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Driving a 10-35 year old vehicle during the hot Summer months can be frustrating if your Mustang is not
prepared. The following list of ideas will help you prepare for good times this Summer in your classic Mustang.
Cooling System
We cannot over stress the value of a
4-core radiator, fan shroud and 5 blade fan. All Mustangs over heat just by nature. The standard 2-row radiator and 4 blade & clutch fan are barely adequate for winter use. Flush your cooling systems and add fresh
anti-freeze and Water Wetter. Ford did not supply a overflow bottle on early cars, so we now offer a nice fitting overflow kit. Call us for the best selection of cooling products and pricing available.
Check Your Points
If you still run points &
condenser distributors, be sure to check your dwell gap on the points. Too small of a dwell gap will cause your engine to loose ignition timing and misfire will occur. Your engine will run hotter than normal and possibly ping
upon acceleration. Of course, converting to a Pertronix Ignitor would eliminate this problem!
Dial In Your Carb
A lean running carburetor will
cause your engine to burn hot and possibly over heat. Too rich will foul your spark plugs. A good rule of thumb is to turn in the idle screws until the engine stumbles and then turn out idle screws until engine runs smooth.
Using a vacuum gauge is also another method. Whatever method you choose, be sure your carburetion is not causing overheating problems.
Other general maintenance items for Summer use:
Change your oil frequently Hot summer use breaks down the oil viscosity quickly.
Check & replace air and fuel filters
Check tire pressure Radial tires loose 2pds of air every month on average.
Check spark plugs A good indication of lean or rich carburetion settings.
Check ignition wires If your boots are cracked or you see flat spots on wires that have burned on exhaust manifolds, change them.
Check your brakes. The rubber brake lines, rubber boots on wheel cylinders can rot from old age and brake fluid contamination. If you see wet areas around any wheels cylinders, replace them immediately. Your brake pedal should be firm and not sink to the floor.
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