Updated pics of my '70 Mach1

[DarkBuddha]

Since I live in Seattle and my Mach is sitting in Tampa, it hasn't made any progress really in the last year. And with my father recent diagnosis and illness, he won't be spending much time on it any time soon. Still, while I was in town visiting pops, I took the time to get the car out, go for a ride, and take some pics.

You'll see the car is mostly together in terms of exterior, body, suspension, and chassis. It needs some trim, paint, some adjustments, etc., but it's most of the way there. That said, the motor needs some attention... seems like the distributor is off a couple teeth, it needs some detailing, and desperately needs the Paxton installed. The car also needs the full interior installed, but all of the parts are collected, so it just needs some time spent on it.

I took a bunch of pics, but here are just a few:


Awaking from its year long slumber and gets a bath:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img05371smallvv7.jpg) https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img458.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img05431smallcp8.jpg) https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img223.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0605smallaj1.jpg)


Some pics after a quick "spirited" drive:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img158.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0609smallff6.jpg) https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img223.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0614smalldk6.jpg) https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0617smalltt0.jpg)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0626smallgj8.jpg) https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img158.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0631copysmallxj2.jpg) https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0642smallhj8.jpg)

[DarkBuddha]

Some more:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0649smalleg8.jpg) https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img178.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0651smallil6.jpg) https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img158.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0635smallge7.jpg)


Back at home, and proof of my existence:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img72.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0657smalllx5.jpg) https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img72.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0663smallnr6.jpg) https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img72.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0666smallkg6.jpg)


Anyway, as you can see, it still needs work, but it was great to get it out on the street for a bit. It just makes me more determined to finish the car as soon as I can! Considering where it started, my father deserves a ton of credit for the time, effort, energy, and inspiration he's put in the car in my absense at grad school. Heck, the cool junkyard engineered stuff he's done are awesome by themselves.

I know it ain't a Camaro, but I just thought I'd share. :)

[DarkBuddha]

And just for kicks, here's where it started:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img115.imageshack.us/my.php?image=collage3ae3.jpg)

lol...

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

thats a really nice stang you got there.

[OLDFLM]

Looks great Wyatt!!!!

[64Comet]

Nice car Buddha! Where in Tampa? I never knew your car was here in my home town!

[DarkBuddha]

Nice car Buddha! Where in Tampa? I never knew your car was here in my home town!
I never knew you were in Tampa! You don't have your location specified in your profile. Actually, my parents have lived in Riverview for the last 14 years, which is where the car is. I used to live in Brandon and Tampa from '89-'99, before I came to Seattle for grad school. Now when I go back, I hardly recognize the place anymore... all the old rural roads and street race hangouts are overgrown with subdivisions and business parks. Makes me sick...

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Very nice!

[DarkBuddha]

Very nice!
Thanks Ralph! I'm flattered you like it, especially coming from a Camaro guy!

BTW, some of you may recall I did a few photochops before deciding on these wheels. Well, here's a comparison between my photochop and how it really looks. Pretty close IMHO. I do need to lower my car another inch or so though...

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[jaybee]

Nice car! I love the 69/70 fastback cars, IMO the best looking of the early Mustangs.

[ItalianBullitt754]

Wow, looking good man! You guys did an excellent resto/mod on that fastback. The newer wheels look nice and are cheaper to get your hands on nowadays.

[DarkBuddha]

Thanks again for the compliments. I think I'm going to send some of these pics in to PHR and see if they'll put a couple in the Home Town section. If the car was finished, it would be perfect for theire new contest for cars built for under $25k. Heck, I'm only into this so far for around $15K over the last 5 years, and the car only cost me $1200 back in '88.


The newer wheels look nice and are cheaper to get your hands on nowadays.
You're so right! I looked long and hard at wheels, but my budget was very limited and I'd always liked the late model Mach wheels since they came out. So, it worked out when I was able to get these locally for $250, and that was with the 10-15k old 245/45/17 Goodyear Eagles mounted on 'em. Spacers cost me $135 shipped to my door, and I got a set of aftermarket billet center caps for $80 and nifty Mach1 logo'd valve caps for $12, for a grand total of only $427. I don't think I could've done better for a set of 17" wheels and tires. :smoke:

[64Comet]

Things have changed so much around here its insane. I was born and raised here. All of the good spots are either built up or over run with young punks and foreign jobs. A lot of people dont know that Tampa used to be a hot bed for some SERIOUS street racing. Ive seen guys with full on trailered race cars runnin for slips or TONS of cash. Its funny, because when i would head out there, I never remember any wrecks, "crazy" driving that endangered peoples lives other than the racers themselves or killing of innocent by standers. Now kids go weaving in and out of traffic "racing". I know street racing is frowned upon, but when I used to do it, it just seems racers were more respectful and safer. Late nights in empty business parks, bridges, country roads, etc.

