1969 Mach 1

The 1969 mustang has been one of dream cars for as long as I can remember. I was fortunate enough to stumble into the opportunity to purchase a premium example, a 1969 Mach 1. The family auto body shop had purchased the car at auction, it had been involved in a minor front end collision. But the car was an Arizona "rust free" car. Hard to believe right? But it was indeed rust free, not a drop of rust. No patch panels or body filler were present.

So the family body shop fixed the car and had it for sale. Advertised as an unrestored 1969 Mach 1, and of course a rebuilt title. The car was painted all over with the front end collision damage repaired. The car sat for a long time, and whispered to me under the layer f dust the had been accumulating on her.

 I wanted a classic cruiser to enjoy with my wife and children while I work on restoring and finishing my other hot rods. So I didn't plan to have this car tore apart for extended periods, because that is what I am known for doing. 

So, after much self deliberation, I decided to buy it. A factory trim, unrestored but numbers matching Mach 1 mustang. So I got the car to my own shop and quickly discovered what a cherry car this was. The original interior, save for a reproduction dash pad and new carpet, happened to be in excellent condition. The body has super straight and clean underneath. The old 351 Windsor and FMX transmission ran great. 

This was good and bad. I had always pictured my dream 69 mustang as a pro-touring restomod beast machine. Not factory spec and trim. But this car was to good to mess up I thought. Even though the car needs major freshening up in a few areas So for now I have comprimised. I am upgrading things here and there and doing some subtle mods. I cant leave a car alone, if its mine I have to tinker with it to be happy. Make it my own.

So here is a pic of the day I bought it

I have big plans for this car in the future. But for now I am doing some tasteful mods, the car doesn't look like this any more.

And as for not tearing it apart...… the Mach 1 had other plans.

The wiring in the car had made this mustang a rolling fire hazard and I couldn't have that. So stay tuned for the next series of posts the will cover rewiring the old pony car. Since I have it apart I am also doing a few extra things to be revealed later.

Thanks for stopping by - J

Welcome to WRENCHES to Words!

       This is a project I have been wanting to try out for quite some time. I want to share my passion for cars, trucks, and the many automotive projects I have. This will be more of an entertainment type of page, highlighting the ups and downs of all kinds of projects. This wont be a step by step, "how to" blog, but hopefully I can give some insight if you were to find yourself in similar situations!

      I have been in love with cars and trucks since I was little. Some of my more fond childhood memories are centered around automtive culture. From old classics, to modern muscle. Antique tractors and hit and miss engines. Fourwheelers, golf carts, and RC cars. I love it all. Now that I am older I have come to really appreciate the classic hotrod, restomod, culture the most.

      I have spent the majority of my free time on this earth working on vehicles motivated by the wizardry that is Internal Combustion. Am I qualified to teach or show you how to work on said subject? No, absolutely not. But I am, however, emensely qualified to share my struggles and victories. But I digress.

      Since I could walk and talk I have been hanging around and working in the family body shop up until I went to college to be a machinist. They did collision repair, minor mechanical work, brakes, tires oil, and best of all, classic car restorations. There is a picture of yours truly that shows a five year old me "welding"...…. with a pinwheel?

  I loved those days.
        I have been a Professional Machinery Mechanic for over thirteen years, I have since moved up in that career path and am no longer on the front lines of wrenches and in the trenches of grease. But I do miss it. Luckily I have an exhuastive supply of my own projects looming over my head in my own shop.

        But this blog came about with me just wanting to share my passion with others from a hands on real world point of view. And this is it, here and now, Wrenches to Words. I will admit I did look at other platfors to reach you on, like Youtube for instance. But I am a socially awkward person, to the point its almost painful. The thought of talking through a camera to the masses seems cringe worthy on my part. I was blessed with a few skills  in life. Being a camera personality is not one of them!

      So this is my platform of creating written mechiancal bliss for you. I still might create a youtube channel as a video archive to support this blog. Some things just cant be captured into words. Like the heart fluttering, chest thumping sound of an aggressive cam counting out. So this is Wrenches to Words, hope you enjoy and thanks for stopping by ~ J