Need AllAround Beging Help
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11
Need AllAround Beging Help
Hey,
I Have always enjoyed The 1965-1969 Mustang Fastbacks. I believe it is time for me to get one and start restoring. I would like to know basically what and where to begin. What do i need to look for when Searching for a mustang. Where Do i go to verify the Vin #. What do are some major key points. What do i need to aquire to complete my project. I need a overview of The whole process. Thank You
I Have always enjoyed The 1965-1969 Mustang Fastbacks. I believe it is time for me to get one and start restoring. I would like to know basically what and where to begin. What do i need to look for when Searching for a mustang. Where Do i go to verify the Vin #. What do are some major key points. What do i need to aquire to complete my project. I need a overview of The whole process. Thank You
1st Gear Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 127
From: Abilene, Texas
RE: Need AllAround Beging Help
Classicstang,
First off welcome to the forum. I was new to it about 3 months ago and I am sure you will find out just as I have that there is not a better, more informative forum on the web. There are some very knowledgable stang owners here who can help with just about anythign Mustang related.
You will find tons of GREAT info int he FAQ section at the top on the page. To do some decoding on a vin number you maybe looking at try some of these sites. I got them from the FAQ area.
Where is my VIN, and how do I decode it?
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/students/Blommel/
http://www.mustangdecoder.com/decoder.html
http://www.fomoco.com/mustang-vin-decoder.shtml
http://www.vintage-mustang.com/topic...de/decode.html
Good luck in your search. When you find the one that you thing you want be sure to chekc back in with additional question and let the forum guide you through the purchase and pricing. I know for a fact we have saved several from buying a rust bucket money pit. WE all know well that when you see that one stang you want, your emotions can influence sound judgement.
Gary
First off welcome to the forum. I was new to it about 3 months ago and I am sure you will find out just as I have that there is not a better, more informative forum on the web. There are some very knowledgable stang owners here who can help with just about anythign Mustang related.
You will find tons of GREAT info int he FAQ section at the top on the page. To do some decoding on a vin number you maybe looking at try some of these sites. I got them from the FAQ area.
Where is my VIN, and how do I decode it?
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/students/Blommel/
http://www.mustangdecoder.com/decoder.html
http://www.fomoco.com/mustang-vin-decoder.shtml
http://www.vintage-mustang.com/topic...de/decode.html
Good luck in your search. When you find the one that you thing you want be sure to chekc back in with additional question and let the forum guide you through the purchase and pricing. I know for a fact we have saved several from buying a rust bucket money pit. WE all know well that when you see that one stang you want, your emotions can influence sound judgement.
Gary
4th Gear Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,138
From: FL
RE: Need AllAround Beging Help
there are millions of sites out there liek the ones above with info on stangs. add those to your favorites. Also, you're going to want a couple books. I love my Restoration Guide by Corcoran and Davis. Also, get to know some parts dealers, National Parts Depot, Texas Mustang, Mustangs Unlimited, Mustangs Plus, the list goes on forever. Try ebay but try and stay local so you can do a rust-check. Basically, rust will be your biggest problem. everyone here on this forum can help you so just post ?s if you get them. Good luck
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 171
From: Seattle, WA
RE: Need AllAround Beging Help
Hi!
Welcome to the forum. For a good start, which for me was the case few months ago, I'd recommend buying a book I bought at Amazon, it's "Mustang Restoration Handbook" from Don Taylor:
Mustang Restoration Handbook
Good info for a good start.
Welcome to the forum. For a good start, which for me was the case few months ago, I'd recommend buying a book I bought at Amazon, it's "Mustang Restoration Handbook" from Don Taylor:
Mustang Restoration Handbook
Good info for a good start.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,566
From: Marquette Mi
RE: Need AllAround Beging Help
Rust rust and more rust is what you want to look for. it it has as much as my 71 and you arent good at welding, dont have deep pockets, or have never rebuild a pos into something nice, then dont buy a seriously rusty car.
as stangman 05 puts it..
" Here's some good advice....Make sure you look at the "sweet spots" for rust. If you don't know here they are.
Look at the shock towers from inside the eng. bay and around wheel wells.
If you can lay on the ground and scoot under the car if not go as far as you can. USE A FLASHLIGHT EVEN IF ITS DAYTIME.
Look at the framerails front and back for rust
look for repair/rust on bottom of floors. There shouldn't be sheet metal screws or rivets sticking through the bottom of the floors
make sure front frame rails are not separating from floor or twisted .
look above the rearend for rust holes.If you can't get under there you can veiw this from the trunk.
