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Thought I would do a brief update. The car has been back together for a while now, over a month. After rebuilding the shifter it is working like it did when new. Haven't been able to drive it yet. Mainly because shortly after finishing the project I got extremely ill. I thought it was a simple flu. After 5 days of 102-104 deg fevers and extremely weak I nearly passed out, then, spent the night in the emergency room. ER Dr. and my Dr. told me it's not the flu, but I picked up one of about 40 possible summer virus'. It lasted over three weeks. I am finally about 80% recovered. If we have some cooler mornings or evenings this next weekend I plan on taking the Mach 1 out for a drive.
I think I found the power steering leak in my Borgeson steering box that I started in another thread. The pressure line fitting on the steering box directly above the bolted joint I suspected was damp. I was able to tighten the fitting a little more. If it still leaks I'll have a new hose made. The hoses Borgeson provides are okay, but not the best quality.
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Hey Mike,
Thanks for the update on your car. I was wondering how it was going. Sorry to hear the news of your brief illness but glad to hear you are almost out of the woods!
It sounds like the top loader rebuild was a success. It is definitely not an easy job to tackle. I hope the leak is as simple as tightening the fitting. You have already been through enough with this car.
When you get your car out for a ride post a picture or too.
Good job!
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I'd say rebuilding a Ford Toploader 4sp. is a little difficult but not complicated. The most complicated area is keeping track of the shift rail detents, springs, and the interlock pin. One thing that helped a lot was the David Key main shaft because it is machined for a slip fit of the rear bearing.
Mustangmike, So far I like the cast iron bell housing over the aluminum type. It's not a bulky leaving a little more open space in that area.
Regards,
Mike
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(08-01-2017, 09:05 AM)1969_Mach1 Wrote: Mustangmike, So far I like the cast iron bell housing over the aluminum type. It's not a bulky leaving a little more open space in that area.
This is good information to know. I still have my cast iron bell in the event I run into clearance issues. I probably would not have thought about trying the cast iron bell if I ran into issues with headers or clutch linkage clearance. Thanks for the heads up. Although I am still excited about using that aluminum bell!
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I'm sure you'll have plenty of room with the aluminum bell housing. It didn't cause any fitment issues with anything on my car.
On the other hand, are your going to try to use factory power steering with long tube headers? The only long tube headers I know of that don't interfere with the factory power steering hydraulic cylinder are made a small company, FPA (Ford Powertrain Applications). They are expensive and made to order. All other brands require the frame mount bracket that lowers the power steering ram about 4 inches. Then, the additional leverage tears the nut inserts out of the frame, or tears the frame where the bracket mounts.
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Sorry to heat that a summer virus caught hold of you so hard - three weeks!
Anyway, glad to hear your back to at least 80%. Onward.
And successful headway on the projects!
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(08-02-2017, 02:15 AM)1969_Mach1 Wrote: I'm sure you'll have plenty of room with the aluminum bell housing. It didn't cause any fitment issues with anything on my car.
On the other hand, are your going to try to use factory power steering with long tube headers? The only long tube headers I know of that don't interfere with the factory power steering hydraulic cylinder are made a small company, FPA (Ford Powertrain Applications). They are expensive and made to order. All other brands require the frame mount bracket that lowers the power steering ram about 4 inches. Then, the additional leverage tears the nut inserts out of the frame, or tears the frame where the bracket mounts.
I am keeping it manual steering, the way it came when I bought it. The steering was almost effortless when compared to my Mustang that I actually thought the car had power steering. As far as headers, a friend of mine gave me a set of tri-y's he had laying around. I am not sure of they will work but at least I can test fit to see what clearance issues I am going to run into.