Mustang Clutch

I've had this Mustang for the last 8 years or so and
it had finally lost its "get-up and go", which meant
that the clutch began slipping, so it was high
time for a new clutch to be installed.

If you have a weekend with good weather,
and all the tools and parts needed and a friend or
two willing to help, then this project could probably
be completed within a day or two...

Here's a look at a few photos
from our weekend project-

1987 Ford Mustang 5.0 clutch

After the transmission was removed, 

this was the view from underneath the dirty beast.

The tranny had a coating of grime 

that warranted a trip of its own to the car wash. 



1987 Ford Mustang 5.0

Don't let the beautiful weather fool you...

It was breezy, but HOT with 90º+ temps.

Removing the old clutch

Since the old clutch was toast,

and toasted, it was slightly difficult to remove.

A little elbow grease was applied

and it gave way...



Worn Pressure Plate

These two photos show how bad this clutch was...

with the grooves being worn in

from the heat generated. 

Old clutch

If you're starting off on a project like this,

be sure to have the little things that

matter on hand, like....
- penetrating spray, like PB Blaster

- soap, like Fast Orange (for yourself)

- shop towels

- flashlight

- brake cleaner

- engine degreaser

Keep in mind that even though you bought

all the parts, you still may need to

rent some tools from an auto-parts store.

It's a good idea to call ahead to make sure

they have the tools you'll need and to place it on hold.

Once you return the rented tools,

they'll credit you back -

so keep your receipts!

Having these items on hand will save you
the trouble of going back and forth
to the store when you could be
moving on to the next step of your project.

Radiator Replacement

It was time to replace the radiator in the

1987 Ford Mustang GT 5.0

since it began to overheat (again)

since the seam began to come apart

along the side.

The replacement radiator arrived quickly

from Late Model Restoration Supply .

New radiator hoses must be ordered separately,

but it did come with the radiator cap,

as seen in the photo below.

See the shiny, new radiator...

In the photo above, it's not installed yet -

the red cap where the upper hose connects

is still on there and the fan needs to be re-installed. 

Once everything was installed,

and antifreeze added, the Mustang was started

and idled for a bit, so that we could check

for any possible leaks from a loose clamp

or ill-fitting hose.

It's always a good idea to double check for those

types of things before driving off,

even from a mechanic's garage.



Mike Buehler's Blue Mustang

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to head over to the local race track in Marion, Texas.
As we were walking through the pit area, we saw Mike Buehler who was sitting in his trailer, listening to the radio, waiting patiently for the qualifying runs to begin.

After asking if we could take a closer look at his car, he turned down the radio and walked out of his trailer so that he could answer our questions. Mike was even gracious enough to let us take photographs of him and his car, while explaining some of the finer details. I explained to him that I have a particular affinity for this car, since my first car was a 1985 Mustang LX. It had midnight blue paint, with the black molding and chrome trim around the windows just like Mike's! But, that's where the similarities end. He proudly told us that the 1986 Mustang coupe has a 302 bored out to a 306. Mike also stated that the engine was approximately 15 years old... which goes to show that properly maintained, an engine will perform for years! Mike also pointed out that the interior was stripped of anything and everything that wasn't needed for racing. Eliminating additional weight and most amenities, is the norm, so there was no passenger seat, rear seat, door panels or radio! Aside from the roll cage and racing seat, the only other items inside were the tachometer and a few other gauges necessary to monitor the performance of the car. Seeing Mike's Mustang on the track gave me a glimpse of the possibilities of what the '85 might have evolved into. If Mike's car is any indication of how it might have turned out, then I'm sure I'd be just as proud.

Fox Body Mustang 5.0

Fox Body Mustangs made their initial appearance in 1979. Ford manufactured this body style throughout the 80's, onto the 90's, until the body style changed in 1994. The photo above is of a 1987 Ford Mustang GT 5.0. Can you believe that back in the day, the base price for a Mustang GT around $11,300? In the 80's, this was the car that everyone wanted to be seen in. It's amazing how the Mustang holds so many fond memories. While fueling up the car, or sitting a stop light, many have approached or signaled to me to say 'Nice Car' or 'I had a car like that!' They'll go on to tell me their stories, about how they remember cruising with friends, crankin' up the radio, heading the park, the beach or the mall. Whether you had a notchback, hatchback or convertible, it would be great to hear your stories and if you have a photo, even better. Leave a comment and I'll get back to you.