BE SURE TO PULL BACK ANY CARPET OR WHATEVER IS IN THE TRUNK and look for rust. And look under trunk
Also with your flashlight look inside the car up inside corners of the firewall . The corners hidden by the dash rust also
And look for bubbles around the back window because that top can hide problems too
If everything looks good then yes its worth the money
These mustangs can have some bad rust but you have to know what to look for to save yourself problems. I've seen alot of nice "looking" ponies but when you look else where on the car it's totally a rust bucket that looks good."
" Here's some good advice....Make sure you look at the "sweet spots" for rust. If you don't know here they are.
Look at the shock towers from inside the eng. bay and around wheel wells.
If you can lay on the ground and scoot under the car if not go as far as you can. USE A FLASHLIGHT EVEN IF ITS DAYTIME.
Look at the framerails front and back for rust
look for repair/rust on bottom of floors. There shouldn't be sheet metal screws or rivets sticking through the bottom of the floors
make sure front frame rails are not separating from floor or twisted .
look above the rearend for rust holes.If you can't get under there you can veiw this from the trunk.
BE SURE TO PULL BACK ANY CARPET OR WHATEVER IS IN THE TRUNK and look for rust. And look under trunk
Also with your flashlight look inside the car up inside corners of the firewall . The corners hidden by the dash rust also
And look for bubbles around the back window because that top can hide problems too
If everything looks good then yes its worth the money
These mustangs can have some bad rust but you have to know what to look for to save yourself problems. I've seen alot of nice "looking" ponies but when you look else where on the car it's totally a rust bucket that looks good."
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 655
From:
RE: Need AllAround Beging Help
Welcome to the forum!! Excellent suggestion from everyone here, yes i will agree is to look for rust, and to really look to see if the car looks good visual, sounds good mechanically, etc. etc.
I will also agree that this forums does a really good job of helping others out, and i to dont doubt we all have saved many from buying rust buckets. I hope you enjoy your stay here
I will also agree that this forums does a really good job of helping others out, and i to dont doubt we all have saved many from buying rust buckets. I hope you enjoy your stay here
3rd Gear Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 540
From: Georgia
RE: Need AllAround Beging Help
Welcome!
Make sure you know what engine it came with. If it came with a 6Cyl and someone swapped it over, it is not original so down price it. If it is still a 6cyl stay away.
Make sure you know what engine it came with. If it came with a 6Cyl and someone swapped it over, it is not original so down price it. If it is still a 6cyl stay away.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11
RE: Need AllAround Beging Help
Thanks Guys, I will pick up those books and others Soon. I am looking for one that needs help but not a FULL restoration. Thanks and will keep all this stuff in mind. Also i will let you know shortly If i find one. Thanks Again
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 11
RE: Need AllAround Beging Help
Hey,
Alright I have a few Questions. What makes a car "all Original"? What do i Do if the Quarter panel is rusted with a hole in it. Do i replace, will that take away the all original. What motors could i put in it. Perferably the biggest Horsepower motor. What is the best transmission. What Is better 5-speed or Auto. Thanks
Alright I have a few Questions. What makes a car "all Original"? What do i Do if the Quarter panel is rusted with a hole in it. Do i replace, will that take away the all original. What motors could i put in it. Perferably the biggest Horsepower motor. What is the best transmission. What Is better 5-speed or Auto. Thanks
5th Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,566
From: Marquette Mi
RE: Need AllAround Beging Help
Well you can drive an original rust bucket or you can repair it. Numbers matching and original pertains more to engine, trans, and rear end in most cases. If its rusted then it will need restored. As long as it is done well, you will still have a good car. Most cars I buy are without the engine and trans, just a roller. I usually dont care what it had before because I will put what I want in it.
64-66 mustangs will fit a 351W and almost everything else is too big to fit without alot of mods.
67-68 can fit FE blocks, 352,360,390,427,428 and with ALOT of work can fit a 429/460.
69-70 can fit any classic engine Ford made, but the 429 BOSS needs alot of work to make it fit.
71-73 Anything goes, plenty of room and they are the heaviest Mustangs built, untill the 03-04 Cobra.
Making power is a matter of combination and $$$. It also depends on what size engine you can find, you have, or you can buy to put in it as to how much power it will make. It all depends on what you have or find to work with, and what you can afford.
64-66 mustangs will fit a 351W and almost everything else is too big to fit without alot of mods.
67-68 can fit FE blocks, 352,360,390,427,428 and with ALOT of work can fit a 429/460.
69-70 can fit any classic engine Ford made, but the 429 BOSS needs alot of work to make it fit.
71-73 Anything goes, plenty of room and they are the heaviest Mustangs built, untill the 03-04 Cobra.
Making power is a matter of combination and $$$. It also depends on what size engine you can find, you have, or you can buy to put in it as to how much power it will make. It all depends on what you have or find to work with, and what you can afford.