I think my Mustang is racist

"The WB" (thewb)
08/08/2013 at 18:55 • Filed to: None

I was at the local O'Reilly's getting some cutting compound to buff out some of the oxidation on the Mustang's paint, and when I got back in the car I cranked it over a few times. It ended with a pop, a bang, and about 5 liters of magic smoke.

I hopped out, flipped the battery kill switch on the back and opened up the hood to see what was afire, and chuckled. It had violently rejected the Chinese starter I got from O'Reilly about 6 months prior.

The smoke I had seen was the insulation on the power lead to the starter, which had grounded to the frame when ejected from its home. I disconnected the power lead, dumped the starter out onto the ground, and dragged it in with a screwdriver stuck in the one remaining bolt hole, still too hot to touch from my spirited driving on the way to the store. \

I traded it in for a new one right there, and after fighting the headers, the lowered suspension, and the transmission cooling lines, finally got it back in place with new bolts. While I was putting in the new one I'm pretty sure I heard "We don't take to kindly to your kind 'round here" whispered by my engine block. Jingoist jerk.

My delicate hands have fared better. The header tubes cool pretty quickly, but the block was scalding (195F at least.)

I celebrated with a Coke, fired her up, and drove home. It took about 1.5 hours to go from "bang" to "vroom," including the wait time at the counter. Not bad without a floor jack, and using one double-box 9/16" and 1/2" shorty wrench.

Commie jerk.

DISCUSSION (38)

sloPro > The WB
08/08/2013 at 19:02

not as severe, but a similar thing happened to me.

while out on delivery (yes i'm a delivery driver for the time being), i realized my ac was blowing warm all of a sudden, glance at the dash, battery light is on, and i'm starting to overheat. WTF. I made the delivery, while coasting, then popped the hood, and the alt/wp belt is nowhere in sight.

turn around, head to the nearest advance auto, buy 2 belts and 2 ratcheting wrenches 12mm & 14mm. change belts, return the wrenches and wash my hands, before the manager even knew where i went.

davedave1111 > The WB
08/08/2013 at 19:03

Several thousand Real Man points right there, I reckon. Double bonus for a Real Man story not involving the use of any power tools. Ten points off for driving a truck, of course, but the total's still good.

desertdog5051 > The WB
08/08/2013 at 19:03

I don't want to sound like a dick (but I will, anyway). Seems like most of the crap that comes out of that country is good initially, and then turns to crap after the importers are are complacent.

Example: http://www.charlottepipe.com/Documents/Info…

And this: http://www.charlottepipe.com/Documents/Info…

Paul, Man of Mustangs > The WB
08/08/2013 at 19:05

I've had nothing but complaints with those style starters. My last one decided to eat a bearing. The two before that just straight-up died. The two before that lost all their teeth. So now, I've switched to a Powermaster hi-torque mini starter. If it lasts longer than two years, I will have earned my money back.

Orange Exige > sloPro
08/08/2013 at 19:37

Like a boss!

Good work. Very inspirational. I pray that this may never happen to me - let alone on the job* - but if it does, I'll remember your story and have hope :P

*actually, this past winter break while I was heading off to my first day back at work (since the summer) and my muffler fell off -_-
Ended up just taking it off completely to get to work so I wouldn't be that late :/
And then this happened again a couple weeks later literally 1 minute from work. I made a new exhaust soon after.

The WB > desertdog5051
08/08/2013 at 19:53

You're totally right, from my experience. There's nothing inherently poor about Chinese goods, but if you do not QC RIGOROUSLY, on top of making sure you are very specific about the quality of every piece, you can be sure it will be made of re-smelted Revell Plastic.

They're all about making it as cheaply as possible, and if you don't specify you want X, you won't get X, and the onus is on you.

The WB > sloPro
08/08/2013 at 19:55

Haha, nice, double bonus for having a time crunch.

I had a WP belt fail once (noticed once I hit around 250F) but I was at a grocery store and had to call for help for a replacement belt. Car ran like a top at 250F. If the gauge hadn't read that, I never would've known.

The WB > Orange Exige
08/08/2013 at 19:56

Jury-rigging is always fun, cars bring out the internal MacGuyver in all of us.

