'71 Torino GT

[PortraitPro]

So I'm a new guy here so I thought I would introduce my driver/ongoing project.

It's a '71 Torino GT "M" code that I picked up in Carlisle at Ford Nationals in 2012. It's a one-owner with 45k original miles with original 351C and C-6 automatic. Car is completely rust free, and considering it's an original VA car, that is a rare find so it must have been garage kept. It 6was resprayed it's original color, Dark Green Metallic, in 2006 and not very well at that. A lot of dirt and dust in the paint, and it's showing age already.

Here are the pics of what the car looked like when I got it.

[PortraitPro]

The first thing I did was swap out the Ivy Green interior and converted it to all black.

This consisted of new interior panels and carpet and recovered the rear seat. All of the plastic trim panels, rear package tray, and headliner were spray dyed.

I went with Procar Elite Lumbar series seats. The seats are great but I won't even go into all of the issues with their brackets/adapters that they sent me.

I also chose to swap out the original rim blow steering wheel for an original GT style wheel out of a '78 Mustang. Found a nice one on eBay that cleaned up really nice.

[PortraitPro]

I then swapped out the front manual drum brakes and converted them to original style front power disc. Can't believe this car didn't come with disc brakes.

I sourced and original junk yard set from a '70 Torino, cleaned and painted them then installed a complete rebuild kit from Chockostang.

[PortraitPro]

Then I pulled the engine and trans. I cleaned and repainted the engine bay. Great results for a rattle can job.

[PortraitPro]

Then finally I dressed up the engine before putting it back in. Installing an Edelbrock Performer intake, Holley 670 cfm carb, and MSD Ready To Run distributor.

[PortraitPro]

The last step was the wheels. Ridler wheels 18x8 in the front and 20x8.5 in the rear. I also cut a half a coil out of the front coil springs. Since getting an alignment (after this pic was taken) the front sits a little higher than pictured below, so I think I need to cut another 1/2 coil.

[PortraitPro]

I also installed a Waldron's exhaust kit with 2.5" pipes and Pypes Performance mufflers. It took about 14 month doing all of the work by myself and only working on Saturdays.

The next big project will be blacking out all chrome and stainless trim and painting the car Raven Black, when the budget allows of course.

[CruizinKev]

wow sweet!!! looks awesome!!

[Dave B]

Sweet! Nice looking car, and nice work!

[SSLance]

Very nice work... and welcome! I like the projects that require more elbow grease and less cash infusion. They just seem more satisfying to me to look at and admire when done. and you've done yours well so far.

[PortraitPro]

Thanks for all of the kind words. I've gotten more positive feedback in the short time I've been on this forum than any of the other forums I belong to. One of my next smaller projects is to build a custom center console.

So if anyone has any good tutorials or ides for center consoles please send them my way.

[AusMarty]

That's because it's a f***ing awesome car.
I missed the chance to get a project for $3000.
Genuine Cobra, fold away headlights...
Here is OZ. (Yeah dead serious) was a flood recovery, but could have been fixed up with a lot of time, and not much sheet metal as it had been left in the sun to dry at the insurance yard.
kicking myself now that I blew it on my Supra at the time.

Keep the pics coming.
Save up for a sick Art Morrison frame and take that big phat-ass sexy b!tch to the wiggles!

[PortraitPro]

Well here is a pic of that is my vision for the car. I would love a set of hideaway headlights, but people want an arm and a leg for them. The only downside to Torinos, is all the cool stuff isn't reproduced. A good complete set of hideaways will run you over $2,500.

I just wish I knew how to do body work and paint.

[Bossed]

Super nice, love these big gals. Keep up the good work, and thanks for sharing.

[djfxall]

Love the Torino they are one of my favorite cars ever made!! Never been to Carlisle even though it is pretty close to me. Either way love the project and can't wait to see more progress.

[PortraitPro]

I decided that I didn't like the carpet. It was a cheap replacement carpet from Dearborn Classics. I ordered some new carpet and opted to go with a modern cut pile style carpet from ACC over the original 80/20 loop.

So today I removed all of the old sound deadener and discovered the floor pans had a lot more surface rust than I originally thought. Still for being original floor pans I think they are in great shape. Luckily I found one place locally that stocks POR15 so I brushed that on.

[Blue Oval Man]

Awsome looking car. Not a big fan of green, but, I like it better than the all black version. jmo.

[PortraitPro]

Awsome looking car. Not a big fan of green, but, I like it better than the all black version. jmo.

Thanks. I'm not a huge fan of green either, but this color kind of grows on you. It's a nice dark metallic green and looks almost black in certain lighting. I just couldn't keep that ugly ivy green interior.

[csouth]

Thanks. I'm not a huge fan of green either, but this color kind of grows on you. It's a nice dark metallic green and looks almost black in certain lighting. I just couldn't keep that ugly ivy green interior.

Love the Torino's. There are a couple of projects on here you should checkout, 68 Torino's with Cobra motors. Also Google Mark Bowlers Torino if you haven't seen it.

[PortraitPro]

Love the Torino's. There are a couple of projects on here you should checkout, 68 Torino's with Cobra motors. Also Google Mark Bowlers Torino if you haven't seen it.

Yes I'm familiar with Mark's Torino. There's also Troy's '68 Torino GPT Special http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-RZw6F5pUc

And there's also the "All In" '70 Torino GT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrT85z7JU64

I just couldn't bring myself to throw that kind of money into a car that you will never get back. Torino's are really soft in the market, something I don't understand. These cars are really nice and stand up against '70/'71 Chevelles IMO, but yet they are valued significantly less. I'm careful with all of the mods that I do trying to be budget conscious so I don't price myself out of the car. I got this car at such a great price, with what I have in it I can still turn a profit if I decide to sell.