This is my 1973 Gran Torino. It is formal roof model. The car is from Oklahoma and it shows. As it does have some rusting of the drivers side rear quarter panel but it is not that bad.
It is powered by a 302 with the FMX trans. The POs added a tach and a oil pressure gauge. They cut the instrument cluster up to add those items. It also has some old crager mags and dual exhust which sounds pretty good. Like all my other cars it needs work.
I have started to do some work to the car. I first replaced the power steering pump, the high pressure hose and the return hose on the car. It is too bad that they do not offer the factory style high pressure hose. I like that design better than the one now and it looks better. But hey I can't complain cause power steering is nice. On the downside is that the steering box needs to be replaced as it is leaking fluid. It is always nice to know that once a job is done that something else decides to go south.I also replaced the upper and lower radiator hoses along with the heater core hoses. I discovered that the car has a manual heater valve which explained why the car had no heat when I bought it in Jan of 2002. But that reason was because the heater core is bad. I noticed when I was checking the power steering fluid that "smoke" was coming from the passanger side. Well I didn't pay too close to where the "smoke" was coming from on the car. Well the other day I noticed it again and got to looking and saw the water dripping onto the exhuast and on to the ground. I almost have the heater core replaced and when that is done I will install the new battery tray I bought plus I have to grind off the two bolts to the old tray as they have become one with the car and are giving me some royal fits to remove. Then I will tackle the power steering box
I have started to work on replacing the power steering box. It is coming along rather nicely. I did find out that you will need a 1 and 5/16in wrench or rachet drive with socket to get it off. I will be getting an impact gun to remove it. It seems to me that I need to buy tools when working on my cars as I find that I don't have the ones that I need for the job. I should get it replaced real soon. Update on 9/01/2003. The power steering box repair was finished up awhile ago and I started driving the car. What a differnce that makes. I then took the car in for new tires and brakes. I was planning to drive the car to the FCA Nationals in Cromwell, CT. But the car had some problems that came up 2 days before I was planning to leave. I have replace the voltage regulator, alternator, water pump and thermostat. I also had new dual exhust put on with glasspacks. That sounds really good. Another update 5/18/05. I got the heater core ordered and installed but I have yet to get the back cover installed yet. I also ordered some POR-15 to halt the nasty rust that the car has on the rear wheel wells. Car needs a tune up pretty bad. As I have driven the car about 200 miles since I last did anything with it. It stinks because I really enjoy driving it.Update: 9/22/2006. I sold my 73 Torino back in July for cash and a trade on a 1964 Mercury Comet. I took my Torino on a road trip before it sold and it did awsome. Sounded good and drove great on the 100 mile round trip. I was sad to see it go. But I have other projects. I used to money to buy a 4bbl intake for my 351 in my parts car 1972 Montego MX.
