Freddie's Back on the Road!

**Jeff W** · December 28th, 2014, 11:18 AM

That is the best news I have heard all week.

Now that it's back on the road and reliable, what are you going to change/upgrade next?

**MacDee** · December 28th, 2014, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by ew1usnr

Hello, Gary.

What do you estimate the horsepower to be for your modified 200?

Dennis.

falconspeedshopdiswhite_beer_label.jpg

I had done a bunch of "runs" on Desktop Dyno way back when I was trying to decide what to do. With the 264-degree cam, I was getting numbers in the low-to-mid 200's. Of course, I really think numbers from Desktop Dyno tend to be optimistic.

Originally Posted by Jeff W

That is the best news I have heard all week.

Now that it's back on the road and reliable, what are you going to change/upgrade next?

Where do I begin?
I've got a new shift collar ready to go in. Is that what's needed to restore the reverse lockout? The shift linkage is really marginal. She needs new door seals... A GOOD exhaust system... Wife wants shoulder belts. That will be a challenge with a hardtop....

**Jeff W** · December 28th, 2014, 06:22 PM

Is the shift collar sloppy? I think the dropping into reverse issue is more related to a worn detent plate (didn't you put in a new one when converting to the C4?) or a worn tab on the shifter arm that goes into the detent plate.

I have seen parts to install shoulder belts in Mustang convertibles. I think that would give you some installation ideas.

**MacDee** · December 30th, 2014, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by Jeff W

Is the shift collar sloppy? I think the dropping into reverse issue is more related to a worn detent plate (didn't you put in a new one when converting to the C4?) or a worn tab on the shifter arm that goes into the detent plate.

I did put in a new detent plate at swap day. But we discovered when we hooked up the linkage that there is absolutely no detent action in the column itself! My shift collar is shot, that's why I was (am?) suspecting it is the culprit. Perhaps I should get a new shifter arm too?

Originally Posted by Jeff W

I have seen parts to install shoulder belts in Mustang convertibles. I think that would give you some installation ideas.

I have seen those. In fact, I purchased a set of continuous belts so I could do just that. I got cold feet when the straps of the set I purchased had a much darker blue than my interior, and they appear to be sewn such that the buckles would be upside down once hooked. I also don't like that the belt comes over your shoulder from low/behind. I know this would be uncomfortable, and I think it is also unsafe. Contemporary convertibles utilize a loop adjacent to the head rest that routes the belt as if it were attached at a higher location. I've considered using late-model Mustang convertible seats, but I REALLY LIKE the looks of my stock factory buckets, and don't want to change that.
I swear I once saw an early Mustang at a show that had stock seats but used some sort of aftermarket head rests with shoulder belt loops adapted into them. I've looked on the internet and found head rests that adapt to stock Mustang seats, but haven't found anything that incorporates a shoulder belt loop.
I'm in a quandary....

**dhbfaster** · December 30th, 2014, 08:52 AM

Here's one idea I happened to run across for the shoulder belt, for a mustang...it uses a part from a ford van.

http://68vert.blogspot.com/2013/05/s...der-belts.html

**MacDee** · January 2nd, 2015, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by dhbfaster

Here's one idea I happened to run across for the shoulder belt, for a mustang...it uses a part from a ford van.

Nice setup! Of course, my hardtop doesn't have a convertible top well to provide the attach point used in that installation. I still think I'll need a loop on the seat or attached to the interior quarter panel to position the loop above the sill line (sort of a pseudo-B pillar).

**MacDee** · January 6th, 2015, 11:31 AM

We took Freddie out for some "speedometer calibration" runs the other day. You know, drive past one of those "Your Speed Is" signs and compare to what your speedometer says. The speedometer is way off since swapping in the C4. We have a pretty accurate chart now that we'll use until I get around to swapping in a different speed-o drive gear.
We then just went for a drive along a higher speed highway. At about 45 [actual] mph, she seems to begin to produce an acoustic "beat", and it seems to get worse as speed increases. It's really annoying, and it didn't do this BEFORE the rebuild! I'm wondering if she maybe lost a wheel weight....
Any ideas?