Restoration Part 9

  • The 67 has come a long way since the last time I wrote anything on the website. The car is all assembled, a new power top and front bumper installed. Fender and hood gaps took longer than expected. It seems like you take two steps forward and then one step back. What I thought would be a 45 minute job, putting on the front bumper actually ended up taking almost a week. I had found a really nice rechromed orginal front bumper and when I put it on the bumper was too wide, I couldn't get the bumper brackets that attach on the side of the front fender to fit. I then tried an NPD bumper and it fit better but still required the making of new side brackets. I've included a picture. I don't know why this happened as everything else on the front end went together pretty well.


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    The folks who put the top on accidently scratched the paint on the drivers side rear quarter and I didn't see it until I got the car home. When I called the shop owner she agreed to split the bill with me but it did set me back another couple of weeks. I also found two small dents in the trunk lid (don't know how or where that happened) so that is getting fixed at the same time.


    The engine sounds great and the lifters take me back to when I was a kid. The engine internals are almost stock with the exception of the cam which is a special grind to match the blower and I did reduce the compression by one point.


    In the process of the restoration I replaced the firewall and I lost the mark for the choke cable. I ended up measuring the firewall of the 66 Kcode to get the spot right.


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    Putting on the the wheelwell trim can be a bear. I remember judging cars where I could see between the fender and the trim ring itself. Now I know why that can happen..... when you use some after market parts with orginal parts getting things to fit can take forever.


    I worried about the side stripes (how much space between the GT and the stripe itself). We measured then taped things in place and then re-measured and would stand back and look things over. On the first one we did it took about three hours the other side about 45 minutes.


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    I had a terrible time putting on those trunk letters...the ones with the little pegs that go through the holes in the trunk lid. After spending two hours trying to get them straight we ended up pulling them off and using the ones with the sticky back. Much neater and easier.


    I talked to Nate Miller at Buckeye Restoration and got some really good advice on carpet. He explained what to order and where to order it.


    When it came to the front windsheild I called my friend Jeff James at Tri City Mustangs and he put me in touch with folks who can get the proper tint and logo for a Mustang front windsheild.


    When it comes to welding and rust repair go to my friend Dennis Ware.


    From the pictures you can see I used an under layment product. I know it is not orginal but it may keep the noise down inside the car.

    I've learned alot while doing this restoration and it has helped me to be a better judge I hope.


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    I should have the car done over the Winter. Front windsheild needs to go in, carpet, interior is done and ready to be installed. My Christmas list includes tires and those ugly hubcaps.


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    Here are a few things I've learned:

    1. Don't set timelines it's going to take longer.

    2. Walk away for awhile when things are giving you fits.

    3. It's going to cost more...no matter what you've set aside.

    4. Ask for help, there are a lot of good folks that can help.

    5. Use orginal parts, more often than not it is the best bet.

    6. No matter how long you work on placing an order you'll forget something and it will require another order.

    7. It's not the individual parts that you see when you look at a car, what you see is the whole car


    As always look things over and give me your thoughts.


    Edited by - Qman on 11/19/2010 15:19:09

  • <font face='Comic Sans MS'>A classy car with a super restoration you have there.


    It has been my experience that the bumper to fender end brackets can never be installed without ending up being mauled to some degree. I powder coated a set for a friend who told me NOT to mess with their profile, 'cause they fit his car to a 'T' just the way the were. Go figure.</font id='Comic Sans MS'>


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  • Looking good! I am half way through my A code GTA convertible. It is ready for the paint shop. Once back,I can finally start puting some bling on.

    Where was your car built and has it a 6k or 8k tach? My 67 fastback is a Dearborn car with a 6k tach.

  • Sorry it took so long to reply, we went to visit our kids for Thanksgiving.

    The yellow Mustang was a Dearborn built car and came with an 8 grand tach and the 140 speedometer. My wife and I found the car in Dearborn, Michigan just a few miles from where I grew up. I hope to finish the car this Winter and then maybe show it next summer.


    Take care

  • after having restored:


    '63 VW beatle (1st car!)

    '56 vette

    '42 wwii ford jeep

    '42 wwii willys jeep

    '44 wwii WLA motorcycle

    '66 mustang (my son's, a partial restoration)


    i have found the secret to set a 'tiny' goal for each day!

    a lot of days this means just doing a bit of reasearch

    for what you'll be doing the next day.

    it this slow 'chipping away' that gets the job done!!

    iowa

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