Mustang Restoration

4/1/11

2011-04-01T18:05:00.000-07:00

Four link bars cut to the same length.

Brackets mocked up

3/25/11

2011-03-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

Bushings welded in, now spacers need to be made in place of spherical rod end gap.

2/11/11

2011-02-11T17:57:00.000-08:00

Bushings to be welded in four link holes.

2/4/11

2011-02-04T17:54:00.001-08:00

Four link brackets need to be modified, as you can see by the third hole being filled.

1/28/11

2011-01-28T17:51:00.000-08:00

Slots cut for four link bar.

12/31/10

2010-12-31T17:49:00.000-08:00

The reason why work on my car slowed down...

11/5/10

2010-11-05T17:44:00.000-07:00

Rear end set in place with jack stands.

7-23-10

2010-07-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

Mocked up the Moser Full Floater rearend. Time to work on the four link and watts linkage now.

7-2-10

2010-07-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

Finally got my custom Koni coilovers
Had to have them shortened and threaded

04-30-10

2010-05-19T14:48:00.000-07:00

Roll Bar bolted into place for fit issues. Now the four link system can start to take shape.

04-02-10

2010-05-19T14:44:00.000-07:00

Roll Bar stripped and ready for primer.

03-19-10

2010-05-19T14:40:00.001-07:00

New Ford 9" Full Floater Rear end.

03-12-2010

2010-03-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

The caster camber plates installed on both sides.

Above shows the support and mounting bracket for caster camber. (water jet piece)

03-06-2010

2010-03-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

Above and below two water jet pieces being drilled. Pieces go on the underside of the shock tower, and bolt through to the caster camber plate.

Suspension mocked up. More bad news: Qa1 struts won't work, not enough compression or travel. QA1 struts can't be modified. I contacted Koni and gave them specs that I needed, and I should have them in 10 weeks.

03-05-2010

2010-03-18T21:06:00.000-07:00

Above and below just getting measurements. I'm not going to flare the wheel wells that much. Looks like 8" wide rims.

1/22/2010

2010-01-25T10:54:00.000-08:00

I have been ordering suspension parts. I had a water jet fabrication shop make a inner shock tower piece to adapt to the caster camber plate. Front spindles are at powder coat, should be done on 1-28-2010. Still have to box lower control arms. Below are some pieces I picked up.

Above Global West adjustable strut rod.

Above UPR Caster Camber plate (all steel).

QA1 adjustable strut, Hypercoil springs, and the caster camber plate.

Maier Racing Frank Stagnaro's Car

2009-12-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

YouTube - Maier Racing Frank Stagnaro's Car

Check out this video.

11/09/09

2009-11-09T15:16:00.000-08:00

Bad news: the distributor for RRS (front strut system) no longer sells them. Now that I put all the time and money into the notch kit I have to figure out what to do. Any ideas would be appreciated. I have to stay with a strut system because of the notched shock towers. Not sure if RRS is in financial trouble or what?

11/06/09

2009-11-09T15:09:00.000-08:00

My opinion it turned out nice.

Should have lots of room now for the engine.

Put a little filler around the edge to get a really nice finished look.

10/30/09

2009-11-09T15:03:00.000-08:00

Just about ready for primer.

All welded now grinding. Should turn out nice.

10/16/09

2009-11-09T14:54:00.000-08:00

After doing a reverse template to get the best fit to cut down on grind time they are finally welded in.

Minor grinding to do.

This is a good photo to show the extra tower support that was welded in prior to the new engine .

9/4/09

2009-11-09T14:23:00.000-08:00

Getting the fit right so the weld is good.

I am extremely slow at this stuff. The extra support on the bottom was difficult to deal with for fit.

8/14/09

2009-09-09T20:15:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I have been able to post more pictures. Did some traveling with the family.

Finally got the notch kit fitted. Not as simple as RRS suggests.

Should be able to weld next time.

7/24/09

2009-08-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

Finally have the towers cut out. The extra bracing was a real issue with the plasma cutter I used. I have a lot of grinding to do to fit the new notched kit steel. What should have taken 1 hour took 6.

The tower support braces are going to be a pain to cut through.

Start of the day, trace template that was provided.

7/3/09

2009-07-05T04:00:00.001-07:00

I was able to get the brake and clutch assembly apart. I media blasted them along with the gas pedal and bracket. I also ordered the shock tower notching kit from RRS. Looks like more welding in my future. Camera had dead battery.

6/26/09

2009-06-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

Along with the good comes the bad. The engine is now too big for the shock towers. The money I spent on the tower braces was wasted. Now I have to get a RRS notch kit, which will change the front suspension to a strut system. (Great! More time and money.)

