Keeping Cool

Posted on June 28, 2026 by Mustang Maniac

During the recent hot spells we have sold more than usual number of radiators for these classic cars. High temperatures in the UK is a rarity, but when it does arrive it will show any weakness in these old car’s system with anything from a leaking hose to a catastrophic failure. Early Mustang radiators also shared cooling with the automatic transmission cooling lines at the bottom of the radiator, so in effect the cooling system can be working twice as hard. If the welds fail at the bottom end of the radiator you could get coolant into your gearbox potentially destroying the gearbox as well. A few radiators below we have stockpiled, not all are from our customer cars, but a number are recently.

To hlp out we have put together a quick reference giide for cooling. This doesn’t cover everything, but should help answer a few questions.

Keeping Your Classic 1964–1973 Mustang Cool: A quick guide to cooling system care.

There’s nothing quite like cruising in a first-generation Mustang, that is until the temperature gauge starts creeping toward the red. These cars were engineered for the roads and traffic conditions of the 1960s, not modern stop-and-go driving or summer heat waves of today. With the right components, regular maintenance, and a little know-how, you can keep your classic running cool for many years to come.

Understanding Radiator Types and Row Configurations

Not all radiators are created equal, and when it comes to classic Mustangs, you have several options to consider. OEM-style copper-brass radiators were factory equipment and offer a period-correct look, but they’re heavier and less efficient than modern alternatives. Aluminum radiators have become the go-to upgrade for most enthusiasts as they’re lighter, dissipate heat more effectively, and are available as direct replacements that bolt right in.

When shopping for a radiator, you’ll encounter different row configurations. A two-row radiator was standard on most six-cylinder cars and works fine for stock applications with light use. Three-row radiators provide additional cooling capacity and suit mildly modified V8s or cars driven in warmer climates. Four-row radiators offer maximum cooling but come with diminishing returns—the added thickness can actually restrict airflow, and the extra weight strains mounts and brackets. For most builds, a high-quality two-row aluminum radiator with wide tubes outperforms a four-row copper-brass unit while weighing less and costing about the same.

Radiator TypeProsCons
OEM Copper-Brass (2–3 row)Period-correct appearance, easy to repairHeavy, less efficient, prone to corrosion
Aluminum (2 row, wide tube)Lightweight, excellent heat transfer, durableNot original-looking, requires proper grounding
Aluminum (3–4 row)Maximum cooling capacityHeavier, can restrict airflow, overkill for most builds

The Often-Overlooked Radiator Cap

Your radiator cap does more than keep coolant from sloshing out—it’s a precision pressure valve that directly affects your cooling system’s efficiency. Pressurizing the system raises the boiling point of your coolant, allowing it to absorb more heat before turning to steam. For every pound of pressure, the boiling point increases by roughly 3°F (1.7°C).

Factory caps on early Mustangs were typically rated at 13–15 psi, which was adequate for stock engines running on the highways of the era. If you’ve upgraded your engine, added air conditioning, or regularly sit in traffic, consider stepping up to a 16–18 psi cap—this raises the boiling point enough to provide a meaningful safety margin. However, don’t go overboard: a cap rated too high can stress aging hoses, heater cores, and radiator tanks. Always ensure your entire cooling system is in good condition before increasing pressure. A failed cap that doesn’t hold pressure is a common culprit in overheating issues, so replace it every few years as preventive maintenance.

Radiator Cap Pressure Ratings Used on Classic Mustangs

7 PSI Caps

This rating was frequently paired with early 1964½ to 1966 baseline inline-6 setups or low-temperature thermostats (like a 160°F or 180°F unit).

  • Pros: Puts minimal physical stress on aged vintage components. It heavily reduces the risk of blowing out a fragile, 60-year-old original heater core or splitting a weak seam on a factory brass/copper radiator.
  • Cons: Lowers the maximum boil-over threshold significantly. In modern stop-and-go summer traffic, a 7 PSI cap will prematurely vent expansion fluid out of the overflow tube onto the pavement, causing a persistent loss of coolant.

13 PSI Caps (The Factory V8 Standard)

This is a standard specification for most V8 Mustangs from Ford factory manuals between 1965 and 1973. It balances cooling capability with safety.

  • Pros: Raises the coolant boiling point by roughly 39°F above standard atmospheric pressure. This keeps a healthy vintage 289 or 390 V8 from “gurgling” or spitting out fluid immediately after hot shutdowns.
  • Cons: Requires the entire cooling loop to be in decent condition. While it is a safe factory baseline, an original, corroded heater matrix or a dry-rotted bypass hose can still crack under a true 13 PSI load.

16 PSI Caps

Commonly introduced via aftermarket aluminum radiators or when upgrading classic Mustangs to high-performance configurations (like stroker builds or track setups).

  • Pros: Substantially elevates the system’s thermal ceiling to handle heavy engine loads and high ambient temperatures without boil-over. Ideal if you are running modern air conditioning or a tight engine bay layout.
  • Cons: Increases system stress across all old gaskets, water pump seals, and hose clamps. Never use a 16 PSI cap on an original 1960s brass-tank radiator, as the high pressure can balloon or burst the core seams.

Mustang Maniac sells many styles of radiator caps, make sure you choose the correct one for your vehicles setup.

Regular Maintenance: The Foundation of a Cool Engine

Even the best radiator won’t save you if you neglect basic upkeep. Establish a maintenance routine that includes:

  • Coolant flush and refill every two years or 30,000 miles. Old coolant loses its corrosion inhibitors and becomes acidic, eating away at aluminum, copper, and iron components from the inside out.
  • Inspect hoses and clamps at every oil change. Squeeze the upper and lower radiator hoses—they should feel firm but pliable, not rock-hard, spongy, or cracked. Replace any hose that shows signs of swelling, softness, or surface cracking.
  • Check the thermostat if you experience temperature fluctuations. A stuck-closed thermostat causes rapid overheating; a stuck-open one prevents the engine from reaching operating temperature. Replace it with a quality unit rated for your climate (180°F for most applications, 160°F for very hot regions or high-performance builds).
  • Test the water pump for bearing play or weeping seals. Grab the fan (with the engine OFF) and check for wobble—any movement means it’s time for a new pump.
  • Clean the radiator exterior annually. Bugs, road debris, and corrosion can block airflow through the fins, dramatically reducing cooling efficiency. A gentle spray from a garden hose (from the engine side outward) clears most obstructions.
  • Verify fan operation and belt tension. Check the radiator belt is not cracked or split. A broken radiator belt will stop water flow from the pump potentially causing serious damage within a short space of time.
  • Electric fan conversions are popular upgrades, with manual override operating from the cabin can be great preventative measure.
  • If you’re running a viscous mechanical fan, ensure the clutch engages properly when the engine warms up.
  • To help with air flow fit a radiator shroud. This improves the efficiency of the fan pulling cool air through the radiator. The fan blade positioning needs to be set up correctly to get the full benefit.
  • Fitting a better designed fan will improve air efficiency through your cooling system.

What to Do, and Never Do, When Your Mustang Overheats

If you see the temperature gauge climbing into the danger zone or steam escaping from under the hood, pull over safely as soon as possible and shut off the engine. Turn on your heater full blast while you’re still moving—this draws heat away from the engine, but once stopped, shut everything down. Open the hood to let heat escape, but never remove the radiator cap while the system is hot. The pressurized coolant is well above 212°F and will erupt violently, causing severe burns. Wait at least 30 minutes, or until the upper radiator hose feels cool to the touch, before carefully removing the cap.

