Project Rustang Revival - Input Wanted

[bapgood]

The best way I can describe my car is....rode hard and put away wet....you know the type....the ones that look weathered with experience yet still have that somewhat seductive glimmer in the eyes, but the bottom is about to fall out.

My old girl is a 1967 Mustang coupe that has had a hard life dealing with Utah snow/salt and less than loving previous owners.

I blame finding this forum and the scope creep my project has experienced on a set of wheels and one of the current builds on this forum.

I have had my car for ~10 years. It was a driver when I bought it with a tired 289, c4, and basically stock.
I had picked up a 86 mustang coupe with a 5.0 and T-5. I stripped the motor, trans, and a bunch of other misc items. That I intended to put in my 67 coupe. My father had recently bought a 65 convertible that was poppy red (orange by my eye) and pretty nice other than being a three speed manual and a motor with bad valve seats. Seeing how I was planning on replacing my engine he rebuilt my 289 to put into his car and since I'm the awesome son that I am I gave him the T-5 to put in as well. It probably had more to do with the fact that it would be back on the road a lot faster than mine, and being an only child I would get it back eventually :-). But I'm sticking with being a good son.


A little history....
I'm no master fabricator or mechanic by any stretch, however I am lucky enough to know a few guys who are and have taught me thing or two.
I grew up with motorcycles and quads and a constant yearning to tear things apart and figure out how they work.
I have helped my father completely restore his 29 Model A and various projects on his 65 mustang convertible and 1939 Dodge four door sedan.
My first major build was a 86 Jeep CJ-7 that I built for rock crawling. I transplanted in a 4.0 I6 and AW4 from a Cherokee, custom front and rear axles, custom front and rear 4 links with race runner coil overs up front.


Okay enough bs back to the here and now...
My project started up again a couple months back because I was tired of having the 67 around. My intent was to simply put the 5.0 in with Megasquirt, the old C-4, tires and wheels, and a fresh coat of paint and sell it. Kind of polish the old turd thing. The more I got into I realized what I had conveniently forgot and probably why I lost interest in the beginning of my ownership. Rust!!! The frame rails are rusted through, the floors are crap, etc. etc.

However before giving up this time I bought a set of used 2010 GT500 wheels and tires and was determined to make them work.

Then I stumbled across Wes's (user name Wesley J) Thread - 1967 Mustang Coupe, Project "Code Blue" https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?65897-1967-Mustang-Coupe-Project-quot-Code-Blue-quot
I can't decide if I should spit volgar obscenities at Wes or shower him with the accolades he deserves for his great work on his car, the great information his thread provides, and his willingness to share and help others.

I learned very quickly what scope creep was and as such my project is currently in the restructuring stage. With Wes's blessing and help I plan to borrow quite a bit from his car, especially on the front end.

Enough for now....I will add some pics and further description of the project scope soon and I look forward to input from this forum.
Or check out my blog for more pics http://mystangproject.wordpress.com/

Thanks Bradey

I will try keeping a list of the project scope here and update it as it changes.
- Replace engine bay, firewall, frame rails, and floor with custom full frame and sheet metal
- Custom front strut style suspension, SN95 spindles and hubs, 2012 Mustang GT 13.2" rotors and calipers
- Rack and pinion steering
- Custom rear link suspension - style tbd
- Engine 86 5.0 with megasquirt
- Trans T-5
- Lincoln 8.8 rear axle
- I would like to build the car with the fantasy of fitting a Coyote and T-56

[bapgood]

Had to resize the pics they were way to big

[bapgood]

Update the original post with project scope
- Replace engine bay, firewall, frame rails, and floor with custom full frame and sheet metal
- Custom front strut style suspension, SN95 spindles and hubs, 2012 Mustang GT 13.2" rotors and calipers
- Rack and pinion steering
- Custom rear link suspension - style tbd
- Engine 86 5.0 with megasquirt
- Trans T-5
- Lincoln 8.8 rear axle
- I would like to build the car with the fantasy of fitting a Coyote and T-56

[bapgood]

As you can see from the last pic in post 2 I'm getting close to cutting. I'm going to weld in some supports and legs for the engine bay, and add some lower frame work for future reference during frame fab. Then I guess it will be time to start cutting....a little nervous. Once the engine bay is off I will eye up how I want to cut out the floor and probably add some supports to keep the rockers from moving. I'm thinking I will only cut to the main rear support and fab the frame up to that point while I ponder how I want to do the back part of the frame. Because likely the rear portion of the frame and the rear suspension will integrate.... or at least it might be nice to do so.

Wish me luck.
Bradey

[dug]

Good luck. I'm looking forward to updates. If it's anything similar to Wes' car then it's going to be awesome.

[bapgood]

Good luck. I'm looking forward to updates. If it's anything similar to Wes' car then it's going to be awesome.

Thanks. I think I would need to hit the lottery and have a few more skills to be up there with Wes's car, because it is awesome. I'm just happy for the inspiration.

Mine will likely be a little simpler in fab and a lot less in go. I just want it to look decent and work.

Bradey

[bapgood]

Well the bottom fell out....and front end....they may have had some help

Guess I'm committed now :-)

I will post some more pics tonight.

[rustomatic]

That's a good way to simplify front suspension removal! Maintain the momentum!

[dug]

Looking good. That's big progress.

[LeighP]

I know my Firebird unbolts like that...but never thought I'd see a Mustang with a subframe.....

[bapgood]

[bapgood]

Thanks guys!

I'm on vacation Friday-Monday. But I just ordered 40' of 2x3x1/8 rec tube that will be waiting for me when I get back so I can get going on the frame.

Bradey

[bapgood]

I need some dimensions or at least some knowledge.....

Main questions is are the rocker supposed to be parallel?

With the front end and floor/frame gone its really easy to measure between the rockers, and when I did I noticed that I'm closer together in the front then in the back. I measured top and bottom several places and it seems pretty linear both top and bottom.

Thanks Bradey

[bapgood]

I need some dimensions or at least some knowledge.....

Main questions is are the rocker supposed to be parallel?

With the front end and floor/frame gone its really easy to measure between the rockers, and when I did I noticed that I'm closer together in the front then in the back. I measured top and bottom several places and it seems pretty linear both top and bottom.

Thanks Bradey

Sounds like they are supposed to be parallel....guess that means I need to make them that way

Bradey

[number98]

Looking good man! I will have to follow this one....

[bapgood]

Looking good man! I will have to follow this one....

Thanks...But I will feel better when it starts to look like a car again :-)

Bradey

[wellis77]

My kind of build. Looking good so far.

[Zachalanche]

are those ranger wheels?

[bapgood]

are those ranger wheels?

lol.....maybe

Yeah and I don't really remember why those got put on or where the original wheels went, but they worked for moving it around. I don't remember ever driving with them.

Bradey

[Zachalanche]

lol.....maybe

Yeah and I don't really remember why those got put on or where the original wheels went, but they worked for moving it around. I don't remember ever driving with them.

Bradey

thought I recognized them. looks like you are off to an ambitious start, Im excited to see how it tuns out. I like how you are setting up your jig. Some day I'd like to try a similar thing with my 67 fairlane.