Back On The Road

The new steering pump and rebuilt rack are working well. Surprisingly, the new pump and new rack servo add up to more power assist. I think the steering is a little light for my taste, but compared to a non-assisted setup, I'll take it any day.

The new Wilwood brakes work as expected. I still have a slight rub on the fenders when turning sharp while going over a bump. Next step is to roll the fenders but that is low on the list.

Over Christmas, I plan to take a few days off work and install the new top.

The next large purchase will be a set of new 30lb injectors and fuel rail along with a calibrated MAF sensor. The engine is still using the original injectors from 1995. I think I have a sticky injector because randomly I will smell raw gas as I drive down the road but I have not been able to find any leak in the fuel supply lines. If it was the tank vent, I think I'd smell gas every time I turn the car and slosh the fuel around. I am upgrading from the stock 19lb injectors because I want to replace my stock 5.0 long block with a Ford Racing long block (347?) and so I'll need the extra head room on the injectors. It will take a while to save up for that though.

Convertible Weather Approaches

Time to get serious with the required mods/fixes to get the 65 back on the road. The TCP rack & pinion has been leaking for a few years, so I yanked it out and sent it back for a complete rebuild. Turns out the servo needed to be replaced also so all the important parts have been upgraded/replaced. Murphy still bit me on the ass though. The rack was damaged in transit from TCP to me but I was out of town for almost two weeks so I did not let UPS know in time about the damage. It appears the rack was dropped off the back of the truck and both of the hard lines were bent at the point they enter the servo side of the rack.

I am going to replace these with some braided lines for two reasons:

• They are bent now
• They did rub the oil pan

I have to make up two lines to attach the rack to my new pump anyway so two more lines is no biggie. I've ordered a KRC pump that is a better match to the TCP rack than the stock 1995 pump was in terms of flow rate.

I have also yanked my huge SSBC Extreme brakes from the car. I have installed a smaller setup from Wilwood.

Now I hope my fender rubbing will cease since I do not have to space the wheels off to clear the calipers.

I am waiting on some more parts to show up, so work will continue shortly. I can't wait to get her back on the road now that Fall has finally seen fit to show up!

Spoiled Rotten…….Even More!!

I've had the 2014 GT for a month now and I am amazed. It has been a while since I bought a new car and I am glad I did. I am thoroughly impressed with the engineering team that designed the Mustang. It is the automotive version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Driving around town shifting at under 3000rpms, the car is as docile as a Camry. Press the pedal to the floor in order to unleash the 420hp and Mr. Hyde quickly makes himself known!

Driving this car has made me aware of just how slow my 65 is. Granted, with a stock 95 GT motor, there is not much of a comparison, but I am still surprised. I plan to keep the 14 GT stock at least until the 3 year Bumper-to-Bumper warranty is up and that will allow me to spend some coin on sprucing up the 65.

I've decided I am going to remove the SSBC A120 Extreme brake kit. They have become more trouble than they are worth. My master cylinder started to leak internally so I replaced that and bled the brakes. Two days later my passenger side SSBC caliper started leaking like crazy. I assumed I had not snugged the bleeder well enough but to my surprise the leak was coming from inside the caliper. I assume one of the pistons is allowing fluid to pass. This was the straw that broke the camel's back. I've written before about the huge rotors that have pushed my wheel further outboard and on top of that I needed to add a 1/4 inch spacer to clear the caliper. That has made it so the tires rub the fender if the wheel is turned and I hit a bump. I've ordered a Wilwood kit with smaller calipers and a 12 inch rotor so that I can run my wheels without a spacer and hopefully not have any more rubbing.

At any rate, having to park the 65 is not as bad as it could be seeing what I am forced to drive in its place. :-D