Where did the time go?

The last post was from November 30th, 2010. It's March 19th, 2012. Time flies....or does it?

Quite a bit has been done to the car in this time:

- I took 3 more trips to Los Angeles and back in the Mustang in 2011 for a grand total of 2100+ trouble-free miles.

- In July 2011 after 2 trips to Los Angeles and back in 100+ degree heat (and a temperature gauge that read 230+ almost the whole way one trip but infrared thermometer readings around 200F) I replaced the wiring to the temperature sending unit + a heat shield

- I followed this up with a brand new aluminum radiator from Summit Racing + a new high volume water pump

- I embarked on a rewiring campaign in August that lasted about 5 times longer than it should have.

- I swapped in a fan clutch + fan for the flex-fan I've had on the end of the water pump for many years.

- I'm currently in the process of installing Classic Auto Air's "Perfect Fit" air conditioning system. Good (cool) times to be had by all

- Depending on the temperature readings with above said A/C kit I might opt for an electric fan. 20% off until March 31st at one of the parts houses so I just might do this sooner rather than later.

We made it.

The first leg of the trip was 357 miles from Brentwood, CA to Santa Barbara, CA. Except for oil burning off the top of the left valve cover (I spilled some a few days prior when re-filling the crankcase), the trip was entirely smooth.

From there, it was 100 miles to Arleta, CA to stay with parents. Again, no issues.

The new main image on the blog is taken on PCH at the Ventura County Sea Cliff.

Spent some of the weekend tearing apart Dad's Honda (a change from the norm, right?) instead of the Mustang -- and even transported the parents to their anniversary dinner in the Mustang.

Grand total driving both ways plus around Los Angeles: 859 miles. No issues.

New Adventures in Hi-Fi (sorry, R.E.M.)

There comes a time in every love affair where the relationship is taken to the next level. This is such a time. Those of you that have been with us for awhile know that we've never ventured out of the Bay Area but only once in early 2006 on a therapeutic mission to satisfy my troubled soul to Los Angeles and back.

Fast forward to 2010, we're doing it again this time with more confidence, a better sound system, better brakes...but sadly the soul is once again troubled.

The trip is going to be optimized for scenery and driving enjoyment (at least on the way down) versus speed of travel.

Stay tuned for details (as there will be many, I'm sure). Off to go make a roadside toolkit.

2.5 months postage overdue

Alot has happened (or has not) since June 1st when we turned 45.

The battery that mab and I bought the day I bought the car finally gave up the ghost. I knew it was coming because I'd run the radio for 30 minutes while working on it and have to roll it out and jump start it -- which was an epic fail.

Purchased a new Exide 60 month battery with a rebate + the core + the pro-rate on the fact that I only got 62 months out of the 84 month battery (probably due to my over zealous, over charging, boiling the electrodes factory style electro-mechanical voltage regulator that I replaced a few months ago with a solid-state model), the battery cost me a whopping $28.99.

Here comes the hard part: The autolite battery mab and I purchased had the little plastic lip on the side of it (which didn't really hold the battery anyway) -- but the Exide did not. Nothing a bungee cord couldn't fix:


Ordered a 67-and-later style battery tray and battery mount which arrived 7-8 before my parents got here for the PMc concert -- and on my work bench it sits.


Fast forward to August: Left Chevron one morning last week and heard a giant clunk. Yes, my power steering ram. There's like 2000lbs worth of force on that ram, so a standard sheet metal washer which I had in there as a spacer didn't last long and the ram mangled it enough to pull it through the hole in the bracket. Not a problem that $2.19 at Lowes couldn't fix and we're back in business.

The Mustang also served as the family car for the 6 weeks the chef was gone away on her voyage to the mountains -- at which time I put over 2000 miles on it. Not a single problem. I love it. Once I have an A/C and seal all the leaks I'm looking forward to this being my full time, year round, everyday, for every reason driver. Right now sometimes the day is too hot to do that -- but I DO take it to the train station every day when I commute to work. Good to feel like it did in 2006 when it was my sole ride.

Stocking stuffers for the big 4-5

We got an oil change, a full tune up including spark plugs, new grease in all of our ball joints, and a re-check of torque on all of our critical bolts to compliment the big disc brake upgrade a few weeks ago.

Today, we turn 45.

On June 1st, 1965 this car rolled off the assembly line in San Jose, California. Given the average daily output of the San Jose assembly plant during this time period (in terms of Mustangs -- the plant also produced the Falcon, Falcon Ranchero, and Ford F100 pickup truck) was about 500 cars per day. Assuming they followed consecutive unit numbers, this makes this car the theoretical 313th car to come off the line that day. Doing the math and assuming a three-shift day that puts the car coming off the line and into the holding area somewhere around 3:00PM. This is all theory, though, as we've found in the hobby, a car was SLATED to be built on a given day due to production issues sometimes it was not. In other words, even though the car's data plate is stamped 01 June 1965 if there was a production issue or line stoppage the car could have been built as late as June 7th!

Power Disc Brakes: first (long) drive

Drove the Mustang to work today which is about 50 miles. Got stuck in the usual traffic and the brakes were absolutely amazing. My estimate is that it stops in about 1/3rd of the distance that it did before.