John originally built a different engine for this Mustang with World Products heads and a whole bunch of other goodies, but when he went to prime it there was no oil pressure. Turns out the dip-stick who assembled the thing forgot an oil gallery plug. When John learned he would have to take the engine out of the car and tear it apart, he decided on a quick fix and bought a Jasper crate engine short-block and switched over some of the bolt-ons. He still has the first engine and is planning to swap the World heads over to this one soon. The Jasper 302 has been bored 0.030-over and has a Wolverine Blue Racer cam, stock heads, Crane roller rocker arms, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, Demon carb, MSD Pro-Billet distributor, MSD blaster II coil, Hedman headers, and custom 21/2-inch exhaust with Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers.
John has restored other Fords including a big-block 67 Mustang fastback, a 65 Falcon, and a 66 fastback. He wasnt going to go all out on another project when he got the 69 Mustang, but his wife, Ellen, became the driving force behind the restoration. She was there to help with everything from wrenching to finishing touches. They managed to swap out the bummer first engine together in only four hours. Now thats teamwork. cc
The interior was restored completely stock except for the addition of a LeCarra leather-wrapped, polished aluminum steering wheel.
As you read this, John Jordans 69 Mustang Fastback is emerging from hibernation in its climate-controlled bubble. We found Johns Mustang (in much better weather of course) at our Car Craft Nationals in St. Paul, Minnesota, and were totally drooling over the perfect body, hot red paint, bitchin 302, and clean interior. This thing looked like a prize-winning show car, and it was, taking the shows Peoples Choice Award in the Ford category. But the best part about this pony is that John built it on a budget and did most of the work himself. Even though he takes trophies home all the time, it hasnt caused him to stop driving it. He loves the sound of an American V-8, and you cant hear that rumble when its parked on the trailer. Right now it may look like Snow White in her glass coffin, resting peacefully inside the clear plastic dome, but you can bet this pony will awaken and dominate the streets of Whitebear, Minnesota, now that spring has arrived.