from the headers

up here on the radiator bracket will allow it to get some air.

This is why I like working at night.

I can take my time and look at all the options.

Get a little creative with the fabrication,

then take pride in my genius.

Now, if you're going to work overnight, there's a few opportunities you don't get during the day,

but plan ahead because you could need a few essentials.

I don't know what this guy does

and his explanation is jumbled double talk

much like his taste in art.

I'm seeing regurgitated crayons.

He lives in here

among other things.

Even here, you still have to practice your creativity.

I've got some caffeine and something to look forward to in the morning, but it's time to get back to work. This wiring harness controls the engine alone. Remember we're going to make this thing Street Legal. We're going to put that wiring harness in when it gets reassembled

big stuff. Three customizes specifically for our 408. So there are no surprises

even for a test fire. The 02 sensor still needs to send information short of the main battery leads and wiring up the ignition.

We're almost ready to start now. Like I said earlier,

I'd learn never to fire up a new project without working brakes.

Cars have gotten away from over anxious builders before

no positive endings there.

Yeah, I could have pulled the drive shaft

but I need to know if all these parts are gonna get along with each other

if you get your brake line in bulk. Like I do a lot of times when you're using, it always has a little radius in it.

Easy way to get that out. Cut your piece, put it on a smooth surface, get a piece of wood, roll it out,

flattens it out real good. And it's just like making biscuits

short of a couple of pulleys and getting this thing on the ground. I'm ready for Brent to get here and share in what's gonna be the glory of the engine.

I'm gonna miss being left alone, but the roosters crowing and I need a break. So I'll see you in a little bit.

Well, here they come with their cell phones and laptops. Soon they'll be faxing and copying, talking and laughing, then cutting, grinding, hammering and welding and throwing metal everywhere.

The problem.

It's just too cool.

I can't stop myself from admiring all their projects.

But I can.

No,

my producer won't let me, I've got to make TV. Something about if it's not in picture, it's only radio,

then they talk to me about priorities,

at least Brent's bat

and starting the rest of the flare.

All I've got left to do before test firing the engine

is plumb the oil system.

If you remember to keep this lower ride height, we converted a dry sump pan to a wet, putting the pump outside the pan.

The filters from Peterson are external as well. This scavenge filter will stop the big pieces you hope aren't coming out of your engine.

Once the oil comes out of the pump, it goes through this main filter. Then back to the engine.

Our pump puts out 6.8 gallons per minute at 1000 RPM. S

and it takes a dash 12 hose to move all that oil.

More serious racing engines have additional oil in less for the lifters can crank et cetera.

Our pump will allow the five stackable sections to feed those as well

because of the smaller pan. The dipstick is not accurate for now. Six quarts of the King's purple fluid will get us started.

There are several ways to prime a pump. Just make sure you do it. There it goes, just lug down

a

little bit of racing fuel

and some standard h2o.

All right, if we forgot anything we'll find out, keep an eye on the oil pressure. We'll make sure we got something you ready? Hit it.

I got gas.

Oh, go ahead.

Go again.

Go.

No oil

pressure. Oil pressure. All right. Kill it.

I'm gonna kill the power.

We need to figure out what's going on.

You got nothing at all. Nothing.

The most valuable thing I learned from an engine builder

always check the obvious. First.

We know the pump's working

because it made it to here. This was the end and you can see oil in the top.

I'm wondering if we got it on the wrong bus

on the engine.

One is for in

the other is for out. Could be. I confused the two

with a little internet work

and some phone work. Right.

And I got it going into the block there and the other one's plugged off. I still don't have an answer.

I could simply switch it to, but I don't want to hurt it.

I'll figure this problem out before we put the engine back in the car. That's why we totally assembled everything.

Before we put any paint on it, all the holes are drilled and short of a few bars and the firewall, the welding is done

later in the show, I'm going to start to tear down and Brent's got some body mods. He's just dying to do. So. Don't go anywhere.

This week's muscle car flashback. The 63.5 galaxy 427

settle back and light up a new super torque for it.

Commercials like this, you might not think performance was a top priority with Ford in 63. Well, think again, I got two words for you. 63.5, dual quad 427 Galaxy four speed.

Yeah, that's right.

