How do I get this Mustang (ouch) going? - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

RML · #46 02-28-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

I think its time you join a vintage mustang forum. You'll get an answer on exactly what it is in 5 seconds flat.

I think you are right, Tyler.

Richard

smiffy6four · #47 02-28-2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

I think its time you join a vintage mustang forum. You'll get an answer on exactly what it is in 5 seconds flat.

I second that! I wouldn't sign up on the Mustang forums and expect help on my Mercedes

lutzTD · #48 02-28-2011, 09:53 AM

they did not put that shaker on a 390 as far as I know unless he bought it aftermarket. it all looks right with the s-tube and all to be a 428 cobra jet so I would check the VIN. all motors were available for all cars back then. punch your VIN in here and it will tell you for sure

polution was the first thing people removed on these cars, more rare that someone added a shaker than removed the polution. a quick way to tell is there will be plugs in the heads above the exhaust ports

http://www.mustangdecoder.com/plates_1968.html

if its a cobra jet it would be worth a full restore. unrestored I bet you could get 20-30K

RML · #49 02-28-2011, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutzTD

they did not put that shaker on a 390 as far as I know unless he bought it aftermarket. it all looks right with the s-tube and all to be a 428 cobra jet so I would check the VIN. all motors were available for all cars back then. punch your VIN in here and it will tell you for sure

http://www.mustangdecoder.com/plates_1968.html

if its a cobra jet it would be worth a full restore. unrestored I bet you could get 20-30K

I'll get the VIN today. I do know that the original engine was replaced after one of the kids blew it going 120 mph. Seems like that should not have blown this kind of engine but I don't have any more details, like how long they were going 120 or if they had enough oil in the system. At first I was told that a smaller engine was put in but later told that it was the same engine. I think the VIN research will tell me this.

lutzTD · #50 02-28-2011, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RML

I'll get the VIN today. I do know that the original engine was replaced after one of the kids blew it going 120 mph. Seems like that should not have blown this kind of engine but I don't have any more details, like how long they were going 120 or if they had enough oil in the system. At first I was told that a smaller engine was put in but later told that it was the same engine. I think the VIN research will tell me this.

428's were easy to blow up, they have a long stroke. in 70 ford added a rev limiter to avoid the warranty charges of blown motors.

fyi, my friends nephew just bought a 69 super cobra jet fastback with 44K miles for $54,000, I have never seen a 428CJ convertable in person

RML · #51 02-28-2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutzTD

428's were easy to blow up, they have a long stroke. in 70 ford added a rev limiter to avoid the warranty charges of blown motors.

fyi, my friends nephew just bought a 69 super cobra jet fastback with 44K miles for $54,000, I have never seen a 428CJ convertable in person

As I begin to understand the engines available and the information I have about the car, I am thinking that what happened was, the car originally had a 428 Cobra Jet with a shaker and shaker hood. It was replaced with a 390 but because the car had a shaker hood, they needed to move the shaker from the blown 428 to the 390 to match the hood style.

lutzTD · #52 02-28-2011, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RML

As I begin to understand the engines available and the information I have about the car, I am thinking that what happened was, the car originally had a 428 Cobra Jet with a shaker and shaker hood. It was replaced with a 390 but because the car had a shaker hood, they needed to move the shaker from the blown 428 to the 390 to match the hood style.

yep same engine family so it would all fit. It also makes sense they would put in a 390 if they were off warranty. the s-tube throws me a little becuase the 428 had a different exhaust and shield so they may have done something wanky to get that to work. The 390's are much cheaper and pretty much indestructable, without the 428 your value goes down quite a bit, contrary to popular belief they did number the motors and chassis together, but the VIN numbers are still worth a lot if it is an "R" in the 5th digit

as I re-read I noticed it has the extra brace on the shock tower, that pretty much makes it a 428 car. they took this from the cougar to add strength for the extra engine power in the 428 cars.

DeliveryValve · #53 02-28-2011, 10:52 AM

In any event, getting a data plate information would tell you what you have.

Regardless if you find a 390 with shaker or a 428 CJ was originally there, you have a very rare gem in the rough and this car deserves a full frame off restoration either by you or your potential buyer.

.

MS Fowler · #54 02-28-2011, 02:47 PM

No, the VIN plate will not tell what he has. It will tell him what he had when Ford built it.

I'm not a big block expert, but there should be a build tag that identifies the engine and the change level as well as the date it was built. Its a rectangular metal strip about 1"x3 1/2" bolted on with some regular bolt ( no separate bolt, but one that was already there). Maybe one of the bolts for the ignition coil. That assumes that the tag on the engine is the correct one for the engine and they didn't swap out the one from the original engine to make it look correct. It also assumes that the tag is still there.

RML · #55 02-28-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

. . . on the back side of the drivers door there is a tag, get the numbers off that tag and then you can really decifer what it is.that is IF it still has the original door.

I did not see any tag on the back side of the driver's door. The car had been repainted so maybe they took it off first and did not replace it. Uncle Joe did say he had the complete original build order for the car though.

t walgamuth · #56 02-28-2011, 03:44 PM

Not knowing much muscle cars I have kept quiet...but last night I noticed the brace on the subject car and none on the 390 car that Tyler posted pics of and thought it might mean that the car was a 428 car. If they were known for blowing up an age appropriated 428 replacement will probably not hurt the value as much as in other musce cars with more durable motors from the factory.

DeliveryValve · #57 02-28-2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RML

I did not see any tag on the back side of the driver's door. The car had been repainted so maybe they took it off first and did not replace it. Uncle Joe did say he had the complete origianl build order for the car though.

Just get the vin. If the 5th digit (starting from the left) is an "R" it's 428 Cobra Jet. If it is an "S" it is a 390.

Or just run it here.

http://www.decodethis.com/PatternDetail.aspx?id=39

.

MS Fowler · #58 02-28-2011, 03:55 PM

1969 should have a VIN tag visible thru the windshield.
Also, unless they changed, they also used to stamp the VIN on top of the driver's side inner fender forward of the shock tower in a little cut out of the outer fender. Its also stamped a few inches away, but hidden by the fender so you can't readily see it.
Is there a decal inside the glove box listing optional equipment?

RML · #59 02-28-2011, 03:57 PM

I went over today to see if we could obtain the key. I got it, hooked up the battery (which dropped about 2.5 volts, just sitting unconnected, since I charged it two days ago) and turned the key. Nothing. A little red light by the ignition switch came on so I know I had current. No starter, no headlights, not brake lights, no horn, nothing. Didn't try the radio. I am guessing that the mice got to the wiring. There were seeds everywhere.

So at this point it is going to be a candidate for a total restoration. No driving it around the block. I told Uncle Joe that I would check on the cost of a restoration for him. Not sure if he wants to do that or just sell it.

Checked the VIN number. It is a '69, assembled in Metuchen, NJ, Convertible with a 428 4V V8 CJ Ram Air.

Richard