Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

[Thumpin455]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

Another 41 year old here.. Summer of 88, now that brings back memories. I enlisted that fall and ended up in Germany so my cars sat for years. You got a sports roof $50 cheaper than I got my Cougar, but it took me 22 years to get it painted and it had very minor rust. Having a dad that will teach you is a great thing, mine could have but we didnt get along back then.

You and I are in an elite group, we still have our first car and it was a car worth having! I will never sell mine, and I doubt you will sell yours. Just think, you could have been forced to drive something less cool, but you worked for it and bought what you wanted. So did I. Wish kids would still be that way today.

Awesome Mustang. Wheels up like that is killer

[tarafied1]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

I still a have a massive list of things I want to upgrade or improve on the car. All in due time...

I hear ya!

[Joe Grippo]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

Jumping around some...here are some shots of my brake upgrade from a few years ago...

I wanted to get some better stopping power and lighten up the front end some so I decide to do a disc brake conversion around 2007. I went with Lamb Components, because I wanted a very high quality setup. Roger Lamb was great to deal with; I had to send him my spindles to be machined and received back an out of the box, ready to install disc brake arrangement that I almost put in my display case rather than on the car...






While I had my cash out I also ordered a new lightweight Mopar style master cylinder, brake lines and fittings from Lamb ....



What a difference! I can footbrake the car past 4 grand and and it will not move. I don't, but I can. I have been flirting with 130mph (best of 128.48) and the brakes haul my 3400# behemoth right down with no complaints. Some of the best cash I've ever spent on the car, I think...

I have a brake pressure gauge I still need to install one of these days. More later.

[mike343sharpstick]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

I've only had my car for almost 5 years, I feel like a noob. :D
Those brakes are probably the best looking I have seen. I have the aerospace kit on my car, the only "expensive" indulgence I did when doing the resto. Those Lamb brakes make mine look like a walmart kit :D.
Money well spent, good front brakes are a very big deal. Weather you are a drag racer or a road warior the weight savings of a kit like you have is huge!

As far as "still more to do", I have a major motor build on commin' up :o With those front tires that high you certainly have that taken care of. :o

[Joe Grippo]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

Mike, Tarafied and Todd thanks for checking out the thread and for the nice words!

How about some CARNAGE from 2005? Seems we snapped a head off an exhaust valve. I learned a valuable lesson, as they were the only thing we reused from the previous incarnation of the engine. It happened after running most of the season, we stuck it in back in March '05 and it ate itself up in late September of the same year. Good parts too, Manley Severe Duty. Stuff happens, Fix it Stronger and Faster! As the photos show it took out a head, and beat up the pistons, scored up some cylinder walls and bent a rod....never did find the head of the valve.









When we put it back together I used Ferrea Valves and went another .010 on the block with a little more compression. The engine is still running strong with best of 10.39 late last year...went 10.51 in the soup-like heat and humidity last Sunday.

By the way, the piston above had the bent rod and now resides in case in my basement (the one laying down)...a constant reminder of a lessoned learned.



More later.....

[Joe Grippo]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

Oh yeah, the other rod and piston was from the first 351 that I put together for the street and strip. I pushed my luck with the stock rods....I've got more photos but need to scan them...stay tuned!

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

The head of the exhaust valve probably got shot out of the exhaust and right into some spectator's leg. He probably thought he got bit by some bug.

[milner351]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

Bummer Joe!

I've heard that was a common problem on stock FE's that guys pushed hard on the strip, but I've rarely seen a "good" stainless valve do that. Major bummer.

Live and learn (expensively and painfully at times!)

[TheSilverBuick]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

Definately had some high quality pistons to survive that beating :o Thanks for sharing, because yeah, we do like carnage picture

[Joe Grippo]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

New Shoes!

[cantvalve16]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

Joe, lovin' your car, story, and history. You are a reminder to me to build up slow and build with good parts for the long haul. Thanks for sharing.

[Motorhead]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

Cool car, Great story Joe! Love the photos, I wish I had taken more photos of my cars back in the 1980's. Nice thing is I still have both my first cars, one of which is a 73' Mustang Convt that I've had since I was 15. I can't picture ever really getting rid of it either. I just need to get my butt in gear and put it back on the road. Guys like yourself inspire me to "Get-Her-Done!" Dave

[Joe Grippo]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

Thanks Brain and Dave. I love hearing about people that still have their first ride, very cool. And Brian, a quality part doesn't cost, it pays at least that is the concept I have always tried to subscribed too when I can afford it, of course. A lesson learned from that previous valve incident.... :o

More carnage followed by new shiny upgraded parts...One Saturday back in 2007, about a foot off the starting line I heard (and felt) a rather large Kaboom followed by an intense shudder as the car slammed back on the ground with a very abrupt stop. I had a street ring and pinion let go and with it a bunch of collateral damage. Notice the pinion support...

[Joe Grippo]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

So when I put it back together I went with Pro Gears from Richmond, strong stuff. Then I cracked open the Mark Williams catalog and ordered up a new Roller Bearing Daytona Pinion Support and a Billet Yoke, fix it stronger!




A new 9" set up kit, ARP ring gear bolts (not shown) and assorted hardware also were part of the new plan....



The Moser Spool magnafluxed ok so it was good to go...Ready to drop back in and head back to the track!

[Joe Grippo]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

Back to the track, yeah but not for long...After the first easy check out pass and then a second balls out run I noticed a puddle of red fluid under the car. Turns out that Ka-Boom and brutal shudder also cracked the case of my beloved C4 trans. So out it came and over to my buddy Tim's shop to get tigged up....

V it out...



Weld it up...




NOW we were ready....





Stay tuned, more stories and photos coming soon......