1965 pace car restoration

[Zymurgy]

Thanks mate, were pretty lucky the weather is good enough to cruise all yr round here, but summer does get a bit much. 42 degrees here (about 110f) yesterday which doesn’t lend itself well to vinyl seat cruising lol.

After I posted that I wondered about you climate. Yes 110F is a little hot in a convertible, and you are just hitting spring now correct? Wow what are your highs in the summer? I don't drive mine much above 90F unless I can keep the car moving and not be in traffic.

 

[TerryM]

After I posted that I wondered about you climate. Yes 110F is a little hot in a convertible, and you are just hitting spring now correct? Wow what are your highs in the summer? I don't drive mine much above 90F unless I can keep the car moving and not be in traffic.

We’ve just started summer here. 110f is about as hot as it gets. The humidity is the most difficult part of our summer. Takes a little getting used too. Sadly we are the skin cancer capital of the world. Our winter/ spring is a nice time to drive with the top down.

 

[TerryM]

I bought a new clutch fan but I didn’t have enough room to fit it. So pulled the new radiator and cut a strip out of the sides. I also had the shop install a larger bottom outlet to match the hose size on the engine. Everything fits better now and temp sits nice and stable. I also finally got hold of a light blue top. It’s taken a couple of yrs trying to sort. The blue pinpoint vinyl was discontinued yrs ago from what I’m told. A shop in New York made the new top a couple of weeks ago. I had a few other major interior suppliers take my order without being able to source the correct material. Now I’m currently working through some electrical gremlins. Fuel gauge working/not working and couple of other things. Fitted a nos ignition switch which corrected a few things.

 

[TerryM]

Spent a few days sorting out the well liner and also fabricating up the missing corner pieces. Still doing research into how to fit the top at this stage. We spent Xmas day tidying up the cars and the shed. The kids bought me a small amplifier and an MP3 player. I’ve fitted it in the console space next to the shifter with the aux cord coming out underneath. I also fitted some modern speakers and it all works and sounds really good. Still trying to sort out my fuel gauge gremlin.

 

[TerryM]

I decided to get stuck in and detail the engine bay and underneath. Then last night I booked in an inspection for registration today which passed without any hassles. I’d only backed the car in and out of the shed about 3 times prior to today but after I organised the insurance I jumped in and gave it a 15 mile run in and around town. It’s the first time it’s seen the road since the early 1970’s. Ran like a dream without any issues. I still haven’t fitted the new blue top yet, just waiting on a few things to arrive in the mail. Will spend the next few days checking and adjusting as I go.

 

[Zymurgy]

Stunning work so glad to hear you got your first drive in. You had to be smiling the whole time. You have an incredible legacy for your family.

 

[Sixpactogo]

Looks Great Terry! Your attention to detail has paid off handsomely. Hopefully you won't have any overheating issues but I know you get some high temps down under so may need to add a shroud.

 

[good golly]

It looks great. Hopefully someday I will have mine looking that good.

 

[TerryM]

I decided to get stuck in and detail the engine bay and jnderneath

Stunning work so glad to hear you got your first drive in. You had to be smiling the whole time. You have an incredible legacy for your family.

thanks mate.

 

[TerryM]

Looks Great Terry! Your attention to detail has paid off handsomely. Hopefully you won't have any overheating issues but I know you get some high temps down under so may need to add a shroud.

Thanks mate. Temp sat about 2 thirds which although a touch high I do need to re time the engine. The guy who put the engine together said it might run a touch warmer early on. It’s certainly warm here too. 37degress Celsius and horrible humidity

 

[TerryM]

It looks great. Hopefully someday I will have mine looking that good.

Thanks mate

 

[tallhair]

Looks fantastic!

Thanks for the rad pics, especially of the straps

 

[3175375]

I decided to get stuck in and detail the engine bay and underneath. Then last night I booked in an inspection for registration today which passed without any hassles. I’d only backed the car in and out of the shed about 3 times prior to today but after I organised the insurance I jumped in and gave it a 15 mile run in and around town. It’s the first time it’s seen the road since the early 1970’s. Ran like a dream without any issues. I still haven’t fitted the new blue top yet, just waiting on a few things to arrive in the mail. Will spend the next few days checking and adjusting as I go.

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Great work!
What is the thing on top of the front bumper in the center? A bumper guard?
I have never seen one like that.

 

[TerryM]

Great work!
What is the thing on top of the front bumper in the center? A bumper guard?
I have never seen one like that.

The front bumperette/guard was an option in the US for the 65 fury. They were quite prone to rust especially the studs that hold the rubber insert on.

 

[65sporty]

I bought a new clutch fan but I didn’t have enough room to fit it. So pulled the new radiator and cut a strip out of the sides.

So from what I see in the pic's, you removed a strip from each side to suck the radiator closer to the core support. Can you give me a measurement from the water pump pulley to the radiator core. I am thinking about putting a clutch fan of the father in law's 65 sport fury and wondered if I may have to do the same thing to get one to fit.

 

[TerryM]

So from what I see in the pic's, you removed a strip from each side to suck the radiator closer to the core support. Can you give me a measurement from the water pump pulley to the radiator core. I am thinking about putting a clutch fan of the father in law's 65 sport fury and wondered if I may have to do the same thing to get one to fit.

The clutch fan is 3 and 3/8 inches in depth. I have just under an inch gap between the clutch fan and the core, but I’m not running a standard core. It might be different with a factory core. I’d just be allowing for the 3 3/8 fan and work within that size.

 

[65sporty]

Thank you sir!!! I will get out the measuring tape, father in law say's it's fine going down the road but will run warmer than he likes at slow speeds. It's a fixed 4 blade without a shroud, I would like a shroud and clutch fan.

 

[TerryM]

Slowly ticking a few jobs off. When driving the other day I noticed the wheel felt a little loose. Turns out I’d forgot to install the nut. Not sure how I missed that. I also swapped out the original 65 power steering pump bracket for a later model one. Tonight I installed the correct blue convertible top boot. A couple of years back I originally ordered a light blue one by mistake.

 

[patrick66]

Yum!

 

[TerryM]

Slowly fitting the top over the last few days. It’s been a challenge just trying to find out the process as I didn’t have a top to start with. Still have a couple of things to sort then I’ll give it some time out in the sun. It certainly wasn’t as hard as I expected but I can see how it’s very easy to stuff it up.