The rest is just a lot of math

and it all adds up to Ford's formula for taking more than half the checkered flags in the 1963 NASCAR season

followed up by the 30 win season for 64

over this two year span. Galaxies were piloted by racing legends such as Dan Gurney and the gentleman, Ned Jarrett,

a car with that sort of track record belongs in a museum and that's exactly where you'll find this one in Floyd Garrett's Muscle Car Museum in Sevierville, Tennessee. And it's just one of over 90 cars you can see for yourself

with just a little over 38,000 original miles. This racing relic will take you back to a time

a time when these 24 barrel Hollies ruled the NASCAR circuit on top of this 427 big block and commanded a 425 horse cavalry.

A

four speed transmission puts the reins on all those ponies and a posi rear keeps them all pulling their fair share of the load

two inches closer to the deck than earlier models. These Galaxies kept the weight close to the ground

and a fast back top was introduced mid year drastically improving the aerodynamics and Ford's record on the track.

These winners on the track were winning looks on the street chromed out bumpers trim and grill along with some flashy badging, put a spit shine on that factory red paint job

body lines that go on for days roll on top of these 15 inch wheels covered by chrome hubcaps complete with three blade spinners

fins on the front fenders and four horizontal headlights coupled with these taillights fit for UFO and you've got a car that's ready for lift off

under the hood, an oval air cleaner hovers over chrome valve covers. As you can see this is one clean for

inside the bench seats made room so the whole family could ride along in this red rocket, sharp controls, stereo and a console that even NASA would be proud of are topped off by more of that style

chrome

with less than 5000 of these 427 Galaxies sold in 63. It's no wonder Floyd doesn't drive it like he stole it.

But then again, he doesn't have to. This car has already proven everything it needs to out on the track.

Don't go wandering off into space just yet.

Muscle car will be right back

so far. I pulled an all nighter, finished everything needed to test start the engine

and found out I made a possible error in the plumbing.

We won't dwell on that.

No

oil pressure,

pressure.

However, this life sucking project is finally ready to be disassembled for body work and paint. But Brent can't wait. He has this artistic side that needs to be set free.

If you're driving this car like it was designed to be driven,

these brakes will be red hot

and there's no passenger looking out this rear window

to keep things cool. Brent's using these ingenious fiberglass ducks.

A hose will channel the air down to the caliper.

The ducks will hide behind fiberglass scoops made the same way as our flares using floral foam as a mold.

Once glued to the aluminum mounting plate,

the foam is contoured to create the sleek shape we want for the finished scoops.

A layer of aluminum foil will ensure an easy release. Once the glass is dropped, prep it with a thin coat of resin,

lay on some cloth. Then some more resin.

Do

you know what this looks like?

A salmon?

And I'm basting it

after a quick trim. A second layer

two should be enough for these pieces they need to be thin enough to flex. Once we start throwing our mustang around

while Brent's cooking up something special,

I'm gonna start tearing out the engine,

taking stuff apart is a lot faster than putting it together.

We're ready to yank this engine out in no time.

I got creative

and piece together

a man size sling

giving us more than enough width. So I don't have to take up the valve covers, stacks or intake.

I finally found the answer to my oil pressure problem. I should have put my line in here. Not here.

I guess that's what happens when you burn the midnight oil.

Friends vents are dry

and ready to be transformed.

Some work with the cut off wheel. A snip here, a trim there.

The ducks are ready to be glued into place with some fiberglass filling.

These will definitely keep things cool.

The sequential led taillights we got for a Mustang project are pretty cool but they stick out a little too far for our taste.

Brent's got another plan.

This trip will add one more detail that separates our mustang from the herd.

These are much bigger than the original lights.

So

some of this metals gotta go,

but it's worth the trouble.

Now. That's more like it.

Brent's got a few more tricks left up his sleeves, but I don't care. I'm happy with what I got done. Now, at another point in time, we're gonna finish stripping this thing down and get it ready for paint until then I'm out of here later.

Oh, yeah. You know that guy, we couldn't figure out what he does here. He came to work today.

The next step in setting up your mailbox is to record your name, announcement. You state your name after the tone.

Well,

you recorded

what,

please record your personal.

Ok.

Holy shit.

And make the seat

wet.

Oh, someone is so not getting paid this week.