Once cooled, check the coolant level and look for obvious leaks. If you must add coolant to get home, add it slowly with the engine running at idle to avoid thermal shock to the engine block. Better yet, call for a tow if the problem isn’t immediately apparent.

What you must never do:

  • Never keep driving with the gauge pegged in the red. Even a few minutes of severe overheating can warp cylinder heads, blow head gaskets, score cylinder walls, or crack the engine block. These repairs cost thousands of dollars and may total a numbers-matching car in a worst case scenario.
  • Never pour cold water into a hot engine; the sudden temperature change can crack the block or heads instantly.
  • Never ignore the warning signs. If your Mustang runs hotter than normal, diagnose it now before it’s to late.

Driving with an overheating engine causes cumulative damage with every passing minute. Head gaskets fail, allowing coolant into the oil or combustion chambers. Aluminum heads warp and require expensive machining or replacement. Pistons expand and scuff cylinder walls, leading to oil consumption and loss of compression. In severe cases, connecting rods seize and punch through the block. The bottom line: an overheating engine is an emergency, not an inconvenience.

Cooling System Additives: Do They Actually Help?

Some are snake oil; others offer genuine benefits. Here’s what could work for you.

Wetting agents can reduce the surface tension of coolant, allowing it to make better contact with hot metal surfaces. This can lower operating temperatures by 10–20°F in some applications and is especially useful if you’re running straight water for racing. For street-driven cars running a proper coolant mix, the benefit is more modest but could still be worthwhile.

Corrosion inhibitor additives replenish the protective chemistry that breaks down over time, extending the life of your coolant between changes. These are particularly valuable for cars that sit for long periods or have mixed-metal cooling systems (iron block, aluminum heads, copper-brass radiator).

Stop-leak products are temporary sticking plasters at best. While they may slow a minor seep, they can also clog heater cores, thermostat passages, and radiator tubes. Use them only in emergencies to limp home, then repair the leak properly.

For most classic Mustangs, a correct mix of a quality antifreeze and distilled water, refreshed every two years, provides all the protection you need. If you want extra insurance, a wetting agent may be a reasonable addition.

Do your homework for the driving environments and what works best for your car. No single answer is the correct answer.

Evans Waterless Coolant: A Modern Solution for Vintage Iron

One product that deserves a mention is Evans Waterless Coolant. Unlike conventional antifreeze, Evans contains no water at all—it’s a propylene glycol-based fluid with a boiling point above 375°F and no vapor pressure at normal operating temperatures. This means your cooling system runs at near-zero pressure, dramatically reducing stress on aging hoses, gaskets, and radiator tanks.

The benefits for classic Mustang owners are worth noting:

  • No corrosion from water-induced electrolysis—a major plus for cars with original copper-brass radiators and iron blocks.
  • No boil-over in extreme heat or high-altitude driving.
  • Eliminates cavitation damage to water pump impellers.
  • Never needs changing under normal use, making it ideal for collector cars that see limited miles.

The downsides? Evans is significantly more expensive than conventional coolant, and converting requires a thorough flush to remove all traces of water from the system—residual moisture compromises performance. You’ll also need to use Evans-compatible prep fluid and follow their specific procedure. For a daily driver, the cost may be hard to justify. But for a show car, weekend cruiser, or any Mustang with an original, irreplaceable cooling system, Evans offers peace of mind that’s hard to match.

Keeping a classic Mustang cool isn’t complicated, but it does require attention. Choose the right radiator for your build, maintain the system religiously, and respect the warning signs when something goes wrong. Your first-gen pony will reward you with countless miles of trouble-free cruising if you keep on top of the maintenance.

We stock a huge range of cooling parts, click here for the link.

Customer Cars

We have been working on a customers Falcon, creating a unique set of rear LED lights for him. A Falcon first that we know of. The interior has a knew four part dash fitted.

Under the hood has been tidied up and cured a couple of running issues.

WebShop

We are in a good mood due to the recent hot weather, so Adam has decided that the next few customers who make a nice order from us will get a little free gift from us. It’s a mini all in one spanner, stick in your glove box as an emergency or quick fix tool. It’s no Snap On giveaway, but it’s a little something from us to say thank you.

Coming Soon

As one of the original and leading suppliers of Mustang parts in the UK we’re often asked about fitting of some of the more complex parts or kits we sell. As we have mentioned many times before, we won’t divulge all our secrets, but we want to help out. With that in mind Adam is in the process of creating a walk-through guide for converting drum brakes to discs. It’s a common question, not only for Mustangs but also Falcons. We will be creating a page guide for that process and uploaded on here soon. Depending on how it’s received we may post more user guides in the future.

Stay Safe, Keep Cool & Take Care!

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Get In Line

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Mustang Maniac

At Mustang Maniac we like to think that we get things new and trial them out ourselves. We have another new product going on our shop truck, our much loved Ford Ranchero. The Engine is an Inline 6, smooth and not in your face. The latest technology for the V8 cars is the EFI throttle bodies, like our Holley 4v Sniper or the Holley 2v Sniper , computer controlled efficiency, reliability and economy, a win/win/win. The down side maybe the cost, but once set up they are a dream. Our Falcon has been fitted with a Sniper EFI throttle body, which will have all the advantages of modern tech on a reliable engine. We have work to do on the car, tuning and some expected fettling to get it stable and consistent, these systems are self learning to your driving style. Once we have it running and and a few miles on the clock we work out if they are any good, if all goes well we may start stocking them. This is one project we’re looking forward to, yes it’s on our car but it could be on yours too, if all goes well.

Inside the car we have a new radio with all essential features you expect from a modern car, but the radio looks totally stock, with a little bit of Mustang Maniac magic hidden under the dash as well.

We have a little dress up item that we are trying out which are our new nut or bolt covers. It just neatens things up a little bit if you don’t want to see the see the nuts or bolt heads, very subtle and we suspect hardly anybody will notice the clean lines.

Customer Cars

One of our customers Mart from onemanandhismustang.com has recently posted about why you should be driving your classic car on a regular basis and the benefits. Some good points raised and we can add to that information with some coincidental evidence of our own. A C4 gearbox which was sitting around and not moving much. Some moisture which had gotten into the gearbox and caused unseen chaos inside. The moisture had pooled causing eventual rust problems, clearly visible in the photo below, which had gotten into the internals of the gearbox pretty much destroying it when it was moved. An expensive lesson learned for this particular owner.

We took the gearbox to our engineering team where it has been completely stripped and reconditioned back factory spec and is now in our stock. Ever wondered just what is inside the C4 gearboxes? Here’s just the more common replaceable parts, bands, friction plates, valves, filters, numerous gaskets and seals.

Just because the car looks great doesn’t mean all is well. Mart bought his car to us a couple of weeks ago for an MOT and we gave it a once over in preparation, (he shared his pictures with us). The car came out of winter garage hibernation ready for the car show season. The car was up in the air for a full inspection as soon as it got here with Adam and Mark performing some synchronized mechanical checks.

All was good except for the lower control arm which had play on the passenger side, which needed replacing to get through the imminent MOT test in a couple of hours.

