Thread: 1974 Mustang II Build

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Just started following this thread Mike you probably already know this but you are helping Cade become a good upstanding man. More parents /grandparents should be doing this as the coming generation is going down hill from what I've seen. My kids and Chris' kids all got there share of chores to do and when it came time for a car they got jobs to pay for them. All 5 are now great kids with kids of there own. two own there own business one is in the service with 3 kids the other is a pastor of a church and the 5th one is a body shop damage estimator for a big company. Hard work and responsibility never killed anyone. You sir are on the right track with Cade. You have to be PROUD.

great story Mike thanks for sharing
The story brought back lots of memories of my son and grandson going through the same school problems
both have their stuff together now
cheers
Hank

And speaking of Mustang IIs, Cades' doing good in school so it was another day working for Grandpa, working on the Mustang and getting some more driving in.

The last time he drove the car it acted like it wasn't charging the battery. We pulled it into the shop and put a volt meter on it and sure enough it wasn't charging. In the process of checking to make sure the regulator had a good ground he managed to strip out one of the self tapping screws. So he got to learn one way how to do that little repair.

VR by M Patterson, on Flickr

Of course that wasn't the problem. The issue turned out to be a broken battery wire in the harness.......and it was Cade who found the problem, not me.

Anyway, I've got him practicing his backing right now. I'm pretty much just turning him loose in the arena now......and keep an ear open to make sure he's not getting too exuberant ......loud exhaust is good


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Reverse should always be practiced at full throttle. Keeps their skills sharp!

My parents taught us how to drive in a 77 Cadillac Coupe deville. Dad used to tell us if you can parallel park this you can drive anything. He was right. My driving instructor was blown away when it was my turn to do the backing stuff. I guess between the caddy and living on a small farm it made it easy.

Ilearned real young on a 49 Chevy panel truck. There was no back windows to look out You used mirrors or ran into things. Driving instructor told me to turn around and look out back window during test. That was easier but had never done it that way. Took the test in 4dr 57 DeSoto. Past first time out.

Typical Sunday, Cade was over again and it started with weed eating and mowing for a couple of hours (hopefully for the last time this season). I also had him pull/cut out some big tumble weeds along the fence line with a hook I had built a while back. After that was done we figured up his time and added a bit more credit to his account for car parts.

We've decided to go ahead and rebuild the front suspension and also replace the front springs prior to buying new tires for it. I'll be spending a good part of the money he's been setting aside for the car this week when I order the stuff.

When he was getting the car out to drive around a bit he mentioned that the hook had worked really well for getting the tumble weeds out. He also mentioned that he was going to be pulling out some big tumble weeds at his house for his mom .........rather than just come right out and ask about borrowing something he has a habit of beating around the bush for a while (a habit of his I'm trying to break). He was pretty disappointed when I told him would not let him borrow mine, but perked up when I told him I would let him build his own.

After he got thru driving it was into the shop to get started on the hook. It's actually a pretty simple affair, a simple hook welded to a large nut that will thread on to an old mop handle. I added a support strap from the side of the hook to other side of the nut for a little extra support and sharpened the inside edges of the hook.

I started by having Cade trace the shape of my blade on to a piece of flat stock and then rough cut it out with a cut off wheel.

H1 by M Patterson, on Flickr


Then it was on to the grinder to clean it up and finish shaping it.


H4 by M Patterson, on Flickr


Nothing fancy, and it probably could have used a bit more refining but he didn't do bad.


H2 by M Patterson, on Flickr



I handled sharpening the inner edges of the V and welding it to the nut and adding a support strap to it. I realized part way thru the project I haven't taught Cade any welding yet......an oversight that I hope to correct in the coming months. After the sharpening and welding was done the final step was showing Cade how to heat treat the blade to temper it so it would hold an edge. We screwed in an old mop handle and he's ready to do some work for his mom.


H3 by M Patterson, on Flickr


I told him the next time I see it I expected to see the majority of paint gone and the blade smooth and shiny from use.


I think Cade actually liked building the hook as much or more than driving the car.....I know I sure enjoy playing shop teacher.



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Man I wish you were my Grandpa! What a great teacher/mentor!

Originally Posted by stovens

Man I wish you were my Grandpa! What a great teacher/mentor!

You stand in line behind me buddy!
I want first dibs on Mike as a Grandpa!

Sorry guys I’ve already got another grandson waiting in the wings……he doesn’t show quite as much interest in spending time out in the shop though. Hopefully that might change.


I had a pretty good teacher myself, my Dad. Although he didn’t necessarily “teach” like I do with Cade, when my brother or myself asked a question he would take the time to explain what he was doing and how things worked. He would also allow us to try things. Dad was the one who taught me wiring, welding (with both torch and arc welder), and a love for tools and mechanics. Most importantly he also taught me a good work ethic although I never realized it at the time.




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Very cool! I'm sure this kid will go far in life.

Very nice Mike! I already know my biggest problem when trying to show my wife or the kids how to do something is I have a hard time translating to them in an easier way they'll pick up on it faster. Oh, and I have to remember to have more patience with them. That's been a life long thing.

Another Sunday and a pretty busy one. I had Cade do a bit of weed eating, help me take down a couple of small trees (and cut them up for fire wood), and then hang a couple of security cameras. Cade has become interested in how house wiring works, so I started to teach him that this weekend too. It was a good excuse to get a bad switch I had replaced and over the next few months I’ll be adding a few new outlets I’ve been procrastinating on so it’s a win win.


I think we hit a milestone of sorts yesterday……..Cade got his first box of parts from Speedway (pretty much wiped out all the credit he built up this summer)

We’re going to rebuild the front suspension before we put new tires on it. Yesterday was just inventorying what came in. We’ll do the front end next week when Cade is out of school for fall break.

parts by M Patterson, on Flickr



We also have out big local car show on the 13th. Cade and I are planning on going and I gave him the choice of either just being spectators or taking something in to and spending all day. I guess I’ll be cleaning up the 57……. Cade doesn’t know it yet but guess who’s going to help with putting a fresh coat of wax on it


Anyway that’s this week’s up date.



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I still get excited when the puple lettered boxes arrive! Not sure if they still offer shop classes where you guys are at but I took autio electrics, auto chasis and basic auto in high school (also the equivelant of auto engines, rebuilding my 68 mustang's 302.)
Doing this now will give him confidence to tackle lots of fixes later in life, it did and still does for me!

Steve they offer some shop classes (but no auto shop). I asked him over summer vacation why he wasn't taking those. He told me "I'm learning those things from you Grandpa"

I'm sitting here shaking my head as I type this



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