The Dirty work.
Well the grunt has begun and is in progress.
Here is engine bay with original 260 engine in and removed.
In the process of pulling entire front end off.
Before and after shots of the front suspension.
I scrubbed the shit out of the inside of the engine compartment I used Tide, scrub brushes, putty knife, high pressure hose. Also found that TCP works pretty good as well in addition to Simple Green.
On the outside of the aprons I applied just about the same treatment. Any of the joint connections between the apron and the exterior of the cab that were worn I chipped away with a putty knife and replaced with Vulkem a polyurethane caulking I used black of course. Ford used some sort of seal to do the same thing, I found that it was aged, hardend, brittle and cracking in many areas. There were visible gaps where there should have been none it was not creating much of a seal. After the under fender portion of the aprons has been sprayed with a rubberized undercoating and sound deadener.
I replaced everything on the front end; Grab a trak upper control arms, Did the Shelby drop while I was in there, Global West boxed bearing lowers control arms, Total Control Performance (TCP) adjustable struts.
Granada spindles found on Ebay w/new bearings, rotors and rebuilt calipers.
My template.
I removed the power steering to go manual so all new tie rod ends, 65 leading link, Tony Branda quick steer idler arms (had the roller bearing kit applied to the pitman arm by Opentracker). Rebuilt 65 Mustang GT 16:1 ratio steering box modified to receive 3/4DD joint connection an Ididit tilt steering column to eliminate the dreaded "Spear of Death". 620 powder coated coil springs atop rollerized spring perches by Opentracker.
Up top I have converted to the Shelby reinforced Mustang shock tower caps and with a new set of KYB's, the factory export braces and aftermarket Monte Carlo bars have been removed and replaced with these stealth looking replacements from TCP. I also installed a manual aluminum dual master cylinder to feed all four discs from JMC purchaced from Autoworks in San Diego.
Two Quotes I have not forgotten from some months back as I started this process:
"Just take your time" Ed Curtis
"Once you get that far away from stock, you are kind of out there on your own" Sales rep from March Performance
I want to thank everyone that has put up with my many questions as I was preparing to take this Falcon off line and the service I have received from all the distributors.
The guys on the Ford Muscle Forum, Opentracker (John) has been a huge help with some of my suspension components and his custom fabrications, Mike Duran and his #29 Falcon in Pensacola has shared tons of his knowledge with me, Bruce from Modern Driveline, The guys from Street or track LLC, NPD, Mustang Depot, Mustangs Plus and our local PAW.