Apparently there was some also some dirt which needed cleaning under the car, which stressed him out a bit, a fair bit actually! Mark replaced the control arm in record time there and then as Adam got the replacement from stock. Mark then worked backwards, checking pipes and lines up to the rear of the car then on to the rear brakes which were cleaned up ready for some adjustments. The car was taken for a quick road test and all was good with the world again. We let Mart take the car to the MOT center a mere fifteen minute drive away, not including the additional five minutes it took for him to sort out the SatNav. The car passed fine. Without an MOT or even a pre-check with us, that part could have gone unnoticed with a big failure at some point. Even though this age of cars don’t need an MOT – we strongly recommend that they are at checked annually or at least given a full check over mechanically when they are serviced.

Stay Safe & Take Care!

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Old, New & Soon To Be New

Posted on April 5, 2026 by Mustang Maniac

Our regular readers will know that we have moved location to our custom built offices further round the yard. This was to make it easier for customer parking, stock intake and dispatching of our customer’s orders. During this monumental task of relocating some significant heavy items or ‘stock’, Adam has ‘found’ more parts that which he can now get to. He has some ideas that he can only now put into place now that they are accessible. These ‘parts’ as Adam has been referring to them is his huge stock of engines, gearboxes and axles.

The Old:

Some parts, have been put into their storage locations and some parts are on racking. There is a method to the madness believe it or not. The first steps is to get all these parts into one area, then we can sort them out on properly at some point in the near future.

Adam’s plan is to take these old engines apart, get them reconditioned and store them properly. Blocks, heads, cranks, cams, pistons etc. date coded and logged. Some of these engines are highly sought after just for their rarity. Things like this inline 6 with triple single barrel carbs setup.

A few of the engines have been pulled out ready for reconditioning/restoration and ready to go to our engineers for a full overhaul. These particular ones will come back to us for stock as parts and not a complete engines.

Other engines are element secured storage in their own individual containers, these will be put into storage containers now we can get to them.

The rest of these ‘parts’ are now stored with some like new restored examples. The process for restoring and reconditioning of these engines and gearboxes will be ongoing and not a high priority, just yet. The logic behind it? We asked Adam what the plans were for these engines and gearboxes, his response was “Second hand parts – nah, we ain’t got none!” However, although they are not for sale, if your wallets are deep enough and you desperately want something, then it could be yours, everything has a price. Time wasters need not apply and try to negotiate.

The New:

A good customer of ours has bought himself a new vehicle which has come into us for a little Mustang Maniac Magic to be bestowed upon it.

This Falcon has been resprayed by us and needs fettling to iron out some little niggles. One of the challenges put to us by the owner is that he wants some LED rear lights. The problem is there is no such commercially available. We have been been ordering many variations of LED bulbs for size, fittings and LED configurations. We have then done some ingenious things with them to make them, a) fit in the stock housing and b) make them work.

Mark has been bench testing the configuration and made some rather clever progress. We have a video here if the LEDs being tested manually with bespoke circuits and then later on in the video integration with stock flasher units. We still need to add bespoke circuitry to make the brightness of the bulbs where they should be and a then create a neat package that fits with the stock look for these lamps.

We have created many bespoke options for our customers and this is another example of our willingness to help out where we can, and Mark likes the challenge. (This video has no sound). You never know we make them available as a parts option if it’s viable in the future.

The reason for this request is that the indicators are aftermarket and mounted low down under the bumper, arrowed. This isn’t the worst solution that we have seen, and won’t be the last work around for our UK laws.

WebShop

We have a new solution to store our stock of transmission lines to stop them being damaged. So simple why didn’t we think of it before? Hang them up.

Posting them out is a real problem as they can be bent or crushed. Something we can’t control that once it leaves our stores, but we try our very best to protect them.

Stay Safe & Take Care!

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The New Chrome Difference

Posted on February 22, 2026 by Mustang Maniac

We have updated our WebShop header with an additional email that our our customers can use for “Support”. We have noticed that a couple of customer support questions have been inexplicably missed, apologies for the late responses. In order to prevent this going forward, we now have an dedicated “Support” email address which will be handled by Adam and our technicians. This isn’t a twenty four seven response service. However we will endeavor to get back to you as soon as we possibly can.

We do need to point out that this new email address is not going to be a ‘free for all’ support line for your; “I bought this part from ‘So & So Experts’ and it don’t fit, how can I do it”, type scenarios. The purpose for the new ‘Support’ email is for our customers to ask a question if the parts we supply will fit your car, or you need any additional parts to complete your project, maybe even the odd tip or two. Hopefully this will streamline our responses to help out where we can. We reserve the right to not respond to particular enquiries if we deem the new ‘Support’ email service is being abused.

Below left, the new WebShop header bar email links, and the email addresses on the right.

Sales Email:

sales@mustangmaniac.co.uk

Support Email:

support@mustangmaniac.co.uk

Technical Information

8.2 deck (289/302) SBF Versus the (351) 9.5 deck.

Two intakes we had sitting around for for few years were starting to oxidise and “powder up” so we decided to give them a bit of love and have them surface treated by Ash and Tony, the two magicians that electroplate all our parts.

These will now go back in the stores and maybe one day be used for future projects.

This is also a good opportunity to see the size difference between the two deck heights. As you can see, the 351 intake is almost 2 inches wider.

Our Cars

Also, this week, we also gave the Fairlane 500 some more love.

Now, this is a VERY presentable car in its own right, everyone here loves the Fairlane. However, some here felt the bumpers, which were just starting to pit, could do with replacing. Others thought it was a bit of overkill and not strictly necessary. There was nearly a bun fight in the tea room over it.

Adam has a bit of a soft spot for the Fairlane and decided to replace the bumpers. They turned up this week, and first impressions out of the box were that they looked good, had decent chrome and no sharp edges as so many modern reproduction bumpers do. 

First, the rear bumper was replaced and this turned out to be a pleasantly painless task. It was loosely bolted into place in about ten minutes. Then, the art of getting it sat central and gapped equally to the bodywork began. To our surprise and delight, it was virtually perfect already, and a push here as a bolt was tightened there, resulted in a very good fit.

The front bumper fitment wasn’t so amicable. This was primarily down to the four bumper brackets already on the car and how the previous bumper was positioned. A couple of holes in the brackets had to be elongated, primed and painted but eventually that also went on and was loosely bolted in place. Final fitment took an acceptable amount of time to produce a virtually perfect fit. 

Upon fitting the LED side lights and turn signals we took the time to address an issue that niggled us slightly. We always felt the side lights overpowered the turn signals in terms of brightness. 

The original look left, way to bright. Updated on the below right, much clearer and safer.

While the car was on the ramps and all the wiring was accessible we took the time to alter the side light wiring to reduce their glare and let the turn signals show their amber colour through clearer. This should also make an intented turn more obvious to other road users, thus slightly safer.

Also, we noticed now that the only thing that let the car down slightly was the well-worn steering wheel. So this was temporarily removed and given some small repairs, primed and painted and then reinstalled.

When the job was all finished and pulled out in daylight it was agreed, even by the naysayers (myself included) that changing the bumpers was the right move and made more of a positive visual difference than the mind could imagine. There’s just something about good chrome!! 

The old girl was then lovingly put away in her hidey-hole on trickle charge until the show season starts. We’ll look forward to seeing her again soon.

Stay Safe & Take Care!

