Documenting the restoration of my growing collection of classic Mustangs
I don’t have much time left this year to work on Princess since I will be heading out to spend the holidays with the kids and working on other projects. My last big step this year is going to be the torque boxes. I already installed the back plate, so this is just sealing that up, and getting the front plate installed.
Continue reading “Installing Torque Boxes”
With the firewall in place, the next step is the frame rails. These are the rails that the engine compartment is built on. Ideally, I would do this with a frame jig, so I just bolt them to the jig and drop them in place and I have them exactly where they should be. I don’t have a jig, so I need to do a little more work. Fortunately, Jo Daddy’s Garage Youtube channel has some great videos on how to do this.
Continue reading “Frame Rails”
My original plan was to move over the whole front of the car in one piece. The issue was in how to replace the firewall if I didn’t separate the engine bay from the dash and cowl. Ultimately, I decided to separate the engine bay and do it in 2 moves. Once I got the frame rails off, I saw why it was welded along the seam and not plug welds, which changed all my plans. I was still on track to move the dash, cowl, and A pillars as a unit, so I got to work.
Continue reading “Transferring the Dash and Cowl”
With the roof well in place, the next piece is the back seat support. Included with it is the side mounting points for the roof top and power pistons. Before I did that though, I needed to seam seal the areas I wont have access to later. While it was out, I also filled some holes left as part of the removal.
Continue reading “Transferring the Back Seat Support”
With the wheel wells and rockers in place, its time to start looking at moving the two sub-assemblies that define the convertible roof well and support the top. I don’t know what these are actually called, but one looks like a drip rail and it forms the back and side edges of the compartment the roof is stored in. Additionally, it is the edge of the rear deck between the roof and the trunk lid. This part is not reproduced in a way I can buy just what I need. The other assembly is the divider between the roof well and the back seat, along with the side supports that the roof frame attaches to. It is reproduced, but mine is solid. Both need to move over to the new floor, but at least I don’t have to save all the metal around them when I start pulling them out.
Continue reading “Transferring the Roof Support”
When I visited Barry from Jo Daddy’s Garage, he suggested doing a one piece floor, which I opted to do. The problem was that they were not readily available and I was about to get out of Arizona for the hot summer. Well, time passed, the floor arrived just as I got back and ready to work again.
Continue reading “Starting at the Ground Up”
I am slowly making progress cleaning up the rot in the engine bay. There are a lot of little things, and some bigger things that need tending to, so this may take a while. Slowing things down is my lack of experience with metal work. I am gaining new skills and experience and trying to do my best job, which means things are slow going. But, I’m happy with the end result when I get there.
Continue reading “Continuing Metal Work in the Engine Bay”
I started in the front. I know when I’m building, I should start from the back, but since I plan on using the front with a new floor, I wanted to solidify it first before I take it off. I also don’t have the floor yet, so this is what I can do. My goal is to replace the battery apron and radiator support while cleaning up anything else I find. That means the passenger frame rail mess.
Continue reading “First Cuts”
The body is back from blasting and priming. All flaws have been laid bare. I knew it was bad, but its even worse than I thought. I am going to end up replacing more sheet metal than I thought, and I thought I was going to be replacing a lot. First step is to do inventory of all the rot and previous owner debauchery.
Continue reading “The Concept of a Plan”
Princess has been blasted. While it is waiting for the booth to be primed, I went and took a look to see how many surprises there were. Fortunately, most of them are on the panels I already plan on replacing. Some just need some cleaning up of questionable looking welds. Over all, it is about as expected when I bought it.
Continue reading “Uncovering the Carnage”