Many of us have had the sinking feeling of a power window failing to move when you need it most. Perhaps rain clouds are rolling in fast, or you just pulled into the mall parking lot for a quick lunch visit to the cell phone kiosk. Whatever the situation, you mash the power window button on your late-model Mustang and the window fails to rise. Pushing the switch harder somehow doesn't fix the problem; neither does beating on the door panel or quarter trim. Sometimes the motor still works (you should easily be able to hear it), but the window just sits there, or possibly needs a helping hand to move. It's time to seek a proper repair.

Many of us have been around long enough in this hobby to remember when major Mustang shows were often rows of painstakingly detailed concours cars with just the right finish on all the bolts, nuts, brackets, and what not. You'd often find a gaggle of judges overlooking the car, clipboards in hand, to discuss the finite details of oil and phosphate versus bare metal. While we applaud those in the hobby who have the time, finances, and interest to detail a concours car, the majority of the hobby has swung towards driver cars and late-model Mustangs. I know some of you have been dragged into the 21st century kicking and screaming, but frankly, any interest in the Mustang hobby, be it modified cars or brand-new G.T. 500s, is good in our book. The last thing we want is for the Mustang hobby to die off with its elder generation.

I first heard about cloth tops for early Mustangs when I photographed Scott Drake's "Pay it Forward" '66 convertible for the November 2009 issue. I thought the top really looked clean and classy. But I figured OEM vinyl would be tougher.

Have you ever wanted to install stripes or unique graphics on your Mustang but were afraid to tackle the job, fearful you'd wind up with cockeyed stripes or air bubbles? Stripe and graphics installation makes us nervous too, which is why we checked in with Terry Simpson at The Restomod Shop for advice on this subject. Terry allowed us to observe the stripe installation on a '69 Shelby G.T. 350 that was just coming out of a fresh restoration by Jeff Speegle and Mark Vasquez.

Owners of '94-'04 Mustangs can increase their stopping power by upgrading their braking performance with Latemodel Restoration Supply's new SVE 13-inch Cobra-style Brake Kit with matching rear calipers. The kit includes everything needed to obtain high-end braking at a fraction of the cost: red SVE front and rear calipers, premium slotted front rotors, braided stainless hoses, performance brake pads, and mounting brackets. For more information, call 254/296-6500 or visit www.latemodelrestoration.com. Get instant access to this part by scanning the code with your smart phone.

Today, some 46 years later, the K-code "Hi-Po" Mustang is still one of the most sought after classic Mustangs. With just three years of production and something less than 13,000 produced, the K-code certainly has higher numbers than, say, a Shelby Mustang. But when you consider the overall production numbers of the '65-'67 Mustang, the K-code represents barely one percent of production. That's what makes the K-code rare.

Thanks to the automotive aftermarket, there are now enough reproduction parts available to build a classic Mustang from scratch. As you saw in last month’s Pony Tales department, Ford has officially added another Dynacorn International vintage body shell to its list of approved and licensed reproduction bodies—the ’65-’66 Mustang convertible.

While the typical vintage Mustang still with us has been on this earth for 40 years or more, many are far from perfect. Years of abuse from less than perfect drivers, northern and coastal rusting, storage in damp locations, and more mean that the typical Mustang project you could be purchasing is going to need some metal work. The metal work needed is often the impetus as to whether a Mustang comes home with a new owner or not. We often recommend purchasing the most solid Mustang project you can find, as it will save you a lot of money in the long run with your project. However, in today’s economy we often have to do more with less, and that often means buying a less than perfect Mustang project, right? That doesn’t mean that you have to shell out more to fix your Mustang if you’re willing to invest a little time and effort to learn how to weld and repair your project yourself.

Like most Mustang enthusiasts, I have read my share of articles about Mustangs being modified for better performance. What I have not read are articles about what it was like to live with the Mustang after the performance parts were added. Evaluating a modified Mustang on the race track is one thing; living with it on a day to day basis is quite another.

For those who drive their classic Mustangs on a regular basis, quite often the wish list of modern conveniences and safety items grows while rolling down the road. All it takes is one person stopping short in front of you to add better brakes to said list, or trying to parallel park at a cruise night to write down "power steering" as well. That list of convenience and safety items can grow quite lengthy and entail some serious expense for some of the items on the list, but there are certainly several items you can check off as a weekend project without breaking the bank and still feel safer when you drive your classic in today’s distracted driving environment on our over crowded streets and highways.

We've all been less than careful with tools over the years. Be honest now, how many times have you used a screwdriver as a pry bar or a scraper? Or perhaps you grabbed that nearby adjustable wrench to use as an impromptu hammer instead of walking back to your toolbox (all of eight feet, right?) to get the correct-sized ball-peen. It's OK, your secret is safe with us. Besides, if we turned you in to the tool police, we'd have to turn ourselves in as well!

In the world of performance, there never has been an equal to the Holley four-barrel carburetor thanks to its innovative design that was born for the racetrack, loved on the street, and used in more applications than we could ever list here. Holley’s rich history dates back to George Holley and his brother, Earl, who founded the Holley Brothers Company in 1899. The objective in those days was to build motorcycles and engines, an effort that led to carburetors as the new century unfolded. Holley’s first carburetor was the Model NH, affectionately known as the “Iron Pot,” for Ford’s Model T.

Wilwood Disc Brakes has long been known for its commitment to racing. These days, Wilwood asks performance enthusiasts what they would like for the street when delivering race-level disc brakes for '05-'11 Mustangs. Wilwood offers 13 different front disc brake kits for S197 Mustangs and 14 more kits for the rear, which enables owners to dial in just the right disc brake package for their Mustang super car.

If you've ever considered converting your Mustang convertible's manual top to a power top but have hesitated because the job seems too technically involved, then Paul Gammerino from Mustangs & Fast Fords Orange County is going to show you how to do it. Paul asked if we'd like to cover a manual to convertible top conversion, something we've never done before in Mustang Monthly. We were only too happy to oblige.

Classic Mustangs tend to be chronic leakers, but they don't have to be. Leaks come from the absence of good preparation before gaskets and sealer go on as well as proper gasket and sealer use.