Posted in Articles, Classic Cars, Ford Facts, Mustang, Mustang Maniac, Parts, Photos, projects, Restoration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A New Look

Posted on February 8, 2026 by Mustang Maniac

Our regular readers and customers will know that we relocated our main offices to our yard and added some much needed new storage space. Adam decided that he wanted an updated look for the WebShop to go with the move those changes are now live. The branding has been updated at the top of the WebShop page and we have listed out many of the sections we have available for your parts. We are painstakingly updating our WebShop to note the location of where the parts are made where we can determine that of course, like USA, China, Turkey, UK etc. IS there anything that our customers would like to see on our WebShop? Drop us a comment or an email and we will see what we can do.

We have moved away slightly from the restoration and servicing references as a standard offering in order to focus on our parts. However, behind the scenes if you are one of our regulars or one of our loyal customers we may still offer the service, provided Adam has the time and workshop allocation space to look after your car. Primarily this was a decision made a while ago due to the fact that we no longer wanted to continually put right other ‘expert’ repairers efforts.

The good news is that you will see that we now not just stock the usual expansive and ever increasing Mustang parts for all years 1964 to present day, we now we also stock other Ford vehicle parts for; Falcon, Transit and even N Series Tractors. Our off the shelf stock parts availability are often much more superior to that of some main Ford dealers and their service parts.

We are complementing our branded parts by an increasing range of sundries like our range of oils which includes classic oils, break in oils, synthetic oils as well as the specific requirements of modern day car blends.

We are stocking more of our own range of engineered parts that are no longer produced for our beloved classic cars. During a recent move from another of our storage yards, we found this ideal cabinet which we now use to store the smaller hardware parts close to the main office for easier access.

After an unusual order of many brackets which left us running low, we have now restocked back to an acceptable level.

Customer’s Cars

We have this little lady in with us that wasn’t running that well, we went back to basic engine timings before we correctly set up the older style Holley 600CFM carb.

After a couple of replacement parts, a little tuning and a road test or two we have her up and running again how she should be. The dark art of carburettors and their tuning is a difficult and now becoming a specialized skill, especially as a ‘tune up’ now days means plugging in a laptop to an OBD port on a car. It’s not quite the same sense of satisfaction as hearing a carb sucking the air fuel mix down the barrels to make an engine bark with every stab of the gas peddle! Some will argue with that of course, but we are company with a special set of skills that is increasing harder to come by.

Stay Safe & Take Care!

Posted in Blog, Classic Cars, Customers' Cars, Holley, Mustang, Mustang Maniac, Original Reconditioned Parts, Repairs, Restoration, Service | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shelby Shop

Posted on January 11, 2026 by Mustang Maniac

We have been working on another new partnership for Mustang Maniac, we can now share the good news with our customers and followers of our news, we are now stocking Shelby cleaning and detailing products.

Shelby have been winning awards for their detailing product ranges for a quite a while now and have made an impact on the detailing market, and we have been impressed with their samples. We liked them enough to reach out and become a UK Shelby Product Range Supplier.

We know that many of our customers use premium products on their pride and joy both old and new. There are a few customers who are very fastidious about what goes on their cars. We believe these Shelby products will fulfill those needs for everybody. The stock has finally arrived and we have updated our WebShop to show the new product line and put them on display in the Customer collection area.

You don’t have to own a Mustang to use these products of course, it’s just that Shelby has put their weight and name behind these products, that’s how confident they are with their products, this statement being made on their websites; “fed up with weak products, flashy labels, and results that didn’t last. So we built our own. From the lab up. Every formula we make is precision-engineered, relentlessly tested, and made to outperform in the real world.“

The products and their descriptions are listed there.

We have selected a range of the Shelby Detailing products which we think our customers will want to use, either as a weekend washing warrior, or a daily detailer.

There are three ‘ranges’ of cleaning products for varying types of applications and budget. Click on each of the images to take you to our WebShop pages.

Core Range:

Waterless Wash

  • Waterless formula quickly lifts dirt, grime, and contaminants without the need for water
  • High carnauba content provides a deep, glossy shine and excellent protection
  • Creates a smooth, hydrophobic layer that repels water, dirt, and debris
  • Safe for use on all paint finishes, ideal for on-the-go detailing or quick touch-ups
  • Easy to apply, leaving a showroom-quality finish with long-lasting protection
Shelby’s Waterless Wash and Wax is the ultimate solution for cleaning and protecting your vehicle in one easy step. Formulated with a high carnauba content, this waterless wash quickly lifts dirt, grime, and contaminants without the need for water, making it perfect for on-the-go detailing. The rich carnauba wax provides a deep, glossy shine while offering exceptional protection against the elements. It creates a smooth, hydrophobic layer that repels water, dirt, and debris, helping your vehicle stay cleaner for longer.

This versatile formula is safe for use on all paint finishes and is ideal for quick touch-ups or when water access is limited. The high carnauba content enhances the paint’s depth and shine, leaving behind a flawless, showroom-quality finish. Easy to apply and quick to use, Shelby’s Waterless Wash and Wax offers a convenient way to maintain your vehicle’s appearance while adding a layer of protection that lasts.

Alloy Wheel Cleaner

  • Powerful PH neutral formula removes brake dust, road grime, and embedded contaminants
  • Safe for use on alloy, chrome, and painted wheel finishes
  • Breaks down grime and brake dust making it easy to rinse away for a deep clean
  • Provides a protective layer to resist future build-up and keep wheels cleaner longer
  • Easy and Ready to use, delivering professional-quality results with minimal effort

Shelby’s Alloy Wheel Cleaner is the ultimate solution for restoring the shine and cleanliness of your wheels. Specially formulated to tackle tough brake dust, road grime, and embedded contaminants, this powerful cleaner quickly lifts and dissolves stubborn dirt, leaving your alloy wheels looking like new. Safe for use on all alloy, chrome, and painted wheel finishes, Shelby’s Alloy Wheel Cleaner ensures a deep clean without the risk of damage or discoloration.

Its advanced formula breaks down and encapsulates brake dust and other grime, making it easy to rinse away, while providing a protective layer that resists future build-up. Shelby’s Alloy Wheel Cleaner is perfect for both regular maintenance and deep cleaning, offering a professional-quality finish with minimal effort. Keep your wheels shining and protected with this easy-to-use cleaner that delivers lasting results.

Tyre Dressing

  • Provides a high-gloss, wet-look finish for a brand-new appearance
  • Restores and revitalises faded or dull tyres, making them look fresh
  • Helps prevent cracking and fading caused by UV rays and environmental factors
  • Resists dirt and dust buildup for a long-lasting, clean finish

Shelby’s Tyre Dressing is the ultimate solution for achieving a flawless, high-gloss finish on your vehicle’s tyres. Formulated to provide a rich, deep shine, this premium tyre dressing enhances the appearance of your tyres, making them look brand new with a sleek, wet-look finish. The easy-to-use formula restores and revitalises faded or dull tyres, leaving them with a long-lasting, glossy shine that resists dirt and dust buildup.

Shelby Tyre Dressing not only enhances the look of your tyres but also provides a layer of protection, helping to prevent cracking and fading caused by UV rays and environmental exposure. Safe for all tyre types, it applies smoothly without streaking or residue, ensuring a perfect finish every time. With Shelby’s Tyre Dressing, your tyres will look sharp and stay protected for the long haul.

