New (old) 65 Mustang Fastback

[Mus7ang]

I just purchased a 65 mustang (previously a mustang virgin) and was wondering what everyone does to preserve their vehicles when they are only driven ~500 mile per year. Any special oil or other preservatives? What gas is best used for old mustangs, etc.? Thanks for your assistance.

Dennis
McLean, VA
pics of my new car:
http://picasaweb.google.com/135ops/65MustangFastback?feat=directlink

[atlanticbluestang]

I just purchased a 65 mustang (previously a mustang virgin) and was wondering what everyone does to preserve their vehicles when they are only driven ~500 mile per year. Any special oil or other preservatives? What gas is best used for old mustangs, etc.? Thanks for your assistance.

Dennis
McLean, VA
pics of my new car:
http://picasaweb.google.com/135ops/65MustangFastback?feat=directlink

Sweet looking ride.

I change the oil in my Mustang every year and use a battery tender for the battery. I also start the car once a month to keep everything lubed up and I move it a a few inches to keep the tires from getting flat spots.

[Oldstyl]

Oil changes 6mo to a year. Keep gas treatment in the fuel. Disconnect the battery and put a tender on it. My coupe developed some electrical glitches after I started using a batttery tender...could have been bad wiring or a coincidence..

[Mus7ang]

Thanks guys. As a follow-up, I know these cars used to take "regular" (leaded) gas. What gas do you use now? Premium or regular unleaded? Also, what gas treatment and or oil treatments do you use?

Dennis

[Mus7ang]

Who do you recommend in Northern Virginia to install a factory air conditioner in a car that didnt originally come with one?

Dennis

[GEE TEE]

Wow! that's a sharp Fastback. Are you sure you'll only drive it 500 miles a year? Don't assume you'll put it away for the winter every year. I find that sunny winter days can be the best time to drive an old Mustang, especially one that doesn't have air conditioning.

There are a few things to know about keeping your old car functioning properly. First, it is safe to use unleaded Premium pump gas without using lead additives unless you are using the car as a daily driver and putting lots of miles on it. You didn't say if the engine had unusually high compression or a big cam, but since I didn't see headers in the pictures I'll assume it is pretty tame and won't require any octane booster in the fuel either. Adding a fuel stabilizer is a good idea if your gas will be sitting in the tank for months, but if you are burning a tank and refilling every month or two, you'll be fine without it.

As for motor oil, new oils have recently removed zinc and phosphate additives that are vital to your old flat tappet engine. Use Valvoline Racing 20-50 or Rotella T to make sure you're getting what your engine needs. Otherwise you'll need to use an additive that's available from speed shops to keep your cam from wearing prematurely. If you're only driving 500 miles a year, or even a couple of thousand, change your oil annually (typically after the summer driving season) because oil additives that protect your engine deteriorate over time and must be replaced. If you are driving more than that, just follow the old rule of changing oil every 3000 miles. If you are operating under severe conditions such as extended high rpm or high load, you might want to change more often; you leadfoots know who I'm talking about.

Don't forget that antifreeze also has chemicals that inhibit corrosion inside your cooling system. Old coolant can become acidic and eat away at aluminum and copper parts as well as rusting your block and heads. Change your antifreeze annually or use one of the new "permanent" antifreeze mixtures for multi-year longevity.

Probably the most important thing is that when you do start your engine you let it get up to operating temperature before you shut it down. When the engine is cold, a lot of water vapor is created (notice the steam from your exhaust) that collects in your crankcase and exhaust system. Once the engine gets up to operating temperature, the water will be burned out of your car so it doesn't collect and rust things up. Of course driving it is the best way to get it up to temperature, and that gets all the drivetrain components working too.

I'd also replace the brake fluid annually. Your car has a single piston master cylinder that feeds all four brake drums. A failure at any point in the system can cause you to lose all your brakes. Since brake fluid actually attracts water and that moisture in the system can cause lines to rust from the inside out or stop brake cylinders from working, it is very important to keep your fluid clean.

In answer to your question about installing air conditioning; I can do that in my shop. Val's Mustang Garage, near Waldorf, MD, is a licensed and insured business where I personally care for one Classic Mustang at a time. You can call me at 301-579-2524 to discuss available A/C systems for your car.

Val

[atlanticbluestang]

Wow! that's a sharp Fastback. Are you sure you'll only drive it 500 miles a year? Don't assume you'll put it away for the winter every year. I find that sunny winter days can be the best time to drive an old Mustang, especially one that doesn't have air conditioning.

There are a few things to know about keeping your old car functioning properly. First, it is safe to use unleaded Premium pump gas without using lead additives unless you are using the car as a daily driver and putting lots of miles on it. You didn't say if the engine had unusually high compression or a big cam, but since I didn't see headers in the pictures I'll assume it is pretty tame and won't require any octane booster in the fuel either. Adding a fuel stabilizer is a good idea if your gas will be sitting in the tank for months, but if you are burning a tank and refilling every month or two, you'll be fine without it.

As for motor oil, new oils have recently removed zinc and phosphate additives that are vital to your old flat tappet engine. Use Valvoline Racing 20-50 or Rotella T to make sure you're getting what your engine needs. Otherwise you'll need to use an additive that's available from speed shops to keep your cam from wearing prematurely. If you're only driving 500 miles a year, or even a couple of thousand, change your oil annually (typically after the summer driving season) because oil additives that protect your engine deteriorate over time and must be replaced. If you are driving more than that, just follow the old rule of changing oil every 3000 miles. If you are operating under severe conditions such as extended high rpm or high load, you might want to change more often; you leadfoots know who I'm talking about.

Don't forget that antifreeze also has chemicals that inhibit corrosion inside your cooling system. Old coolant can become acidic and eat away at aluminum and copper parts as well as rusting your block and heads. Change your antifreeze annually or use one of the new "permanent" antifreeze mixtures for multi-year longevity.

Probably the most important thing is that when you do start your engine you let it get up to operating temperature before you shut it down. When the engine is cold, a lot of water vapor is created (notice the steam from your exhaust) that collects in your crankcase and exhaust system. Once the engine gets up to operating temperature, the water will be burned out of your car so it doesn't collect and rust things up. Of course driving it is the best way to get it up to temperature, and that gets all the drivetrain components working too.

I'd also replace the brake fluid annually. Your car has a single piston master cylinder that feeds all four brake drums. A failure at any point in the system can cause you to lose all your brakes. Since brake fluid actually attracts water and that moisture in the system can cause lines to rust from the inside out or stop brake cylinders from working, it is very important to keep your fluid clean.

In answer to your question about installing air conditioning; I can do that in my shop. Val's Mustang Garage, near Waldorf, MD, is a licensed and insured business where I personally care for one Classic Mustang at a time. You can call me at 301-579-2524 to discuss available A/C systems for your car.

Val

Val,
What a great explanation! Can we publish it in the next club newsletter?

Chris

[Mus7ang]

Val,

Thanks for the information. I appreciate the advice and will be contacting you later this week to discuss installing my air conditioning.

Regards,
Dennis