Great looking car! Let me know when you head back. Would like to see it in person. Mine isnt ready yet, but may be by the time you get back.

[64Comet]

Btw Buddha, you wouldnt happen to have your old 5 lug steelies still would you??? Would be interested in the if so.

[DarkBuddha]

Btw Buddha, you wouldnt happen to have your old 5 lug steelies still would you??? Would be interested in the if so.
Are you talking about the ARE 767s in the before pics? Or maybe real original Ford steels? I'm not sure I have either set available anymore. the 767s are on a '67 Ranchero that is rusting away in the yard, and damn'd if I can remember what happened to the Ford steels. I do have a set of '96 V6 Mustang polished aluminum wheels with tires that are the same lug pattern. I need to get 'em gone and would take $100 for 'em to see 'em go.

Let me know.

[DarkBuddha]

Things have changed so much around here its insane. I was born and raised here. All of the good spots are either built up or over run with young punks and foreign jobs. A lot of people dont know that Tampa used to be a hot bed for some SERIOUS street racing. Ive seen guys with full on trailered race cars runnin for slips or TONS of cash. Its funny, because when i would head out there, I never remember any wrecks, "crazy" driving that endangered peoples lives other than the racers themselves or killing of innocent by standers. Now kids go weaving in and out of traffic "racing". I know street racing is frowned upon, but when I used to do it, it just seems racers were more respectful and safer. Late nights in empty business parks, bridges, country roads, etc.
I remember that kind of stuff, and I just moved there in '89. We used to go out to Gandy bridge and race and watch. Guys brought out cars that weren't even street legal on trailers and ran for big big money. I remember seeing guys with stacks of money like you see in movies... with the little paper band around 'em for every $10K or whatever... and they would race for those stacks. I knew it was big drug money, but the action was too good to not wanna watch.:Alchy:

[OLDFLM]

Thanks again for the compliments. I think I'm going to send some of these pics in to PHR and see if they'll put a couple in the Home Town section. If the car was finished, it would be perfect for theire new contest for cars built for under $25k. Heck, I'm only into this so far for around $15K over the last 5 years, and the car only cost me $1200 back in '88.


You're so right! I looked long and hard at wheels, but my budget was very limited and I'd always liked the late model Mach wheels since they came out. So, it worked out when I was able to get these locally for $250, and that was with the 10-15k old 245/45/17 Goodyear Eagles mounted on 'em. Spacers cost me $135 shipped to my door, and I got a set of aftermarket billet center caps for $80 and nifty Mach1 logo'd valve caps for $12, for a grand total of only $427. I don't think I could've done better for a set of 17" wheels and tires. :smoke:

Why can't Pontiac release a similar "cool" wheel that I could retro-fit onto my old 'bird!? I wonder how the Mach 1 wheels would look with "PMD" center caps? I could try to pass them off as updated Ralley IIs! LOL

Can beat that price Wyatt!

V/R,

[OLDFLM]

Sorry About The Double Post!!!

[64Comet]

Thats when I was heavy in to it. Gandy was big back then and still is for the foreign jobs. Dotn go out there any more as those guys are dangerous. They just dont seem to have the same respect. Back then there were some HEAVY hitters, some serious street sweepers. Guys would roll in on stock wheels, negotiate a race and tools would come out and slicks would then be swapped in. Seen guys runnin on the rear wheels on the street. Some big money and sick fast cars.

[64Comet]

Buddha, let me know if you have those 5-lug steelies! Would love to take them off your hands! Not really interested in anything but the steelies, thanks though.

[DarkBuddha]

Buddha, let me know if you have those 5-lug steelies! Would love to take them off your hands! Not really interested in anything but the steelies, thanks though.
Which ones again?

These?

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img223.imageshack.us/my.php?image=driverfrontib6.png)


or these?

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?image=driverquarterop7.png)

[64Comet]

Buddha: The white, stock Ford steelies on the rear.