The WB > Paul, Man of Mustangs
08/08/2013 at 19:57

Yeah, the one that died was always weak, it never turned over as fast as the one I replaced.

If I manage to make it to the end of O'Reilly's warranty on one of these, I'll definitely go hi-torque gear reduction when it grenades.

The WB > davedave1111
08/08/2013 at 19:58

How did you know I also have a truck? Do you have the mind powers?

davedave1111 > The WB
08/08/2013 at 20:09

I do have mind powers - watch out tonight and you'll notice something I did for you - but I was talking about your 'Stang in this instance.

The WB > davedave1111
08/08/2013 at 20:13

It's not a truck! It has 68/32 weight distribution, a solid rear axle, a reciprocating ball and worm gear steering box, two doors and room for two people comfortably, a large V8....

Wait. I guess it is a truck. Except it can't tow and it has low carrying capacity due to the low ground clearance.

Paul, Man of Mustangs > The WB
08/08/2013 at 20:29

Btw, what are you using for headers?

The WB > Paul, Man of Mustangs
08/08/2013 at 21:36

Hooker Super Comps. I tried the Mustang specific Hedman's but they didn't give enough plug clearance for the relocated plugs on the Roush (Windsor Sr.) heads.

The Hookers actually fit really well, enough that I can get the starter in and out. They are a bit close to my steering box (like 1/8") and they scrape on the ground because I have lowered the car (always an issue with longtubes) but they perform well.

Paul, Man of Mustangs > The WB
08/08/2013 at 21:40

I'm saving up for a set of headers currently, but I'm not sure if I should just get something cheap like the Hedmans since I'm only doing street driving, or splurge for something quality.

davedave1111 > The WB
08/08/2013 at 21:47

Thanks, you did that much better than I could. I'd only have got the solid rear axle. Does it have leaf springs as well, or did I imagine that?

Not sure the figures I found were accurate, but apparently the Mustang can tow 4000lbs in Europe. Not sure how much that stacks up in US terms, but in European units that's about as much as a team of peasants can pull, so long as you don't spare the whip.

Orange Exige > The WB
08/08/2013 at 23:11

Time and money - mostly money...
If you don't have them, you'll end up MacGuyver one way or another ;)

Definitely sounds more respectable to say you did a MacGuyver repair versus a ghetto fix. I've certainly had my fair share of both. And my car when I got it was a shining exemplar of ghetto fixes (maybe MacGuyver repairs to the last owner - ghetto fixes to me) XD

The WB > Paul, Man of Mustangs
08/09/2013 at 10:20

We put the Hedman's on my sisters relatively stock 4V 302, and it liked them well. They were of good quality and construction, and fit well in a stock environment. I'd recommend them, I don't think the Hooker's are really necessary unless you have significant engine mods.

The WB > davedave1111
08/09/2013 at 10:25

Yeah, it has leaves. Mine's not rated for towing since it was built in 1967 and is heavily modified, the main problem is the extra weight would bottom out the suspension.

In the land of the pickup truck, 4000 lbs is a pittance. A 1/4 ton pickup truck (which are ubiquitous) can tow 10k, and if you own a pickup in America, it's probably at least a 1/4 ton. My little baby-truck Ranger can do 7500lbs with the right hitch and it weighs less than a late model Mustang and has half the power.

Paul, Man of Mustangs > The WB
08/09/2013 at 11:10

Cool. Now to just get $200, after I buy a set of wheels.

davedave1111 > The WB
08/09/2013 at 12:57

Oh, I didn't realise it was an old one.

As far as towing goes, I'm not at all sure the 4000lbs was right. Maybe for an unbraked trailer? US vehicles tend to be rated to tow much less than the same vehicle in the EU - part of US protectionism for trucks, I reckon.

7500lbs is, what, about 3500kg? That's the typical towing capacity for any workhorse or larger vehicle over here, whether pickup, panel-van, SUV, estate car, or whatever - and only because most drivers aren't licensed to tow more.

The WB > davedave1111
08/09/2013 at 14:27

Yeah, an average Joe can go in and pick up an F-350 and pull a 17,000 lb (7725kg) fifth wheel trailer with nothing more than a regular driver's license. As long as the total gross vehicle weight is under 26,001lb (11820kg) any idiot can go towing it around.

