Mustang Sally Restoration: Fixing a cracked Explorer intake manifold and adjusting lifters

 So, we got the Stang running Wednesday night right as it was getting dark. After we drove the car around the block, when we got back from the short drive, I noticed the intake manifold corner bolt flange was cracked. Noooo!!!

Here's a close up view of the crack. We must have over tightened this bolt. Dad runs a thick phenolic spacer between the upper and lower manifolds.

Here's an inside view of the lower intake manifold port with the crack coming through. We were lucky this was not all the way through and didn't separate the pieces from each other. This made the repair pretty straight forward.

Brent knows DJ Whalen at Mt. Euro Werks in Tehachapi who has a BMW/European repair shop. He also builds turbo Bimmers and builds drift cars. 

Here's an outside view of the weld repair.

Here's an inside look at the repair job by DJ. As you can see, the weld bead needs to be ground down flat on the manifold mating surface and the inside of the intake port needs to be ground smooth as well for proper and even airflow.

Pops grinded smooth the weld repair and its looking good as new.

While running the engine, we noticed some lifter ticking noises. With the intake manifold at Mt Euro Werks getting fixed, dad removed some odds and ends and gained access to the roller rockers to adjust the lifters. 

Here he is going through the drivers side...

And on the passenger side. He adjusted every single one about a 1/4 turn...

Of course the intake mani came back on Saturday while I was on my way back to the airport to fly home. He got it back together Saturday afternoon and says its running really well now. Woohoo!!!

Mustang Sally Restoration: The 306ci rebuilt SBF and NEW T5z gets installed in the car

 Today was a big day! I arrived in California yesterday. After grabbing some In-N-Out right by the LAX airport, we made the trek up to the High Desert to my small hometown of Tehachapi.

We got started around 8am this morning. Yes, it was cold. The day started out at about 36F and luckily it warmed up to 50F. 

I made sure to bundle up for installing an engine outside on the driveway in late Fall in T-town. :)

Here's a mid install progress shot. We took our time inching the engine/trans into place.

Engine install selfie right here to prove I was here! haha

It took us 2 hours from start to finish to get the engine on the engine mounts and the Trans cross member on. 

Once we got the engine and trans in, we began the process of getting everything hooked up and installed. Here is the X pipe going in...

Dad ran into a bunch of brittle, 1994 made plastic vacuum line pieces. Luckily he has R/C air plane fuel line to fix broken sections. 

This little smog equipment pipe gave us some trouble. We ended up having to remove the trans cross member because that smog pipe needed to be above the cross member. 

Here we are at the end of Day 1. It took us 2 hours to get the engine and trans in, another 6 hours to get to this point. The dang smog equipment gave us more fits where we lost some time. But, that's why we planned to take as much as 3-4 days to get it all together. We're hoping to get it all assembled and fire it up for the first start tomorrow. Stay tuned...

Mustang Sally Restoration: 306ci 5.0 mated to the T-5z Close Ratio Trans

 Progress continues and things are getting pretty serious. The longblock is complete and the accessories are installed, water and oil pump, clutch, bellhousing and the brand new T-5z close ratio 5 speed manual transmission.

The engine and trans are looking great!!! The T5z is brand new from Moderndriveline.com! 

Here it is after getting the oil pan, filter and water pump, and lower intake manifold installed. Note the repainted shorty equal length headers. It looks great and ready to rock!

The brand new McLeod clutch and resurfaced steel flywheel are in and ready for the bellhousing next...

Fresh NGK spark plugs with some anti-seize and torqued down to 18 ft-lbs.

The plan is to meet up at the Tehachapi Hechtspeed Garage to get this bad boy into the 1994 Mustang engine bay. Can't wait!!! More pics and vids to come.

See Hecht Speed YouTube channel!!!

Mustang Sally Restoration: AFR165 Heads installed, Longblock is assembled!!!

 Tonight the longblock was assembled boys and girls! Here are some beauty shots to enjoy! 

ProForm 1.6 roller rockers getting installed!

Top view of the AFR165 heads and ProForm rockers.

Here's a pic with stock, but freshly painted valve covers.

Pops says it has the old valve cover gaskets on it for extra height clearance and that it will probably need a second one once the lifters pump up with oil. 

Next up is oil pump and oil pan tomorrow. Stay tuned!