Convertible Cleaner

  • Specially formulated to clean both fabric and vinyl convertible tops
  • Effectively removes dirt, grime, bird droppings, and other contaminants
  • Prepares surfaces for protection treatments, extending the life of your convertible top – such as Shelby’s Convertible Reproofer
  • Easy to apply, delivering professional-quality cleaning with minimal effort

Shelby’s Convertible Cleaner is the ultimate solution for keeping your convertible top looking fresh and pristine. Specially formulated to clean and restore both fabric and vinyl convertible roofs, this powerful cleaner effectively removes dirt, grime, bird droppings, and other contaminants without damaging or fading the material. The gentle yet effective formula helps preserve the look and feel of your convertible top, ensuring it stays looking new for longer.

Designed to be tough on stains yet gentle on fabrics, Shelby’s Convertible Cleaner is safe for use on all convertible roof types, providing a deep clean that rejuvenates the material without compromising its integrity. Easy to apply and quick to use, it also prepares the surface for further protection treatments, keeping your roof shielded from environmental elements. For a clean, well-maintained convertible top, Shelby’s Convertible Cleaner is the go-to product for effortless care.

Glass Cleaner

  • Quickly and effectively removes dirt, fingerprints, and smudges from glass surfaces
  • Delivers a streak-free, crystal-clear finish with no residue left behind
  • Safe for use on windows, mirrors, and tinted glass
  • Fast-drying, non-ammonia formula ensures a flawless clean without damaging surfaces
  • Ideal for both interior and exterior glass, enhancing visibility and driving safety

Shelby’s Glass Cleaner is the ultimate solution for achieving streak-free, crystal-clear windows both inside and out. This advanced formula quickly and effectively removes dirt, fingerprints, smudges, and other contaminants from glass surfaces, leaving them spotless and gleaming. Ideal for use on windows, mirrors, and other glass-like surfaces, Shelby Glass Cleaner delivers professional-quality results without the harsh chemicals, ensuring a safe and effective clean every time.

Formulated to be both powerful and gentle, Shelby’s Glass Cleaner ensures no streaks or residue are left behind, providing a flawless finish. Its fast-drying, non-ammonia-based solution is safe for tinted windows and delicate glass surfaces. Whether you’re cleaning your windshield, side mirrors, or interior glass, Shelby Glass Cleaner ensures a clear, crisp view for enhanced driving visibility and safety.

Interior Detailer

  • Cleans, shines, and protects interior surfaces, including dashboards, consoles, and vinyl
  • Removes dust, dirt, fingerprints, and light stains, leaving a polished finish
  • Anti-static properties help repel dust, keeping your interior cleaner for longer
  • Easy to apply, delivering a professional-grade clean with minimal effort
  • UV protection helps prevent fading, cracking, and discolouration from sun exposure

Shelby’s Interior Detailer is the perfect all-in-one solution for keeping your vehicle’s interior spotless and fresh. This powerful yet gentle formula cleans, shines, and protects a wide range of interior surfaces, including dashboards, consoles, plastics, and vinyl. It effortlessly removes dust, dirt, fingerprints, and light stains, restoring a clean, polished finish without leaving behind greasy residues. The result is a pristine interior that looks and feels like new.

With its advanced anti-static properties, Shelby’s Interior Detailer helps repel dust and dirt, keeping your interior looking clean for longer. Its UV protection shields surfaces from harmful sun rays, helping prevent fading, cracking, and discolouration. Easy to apply and quick to use, Shelby’s Interior Detailer is perfect for a fast, professional-grade clean that enhances the longevity and appearance of your vehicle’s interior.

Upholstery Cleaner

  • Effectively removes dirt, stains, and odours from seats, carpets, and upholstery
  • Tough on stains yet gentle on fabric, preserving the integrity of your interior
  • Cleans deep into fibres for a thorough clean, leaving a fresh, pleasant scent
  • Safe for use on all fabric types, ensuring versatility and convenience
  • Easy to use, providing professional-quality results for regular maintenance or detailing

Shelby’s Upholstery Cleaner is the perfect solution for restoring and maintaining the cleanliness of your vehicle’s interior fabric. Formulated to effectively remove dirt, stains, and odours from seats, carpets, and upholstery, this powerful cleaner lifts and breaks down contaminants without damaging or fading your fabric. The advanced formula is tough on stains yet gentle enough to preserve the integrity of your interior, leaving your upholstery looking fresh and revitalised.

Designed for use on all fabric types, Shelby’s Upholstery Cleaner cleans deep into the fibres, ensuring a thorough clean that leaves behind a fresh, pleasant scent. Whether you’re tackling everyday grime or dealing with more stubborn stains, this easy-to-use cleaner provides professional-quality results and is perfect for regular maintenance or detailing. Keep your car’s interior spotless and looking like new with Shelby Upholstery Cleaner.

Leather Interior Cleaner

(We forgot to take a picture of this one as we prepped this post, it is in stock)

  • Special water-based formula
  • Effectively removes dirt, grime, and impurities
  • Prepares leather for long-lasting protection

Shelby Leather Cleaner is the perfect solution for maintaining and cleaning your vehicle’s leather upholstery. This gentle yet effective formula removes dirt, grime, and oils without damaging or drying out the leather. Designed to deep clean while preserving the integrity of your leather, Shelby Leather Cleaner ensures that your seats, steering wheel, and trim stay looking fresh and well-maintained. It lifts contaminants from the surface, restoring the leather’s natural beauty without leaving any greasy residue behind.

Ideal for use on all leather surfaces, Shelby Leather Cleaner is pH-balanced to keep the leather soft, supple, and protected.  With its easy-to-use formula, Shelby Leather Cleaner provides a simple yet thorough cleaning solution to help preserve your vehicle’s interior and maintain that luxurious leather feel.

Ceramic Range:

Ceramic Infused Shampoo

  • Combines powerful cleaning with award-winning ceramic protection
  • Creates a hydrophobic surface that repels water, dirt, and contaminants
  • Enhances gloss, providing a high-shine, showroom-quality finish
  • Instantly enhances hydrophobic qualities, making water bead and slide off surfaces effortlessly
  • Snow foam compatible for a thorough, foam-based cleaning experience with added protection 
  • Easy to use, delivering professional-grade cleaning and protection with every wash

Shelby’s Ceramic Infused Shampoo offers a premium cleaning solution with the added benefit of award-winning ceramic protection. This advanced formula effectively removes dirt, grime, and contaminants, while simultaneously infusing your vehicle’s surface with a durable layer of ceramic. The result is a hydrophobic surface that repels water, dirt, and contaminants, keeping your vehicle cleaner for longer. It enhances gloss, leaving behind a high-shine, showroom-quality finish after every wash.

Designed to offer long-lasting protection, this ceramic-infused shampoo provides added scratch resistance and superior UV protection, ensuring your vehicle’s paint stays looking pristine. Whether you’re washing your car for the first time or maintaining a coating, Shelby’s Ceramic Infused Shampoo delivers professional-grade results with ease. With its award-winning formula, you can trust this shampoo to protect and enhance your vehicle’s paintwork with every wash.

Ceramic Waterless Wash

(We didn’t get a chance to photograph these as they sold them all as soon as we got them, plus the ones we used.)

  • Waterless formula that lifts dirt, grime, and contaminants while providing ceramic protection
  • Infused with advanced ceramic technology to create a hydrophobic layer that repels water, dirt, and debris
  • Enhances gloss and depth, leaving a high-shine, showroom-quality finish
  • Provides long-lasting scratch resistance, UV protection, and durability
  • Convenient and easy to use for on-the-go detailing with added benefits of ceramic technology

Shelby’s Ceramic Infused Waterless Wash combines the power of ceramic protection with the convenience of a waterless wash, delivering a superior clean and lasting protection in one simple application. Infused with advanced ceramic technology, this formula not only lifts dirt, grime, and contaminants but also leaves behind a hydrophobic layer that repels water, dirt, and other environmental contaminants. This innovative formula enhances the depth and gloss of your vehicle’s paint, leaving a high-shine, showroom-quality finish while providing long-lasting ceramic protection.