Opportunity knocks. Below is picture of the Losito heads on the RDI aluminum block.

Ron was able to get me a great deal on a Kinsler fuel injection system, Lunati crankshaft, carrillo rods, comp cam, cam trigger, titanium valves, stacks for the injection (set of carbon fiber and aluminum).

6/19/09

2009-06-19T20:08:00.001-07:00

Above are my Don Losito billet cylinder heads.

Above my son came to the shop to help out media blasting.

My dad was able to come and help with some priming.

Both vents are blasted and primed.

My son Zack blasting pieces for me. (Thanks Zack)

6/5/09

2009-06-09T16:50:00.000-07:00

Above Ron grinding weld on patch on drip rail.

After grinding a little filler to smooth it out.

Front view of patch with a little filler.

Used blast cabinet on quarter vents to clean them up. I like the way the vents look instead of the quarter windows.

5/29/09

2009-05-30T14:48:00.000-07:00

Blast cabinet working again. Blasted and primed quarter panel vent.

Things moving slowly but steady.

Going with Total Control Suspenion Coilovers. I haven't heard anything negative about them.

5-15-09

2009-05-17T17:05:00.000-07:00

Just found out that putting the roll bar in created a lot more work. I get to fabricate interior pieces to go around the roll bar. I was going to use the blast cabinet but, my luck the nozzle was broken. Once again progress slows. I will be taking up other interior panels soon to mock up the new interior.

5/8/09

2009-05-11T16:45:00.000-07:00

The bracket I fabricated, now garbage because I found them new at CJPonyparts.com.

New bracket from CJPonyparts.com. The picture shows the cowl on the right, fender on the left. Taken inside front wheel well.

4/24/09

2009-04-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

Above father-in-law's shop is packed with some nice cars, and some really exotic engines.

Front shot of roll cage. Not welded in yet just getting it in position. R-model style - ordered it from NPD.

Rear shot of placement of R-model roll cage. More welding ahead.

4/17/09

2009-04-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

No new pictures, just worked on brackets for lower fender to rocker panel.

3-27-09

2009-03-27T15:49:00.000-07:00

Finally getting the gaps right. I wish I knew what I was doing.

3-20-09

2009-03-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

I lost brackets in the move, so I had to fab new ones. I have no fabrication skills at all. What should have taken 1/2 hour ended up taking 6 hours and wasted a bunch of steel on screw-ups. Bracket is for cowl to fender.

Feb. 27

2009-02-27T18:48:00.000-08:00

Day went very well. I was able to get the majority of the panels on for first fit. Starting to look like a car again. Forgot L bracket for the inner cowl to fender bolt. Progress stops again. Now I have to learn how to do body work. Filler and Blocking after final adjustments.
I am starting to think about front suspension not sure yet either TOTAL CONTROL or GLOBAL WEST. Does anyone have any advice?

Looks like grind and re-weld edge to open up gap a little.

Deck lid sucks wish NOS was cheaper. Have a lot of work to do for final fit.

My dumb ass welded the holes for the valance screws, had to re-drill.

February 26

2009-02-27T17:59:00.001-08:00

Have gap just about right. Taking twice as long as I thought it would.

I have a little work to do with fit on the apron.

Trying to work on gaps while bolting things together.

Shelby style hood and R-Model apron. Not fitting like it did before media not sure what happened?

Putting front end together again!!

2/19/09

2009-02-21T14:17:00.000-08:00

Hurt my back last week, all progress on the car is on hold for a while. But I did buy a new RDI aluminum 427 small block with 9.2 deck height, and crank and rods. Should be at least 250 hp when done.

January 19, 2009

2009-02-05T16:25:00.000-08:00

Hanging doors and fenders, adjusting gaps.

January 9th

2009-01-14T11:35:00.000-08:00

The car is back now, time to make it look like the original (in the background of the next picture).

Just off the trailer and parked at RP Mack Motorsports

welds blasted and primed, interior and exterior

I am happy with the results so far. Media blast did a good job.

Engine compartment turned out nice. No surprises.

Hung doors and put trunk lid back on. Time to start panel fit once again.

January 1

2009-01-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

Media blasting and etch primer is completed. Supposed to be delivered on the 5th to RPMack Motorsports. I will try to get pictures on here next week. It is finally off the rotisserie!

media blast

2008-12-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

Car is still at the media blaster. So much for being done by Nov. 15. It isn't even done by December 15. Getting the run around when I call to check progress, and that is only when I can actually get the guy on the phone. Looks like I need to plan a road trip. Progress was slow enough before this without this guy adding another month delay.

