1978 Mustang II restomod

[Dave B]

Looking pretty sweet!

[alcino]

Looking awesome! My car is in need of some body work and paint(again). Your posts are motivating me to get some progress going. Loving your bumper and other body mods. Hope you don't mind me using some of them on mine. Keep your detailed updates coming.

[wfo guy]

Looking good so far!

[rusty428cj]

Looking awesome! My car is in need of some body work and paint(again). Your posts are motivating me to get some progress going. Loving your bumper and other body mods. Hope you don't mind me using some of them on mine. Keep your detailed updates coming.

I don't mind. That front bumper/valance was a lot of work. I was going to add a spoiler but after cutting and mocking it up I didn't like how it looked.

[rusty428cj]

I decided it was time to upgrade the engine compartment





Two coats of SPI black epoxy



The spring perches on the 1965 rear end are 1/4" to wide on each side so we added metal to the bottom of the perch with an offset hole.



New rear shackles and test fitting the rear after the leaf springs were sanded and epoxy primed.



It is hard to believe but new motor mounts for a V8 are not available so we made our own. We had a set Rod & Custom small block motor mounts that we did not use on another project. They were cut down and welded to the frame



We will add another brace after the firewall is modified for the AOD and we install the engine and trans again

[DrFraZZy]

Any updates? It has been nearly a month

[rusty428cj]

I ordered a spoiler from Mustangs Unlimited but after test fitting I realized I never did like how the spoiler is on the quarter panel and how tall it was.



I cut it down and added a little fiberglass



After some bodywork



Epoxy primed





We had to do a little rust repair to the hatch and bodywork and I painted the back side SPI Orange. The spoiler was bolted and fiberglass mat was added and needed bodywork before the back was painted.

[rusty428cj]

I painted a few more parts

[DrFraZZy]

The updates, I was looking for!!! Wow, the color reallllllyyyy pops! The spoiler modification might not be noticed down the road without pointing it out and shortening it up really cleans up with the body lines and I concur, it was too tall.

It is going to be one badass mustang 2! It is coming along nicely

[rusty428cj]

The AOD is a tight fit so to make it easier to install we modified the trans tunnel



Also decided to fill some of the holes in the firewall



I also didn't like all the holes in the fender aprons





Crossmember was also modified for more clearance

[Mach1_Ron]

I Dig that Orange Color....

[rusty428cj]

We made our own trans crossmember using some of the original and a thick piece of metal

[rhurley]

Rusty, You do a great job on all of these. Do you ever do filler over top of the SPI primer?

[rusty428cj]

Rusty, You do a great job on all of these. Do you ever do filler over top of the SPI primer?

I epoxy prime the bare metal and then do my bodywork followed with another coat of SPI epoxy and the next day SPI Turbo primer.

[wfo guy]

I'm surprised that no one makes engine mounts and they are different from all the other sbf mounts. There always seems to be a surprise in the project world. Good progress, Rusty.

[rusty428cj]

I finished the bodywork in the engine compartment and sprayed a couple coats of SPI black epoxy. Next day I sprayed SPI Turbo urethane primer.

[Red67Mustang]

Cool project! I had a '76 Cobra II in high school through college... It was such a blast to drive! Your project looks great, I like the bumper mods... Didn't even know those parts were available. Maybe the Mustang II is (slowly) gaining in popularity / aftermarket support? Though they were underpowered from the factory... It's still a SBF and once they've been rebuilt these cars are really great little hot rods.

[chunger]

Nice work Rusty.

Is the purpose of the epoxy to seal the metal? Or does it just bond to metal better than regular primer?

Thanks!

[Z06killinSBF]

Such awesome work as always. I love the little MII's

[rusty428cj]

Nice work Rusty.

Is the purpose of the epoxy to seal the metal? Or does it just bond to metal better than regular primer?

Thanks!

Regular primer can absorb moisture epoxy does not.