I was surprised, I knew since he had owned it the car stayed in a carport about half the time and in a garage the other half. I was really surprised that there was none, I didn't expect that actually.That's great news...especially compared to the screenshot you grabbed from the e brake video!
One of the only ones I've owned that wasn't basically new, so far it has been easy to work on as far as stubborn fasteners go. Too bad the '57 wasn't as rust free.“I now know there is absolutely no rust anywhere under the car, none, I'm extremely happy to have found that out.”
Love them rust free cars![]()
JB, great idea. I taught our daughter how to drive my Vega (4-speed manual) when she turned 14 in 1976. In the event she was out with friends who were old enough to drink (it was 18 in Florida back then), I wanted her to be able to get home, regardless of the transmission.In other news my oldest daughter has expressed interest in learning to drive and my wife and I agree it will be in a car with a manual trans,
When we moved to SE Mo. 25 years ago I remember this car sitting in a car port the bus drove by on our way to school. I knew it was out of my price range at the time and didn't really think about it until you just now mentioned it. It has at least been covered since then, the odometer reads 44,*** miles, I don't know if they are true miles or not, but it surely is in great shape but really not original with the engine changes over the years. The car is as base as I've seen, no power anything and just a heater, certainly won't ever be a high dollar collector anytime soon.nice that you have the history and it is in good condition. cars die from bad storage way more often than bad driving
We thought the same thing even though the chances of having to drive someone else's manual trans car are all but zero anymore at least they will have learned how to. In Oklahoma driving age is 16, but if you have a "farm" like we do my daughters could get a license as early as 14 that allows them to drive to school and work as well as whatever farm needs we have. I really want them to get there license at 14 if for no other reason to be able to say they did even if we don't let them drive themselves to school that young.JB, great idea. I taught our daughter how to drive my Vega (4-speed manual) when she turned 14 in 1976. In the event she was out with friends who were old enough to drink (it was 18 in Florida back then), I wanted her to be able to get home, regardless of the transmission.
In other news my oldest daughter has expressed interest in learning to drive and my wife and I agree it will be in a car with a manual trans, I've considered it being this car she learns on, yard/pasture to start off with then the gravel roads around our house just to get used to using the first few gears. She isn't tall enough to drive the cobra and the Viper is borderline as well. I guess we will just have to see what she can fit in and go from there, we have plenty of options right now.
JB
I wanted her to be able to get home, regardless of the transmission.
The clutch in LA is a little suspect right now, it is very clunky in 1st and 2 hi, also it slips pretty bad in 5th even when towing an empty trailer. I guess I don't have to worry about her burning up a new clutch that way, I'll see how it feels in 4 low and see, if it isn't too bad I think we will have a winner, good idea there Outlaw, thanks.I approve of learning on a standard, all 3 of my older kids have done that. Both my girls were one of the few kids at their high school that could drive something with a manual transmission.
What about lever action? You could put it in 4 low so she can get the hang of using the clutch without it dying to build some confidence.
That 8" 2.80 rear end was super common on 60's lo-po fords. My 67 Fairlane coupe came with one. Most common combo was a 2.80, C4 and 289 2V. The rpms on the freeway are pretty low. I want to say around 2300-2400 at 70mph with 26" tires. Fairlane used to get like 18mpg with that combo.Working on the Mustang have re-ignited my fire for working in the shop a good bit, I certainly missed that as I've really not been wanting to do anything with the RX-7 for some reason. I made a list of what I could see after my first glance at stuff and ordered a few things with more to come. One not on the list was to install the shifter ball. But the one that came with the shift lever he bought wasn't going to cut it, I dug around the shop and found this old Hurst shift knob I bought years ago, verified fitment and now just need to pull it back off and polish it up:
One question I had was I didn't know what rear gears were in the car, found the tag after putting all 4 corners on jack stands and found out I have 2.80:1 open gears, well I should be really low RPM on the highway at least this way:
I needed to hook the ebrake back up but wasn't entirely sure how it went together but found this screen grab while watching another video on the tube:
The good news is after rolling around under the car a lot I now know there is absolutely no rust anywhere under the car, none, I'm extremely happy to have found that out.
To give an idea on what I've done and where I have to go here is the punch list I've made so far:
Some things not on the list, but it'll at least give me a place to start and find parts I need to get ordered in.
