This is not the end of the story

Fortunately we had a long summer so I had some days to go for a ride with Sally. Since I'm not a mechanic and I don't have lot compare options how such a car should beave, I didn't realize how imprecise the steering workes and I also didn't have a look underneath, but my technical expert did. And the list of defects is long with some really serious defects.
It's really sad how people play with your dreams and even with your life.

Finally the great musclecar in Konstanz found it's way home

Mustang Coupé 1968

Today was THE day. But it was really not as glorious as I expected this day to be. The morning was foggy and the streets where wet when I got the call from the shop that again something with the brake was not okay.
I didn't panic this time. It was just a thing I got used to and I some kind expected. There never was a thing that worked out in the first place. But more surprising was, just like half an hour later I got another call, it's okay now.
So I went to the shop to get all papers to get the car registered. After having it registered we did a test drive, because I was afraid the problems I had last time, could return. Fortunately this was not the case or unfortunately. How you want to see. But other things happend, that's why I had to leave the car in the shop today. But only for today. In the evening I picked it up so tomorrow's our first day together...

Ready to hit the road?!

Yesterday the car passed the TÜV inspection. So I could finally register and drive it on the streets... if it drives.
Last time I had some problems, but the shop owner said, the car worked without any complaints. Maybe the car was not warm enough. I wonder how they do the test drives.

The musclecar with a dying race engine

I thought this could be the first weekend with my muscle car "Sally". But her engine still dyes, when stopping at the lights or anywhere. And the worst thing is, it doesn't start immediately. I had to wait a couple of minutes to restart again. This was really a stressful test drive. I expected it different.
Isn't it the job of the shop to test drive and fix such things? I wonder how such a car could pass the TÜV.

Musclecar test drive weekend in Konstanz

Ford Mustang 1968

Yeah!!! Finally I get the car over the weekend for a testdrive. Although it is ready, it could not pass the final TÜV, because the inspector who checked the first time, was not present. But since it is ready now, I get it for the weekend.
Soooo, let's ride the pony!

Muscle car - a dream is dying in Konstanz

After such a long time of waiting I really should have been excited for the first drive. But also after all those bad news I was not. I just was happy that it really happened. But finally it was as disappointing as it could have been: the gears popped off while I was driving, the engine turned off when stopping on a red light, the servo pump was howling when breaking. And the worst thing: there is no break boost support when the engine turns off.  And this part will not change at all. Now I understand, why some mechanics told me, that the German TÜV will not allow those break systems.

So what were they testing on the test drives before I ask myself. And why does this stuff all not work yet when there was so much time waiting for some connection parts for the break system. And how should the car pass the German TÜV this week? Okay, it's next week I was told today.
Oh Sally, I'm sorry for you.

Some pictures of the nice muscle car in Konstanz

Mustang front

Mustang engine bay

Mustang Steering Wheel 1

Do you see the difference between steering wheel 1 and 2? Seems it lost the skin...

Mustang Steering Wheel 2

Mute - silence - nothing

One week passed and I heard nothing from my Mustang. That's what I'd call customer service.^^ But it's better to hear nothing than getting mails you would not send if you were a professional sales man.
Last thing I heard was still the leaking break system. The shop owner told me, that the old break tubes are the last thing he didn't change until now. So that is what he wanted to do. But can that really take one week?
Hopefully in the end it's good for something. One should always see the good part in things even if it's worse. And that's also better for your health.

Getting impatient

One week passed and I'm still not on the road with my mustang. Old cars are not rocket science, but one could think so, if you hear some mechanics. What happend? I don't know. Seems really difficult to stop the break system from leaking.

Connection parts arrived last monday

But I'm still not on the road. Seems that my car is the less important project for the shop. Ah, I see: big parts of money have already been earned. And I am the calmest customer. So it doesn't matter if I have to wait some days more.
But there are also good news: the parts fit and the connections do not leak out. Now all air must be removed from the break system and then it should be ready. Finally!
I was really hoping I could go for a test drive today. But as always,  there was something else or someone else more important. An "emergency" who broke down on the road....

Again and again

One would not believe how often parts could be missing and need to be ordered from overseas.
Yes, it's still the breaks that are missing connection parts. And the order made three weeks ago still hasn't arrived.

After all I'm not sure if all this was a good idea. My dream has turned into a nightmare. Or maybe it was just a lack of information and I should have chosen the workshop more carefully...

Interior is done

Sorry for the quality of the pictures.

The former engine, a V8 302 cui or mybe a 289 cui - who knows

This engine has a big end bearing damag

Still not on the road

Everytime when it seems to be ready to hit the road, something still is not working or not working good enough. So patience should be my best friend now.
And if it's not the car it's the weather.

But I'm confident it happens some day this year... Really