67 Mustang GTA 390 Fastback Restoration project begins

[brennan67]

Right after some research I have managed to get some information on what holes I need on my inner fender aprons and shock tower area. Next weekend we will hopefully weld up the "extra" holes that the PO decided to make. He must have loved drilling as there are so many extra holes its scary !

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This is how my cars inner fenders need to look when I am done :

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So as you can see I am still a way off !!

I will next go and mark which holes I need and what i need to close up so we know what we are doing.

I just have to say what is really fantastic in this day and age is the internet. The amount of info and like minded people on forums who have done or are doing the same thing and same passion is amazing.

It makes an almost impossible task a little more simpler and attainable, (but still a lot of work to be done once you have the info to get it right). But I dont think 10 years ago if we in sunny SA wanted to do a concours restoration on a American car that we would ever get the level of detail that is required, just because of the lack of information avail to us. The world has definitely changed and many people who are passionate about their hobbies all around the world are openly willing to help and share info and that allows for better standards and examples of these cars which is only a win for everyone.

[brennan67]

Shock tower cracks welded up

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Holes marked with X need to be welded closed and those with a "tick" are correct :

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How it looks after welding. Next will be some hammer and dolly work to get things a bit straighter..

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The red oxide epoxy primer is how they did it back in the day at Ford. So I am following the same process. Final coat will be a matte black finish on the engine bay. Nothing is masked and it needs to be painted from top down wth red oxide visible from underneath and on front strut rod housings and front frame rails with some black overspray. Thats the reason for doing what I am doing..

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This is where I am at right now. To be honest still needs a bit more bodywork to be perfect but we will move onto the rear quarter panels now and get into the fabrication repairs required !

[brennan67]

Ok so we started work on the rear quarter panels. This aspect of the restoration has been giving me sleepless nights on how best to tackle the problem that the previous owner gifted me when in his infinite wisdom decided that a factory GT 390 Fastback needed wheel flares..

I have bought in all the body panels from the USA via sea freight that I might need as previously mentioned "just in case" with the idea that its cheaper to not need something than having to specially airfreight a part I dont have. I can always sell what I dont use right ??

So with the wheel arches been flared out like this we need to figure out how to reverse this mess !

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So the plan was to remove the flares and see if we could save the original quarter panel and wheel house/ wheel arch tub. When we investigated my worse fear was revealed in that the previous owner cut and welded and completely butchered the quarter panels and wheel arches. So we slowly cut out section by section the quarter panels to see if we needed to replace the wheel house as well.

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Next we removed the wheel house and the inner drop down boot panel :

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Then we mocked up the new wheel house and drop down panel. Sprayed all the metal areas with 3M weld through primer, which is a product I have just learnt about used to prime metal surfaces that you cant get to after welding and prevents them from rusting.

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So this is where we are at this weekend. Cut the new quarter panel to fit, I have chosen to try keep as much of the original panel as I can, the door opening lines and edges are so good that replacing and having to fight the edges and alignment on these aftermarket quarter panels we decided to keep the original door jam areas and but weld the new quarter panel in. We have just mocked it all up next step will be to weld it all in.

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[ters]

Amazing attention to detail Brennan!

Ters.

[brennan67]

Amazing attention to detail Brennan!

Ters.

why thank you sir..

The road is long....This project has been on ice for many years but now I am moving forward ever so slowly !

[Mustang Sally]

Beautiful project Brennan! I think the new panels are going to be a good investment with the amount of time and effort you're putting into the build. Enjoy!!

[brennan67]

Thanks for the words of encouragement guys much appreciated keeps me motivated..

Small update from this mornings work.

Welded up wheel arch and painted with Southern Polyurethane Inc (SPI) Grey Epoxy primer. This stuff is high end epoxy primer not avail in SA which I imported from USA, highly recommended by restoration guys over there vs etch primers.

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1st time painting with this stuff and they said make sure you stir not shake, wow this stuff is thick ! Took 20 min to stir it up was sitting on bottom of can and covered on 1st coat 100% coverage, really amazing paint.. Mix 1:1 paint to activator and wait 30 min then paint.

Basically they recommend painting over cleaned metal and within 7 days you can apply body filler over it without needing to scuff as it makes a chemical bond. Whilst filler is not req on these inner areas this will be route we will follow on body panels etc where req. So the rest of the exterior body and floor will be painted with SPI epoxy in due course !

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The paint laid out really well with quite a bit of gloss to it. Whilst the quarter panels are off we got epoxy up into areas which will never be seen again, nor will you be able to get access to these areas so now they have top quality rust protection for the next 50 years.. which nobody will get to see but gives me piece of mind.

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Next Sat we will tack in the new quarter panel and hopefully start stitch welding it closed.

Thats all for now

[johan wepener]

Brennan 67

I read this morning your postings re the restouration of your Mustang. I am

impressed in the way you do this. Your patience is amazing and I am certain

that the end product will give you much joy.

Johan

[brennan67]

Thanks Johan for your kind words.

For me the build is as exciting as the end product, I live for the weekends to hit the garage and get my hands dirty. Its also a learning process for me and I also have the help of 1 or 2 really skilled people where my skills are lacking to help me out.

Its been a long time coming this restoration as I have had the car parked away for about 12 years, so I have been very patient. I am glad I have taken this time as now I get to restore her the right way.

Rgds
Brennan

[Maverick]

Following this build with great interest!