FNG from Cape Cod
10-24-2013, 03:02 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 5
FNG from Cape Cod
Hiya. New guy here. I've been restoring an '83 GT 5.0 convertible for just over 2 years now. I had joined the forum "foureyedpride" a few years back but their website seems to be constantly down at this point. Plus I get the feeling a lot of members there would be looking down their noses at me for having to put a bunch of aftermarket parts on my car to finish the restoration. Hey what can I say, it's tough finding original parts for a 30-year old car.
Anyhow I'm from Cape Cod. I work in an auto repair shop. My daily driver is a Toyota 4runner, so go ahead and flame me for buying non-American if you want. I like hiking, kayaking, fishing, hunting, camping, beer, women, classic rock, guns, grilling epic meals, and working on my project mustang of course.
The car: I bought it in March of '11, drove it that Spring, Summer and Fall and started taking it apart mid-October that year once I realized the rot at the front frame rails was going to buckle the front end sooner than later. It was a tough decision: Get rid of the car and buy something without so much rot, or go *****-deep in this bitch and save her from the crusher. I've already spent over $10K in parts, materials and sublet labor so you know which road I chose. Nevermind the hundreds of hours I've spent on it myself. So at this point it's almost ready for paint, the engine is completely overhauled (adding a somewhat wilder cam and an Edelbrock intake manifold), then it needs a new top, new tires and alignment and a few weeks worth of assembling after hours and she should be back on the road by late Spring I'm hoping.
I think I saw that new members need to stick around for a while before they post photos, but I'll post a few as soon as I can.
John
Anyhow I'm from Cape Cod. I work in an auto repair shop. My daily driver is a Toyota 4runner, so go ahead and flame me for buying non-American if you want. I like hiking, kayaking, fishing, hunting, camping, beer, women, classic rock, guns, grilling epic meals, and working on my project mustang of course.
The car: I bought it in March of '11, drove it that Spring, Summer and Fall and started taking it apart mid-October that year once I realized the rot at the front frame rails was going to buckle the front end sooner than later. It was a tough decision: Get rid of the car and buy something without so much rot, or go *****-deep in this bitch and save her from the crusher. I've already spent over $10K in parts, materials and sublet labor so you know which road I chose. Nevermind the hundreds of hours I've spent on it myself. So at this point it's almost ready for paint, the engine is completely overhauled (adding a somewhat wilder cam and an Edelbrock intake manifold), then it needs a new top, new tires and alignment and a few weeks worth of assembling after hours and she should be back on the road by late Spring I'm hoping.
I think I saw that new members need to stick around for a while before they post photos, but I'll post a few as soon as I can.
John
10-24-2013, 03:06 PM
#2
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 5
Oh and I should add that this isn't my first Mustang. In my early twenties I had an '88 lx 5.0 convertible that I beat the living hell out of and sold for $300. You see the trend with convertibles. Like Nick Nolte said in Another 48 Hours... "Hey I'm a ragtop man."
05-22-2014, 04:44 PM
#10
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 5
Goal was to get it done by Memorial Day Weekend. All that's left is to paint and install the body side moldings. Damn I'm glad to be done with it.
I still have to add some of the photos from the last few months of painting/ assembly to my album, but if you want to get an idea of just how much went into this car, get comfortable...
http://s58.photobucket.com/user/hart...%20Restoration
I still have to add some of the photos from the last few months of painting/ assembly to my album, but if you want to get an idea of just how much went into this car, get comfortable...
http://s58.photobucket.com/user/hart...%20Restoration