The ceramic infusion creates a durable, protective layer that bonds to the paint, offering superior scratch resistance, UV protection, and enhanced durability. It acts as a shield, preventing contaminants from adhering to the surface, making future clean-ups easier and keeping your vehicle cleaner for longer. Shelby’s Ceramic Infused Waterless Wash is ideal for on-the-go detailing, providing a quick, convenient solution with the added benefits of ceramic technology for long-lasting paint protection.

Ceramic Detailing Spray

  • Award-winning formula recognised for its exceptional durability and performance
    Provides ceramic protection without the need for a full coating
  • Hydrophobic surface repels water, dirt, and contaminants for easier cleaning
  • Uses advanced silicon dioxide (SiO2) technology for superior protection
  • Quick and easy application for long-lasting protection with minimal effort
  • Improves gloss depth and clarity for a high-shine, showroom-quality finish

Shelby’s Ceramic Detailing Spray is a versatile, easy-to-use quick detailer that delivers the power of ceramic protection without the need for a full coating. Whether you’re enhancing an existing coating or using it independently, this spray provides a hydrophobic layer that repels water, dirt, and contaminants, keeping your vehicle cleaner for longer. It enhances gloss, leaving behind a high-shine, showroom-quality finish, and adds a layer of ceramic technology protection. Perfect for quick touch-ups or as a standalone product, Shelby’s Ceramic Detailing Spray ensures your vehicle stays protected with minimal effort.

Harnessing advanced ceramic technology, this spray uses silicon dioxide (SiO2) to create a durable, water-repellent surface that offers superior protection against the elements. Trusted for its performance, Shelby’s ceramic products have earned industry recognition, with our ceramic coatings winning multiple awards for their exceptional durability and high-quality results.

Ceramic Glass Cleaner

  • Dual-action formula cleans and protects in one easy step
  • Infused with advanced ceramic technology for long-lasting hydrophobic protection
  • Effortlessly removes dirt, fingerprints, and smudges from all glass surfaces
  • Leaves a streak-free, ultra-clear finish that resists water, grime, and road film
  • Safe for use on all glass, including tinted and treated windows

Shelby’s Ceramic Glass Clean & Protect is your all-in-one solution for spotless clarity and lasting defence. This advanced formula combines powerful cleaning agents with our award-winning ceramic technology to remove contaminants while laying down a durable, hydrophobic layer of protection. Dirt, smudges, and fingerprints disappear instantly, leaving behind crystal-clear glass that stays cleaner, longer.

Ideal for both interior and exterior use, this fast-acting spray is safe on all glass types—including tinted and coated surfaces—making it a must-have for every detailer’s kit. The ceramic-infused layer repels water, grime, and environmental fallout, improving visibility and reducing the need for frequent reapplication. Shelby’s Ceramic Glass Clean & Protect delivers professional-grade results with every wipe—clean, protect, and drive on.

Ceramic Internal Detailer

  • Cleans, shines, and protects interior surfaces with the added strength of ceramic technology.
  • Removes dust, dirt, fingerprints, and light stains while enhancing surface durability.
  • Ceramic-infused formula provides a slick, anti-static finish that repels dust and grime.
  • Delivers long-lasting UV protection to help prevent fading, cracking, and discolouration.
  • Leaves behind a clean, non-greasy finish that feels as good as it looks.

Shelby’s Ceramic Interior Detailer takes interior care to the next level, combining premium cleaning performance with advanced ceramic protection. Designed for use on dashboards, consoles, vinyl, plastics, and trim, this all-in-one formula removes everyday dirt, smudges, and light stains while infusing surfaces with a smooth, durable ceramic shield.

The ceramic-enhanced layer not only boosts gloss and depth but also creates a protective barrier that repels dust, fingerprints, and grime—helping your interior stay cleaner for longer. With built-in UV blockers, it helps defend against sun damage, reducing the risk of fading, cracking, and discolouration over time. Easy to apply and fast-drying, Shelby’s Ceramic Interior Detailer delivers a showroom-worthy finish with minimal effort, leaving your interior looking polished, protected, and ready for the road.

Graphene Range:

Graphene Infused Shampoo

  • Combines advanced graphene technology with a powerful cleaning formula
  • Creates a hydrophobic surface that repels water, dirt, and contaminants
  • Enhances gloss, leaving behind a high-shine, showroom-quality finish
  • Instantly enhances hydrophobic qualities, making water bead and slide off surfaces effortlessly
  • Snow foam compatible for a thorough, foam-based cleaning experience with added protection
  • Provides superior scratch resistance, flexibility, and UV protection

Shelby’s Graphene Infused Shampoo takes car care to a whole new level by combining advanced graphene technology with a powerful cleaning formula. This shampoo not only removes dirt, grime, and contaminants from your vehicle’s surface, but it also infuses a layer of graphene protection during the wash. The result is a clean, hydrophobic surface that repels water, dirt, and other contaminants, keeping your vehicle cleaner for longer. With each wash, your car is left with enhanced gloss and a showroom-quality finish, while graphene provides superior protection from scratches and environmental damage.

Harnessing the power of graphene, this shampoo creates a strong, resilient bond with your vehicle’s paintwork, offering improved durability, flexibility, and UV protection. The unique molecular structure of graphene enhances the wash process, leaving your vehicle not only clean but also protected for long-lasting shine and defence. With an award-winning formula, Shelby Graphene Infused Shampoo ensures a premium clean while boosting the longevity of your paint’s protection.

Graphene Detailer

  • Delivers advanced graphene protection for enhanced durability and performance
  • Provides graphene protection without the need for a full coating
  • Hydrophobic layer repels water, dirt, and contaminants with unmatched efficiency
  • Uses graphene technology for superior scratch resistance, flexibility, and UV protection
  • Quick and easy application, offering professional-grade results with minimal effort
  • Improves gloss depth and clarity for a high-shine, showroom-quality finish

Shelby’s Graphene Detailing Spray takes paint protection to the next level, offering the superior benefits of graphene technology in a quick and easy application. Designed to deliver an ultra-slick, hydrophobic layer, this spray repels water, dirt, and contaminants with unmatched efficiency, keeping your vehicle cleaner for longer. It enhances gloss and adds a layer of durable, long-lasting protection, leaving behind a high-shine, showroom-quality finish. Whether used independently or to complement an existing graphene coating, Shelby Graphene Detailing Spray delivers professional-grade results with minimal effort.

Utilising advanced graphene technology, this quick detailing spray forms a stronger, more resilient bond than traditional ceramic products. Graphene’s unique molecular structure provides enhanced scratch resistance, remarkable flexibility, and superior UV protection, ensuring your vehicle’s paint remains flawless and protected. With an award-winning formula, Shelby Graphene Detailing Spray is the ultimate choice for those looking to elevate their vehicle’s protection and maintain a pristine appearance with ease.

If you want to pick up from our new WebShop customer counter or order online we’re sure you won’t be disappointed.

Stay Safe & Take Care!

