Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

[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!)

[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.

[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!

[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.....

[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

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.

[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!

[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

[Joe Grippo]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

great car and cool story, you inspired me to post my own story!

Cool! I was inspired by Bamfster's Chevelle story!

Thanks for compliments guys, lots of great stories here and it does seem many of us have very similar tales to tell. Many of my friends in the late 80's and early 90's had a different car every few months but I knew I had what I wanted so I focused my energy, time and cash into making it better. And really, things haven't changed much in 25 years, I still a have a massive list of things I want to upgrade or improve on the car. All in due time...

[tarafied1]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

great car and cool story, you inspired me to post my own story!

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

Joe, that's total greatness.

Awesome stuff. Hell, you had a pretty good command of the camera even back then!

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

What a great story and car. You're one of the smart ones who didn't sell his car. Way to go!!! Looking forward to more of it.

[JOES66FURY]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

did you ever think in the winter of 85 while you were sanding and cutting that the car would be doing wheels up launches someday...killer story...I really like stuff like this...guys that buy one car and hang on to it...there is a real bond there...killer

[yogreasygramma]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

My story doesn't exactly echo yours, but we are the exact same age and love the exact same Mustang (though a 69 is equally nice, in my opinion), and at the same time (1985) I was considering getting my first car and my mom bought me a nice album about Mustangs and I so lusted after a Boss 302 (of course, not enough money for that) but ended up getting a more "practical" car, a 78 Datsun B210, which I immediately went about restoring. Imagine taking your senior prom date in a B210...LOL. But that was it. I was not able to get or keep a dream car because of my constant moving (Army brat) and so my dream to get a nice 69-70 Sportsroof Stang remains that - a dream. I might even be priced out of the market by now, but I do love those cars. Thanks for sharing and keep us updated!

[Blazerteam]

Re: Joe Grippo's 1970 Mustang

Great story ;).My dad wasnt interested in helping,and couldnt..your dad,he sure did good.