Thread: 1974 Mustang II Build

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Originally Posted by Mike P

"I'm learning those things from you Grandpa"

If that doesn't make you pop the buttons off your vest with pride, I don't know what will.

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I love reading these! I bet his eyes were big opening those packages,it never gets old. I remember my first big buy, an overhaul kit from JC Whitney for my 350 in my 71 Camaro.

".....I remember my first big buy, an overhaul kit from JC Whitney......."


I remember those days. Going thru a catalog page by page. Filling out an order form and sending it in with either a money order (if you wanted it quick) or a check (that would need to clear). Then waiting and after a month or 2 months it would finally show up. Now if it's not here in 3 days you wonder if the package is lost




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It's sad here because so many autoshops were closed down. Back in the late 70's our shop program was expanded to two separate schools (Winters High School and my School Davis Sr. High) as winters didn't have the budget to keep their programs up and running. I imagine most schools in this state no longer offer extensive shop classes for the same reason. We used to say education was self sustaining to our future, at some point mechanical skills became under rated. The only thing I see is we aren't catering to different interest and skill groups, now we are assuming only core math and english and computer science is of worth. A big mistake as our new generations are moving up thru the public education system!

Very cool Mike! That is one thing I regret not doing in high school was taking the home construction and electrical courses our school offered. I was so wrapped up in automotive stuff I had no clue how useful those home construction courses would have helped me out.

As Cade is on fall break this week he is over here Sunday and Monday. With 2 days I figured it would be a good time to rebuild the front suspension on the Mustang. The car has about 125K on the original parts so it’s something I figured that should be taken care of before we put it on the road.


He did good. All day Sunday was spent getting it apart and getting the control arms built with new ball joints and bushings. Part of teaching him is learning patience on my part. The thing what was probably the most frustrating for him was getting the cotter keys out of the ball joints. It took him an hour to get them out, and yes there were a couple of time I almost and went over to do it myself…….but that doesn’t teach him anything other than if something is hard get someone else to do it. He eventually got them out, learned a couple of tricks that I suggested and knows that if he keeps at it he can eventually get things done as long as he doesn’t give up.


fs1 by M Patterson, on Flickr



fs2 by M Patterson, on Flickr


That being said I did go ahead and cut the ball joint rivets out of the control arms and removed and installed the bushings (this time). Cade did do the new ball joint installation.


fs3 by M Patterson, on Flickr


By the time we were done Sunday we had everything ready to go back together Monday. For being around a front suspension all day I actually went into the house at the end of the day pretty clean……..Cade no so much (as it should be)



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Good job grandpa he can't learn watching, and he will appreciate it more when done.

Same way I taught my grandson, it's the best way to learn.

Agreed.
Some months back my grandson took two hours to change a fan-belt on his car with an uncle and Gah (which is what they all call me,) watching on.
But he did it entirely on his own and was terribly proud of himself.
And he too learnt a few little tricks...you don't realise how much you know until you strike someone who knows absolutely nothing.

(His stepfather is an engineer but won't let the boy anywhere near his workshop.
Sad; but what can I do?)

(His stepfather is an engineer but won't let the boy anywhere near his workshop.
Sad; but what can I do?)[/QUOTE]

Just adds to what I think of fellow engineers

Another fun filled day. It actually went fairly well. The new springs fought going in a little and Cade learned some of Grandpa’s magic words for such occasions (although I suspect he probably already knows them. )

When we took it apart the front shocks turned out to be junk (I wasn’t real surprised). We hadn’t ordered new shocks so Cade asked how much they would cost and how long it would take to get a pair. As it turned out I happened to have a brand new pair out in the shed (left over from the 37). Cades' attitude about working for me and working on the car has been really good throughout so I donated them to the cause.

fs5 by M Patterson, on Flickr



He also learned how to hand pack wheel bearings. I don’t think he thought too much of that little exercise

fs6 by M Patterson, on Flickr


By the end of the day it was all back together though, and it’s back in the shed. Next up will be an alignment and tires I suspect.


fs7 by M Patterson, on Flickr


Thanks for the complements guys, I’ve got to admit this is probably one of, if not the most rewarding things I’ve done.



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Originally Posted by Mike P

Another fun filled day. It actually went fairly well. The new springs fought going in a little and Cade learned some of Grandpa’s magic words for such occasions (although I suspect he probably already knows them. )

When we took it apart the front shocks turned out to be junk (I wasn’t real surprised). We hadn’t ordered new shocks so Cade asked how much they would cost and how long it would take to get a pair. As it turned out I happened to have a brand new pair out in the shed (left over from the 37). Cades' attitude about working for me and working on the car has been really good throughout so I donated them to the cause.

fs5 by M Patterson, on Flickr



He also learned how to hand pack wheel bearings. I don’t think he thought too much of that little exercise

fs6 by M Patterson, on Flickr


By the end of the day it was all back together though, and it’s back in the shed. Next up will be an alignment and tires I suspect.


fs7 by M Patterson, on Flickr


Thanks for the complements guys, I’ve got to admit this is probably one of, if not the most rewarding things I’ve done.



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This project sure looks good on you Mike! Great to share what you've learned with Cade while teaching him a work ethic that will last him a lifetime!

Ditto what Dave said. Sad to hear that the engineer isn't up for sharing!

More great teaching by you and it sounds like he's picking up stuff fairly well. He's probably one of very few kids in your area (or state) that has any clue how to do these things now.

Another Sunday come and gone. Cade did the last of the weed eating for the year. After that we got the 2 trees I cut down a couple of weeks ago cut up and stacked.....I cut Cade stacked. With this and the wood we cut up this spring that makes a little over a cord of wood ready for my daughters stove this winter. I still have 2 trees that will have to come down next spring but that should do it for this year.


S1 by M Patterson, on Flickr

I had Cade drive the 74 around a bit to let the springs settle in a little. It sits a bit nose high and it will probably take a full year for them to actually settle to their final ride height. In the mean time we'll probably play with front and rear tire sizes to level it a bit more and may do something with the rear springs before we send it out for alignment.

S2 by M Patterson, on Flickr


We also needed to switch the cars around so I could get the 77 Mustang II out to check over before the wife starts driving that this winter. I told Cade he could drive it around the arena a bit if he washed it first.......big surprise it got a bath

Even though I pretty much detuned the car before giving it to Donna to drive (traded the Edelbrock heads for small valve low compression smoggers, pulled the 4 speed and installed a C4 and pulled the POSI) the old 351W still move the car down the road pretty smartly. Cade was impressed anyway....especially when what he had to compare it to was a 2.3 4 banger.


S3 by M Patterson, on Flickr

It will be a couple of weeks before Cade's over again, but that will give me a chance to get some of my stuff done.


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