Embarking on a lot of clean up . . . not really a resto . . . quite

[Erkenbrand]

Is the donor car a hatchback? I need a 79 through 82 hatchback latch assembly.

I don't know - I'll ask him.

 

[One Owner 1982]

I don't know - I'll ask him.

Thanks

 

[81Notch]

I'm about to order the new fuel tank and related parts. I'm getting the 83-97 tank from LMR. The extra capacity will be pretty handy. Anybody have experience with this? I'm guessing it's going to be a bit of a squeeze, but I'm not sure how much massaging it will take to fit where the small tank is now.

I don't have any experience with the gas tank, other than ordering two different ones from Rock Auto and having neither fit (my fault, mostly), so I'll be curious to see how your install goes because that's something I may consider doing as well.

 

[One Owner 1982]

I’ve replaced mine twice. Both times I bought from O’Riles auto parts. Got all the gaskets, tank level kit and lines from them. No problems.

 

[Erkenbrand]

I’ve replaced mine twice. Both times I bought from O’Riles auto parts. Got all the gaskets, tank level kit and lines from them. No problems.

Thanks!

 

[broncojunkie]

I have a 83-93 tank sitting on a shelf waiting to go in a 79 Cobra. I got it from Rockauto. It is painted grey and looks like a really nice piece. There are a couple minor dents in it, but you won't even see them when it's mounted (and I mean very minor). This is my 2nd time ordering a tank from Rockauto. The first time, a few years back, it came in comically destroyed. I sent it back and it wasn't too bad to deal with, but I ended up buying one at a local parts store.

As for fitment in the earlier cars, it's my understanding that it will fit with very little modification. You can use your factory straps, although they won't fit into the "grooves" stamped in the new tank, where they're supposed to go. This also means the straps will be too short. You can lengthen them near the rear, in the section that turns up and attaches to the bolts/studs (by the rear bumper area) OR you can just get some longer bolts and washers to reach the (now too short) straps.

I plan to use an in-tank electric pump and modified fuel lines to feed a carb. I'll use a return fuel line and simple bypass-style regulator. Or, a slight variation in fuel line setup will eliminate the need for the bypass regulator. I'll just build the "bypass" into the fuel line and then run an offshoot line over to the carb with a regulator there. There's no need for a fancy regulator that costs $3-500. Just refer to the K.I.S.S. method lol!

 

[Erkenbrand]

I have a 83-93 tank sitting on a shelf waiting to go in a 79 Cobra. I got it from Rockauto. It is painted grey and looks like a really nice piece. There are a couple minor dents in it, but you won't even see them when it's mounted (and I mean very minor). This is my 2nd time ordering a tank from Rockauto. The first time, a few years back, it came in comically destroyed. I sent it back and it wasn't too bad to deal with, but I ended up buying one at a local parts store.

As for fitment in the earlier cars, it's my understanding that it will fit with very little modification. You can use your factory straps, although they won't fit into the "grooves" stamped in the new tank, where they're supposed to go. This also means the straps will be too short. You can lengthen them near the rear, in the section that turns up and attaches to the bolts/studs (by the rear bumper area) OR you can just get some longer bolts and washers to reach the (now too short) straps.

I plan to use an in-tank electric pump and modified fuel lines to feed a carb. I'll use a return fuel line and simple bypass-style regulator. Or, a slight variation in fuel line setup will eliminate the need for the bypass regulator. I'll just build the "bypass" into the fuel line and then run an offshoot line over to the carb with a regulator there. There's no need for a fancy regulator that costs $3-500. Just refer to the K.I.S.S. method lol!

Thanks for the advice. I'll probably dig out some longer bolts to fit the soon to be too short straps.

I'm running Holley's in tank, returnless style fuel pump. Running just the one feed line made it all a lot easier, and it has its own vent. My only concern is having enough clearance for the fuel filler neck if I mount the Holley pump in the original pump location. I modified the original, smaller tank to run the Holley, and didn't have to worry about clearance all that much.

 

[broncojunkie]

My thought was that running a return line would make it less prone to vapor lock...particularly with ethanol. Also, it seems like dead-heading a pump would be harder on it. Plenty of folks running them with zero issues, though. Then again, they don't have my luck lol!

 

[Erkenbrand]

Well, I have just over 3000 miles on it so far without any problems. It seems to be working well. I was just happy to not run two lines.

