BlownFiveLiter

I'm looking forward to it! I'm hoping to change jobs here pretty soon, and then I'll be getting some progress going on my 95, as the income increases. I'll have to keep you guys posted, though yours is still going to overshadow mine, by a lot, in terms of work involved.

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Mustang's Mods

Vortech V2SQ | TFS Twisted Wedge heads | TFS 51402000 (stage 1) cam | Typhoon intake
70mm throttle body | SCT BA-2400 MAF | Siemens 60lb. injectors | Dual 255lph fuel pumps
TwEECer RT | MAC off road X-pipe | Flowmaster 2 chamber mufflers
Cobra front brakes | 2000 Cobra R wheels | 96-98 export taillights

SVTnSD

Took a good look at the Mustang today. There has been a fair amount of work done. The passenger side quarter panel has been completed. The patch panel was welded in and is now air tight back there. The body man skimmed on some mud and that whole area looks a lot better. The body has been completely stripped as well. The drivers side quarter panel needs a "trunk drop" patch panel. I ordered that part and some inner wheel wells. Hopefully I can get over to the body shop to install the wheel wells and clean up the mini tub areas. Some billet hood hinges, passenger side fender apron and fiberglass rear bumper are all on the way.

aar0s

I love me some bare metal car shots, lets ya see all the work you usually dont get to see.
any idea when its going to get some color?

BlownFiveLiter

I can't wait to see this thing, even with just some epoxy sealer on it!

__________________

Mustang's Mods

Vortech V2SQ | TFS Twisted Wedge heads | TFS 51402000 (stage 1) cam | Typhoon intake
70mm throttle body | SCT BA-2400 MAF | Siemens 60lb. injectors | Dual 255lph fuel pumps
TwEECer RT | MAC off road X-pipe | Flowmaster 2 chamber mufflers
Cobra front brakes | 2000 Cobra R wheels | 96-98 export taillights

SVTnSD

No idea when the color will be sprayed, I'm anxious to. I look at it in terms of a panel by panel body restoration. Two panels have been started but not completed and I'm sure there is a great deal of work left to do on the rest of the car. The shop owner invited me over to do some welding and resto work on the car. Making sail panels for the interior and welding them to the steel headliner down to the wheel wells is my goal. Between the headliner, sail panels and pillar sheet metal panels being painted the same color as the car there will be less leather/ upholstery. I like painted finishes in classic cars. The 1950's GM vehicles have a lot of painted surfaces in their interiors. I'm positive that painting interior surfaces will look unique, its cheap and will look great for years. Looking at the bigger picture, doing significant mods to a fastback body is what wins major awards and gains the attention a business likes the most.

Ohhh.. Did I say "a business"? I really want to start my own business !

aar0s

Go for it! Id tell anyone who wants to shoot out on their own and has the skill to do so to give it a try. Ive heard the hardest boss you can have is yerself though.

SVTnSD

Some parts have arrived. Billet hood hinges, inner wheel wells, fiberglass rear bumper, trunk drop for the drivers side and all that remains is a piece of sheet metal for the engine bay.
The body shop owner has invited me to his shop to work on the car. I hope to do that during the first week of January. Likely I'll have a lot of photo's to post up.

BlownFiveLiter

Very nice. I hope they get some color on it soon. Maybe the body shop will see your handy work and offer ya a spot there doing resto work? Give you an opportunity to hone your skills without taking the plunge with going into business for yourself yet.

__________________

Mustang's Mods

Vortech V2SQ | TFS Twisted Wedge heads | TFS 51402000 (stage 1) cam | Typhoon intake
70mm throttle body | SCT BA-2400 MAF | Siemens 60lb. injectors | Dual 255lph fuel pumps
TwEECer RT | MAC off road X-pipe | Flowmaster 2 chamber mufflers
Cobra front brakes | 2000 Cobra R wheels | 96-98 export taillights

SVTnSD

Thats a great idea, I'll be sure to work fast and make it look good! The owner works by himself and I'm sure he's given thought to hiring out another. I'm heading over there right after the holiday.

