My Mustang was a love at first sight. Actually, I had fallen I love with them when they first came out in spring of 1964. It was not till early 1966 when I had enough money to purchase one. It was the final choice against an MGB-GT. My, then, wife was pregnant and we needed the added space. There were many heated arguments as to what to get on the car. She wanted a 6-cyl, auto. I wanted a k-code, 4-speed. We compromised on a c-code, 3-speed. That was the beginning of a long love affair. I never expected to keep it this long. 5 years was what I thought.
My son was born and we drove from Rome, NY to LA, getting almost exactly 20mpg. The Old Horse was still young and became my everyday driver. I ended up with a 50 mile each way commute from Thousand Oaks, Ca to downtown LA on 5th St. My wife was very close to her family, so we went to their house virtually every weekend for the next 3 years. My in-laws were about 100 miles away on the other side of LA. Needless to say I was driving over 600 miles a week. The miles and years piled up. I went back to grad school at night. Needless to say I never saw my wife and son except on the weekends. The marriage went south and the Old Horse stayed on for obvious financial reasons.
Over the years it became part of me. When lonely, I used to go out to it, sit and talk. It was and is a great listener. Finances kept me from doing much to it as well as the need for no down time. I did my own maintenance including learning to rebuild those k-h brake calipers. (It has never since been in a brake shop.) At 200k it got a new long block and clutch.
Slowly the bank account increased to the point where could put in a 1” front/3/4” rear sway bar,Monte Carlo bar, Export brace, and traction masters. Handling was much improved. Then, in 1983 I remarried. Now with the extra income there was some money left over to do some improvements.
First were Recaro seats. Simple bolt on, and the best single improvement ever made. Boy are those seats comfortable, even now after almost 30 years. Then in no particular order; 4speed top loader, 350 hp 351w, complete body restoration, 15” wheels. The early 90’s caused a slowdown due to relocation to the Sacramento area. The now Old Horse was put back into saddle as daily driver. Finally, I was able to redo the front suspension with TCP components – r&p, uca, struts, lowered uca mounts. Then a T-5. Next, time for 16” wheels which allows for the 12.19” Wilwoods in front and SSBC 11” at rear. A little more restoration work and he is pretty much done. I have no need for electric this and computerized that. Keep it simple.
The Old Horse is mainly out to pasture with a weekly gallop to keep things in shape.
It has been a good run.
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MustangSteve wrote:
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Hey Guys, 