JB
JB, i did the same with our daughter. She learned to drive on an auto, but i kept pushing her for a manual. She now prefers it, and wants her next car manual too! I'm proud to say everyone in my family drives stick.Mine is a little better now but in that triple digit area it still gets a little light. I'll never know if I go over 120 though, there are no numbers past that on the speedo.
Thank you, I'm pretty excited to get to have it for a while. I doubt I'll go that crazy with the gears, I have the fast vehicles already, I just want to keep this one a cruiser. At one time I had this combo in the cobra with 4.10 gears and it was screaming on the highway and that was with taller tires than the Mustang has.
In other news my oldest daughter has expressed interest in learning to drive and my wife and I agree it will be in a car with a manual trans, I've considered it being this car she learns on, yard/pasture to start off with then the gravel roads around our house just to get used to using the first few gears. She isn't tall enough to drive the cobra and the Viper is borderline as well. I guess we will just have to see what she can fit in and go from there, we have plenty of options right now.
JB
They will certainly learn to drive a manual, all but 3 of our 14 vehicles now are manuals so they will likely drive a manual for their first vehicles. As for motorcycles, I'm not sure, I've had a couple wrecks and went WAY too fast on them, luckily none of my wrecks were too bad, but I don't think I really want the youngest especially to drive one. Maybe teach them on a mini bike and leave it at that, just not my mini bike, it is too fast.Not only did I require all 5 of my kids to learn on a manual transmission, they had to pass their drivers test in one of our cars that were manuals. Most of the examiners had no clue how to operate a manual vehicle! The skill also is useful with our motorcycles, as I had all of our kids riding from when they were around 5 or 6 years old.
I need to check what tires are on the car, I remember they are 205 and 14's but don't remember the aspect ratio. The 2.8 8" was the same one in Alex's red and black '68, we replaced his with 3.5x and "limited slip" of some kind. My initial goal is just to get it running and driving asap, I can't have any more non-op vehicles right now, the shop is too full as it is.That 8" 2.80 rear end was super common on 60's lo-po fords. My 67 Fairlane coupe came with one. Most common combo was a 2.80, C4 and 289 2V. The rpms on the freeway are pretty low. I want to say around 2300-2400 at 70mph with 26" tires. Fairlane used to get like 18mpg with that combo.
My wife was the same way and as far as I know has only driven an auto a handful of times, the girls won't have much choice but to drive a manual. Also I tried to install the headers last night, they aren't going to go in with the engine mounts bolted up, but I ran out of time before I could try that, I'll give it a go tonight.JB, i did the same with our daughter. She learned to drive on an auto, but i kept pushing her for a manual. She now prefers it, and wants her next car manual too! I'm proud to say everyone in my family drives stick.
You might get your way Andy, I'm lazy on occasion and may not ever make it shiny, but as is I think it detracts from the car a bit, one way will win out I'm sure.Ummm, I really like the patina on the Hurst shifter. FWIW



BFH? What is that acronym, kind sir?I was able to get the headers installed after I lifted the engine up about 2", tightened down and could tell they were TIGHT, but wouldn't know how tight until I lowered it back down, drivers side:
Top view drivers side:
In the photo it looks like it is touching...it is, passenger side is about the same, I ran out of time last night to try anything else before pulling them out and attack with the BFH. I also noticed the pitman arm was hitting one tube severely limiting turning to the left (I think, can't really remember), so I'll have to modify that one as well. I can make them work, but not ideal, it is certainly tight in there, much worse than on the later 67+ Mustangs.
Keep Moving Forward,
JB

I didn't think about it, but I guess I could put some dirt track tires on here and rip it around the pasture for hours on end.BFH? What is that acronym, kind sir?
JB, I think you have to turn left for NASCAR.
haha, yeah I think you've got it Andy, I just glad I didn't answer before you figured it out on your own.Never mind, I think I figured it out: Beautifully Finessed Hits.
Unless it's Badly Fitted Headers?
I guess I just don't know. I'm probably a BFI.