Posted in Car Detail, Classic Cars, Customers' Cars, daily driver, Mustang, Mustang Maniac, News, Our Cars, Webshop | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2025 It’s A Wrap

Posted on December 24, 2025 by Mustang Maniac

The current year 2025 is coming to an end and we can now look forward to the New Year. We have plans for the WebShop we mentioned quite a while ago, we haven’t forgotten it’s just how we provide the update. Everything is complete we just need to make it live. The decision hasn’t been made on just how we do that yet, but it is coming where the end result will be a first on the internet we are certain of that.

Mustang Maniac would like to wish all our Customers, friends both old and new;

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

The Mustang Maniac office and storage move is now complete just in time for the end of year, thanks to all our staff that managed to complete such a massive undertaking in a relatively small amount of time.

And with a little help of some artistic license via some AI, we transformed our new Mustang Maniac offices into a Christmas themed picture.

Customer’s Cars:

We have been busy with a few projects and will continue into the new year, we have a 351 Cleveland which has had a make over and looking good. The car was running a little rough so we have replaced the carb with a Holley 600cfm and is now running as we expect it to be.

We have another little lady in for some of our Mustang Maniac Magic, we have wrapped them up over the Christmas break to keep them from dust until we’re ready to work on them. Not quite Christmas wrapping paper, but wrapped up all the same.

Stock:

We are continuing to restore our stock of carburetors like this Autolite 4100, it has been completely stripped down, coated and rebuilt with precision replacing parts where needed. There is a list of everything that has been done to these carb so you know exactly what you’re getting.

If you want an original, period correct part this is as good as NOS, if not better, then we could do it; at a price.

We hope to see you at our new offices within the Mustang Maniac yard to spend some of the Gift Vouchers on line or with us at the counter.

Stay Safe & Take Care!

P.S. Don’t Drink & Drive over the festive season! The local constabulary would like nothing more than to add a few points to your license or take it away as parting gift for 2025.

Posted in Blog, Classic Cars, Customers' Cars, Holley, Mustang, Mustang Maniac, News, Parts, Repairs, Restoration, Webshop | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Getting Ready

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Mustang Maniac

Here at Mustang Maniac we think that the Christmas Season starts earlier each year, We even spotted some Christmas decorations before Halloween. We tend to prepare for the inevitable seasonal rush by checking the stock levels of the more “gift” orientated items ready for our customers. We get requests for things like oil & filter kits, fender grippers, decals, emblems and even one of our specialist tools. Although oil may seem like an odd thing to buy, but for petrol heads (“gear heads” for our friends on the other side of the pond), it can be an expensive necessity every year. We often get asked by spouses “What can I buy him (or her)”? There are a few suggestions we can come up with to help like above suggestions, but the easiest and fail safe is our Mustang Maniac Gift Vouchers. The lucky recipient can then choose what they want – when they want! These vouchers are available online for instant delivery via email, so there’s no need to worry about them getting ‘lost’ in the post. Click on the images below or click the link here to make your choice of amount.

This year we have our Mustang Maniac Limited Edition 2026 Calendar ready, we have a few shots if it below. We are giving these away, yes you read that right, giving them away with a orders from Mustang Maniac. These are in short supply, as they are every year. We have already posted a number out to our regular customers. If you are planning on making an decent sized order with us and want a calendar, please let us know and we will put it in with your order on a first come first served basis. Hurry, there’s only two boxes left!

These calendars are perfect for noting down the dates of Classic Car shows, car events, birthdays etc. on the one month to view configuration, and you get to look at some Classic Fords too.

Clearance Sale Items:

Our section of Clearance Sale Items is going well. We tend to add to this section of the WebShop on an ad hoc basis, which could be a couple of times a day depending on what mood Adam is in. Check out the page here for a bargain or two or just for a few ideas. You may not know you need the item until it’s on sale and want to upgrade your own item. Worn boot (trunk) carpet, perished hose and fancy a nice new silicon set, a damaged wheel, or new lug nut, fuel sender playing up, fancy a gold coloured brake reservoir cap for a little under hood bling, or maybe a hump hugger for a little extra storage? Check it all out here or click the image below.

Offices:

Our new offices are pretty much complete now with only more obscure items to be found a home. Adam likes the new setup where he can hand items over the sales counter for orders that have been arranged to be collected direct from the stores. If you need the part fast and we have it in stock, if you want to call in, we can get it for you while you wait.

Mystery Imprint Spotted

A little while ago we posted about a hidden imprint we just put in for the fun of it. Since that post there has been a couple of eagle eyed customers point out the location of the Mustang imprint. We would like to say there is a prize for spotting it, but it’s just for fun!

Stay Safe & Take Care!

Posted in car show, Classic Cars, For Sale, Mustang, Mustang Maniac, Parts, Sales, Webshop | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Almost Finished & Finishes

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Mustang Maniac

We have an update on the move to our new location, well hundred meters or so to the yard at the back. We have almost finished moving the stock from the old offices and storage rooms to the secure locked containers. We have found lots of items that we have never gotten around to adding to our stock lists. We are adding some of these items to our ‘Clearance Sale Items‘ page click here for the link. Once these items are gone, they’re gone. It’s worth checking in everyday if you are looking for a bargain or replacing that part that just needs a little upgrade.

The new storage containers are getting their proper lighting install and we can fianly say that we are there. All the stock locations have been updated on the systems, with the more commonly ordered parts close to our parts counter. When browsing our WebShop, if the item says ‘Currently In Stock’, then there is no need to email us, trust us it’s in stock!

Just a few of the containers with the remaining stock going in. We have a new stock of radiators and some consumable sundries as well, we think Adam may have over ordered to fill the latest delivery pallet up. All our sheet metal is housed elsewhere in a controlled environment where we have a much bigger storage areas to pick the panels when we need them.

Restoration Parts

As we are scaling back on the new restoration projects and getting older (according to Adam),we are moving into a more specialist area for some of our parts. We can restore some of the original parts for the connoisseurs clients who want original parts and the best finish and of course the perfect fit just like of the production lines. In our new office we have a display cabinet that contains a couple of restored dash panels and some carbs with various finishes.

The dashes have been finished in a couple ways, on the rears cases one is zinc plated, the other is painted, both to the highest quality. These restorations are not to be confused with the more common reproduction parts. The amount of work that goes into creating these zinc plated or painted restored quality parts, in our opinion they are a better than the OEM at the time, that all comes at a price. If you want the best we can custom restore some items, if you are interested send us an email and we can advise if it’s possible and how much for such a niche service. If you are picking up some parts from our sales counter, you can ask to have a look at the quality of these parts as the pics honestly don’t do them justice.

Carburettors

We have also finished some OEM carbs that have been completely stripped, cleaned, rebuilt and finished in nickel.

It’s notoriously difficult to zinc plate aluminum and these OEM carbs are no exception. However when done properly to our own specifications, they will add that extra look of quality under the hood.

Each carb that we rebuild also comes with it’s own unique specification so you know exactly what you are getting, with a default setup tune.

This zinc finished option carb is another option if you want a different style of finish. Again each one is unique and could set your pride and joy apart from other other cars with a similar setup.

These carburettors will not oxidise again in our lifetimes. They’ll remain with this level of finish, which is not only aesthetically pleasing but also helps cure a potential problem for seasonally used cars. As the “off-season” oxidisation that could occur on the exterior but more importantly, in the float bowls in damp or musty storage, could find its way into very narrow fuel passages, it could limit performance. The only “garbage” you’ll find in the float bowls will be very fine sediment that’s passed through your fuel filter from your tank or fuel line, not from the carburettor itself.

