Sometimes an owner changes their mind mid stream about the direction of a project. Normally that is a recipe for disaster. This time I think it all worked out for the best. Let me know your thoughts on this change and if you think it was for the betterment of the car overall.
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An AI-generated transcript summary edited by a staffer is below.
[Image: Tony's Fords and Mustangs/YouTube]
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Summary
The transcript follows a major project on a 1968 Ford Mustang coupe, initially centered on getting its air-conditioning system working but ultimately taking a different direction.
Main points
- The owner began by removing the entire A/C system to determine what components were usable. He discovered that much of the system — including the condenser, dryer and lines — was aftermarket rather than original Ford equipment. Some of it appeared to have been installed by a dealership sometime after the car left the factory.
- While the A/C was apart, he decided to replace the existing radiator with a Cold Case aluminum radiator and clean up the engine compartment and front end.
- The Cold Case radiator was thicker than the original 24-inch unit and required modifying the mounting holes and making adjustments to the radiator shroud.
- Additional fitment problems emerged when the new radiator was combined with the existing three-groove A/C pulley. The fan and shroud didn't have enough clearance.
- To solve the problem, he removed the radiator again, replaced the three-groove pulley with a two-groove pulley, and installed a 1½-inch spacer. The shroud also required some modification.
- The front end was carefully reassembled using the original hardware, with the grille, chrome trim, horns, hood latch, battery and other components cleaned and restored along the way.
- Once everything was back together, the radiator was filled and the Mustang was started. The final result was successful, with the fan, shroud and radiator properly aligned and functioning.
Why the A/C project changed
The biggest decision came during the teardown. The owner realized that the A/C wasn't factory equipment and that getting it operational might encourage him to use the Mustang for long-distance or cross-country driving. Given the car's originality, he decided that wasn't necessarily a good idea.
Because so much of the existing A/C system was aftermarket, he ultimately chose not to reinstall it. In his view, preserving the character and originality of the Mustang was more important than adding a system that was never part of the car when it was built.
Final outcome
What began as an A/C installation became a larger front-end cleanup and cooling-system upgrade. Despite several unexpected complications and having to remove and reinstall the new radiator, the project ended successfully.
The owner considers the Mustang project essentially finished for the year, with only routine maintenance planned for the future. He also mentions plans to attend Carlisle and display the car with the 1967–68 Mustangs.
The next project will be a 1988 Ford Thunderbird, where the goal will be much simpler: make the car functional, perform basic cleanup and maintenance, and avoid the extensive restoration-style work undertaken on the Mustang.