11/14/08 media blast

2008-11-15T14:15:00.000-08:00

Wow! I can't believe the cowl is solid

rear sail panel.
somebody must have had an antenna here

The roof is better than I had hoped.

So far things are moving slowly, but better than I expected.

Nov 2

2008-11-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Sid from Midwest Media Blasting picked up the shell on November 2 to take to his shop in Shelby. Should be completed by the 15th (hopefully!). I should have more pictures then to update.

more rust

2008-10-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

blew through the cowl while welding and found more rust

removed these pieces...

from here.

had to make access for new part

fitting new part

ready for welding

front view of patch - weld complete

side view patch

put shock tower support braces in

braces are similar to the '69 mustang trans am racers

next stop is media blast and etch prime

rotisserie

2008-09-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

the white paint is the only original left!

seams are going to be welded and structural support added to handle the horsepower

9/12/08

2008-09-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

New repop seat riser

Original passenger side seat riser

Seams welded on one piece quarters

Finally! All sheet metal has been repaired or replaced.

passenger side

2008-09-05T23:10:00.000-07:00

I'd still like to find the idiot that hacked up the quarter vent!

floor pan

2008-06-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

progress continues

2008-05-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

Joy! more rust!

Plasma cutters are the S***!

Rear end gaps and lines looking good

Transition piece in and frame rails tucked under.

One piece floor pan is in after living in the garage for a year and half.

Red bar port-o-jack. Left b-pillar pushed in 1/2 inch needed to be pushed out.

Lines look good in back. Back end is dedicated!(Welded)

Looks like a lot of welding and grinding ahead.

Car moved for structural welding 5-9-08

2008-05-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

moved to Scott's shop for lines and structural welding

mocking up

mocking up "R" model front end

headlight buckets and grille attached

fits going well

Scott welding rear frame rail

3/9/07

2008-01-29T15:19:00.001-08:00

3/9/07
Hung new fenders, door and hood.

Patchwork starts 1/5/07

2008-01-29T14:51:00.001-08:00

1/5/07

Driver's side toe kick patch.

Rusted metal removed from driver's side toe kick. Patch fitted.

Rust removed on cowl - passenger side.

Ron welding in first patch metal on front cowl.

12/18/06

2008-01-29T14:30:00.000-08:00

12/18/06

Front suspension and more items removed from engine compartment.

Car was placed on dolly.

Inner structure welded in for support - to keep square.

More rust in rear transition piece. Frame rail and trunk floor are shot. Multiple layers of patch removed. Yippee. I get to drill out more spot welds. Torque boxes are shot too.

Inner and outer wheel housings shot. Multi layers of patch.

moving day!

2008-01-13T05:09:00.001-08:00

Moving the mustang to the shop. 11/13/06

My wife was glad to get her garage back!

Borrowed trailer (Thanks Kevin!) and on the road!

Now the work can really begin! Thank God somebody knows what he is doing! (RPMack Motorsports)
Thanks for all the help Ron!

3/3/06

2008-01-13T05:07:00.001-08:00

3/3/06

Keeping the sub frame connectors in place for strength.

Rust and rust holes along rocker.

Floor pan removed 2/23/06

2008-01-13T05:02:00.001-08:00

Floor pan removed. 2/23/06

How am I supposed to remember where all this stuff goes?

Spot welds drilled out, floor pan removed.

Did I mention it was rusty?

I think they dipped this in rust proofing AFTER it had already rusted out!

The blue area on the firewall makes me wonder about fire damage? It had a hot spot.

removing the engine

2008-01-09T23:11:00.001-08:00

Removing the engine 2/5/06.

By the way, you also need to plug the speedometer hole! (Oops!)

(TRANNY FLUID!)

tear down continues

2008-01-09T23:07:00.001-08:00

The tear down continues... 1/16/06

why so much rust proofing?

That was fun removing it all! NOT!

Front fenders, front valance all loaded with bondo.

How does a 1/4 inch of Bondo rust??

January '06

2008-01-09T23:03:00.001-08:00

A little help with the tear down. 1/14/06

Getting the engine ready for removal.

The Tear Down

2008-01-09T22:58:00.001-08:00

This is what I started with. 12/12/05

There were 3 layers of patch where that hole was. One was a layer of paisley carpet in between. Gotta love the 70's.

Passenger side toe kick and rocker also rusted.

Exposing the spot welds.

Exposing more spot welds in the floor pan to ready them for drilling out.

first day

2008-01-09T13:51:00.000-08:00

This is the day I bought the Mustang - November 21, 2005. Looks good, doesn't it? You couldn't see too much rust. Looks can be deceiving...