Another new Duraspark distributor. This is a 1976 year only distributor so the timing map has been neutered for emissions. So it needs a recurve as well as the pickup coil replaced as this is some problematic cheap thing.

The windows aren't even stamped with a number on the aftermarket distributor so you have to measure them and compare them to the table to figure out maximum mechanical advance.

I didn't use the lightest springs, I used the next step up since this Z390 does have pretty high dynamic compression I want to be able to use cheap fuel without worry of detonation. I'll map out the exact advance after the engine runs through its break in cycle.

Wells pick up coil installed.

The cheap aftermarket distributor does come with an adjustable vacuum advance diaphragm, much to my surprise, so no point in buying an expensive recurve kit. Just need the spring assortment.

This was the starter that was mated to the Z390 engine in the parts car. Amazingly this thing worked for the years it was sitting outside and never acted up once. When I was unearthing it I found a sticker that looks like it was a Ford reconditioned starter. Huh, I wonder how old that is.

I took it apart, cleaned the old lubricant out of it, put the armature on the lathe then dressed and polished the commutator, cleaned the brushes and gave the starter a mild face lift.

Done, should last many many more years.

The engine is as ready as it will ever be. This has another '68 front dress on it. I have so many extra parts I wanted to chose the best parts to make one really good front dress, then one ancillary front dress for parts and then anything else can go as it's just too much stuff. So that's why there's another seemingly complete front dress on this one.

The bonnet is off and starting to disassemble the XL's engine to remove it.

Good grief I just realized there are three FE's in a row, I didn't plan that shot, in adjusting the pictures (lighting) it hit me.

So the air con in the car worked when I bought it, about the only thing that did. Now it doesn't. I would wager it all leaked out.

Get a load of that shoddy R134a conversion and high side hose replacement. It's sad how so many have no pride in doing a good job anymore.

Gee these fittings are oil soaked and get a load of that placement nightmare.

After I remove this ailing turd of a Y390 I will remove the expansion valve and all that sticky insulation goo, then flush out the evaporator.

So this compressor is pretty new and has a sticker on it that says shipped with PAG 100 oil. Now the old receiver drier is still in the car. That tells me there is still mineral oil from the old R12 in here. You can not mix PAG oil with mineral oil as it creates an acid with a little residual moisture and heat that eats aluminum from the inside out. In other words this recent looking compressor is junk now.

I will install a new Mustang expansion valve, move the sight glass to the condenser outlet and make all hoses for this. Plus I will flush out the condenser and I have brand new reproduction receiver driers for 3rd gen in which the desiccant is rated for R134a or R12. I also have a brand new York that will be dismantled, cleaned, detailed and then filled with Ester oil. Then I'll assemble and charge the whole system with R134a and all will be well.

At this point there's nothing but gravity and one overworked ratchet strap holding the engine in.

There sits Sir Slams A Lot in the background. I cannot wait till I have more time to go through my unmolested C6 in my other XL and refresh that and install that. The C6 in this golden XL is from some transmission shop in Arizona and yikes stay clear away from them.