As far as truck protectionism goes, that may be, but given their relative cheapness and ubiquity here, and that it's easier to tow with a truck than it is a smaller car, given the option I'd pick a truck over a car for a vehicle I want the maximum utility from. Most people who think they might tow anything ever will buy a truck because they are cheap and as nice or nicer than a car at a comparable price point.

The WB > Paul, Man of Mustangs
08/09/2013 at 15:10

What kind of wheels are you going with?

Paul, Man of Mustangs > The WB
08/09/2013 at 15:41

Summit D-window style. They're about $20 cheaper for the set than the Cragars, but probably are made by Cragar.

Sparf > The WB
08/09/2013 at 21:05

68/32 weight distribution

I hoon, therefore I am > The WB
08/10/2013 at 12:01

I'm really happy for you and all, and I'mma let you finish, but we need MOAR PICS OF THE '67!!!

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > The WB
08/11/2013 at 05:56

I've been burned way to many times with Chinese made car parts. I make it a point now pay a little extra for American made parts when ever possible. Case in point when I rebuilt my rear prop-shaft on my truck I used Chinese made U-joints (honestly can't remember the brand but I got them from NAPA) so there I was a month later driving on the highway when I hear a bang and suddenly the back of the truck developed a god awful vibration so I pull over double time. Climb under the truck to find on of the U-joints has cracked almost all the way through and had I not pulled over as quickly as I did, I probably would have had a prop-shaft bouncing around under my truck doing 60 mph. Spent the next 30 minutes pulling the prop-shaft off and thank God I have a center locking diff otherwise I'd have been stranded. I engaged diff lock and went home in FWD. I was able to find American made Neapco u-joints and it's been over a year and 10000+ miles with no issues.

I will never put another Chinese made product in any of my vehicles unless I have no other alternative. I am (and have) willing to wait for a part for a week or more when I could of had a Chinese made version the day of.

The WB > I hoon, therefore I am
08/11/2013 at 13:12

Imgur album: http://imgur.com/a/Sbrd1

Kinja'd!!!

The WB > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
08/11/2013 at 13:15

Yeah, the next starter I put in will be an american made torque reduction starter. The Ford starter design of this era was notoriously weak anyways since it's direct drive.

The WB > Sparf
08/11/2013 at 13:18

Yeah. It's like driving a mobility scooter with caster wheels in the back.

Sparf > The WB
08/11/2013 at 13:29

What kind of Mustang has a 68/32 weight distribution? Did you line the engine block with lead weights?

The WB > Sparf
08/11/2013 at 13:38

Maybe its 62/28. Its been a while since I had it on the scales. But it was bad.

The scary part is, it has aluminum intake, relocated battery to the rear, no power steering, no power brakes, an aluminum radiator, no A/C, and it's still ridiculously front heavy.

Also, it has a Ford 9" in the rear which is heavier than the original 8"

It's baffling how it can be as bad as it is. I've made a few changes with the fuel cell and component changes, so I need to re-weigh it.

Sparf > The WB
08/11/2013 at 13:40

What year model is it?

The WB > Sparf
08/11/2013 at 14:01

1967 Coupe

Sparf > The WB
08/11/2013 at 14:04

That's weird, I've never heard of it having anything near 60 front weight dist., what engine do you have in it?

The WB > Sparf
08/11/2013 at 15:12

302. I thought it was unusual as well. Could have been the scales calibrated incorrectly, but they were Longacre race scales.

The total was 3080 lbs. I did remove everything from the trunk except the battery, and had a mostly empty fuel tank. Add another 72 lbs of fuel behind the rear axle and that will come back to probably 59-60 or so.

Sparf > The WB
08/11/2013 at 15:23

Adding more fuel sounds like something that could have evened it out a lot. It's amazing how much fuel adds weight.

The WB > Sparf
08/11/2013 at 15:46

Yeah, I don't race it or anything, I just had the scales at the shop so I figured why not? Ideally I'd weight it with race level fuel in it, but I just put it on for kicks.

I need to weigh it again, I've swapped the tank for a fuel cell, swapped the carb for EFI, and made other changes that will impact it, but don't have access to scales anymore.