These carburettors go through 5 levels of cleaning before the surface treatment process. None of which are abrasive, all are done chemically in line with the best electroplating industry processes. The body castings, accelerator pump and power valve housings are all etch cleaned to a depth of 25 microns prior to surface treatment and all the steel parts are zinc plated or renewed.

We have tested one of our own cars with the first restored 2100 carburettor, and once the float bowl was filled with fuel, she fired up and settled to a high idle instantly.
Naturally, no two engines are the same, and these carburettors may need small adjustments to the hot and cold idle speed screws, the mixture screws and possibly the choke index. However, all are set up to exact factory specifications relating to their I.D tag or stamped serial numbers as per Autolites original service literature. Therefore, they should be very close to optimum from the get-go.

The only area of potential concern is jetting. We advise you to start off on the original jetting used with your engine specification. Then, if a change is required, to re-jet in two steps, either up or down, depending if you’re rich or lean. Then, when the fuelling ring on a sacrificial spark plug confirms you’re not running rich or lean under load, the Autolite should “hold its tune” for a good long period.

These are very simple, reliable but quite underrated carburettor. The annular style fuel discharge method (not available in other carburettors of the period) gives better fuel atomization, which leads to improved throttle response, driveability, and performance across a wider range of engine speeds.

Soon, we will also be offering the 4 barrel 4100 version too. At first for bigger engine owners (351ci to 390ci) as the 4100 came mostly in two different sizes, 485cfm and 600cfm. The 600 models are more widely available. However, theyre not all the same and are more complicated to get to work efficiently on anything around the 302/289/260 cubic inches ballpark but it is possibly, we know how, we just need a constant stream of reliable parts that require changing. When we have that in place you’ll see it announced on our blog.

We are aiming to have completely relocated all our stock to the yard area over the next week or so. When ordering nothing changes for our customers, it just means Gary may have to walk back and forth to get those obscure parts.

Stay Safe & Take Care!

Posted in For Sale, Mustang, Parts, Repairs, Restoration, Sales, Service, sheet metal, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

289 HiPo Way

Posted on August 24, 2025 by Mustang Maniac

You may have noticed from the main WebShop pages that we are moving! Since we revealed our move we’ve had a few emails and messages from our customers, local customers and our trade accounts “where we are going?” We had hoped that the move would have finished by now so that we could announce in a big blog post to you the final move. But, (there is always a ‘but’) Adam has changed his mind from the original plan that looked great on paper, but wasn’t quite as practical in real life. As a result we have made some on the fly changes and made things even better as a result.

A couple of the changes have been where the customer main door would be in relation to the new ‘Parts Counter’, which in turn means that Adam’s office has had a little change for his entrance and all the knock on effects as a result. The packing area will now be right next to the ‘Parts Counter’ to make collections and our dispatch process easier and more streamlined.

The new Mustang Maniac head quarters location will now be where we used to store some of our cars. Those cars have now moved into alternative storage in the main yard to free up the space we need for the new parts and offices. We are still building and finishing off the area so forgive the construction works in the photos. We haven’t moved from our current premises, we have just moved to a different part of the Mustang Maniac’s main location. There is no need to worry that we have moved to a random industrial estate in the middle of nowhere. Your stored SatNav location will still bring you exactly to the same place, just a different entrance once we open it. In the mean time we would like to thank you for your patience as we work to make things better and we are trying to keep any delays to a minimum.

Here it is, the first official look at “289 HiPo Way” Mustang Maniacs new location, just behind the previous main offices at Wickham House.

Inside there will be familiar environment details, The GT seat, pictures etc.

A quick peak at Adam’s office as he left the door unlocked, obviously not finished yet, but getting there. We are taking bets on how long it will remain this tidy, even though it’s not finished. 🙂

Parts Counter with Adam giving us a demo. This will be a perfect collection point for drop in customers, or for those who have preordered and didn’t want to pay for postage and preferred a pick up. Customer cars can delivered and the keys hand over being taken and stored in the secure area.

Just behind the offices and packing area is a redesigned storage shelving and storage locations in now robust lockable containers.

Inside the containers will be a similar setup to what we currently have at the current Wickham House location. We thought it would be a simple lift and shift idea to move the stock. Feedback from the team has pointed how we could improve the stock picking and locations. We have taken that all on board to relabel stock locations and make them easier to pick from shelves rather than the stackable box locations in some areas. This means huge behind the scenes itinerary changes on the back office software. All the containers will have their own lighting, the current setup is only temporary to allow us to continue providing a service without to much interruption.

Just behind the containers and access to the yard our guard dogs will be on patrol day and night as we move some of our very expensive stock around along with new security features to the secure locations.

We have a little ‘Easter Egg’ somewhere around the offices you may spot an embossed Mustang. On a wall, brick, floor, drive, artwork, steps?

You never know, Adam may or somebody nominated to make you a cup of tea if you find it!

A couple of customer cars, the blue coupe in for an MOT once over, the other in for some fettling to sort out a few issues.

Royal Mail & Parcelforce or Royal Fail & Parcelfarce?

Deja Vu, as from the 11 August 2025 Royal Mail have re-joined back with Parcelforce (formerly known as Royal Mail Parcels) after separating the two different sectors in order for Royal Mail Parcels to handle the larger parcels in 1990. According to the Parcelforce’s website they are merging again as “two trusted brands one delivery network”. As regular readers you will know from our previous Blog posts that we don’t trust Royal Fail much and their latest efforts haven’t given us much reason to continue that tenuous ‘trust’ we had.

From the Royal Fail’s website: “The Parcelforce brand will remain, but the businesses now share technology, processes, and a single set of products and services, including a new combined shipping platform like Click & Drop, to offer a consistent experience to customers. This merger aims to streamline operations, reduce internal competition, and improve delivery performance for both businesses and consumer”

There has been a lot of noise from many companies and customers on social media about picking up packages and not being able to track their parcels etc. Over the last week or so we have just been given slips of paper to say that ‘x’ number of packages have been picked up, no details recorded – that’s it. They are unable to scan with the hand held scanners they have done previously, due to some system issues. Let’s look at a scenario; we send out a package than can cost thousands of pounds, such as a Holley Sniper kit. If that package goes missing who will be responsible? We can bet that Royal Fail will try to deny it was sent or collected. As a customer you justifiably want the item you have paid for. As a company we couldn’t sustain replacing that item to complete your order, or any other item due to such losses either. As an online retail company that relies on our reputation, this is unacceptable. We are paying a considerable amount of money each month to this behemoth of a company who can’t seem to sort their act out and continue to raise prices for what seems to be a decline in service standards.

Going forward we shall be using FedEx as our preferred courier service. We might have use Royal Fail for a select scenario or as a back up. We suspect the problems will be ironed out soon enough. But, it only takes a few bad reviews to ruin a good name built up over time through no fault of our own. We have said many times before, as a customer you are more than welcome to arrange your own courier collection with Royal Mail/Parcelforce if you wish to use them, or any other courier come to that. We still stand by statement and have no objection what so ever to organise your own arrangements, just let us know and we will make sure it’s ready.

Cars For Sale

We have had lots of enquiries about our new portal for Cars for Sale section on our WebShop. If you want to know more contact us on sales@mustangmaniac.co.uk and we will get back to you. With our huge network of customers, readers and connections, we can get you in contact with a buyer for your car.

Stay Safe & Take Care!

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