Next parts order will be custom axles and I have to rebuild a 9" third member.

SVTnSD

Over the last few weeks I've been working on completing the mini-tub, replacing an engine bay apron (battery tray apron) and welded in some jacking plates under the front cross member. Doesn't seem like much but consider that with exception to the engine bay apron, everything else is fully welded.

The mini-tub was more difficult than anticipated. The rear frame rails don't go straight back, rather they bow outward towards each corner (going back towards the rear of the car). If I widen the inner wheel wells 3", then one end of the wheel well will be wider than the other. If I keep them the same width on each end, then a shelf will form on the aft portion of each wheel well. I decided to weld the wheel well to match the lateral rake of the frame rail. It looks clean and there is no shelf. The inner wheel well will be hidden after all the interior components are installed.
Cutting out the rust and thin sheet metal areas left gaping holes. Cutting out small panels from some sheet metal was time consuming.

All of this has been done at the body shop. The owner is kind in letting me do all of this work. I've got some 60 hours in all of this work. Its slow going but solid work. Using the Miller welder has helped me improve my welding skills.

I also got a new camera. Its a Sony NEX-5

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This shot shows the quarter panel patch weld line and the new inner wheel well. The sheet metal added between the inner and outer wheel wells is also visible.

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The Miller welder, I like it more than my Lincoln MIG !

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The drivers side wheel well work has been started and I hope to complete it early next week. This side also needs a quarter panel patch to be installed and floor drop on the trunk side.

The new apron installed. It looks very stock with exception to all the factory holes being being welded up. I may still weld up the cooling holes located next to the stock battery location.

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A wide shot of the new wheel well. The factory spot welded and applied seam sealer. I fully welded inside and out and when applying seam sealer, there will be less of it. For anyone that looks under the car, I think the wheel wells will take on a clean and uninterrupted look.


This is a photo of the steel plates welded under the front cross member. These are to be used as jacking plates that prevent damage to the cross member. I'll weld plates to the sub frame supports at a later date.

SVTnSD

Last week ended with the completion of the mini-tub and repair of multiple rusted areas around the wheel wells. Seam sealing has begun. The passenger side is done.

So this week starts with the removal of the rear and front suspension and bracing under the car. The body will be placed on custom made "dollies" that lift the body to a convenient height so actual body work can begin. We will start by stripping a few small areas followed by skimming some small dent and damage areas with putty. Following some sanding and minor prep work, the first coat of primer sealer will be applied.

To me, other than starting the engine for the first time and putting the car into gear for the first time, this is where the restoration gets a little exciting. The look of the car will change a great deal this week. Looking forward to posting pics this Friday..

aar0s

your not the only one looking forward to it!

SVTnSD

The car now sits on dollies ready for body work. Before that can be started, some welding around the K member must be repaired. Seems the last shop the car was in, didn't take their time doing it right.

This car also came with the aluminum rocker covers from the factory. This appearance option required a dozen or so small holes on each side of the car to be drilled in the steel rocker panels. Those will also be welded tomorrow.



Got wood? A small project to place on the rear dollie for support. Never liked metal on metal when it came to supporting the body of a car.



Another small patch fully welded under and on top. There was once a gaping hole caused from rust.



A shot of the drivers side quarter panel wheel well area. Lots of welding.. Its all solid now.


The forward portion of the drivers quarter panel. Two seams show the mini tub part added in.


The way it should be done.. Fully welded with all cancerous areas cut out. Solid steel and nothing else.


The mini-tub shown on each side. If ever I charge to do a mini-tub on someone else's car. Its going to cost them a lot of dough! There's just a lot of cutting and welding in there. Hours and hours..


The seam sealing has begun..


See any problems?







Missed areas where weld should be, welds full of holes and some welds did not penetrate enough.

Hopefully, the next set of photo's will show the car in primer or other body work.