1969 Mustang race car that I have owned since 1970

[GPR]

Picked up 12 hp with Harland Sharp rockers. Peak hp was at 5850 rpm now it has 512 at 6200 and 509 at 6500. We will be testing the PI intake next.

What rockers did you have on there to begin with, factory stuff?  Did you happen to check total lift before and after the change to the Harland Sharps?  I've seen a fair number of factory rockers that are not 1.76:1 for the rocker ratio; if the Harland Sharps are a higher ratio than the ones you replaced, your HP increase makes sense.

Your test with the PI intake will be interesting also.  During the intake testing for my book I found that at horsepower levels around 425, the factory iron CJ intake clearly outperformed the PI intake.  However, as horsepower levels increased, the PI intake started doing better.  Contrary to popular belief, the PI intake is not the same as the factory iron CJ intake, in terms of runner design and volume - Jay

Rockers were cast iron 427 adjustable with aluminum spacers instead of springs.

I wasn't there but my engine builder did say that the push rod length should be different between the two rockers.

Back when I was racing SS/GA I ran quicker with the PI intake with a 1" spacer over the sidewinder. Ken McLellan's SS/G Cobrastang also used the PI intake. 

[GPR]

Fitting Kirkey seats is not just a bolt in. The problem is the roll bar design won't let me have the seat back tilted enough so I will need to use a different steering wheel with less dish. We are mounting the Kirkey brackets to the stock seat tracks that will need to be modified.

[GPR]

Welding is finished on the seat tracks. I need to take them apart sand and epoxy prime black.

[GPR]

Seat tracks are finished now I need Brian to fab a back brace to the roll bar.

[GPR]

Today I installed a quick release steering wheel. It wasn't a simple bolt in. 

[turbohunter]

"It wasn't a simple bolt in."

Why?

[GPR]

"It wasn't a simple bolt in."

Why?

The steering column had to be cut about 3/8" for clearance for my fingers to be able to install and release the wheel. The first time I tried it once it snapped in place it almost cut my fingers. The original steering wheel nut that now holds the inner spline on had to be ground down because it did not allow the quick release adapter to go down far enough to snap into place. I bought a 3 bolt release because I already had a 3 bolt to 5/6 bolt steering wheel adapter. They make a 5 hole release but I have a 5 and 6 bolt wheel and wasn't sure which one I would be using. If I had to do it again I would buy the 5 hole and not have the additional 1/2" adapter.

[turbohunter]

Thanks Rusty.
I'm about to go there. Thanks for the heads up.

[Russ67Scode]

Fitting Kirkey seats is not just a bolt in. The problem is the roll bar design won't let me have the seat back tilted enough so I will need to use a different steering wheel with less dish. We are mounting the Kirkey brackets to the stock seat tracks that will need to be modified.





IF you need a short guy to drive for you I am willing to give up my time just to help you out Rusty !!!
I am positive I can fit in the seat no matter the position

[Drew Pojedinec]

IF you need a short guy to drive for you I am willing to give up my time just to help you out Rusty !!!
I am positive I can fit in the seat no matter the position

Haha!  I got in trouble for making this offer to someone.  He mentioned needing to get 100lbs more off his car.  So I offered to drive (I'm 5ft 9, and 155lbs).

[GPR]

I'm the only person that has driven it since I made it a race car in 1971.

[GPR]

The engine has been smoking a lot but clears up during a pull on the dyno. He is not happy with all the smoking and has the engine apart. The guides were knurled a long time ago and he is installing bronze guides. The rear main seal has a leak and while he has the pan off is going to change the oil rings. We ordered total seal rings and he thinks maybe they sent low tension oil rings.

[babybolt]

Did you do any modifications to the rear suspension back in the day or is close to stock?

If that's a real original dash pad, you might want to take it out and safely store it away as they are getting to be very rare.

[GPR]

Stock springs with worn out shocks





The rear suspension came out of the 1968 Mustang I bought from Hubert Platt . Not sure if Hubert Platt or Holman Moody did this modification for more tire clearance.

[babybolt]

I have never seen the rear springs cut like that.  The Trans Am cars used narrower springs from the 62-65 Fairlanes for more tire clearance.