Gonna have to break out the 20 lb sledge, or more likely the torch and a 16 oz hammer.Big eFfen Hammer
Funny, I never consistently drove in triple digits until I got the Lightning at 73.On top speed topic, I get a laugh out of people telling 'old' stories of going 150+ in 60/70s muscle with non OD trans and rear end gears that couldn't even do it, or suspension control to sustain the speed. No point in arguing.
When I was 18 my dad and I got our 1969 mustang on the road. Full resto, new everything. 351, Top loader, 3.50. At 100, you needed both hands and both lanes, and that was almost 5k in 4th. In comparison, my 87 mustang with suspension work and rated tires would bury the 140 speedo and sustain that speed in control for distances longer than I ever should have driven.
Now old, I try to avoid such activities but still do shorts bursts of triple digits often enough.![]()
Sometimes the math just doesn't work out to back up the story, but usually fun stories either way and they can relive their past some. The cobra and Viper are more than capable of triple digits, but I just don't have the desire very often. I'm looking forward to getting the 66 on the road, no 100+ mph runs planned for it ever.On top speed topic, I get a laugh out of people telling 'old' stories of going 150+ in 60/70s muscle with non OD trans and rear end gears that couldn't even do it, or suspension control to sustain the speed. No point in arguing.
When I was 18 my dad and I got our 1969 mustang on the road. Full resto, new everything. 351, Top loader, 3.50. At 100, you needed both hands and both lanes, and that was almost 5k in 4th. In comparison, my 87 mustang with suspension work and rated tires would bury the 140 speedo and sustain that speed in control for distances longer than I ever should have driven.
Now old, I try to avoid such activities but still do shorts bursts of triple digits often enough.![]()
That is one power adder I've never used and have never ridden in a car with it either, maybe that needs to change, which of my cars needs a bottle?Also, nitrous is cheaper than re-gearing, just saying....
Do to the new job I've looked into moving, the math works out to it being cheaper to stay where we are and just drive every day. I certainly don't want to try to pack everything up for a big move, I'd be temped to hire an auction company to come in and sell a large amount of it and only take the things easy to move then buy more after that. I'd also loose out on a huge amount of work I've put into this property and the shop, I don't really want to do that either. I'll keep the b***h floored!Lol. I thought I would pop in and see how your doing. My search result took me to page one of your thread and I started reading about moving to a new housethat's Alot of stuff to move I thought to myself! Then I realized that it took me to page one
cool to see how far it and you have come !
Keep up the good work
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When it only takes a few seconds of full throttle to hit those speeds it becomes a bit easier, that truck is silly and I love it.Funny, I never consistently drove in triple digits until I got the Lightning at 73.
I've heard it's addictive...I believe @rattle_snake Justin's answer would be...all of them.
Haha, now I like that answer, I'd have a small fortune if I had to buy that many kits though.I believe @rattle_snake Justin's answer would be...all of them.
Next thing you know I'll be filling my own bottles to save on trips to the race shop.I've heard it's addictive...
JB, that was my thought as well. Pick up a junkyard engine first. When you have a replacement engine on hand the engine in the Saturn will hold together. Without one it'll spit parts all over the place. It's in the same category as waxing your car when you need rain.Haha, now I like that answer, I'd have a small fortune if I had to buy that many kits though.Maybe start off with a spool jet for the Saturn, get that turbo to light off a little quicker.
Nitrous and boost go together like peanut butter and jelly....
With that being a horizontal engine, it is at the bottom of my list for cars I want to do an engine swap on, but your point is still valid. Maybe I should keep an eye out for one laying around. Since it is one of the factory supercharged engines there weren't that many and rarely do they come up for sale anywhere close to me. I have yet to see one at any of the junkyards close by.JB, that was my thought as well. Pick up a junkyard engine first. When you have a replacement engine on hand the engine in the Saturn will hold together. Without one it'll spit parts all over the place. It's in the same category as waxing your car when you need rain.
Great, now I'm hungry.Nitrous and boost go together like peanut butter and jelly....
Was that your way of saying I need a peanut and banana sandwich?
Was that your way of saying I need a peanut and banana sandwich?![]()


Chris,JB, I did a Rack and Pinion swap on my 66 and it really freed up room on the driver side. I only had to account for the shaft from the steering column to the rack. There was no more steering box in the way. Also, it was the best way to get rid of that sloppy steering feel.