1973 Mach 1

Thought I'd post details of the latest revision of my Mach 1. I've owned this car since 1994 and have had 4 or 5 different 385 combinations in it. The latest is a pump gas 532 that has run 10.7/126 so far (I've only raced it twice and I'm pretty sure it has quite a bit left in it on a better track and a little more fiddling). The build is pretty standard:

4.44 bore/4.3 stroke D1 block
6.7 eagle rods, Probe dished pistons - 11.0:1 compression
Old-school Crane flat tappet cam (266/276 @0.050, .610/.630 lift, 108 sep. in on a 104)
Home ported aluminum SCJ heads, timing seems best at about 30 degrees
Torker II intake for air cleaner/hood clearance
Pro systems 4150 carb
Stock Car Products 16" air cleaner with K&N filter (run at the track)
Ford Motorsports mechanical waterpump, March pulleys, and circa 1970 factory Ford flex fan

Home-built, rollerized C4 with PA valve body and planetary (haven't tried transbrake yet)
UCC 9" converter, 4500 - 5000 stall
9" rear, 4.33 gears, Ladder bar car, 5-point roll bar
MT ET Streets 30x13.5
Full 3.5" exhaust exiting under the bumper with Dynomax oval UltraFlows

For this build, I bought many of the parts listed and had work done by many of the forum members here and the other site - thanks again. I haven't weighed the car since I put the steel hood and full exhaust back on, but it's in the 3500lb range. My old roller 512 went 9.90/138 with a 1.35 short time, this combination so far has only went a 1.50 short-time - I think once I get that worked out I should pick up a few tenths. I also may try another camshaft with about 10 degrees less intake duration and a little more lift - I think this cam may be bleeding off too much cylinder pressure for 11:1. I also have a Victor and 1150 I could put on, but I've been side-tracked lately with a different form of drag racing (see picture). Hope everybody had a good Christmas/New Years.

Beautiful car. I've got one that doesn't look nearly that good. It needs a new home.

Brian,
Glad you finally made it over here and posted your build up pics. Your car is my favorite Mach I in the 71-73 era. Your brothers is second. Talk with you soon.

Very nice Mustang Brian,FAST too.

Brian,

Your Mach I is one clean mean looking car,in your interior picture is there a roll bar in there?Is that a Can-Am 4 wheeler your racing what cc engine is it and what did it run in the 1/8 mile?Brian is a class act i bought a converter off him and he delivered it to within 5 minutes of my house.I met him with my car he's the only guy on here that has seen it in person[for people that haven't seen my car]he can back me up on that.

Later Mark.

Thanks Guys. The car looks alot better in the pictures then in real life. It was last painted around 1980 (I'm the second owner) and is very solid but getting a little rough around the edges. Makes it nice though because I don't have to worry so much when I race it.

Mark, The car has a 5-point bar and the door bar is removable (and not there in the picture) - it makes it nice for when not racing. I just wouldn't want to go much faster without more protection. The Can-am is an 800R and is alot of fun. It runs 7.9 on a 500ft dirt track - I don't know what that would equate to in the eighth? It's all stock (for now . Take care.

Brian,

I looked at you pictures again and noticed the track where your racing the 4 wheeler was dirt.A 7.90 in 500 ft seems pretty good that's only 160 feet shorter than the 1/8 mile.What's you weather like where you live we've had about 18 inches of snow since Friday.I like to start the Mustang every couple weeks but it's to damn cold and snowy for that.Take care and stay warm,Later Mark.

I absolutly love this car! keep upi the great work and keep us posted.

Brian
One of the nicest guys you will ever meet. I met Brian back in the late 80's,early 90's. Yes Brian I did, I worked at the Sunoco on 40! You, your brother and Charlie Booze would stop in for gas and shoot the shit! Any how welcome aboard and your car is still my favorite mustang!...Jason (65 fairlane)

Hey Jason, Hard to believe that was 20 years ago....those were fun times for sure. If you had a 12 second car you were a bad bad man. Good seeing you down at the track this fall. Hope to see you down there this coming year a little more now that the car is back together. A little cold right now.

Car looks killer !!!

Nice Mach 1. Is it minitubbed out back or does that tire fit with no problems?

It's mini-tubbed and the quarters were opened up about 1/2" in front of and rear of the tire. Stock frame rails are there, though.

Brian,

I just looked at your pictures again and noticed your core support is gone.Did you do that to save some weight,the radiator brackets look nice that you made up.

Later Mark.

Mark, The previous owner removed it to save weight.

Brian, the engine bay looks really cleaned up. Of coarse this is the first time I think I have seen it without the airpan setup. nice looking air cleaner too, really fits with the valve covers, heads and water pump.

Travis

Brian,

The last owner did a nice job on the radiator brackets,i just noticed your master cylinder is that a single resevoir?If it's how good do your brakes work with it,Later Mark.

Mark, The brackets are functional but nothing fancy - believe it or not they're copper water pipe painted black - gets the job done I guess. The master cylinder is from a 87' Honda CRX. It has a really small bore and did improve the braking since the car no longer has the brake booster. I still wouldn't call the brakes great, though (probably marginal would be more like it )

Brian,

Thanks let me know how your car runs this year if you take it to the track.By the way your interior color is the same as my cousins 73 Mustang.

Later Mark.

Nice ride man!
Im working on my 1973 mustang coupe. building a 557 for it

Thats a slick ride Bryan, I knew my converter went to a good home..................

I'm late to the party but that is a great looking car. Nice to see an original color.

Nevs wrote:Beautiful car. I've got one that doesn't look nearly that good. It needs a new home.

needs another home? tell me about it

just sold my 71 r code< to buy a boss 429, 1971 still have my j code,

BOSS 429 wrote:

Nevs wrote:Beautiful car. I've got one that doesn't look nearly that good. It needs a new home.

needs another home? tell me about it

just sold my 71 r code< to buy a boss 429, 1971 still have my j code,

PM sent.

Sweet Stang Bryan.....exciting to see someone else with a 71-73 Stang...............D