Thanks for viewing my car! I have been waiting for so long to get some pictures of it on this site so I finally figured I just had to post some and then maybe more will follow. We'll see. But for now, here is a brief evolution of my favorite car ever (mostly because my father has helped me with so much of it).
History
I've only ever owned mid-eighties mustangs. I had a 1981 coup as my first car. I tricked it out with a self-installed moon roof and luggage rack (while everyone else was taking them off, I was putting one on!). After my sister-in-law wrecked it I used the insurance money to buy my '86 convertible. The motor (v-6) was shot and the top bad when I bought it for way too much (thanks D&R Auto Sales!), but my dad helped me drop a motor in it (my first 5.0) and I managed a pretty good install of the top not long after that. I drove it for a few years through college before it got backed into at McDonalds (why I went back for the cheesburger they shorted me at the drive-through I'll never know). I drove it dented and with the new red door (in picture) for a couple years before my luck changed.
A co-worker noticed the '83 sitting in a driveway so I had to check it out. The owner said it had a blown main seal (not an easy fix, right?) but that it had new exhaust and a strong motor. A quick test-drive confirmed lots of oil, but it was above the exaust manifold. Also, it had power. Somewhere about the time I bought the car I also confirmed that it was the high output 5.0 and that the only oil leak it really had was coming from the valve cover gaskets. I sold my motor from the '86 for $500 and bought the '83 for $1000 for a net cost of not much for so much. Having a strong motor and straight body, I began work.
Okay, but I have to make a huge confession. I took the front clip (front end and front quarter panels-both sides) from the '86 mustang and put it on the '83. The '83 had the much stronger motor because the 5.0 my dad and I put in the '86 was mostly a stock 2bbl truck motor from way back. Also, the '83 grille was complex for sanding and was my experience that as you wash and wax it the yellow starts to rub through quite a bit quicker than the '86 style. Besides, I just plain liked the look of the '86 better. Yes, I may regret this later when the car is more of a collector, but I had to make this the car of "MY" dreams... which it is now. So, appologies complete, let me tell you more about my car.
Lots of sanding through a hot summer. Thanks Marc, Curt and Michael!
Final prep. for paint
Current Details
New rims were the latest addition, but work I've done to it includes the following...
*New suspension bushings all around
*New break master-cylindar
*500watt amp in trunk with 12" Sub. Still just have tweeters in dash, but plan on door speakers if I can bring myself to cutting the panels. We'll see. Not going for "loud", just "good". :)
*New dashboard
*New plexi-glass on instrument panel cluster
*Re-powder coated all black metal trim
*Aluminum gas door
*New glass rear curtain
*Freshly painted trim all around exterior
*Genuine Saleen Ground-effects kit (pretty much the only one built for these years of mustangs)
*Genuine Ford carbon shift-knob
*Carbon center console surround (around shifter) to match knob
*Carbon plate around radio to match rest
*New bushings on window tracks
*New boot cover
*New hood insulation
*New well-liner
*Fresh hood cowel-grille
Fresh paint, lots of work to go
Future work
*Subframe connectors (already have them, just need to install)
*Convertible top (also just need to put it on)
*Car alarm? (I'd rather leave it open so the top doesn't get slashed, but things are starting to add up)
*New carpet (doesn't look too bad, but could be better)
*White-face upgrade to instruments... anyone have them?
Thanks for looking, let me know what you think!