 

[Erkenbrand]

I found the interior HVAC components from an 86. Everything is present except the wiring harness. I think I found at least part of the harness, and it should be here in a couple of days. I also found a guy who cut out the firewall section from a rusted out Foxbody so I can pattern the appropriate holes. At first, I was considering cutting out the firewall section and welding in new, but that's a lot for a car that doesn't need it. I just need to open it up in the appropriate spots.

Although I still have a goal of tackling this before the Power Tour in June, I just don't think I have enough time to get it done. My priority is getting a larger fuel tank to support the miles and sitting in traffic that's part of Power Tour. I also have a 62 Skylark I'm hoping to get replace part of the floor and install new carpet . . . and a 77 Fiat that needs a motor swap (this is the one my wife wants completed). Priorities, priorities.

 

[Erkenbrand]

Of course if that is the right section of wiring harness, I still need the rest. Or I at least need to know what each wire does so I could create the rest. I'm assuming something in there is power, then ground, and then signal wire to the AC pump.

Anybody have more of the dash and HVAC harness floating around?

 

[One Owner 1982]

It looks like the right wire harness. Make sure the fan control plug is not melted on the inside. I had to replace mine because the conductors had no separation due to the plug melting. LMR has a replacement kit

 

[Erkenbrand]

For those who are trying to find a solution to not having a cup holder, there is a guy on a FB group who is 3d printing these. He has a couple of designs, and will add the logo of your choice. It works great as a phone holder as well. He even includes a hole beneath the phone so you can slide a charging cable through.

 

[Erkenbrand]

Time to dig back into the Mustang now that it's warm enough to be in the garage. I have a list of things to do, but I started by getting rid of the hood prop rod and replacing it with hydraulics. It gives more room, and looks better.

I've been trying to avoid my next big job which will be dropping the gas tank. I need to adjust the position of the fuel pump and hydramat. With the current setup, whenever I get below a half tank I suffer from fuel starvation when I go around sharp corners. It gets to be really annoying.

 

[One Owner 1982]

Can you send me the details on the hood hydraulics and you lift under the car?

 

[Erkenbrand]

Can you send me the details on the hood hydraulics and you lift under the car?

The hood hydraulics are from: Amazon

And the lift is from: Quickjack

 

[Erkenbrand]

It was another sort-of big weekend for the Mustang. I finally have it ready for Hot Rod Power Tour in June. I think. I was going to do an air conditioning conversion before HRPT, but I decided against it. Mostly because I just don't want to cough up the cash for all of the parts. I was able to find everything I need for the interior. It's the pump, etc, that are going on hold for a while.

This weekend I did install a Ford Racing shifter on my T5. It came from a Marketplace T5 I picked up a couple of years ago. That trans turned out to be junk, but at least I was able to score the shifter. I cleaned it up and packed in some fresh grease. Now it's working like a champ.






No picture for the next change, but one of the things I did wrong when installing the Holley in tank fuel pump was get the placement of the pump and pickup too high in the tank. It was drawing empty when there was still about 2.5 gallons of fuel left. Since I'm still running the original 12 gallon tank, that is a LOT of fuel to not use. So I dropped the tank again, and got the pump and pickup positioned correctly. Now, I'm going to figure out my MPG so I can get a range estimate.

 

[Erkenbrand]

This coming weekend is opening weekend at Watkins Glen Speedway. My plan is to take the Mustang down for its first big shakedown run. Watkins Glen is about 80 miles from me, so it should be a good test. Run down, get in some paced laps, run back. My wife is coming along, so I'm going to have to rely on our good friends at AAA if anything goes wrong.

 

[Erkenbrand]

I'm pretty happy with the interior. At some point, I'll replace the carpet, but for now it works just fine. Here's a quick video of the interior. I think the buckets came from a '91. The guy I got them from had them for a Hudson he was building, and couldn't remember where he got them.

1980 Cobra Interior

 

[Erkenbrand]

This past weekend was opening weekend at Watkins Glen. For $30 you could run 3 laps behind a pace car. Definitely worth it. The Mustang hummed right along - 70 miles there / 3 laps / 70 miles back. I'm getting about 16MPG which adds up quickly with the little 12 gallon tank.

Here's some of the lap experience. My GoPro overheated and shut down part way through.

Watkins Glen opening day laps