My 1968 Mustang Rustang

[GM_Guy]

Looking good!

[Tiggie]

Thanks guys. Gonna put some miles on it this weekend. I love driving it.

[87gtVIC]

That really makes the front better looking.

[Tiggie]

As mentioned elsewhere, got the radio back from Gadget73 and it's working great.

During the time the radio was away, another problem developed. Basically, a short somewhere in the steering column at certain positions of the steering wheel. First thought was something with the turn signal switch, but turns out it was in the steering wheel.

Steering wheel is a repop. ACP brand, not recommended for anything ever. Had screws that were too long, so they used washers to space them out. Said washer contacted the steering wheel hub. Normally wouldn't be a problem except the part the screw went into is 12V hot all the time for the horn. The steering shaft isn't grounded except every so often as the wheel turns for whatever reason. When the shaft grounded, the short started and buzzed the headlight circuit breaker. Removed washers, shortened screws, problem solved.

[friskyfrankie]

Good repair you should not have to do. I'd let them know, assuming they have a valid contact point (one never knows, do one!).

[Tiggie]

Time for an update. And uh-oh update.

Blew the heater core. I think the combination of the high flow water pump, spirited driving, and no flow restrictor killed it. It was brand new SO I DIDN'T have to do this again. Oh well.
Pulling the heater box on this is absolutely not fun. The dash is welded in, so the box has to drop. The evaporator lines stick way out and the whole apparatus is heavier than it should be. Dang it.
I blame the HO cam!
The evaporator drain doubles as an antifreeze drain, which is nice, except it can only take so much volume...
Might bypass it for summer and revisit this in the fall.

[gadget73]

doesn't have a heater control valve that shuts off flow entirely? I thought thats how all of these older cars controlled heat.

[Tiggie]

doesn't have a heater control valve that shuts off flow entirely? I thought thats how all of these older cars controlled heat.

It does, but apparently it will allow coolant to flow at some point. It's vacuum controlled and I know I do lose HVAC vacuum under harder acceleration, so maybe that's related.

Bypassed the heater core for now.

Not very happy looking in the radiator. New radiator in 2020 with new antifreeze. I also cleaned the block out when I put the engine. I guess this rust was still hiding in the block and has made its way to the radiator. Also seems to be some corrosion.

[friskyfrankie]

Time for a through coolant flush.....

[gadget73]

Sounds like my recent drama when I did the water pump.

White vinegar in the radiator for a while will clear that crap out very nicely if its a brass radiator.

[Tiggie]

Sounds like my recent drama when I did the water pump.

White vinegar in the radiator for a while will clear that crap out very nicely if it's a brass radiator.

How much vinegar? Full strength?
I've noticed it does run warmer in traffic than I'd like, but that's on the stock mystery-o-meter gauge.

[gadget73]

I ran it full strength but regular household vinegar is only like 3% acid. Pretty harmless, but it does loosen up scale pretty well.