'69 Mustang Project

[afret]

Have posted this elsewhere but thought it will fit here pretty well. 


Started this last spring but still need to get the engine together and back in the car.  Jay did a similar conversion a few years ago.   Been busy lately with anther project which is getting my brother's IH tractor engine rebuilt and tractor put back together and preparing for moving out of CA.   



Started taking the car apart:




Fenders and hood hanging on the wall.




Engine out.





Took the interior apart and added a halo to the roll bar:








Cut out the rear tail light panel and trial fit the new panel, decklid, and end caps which needed a lot of work:










Tried on the new front end pieces which actually fit pretty well:








Got the new parts fitted pretty well and went on to spraying on primer:












Finally got to the point of getting paint on.  I think it was over 100* at this time. 












Started getting the car back together:












It was kind of a pain figuring out how the headlight buckets and stuff went together.  The things should come with some instructions and at least have some holes predrilled in the buckets.  LOL










The hood pin brackets were a pain too.  Got the hood opening mesh on.






Stuck the lace with lettering on.




Got the interior back together and installed the window net.  Tracked a lot of dust into the car.  LOL




Got the stripe on.









Added some lettering.
















One of these days we'll get the engine together and back in the car.   Probably will have to work on the front springs since we got rid of a bunch of weight.  The front end will probably be high even with the engine in place.

[My427stang]

Man that's pretty

When I did mine I considered going GT500 and chickened out, man I wish I did

[jayb]

Looks great, Earl!  Having gone through that conversion myself, I know what a pain getting the fiberglass parts to fit is, and how much screwing around is required with the headlight buckets, hood pins, rear lettering panel, etc.  Its a lot of work and frustration, but worth in it in the end; that is a beautiful car.

Can't wait to see photos of that thing hanging the front hoops 

[babybolt]

That's very cool, though right now out west your probably hoping for temperatures in two digits.

I'm pretty sure, ~95%, that its possible to install a Shelby tail light kit using LED lights and not cutting out the stock original taillight panel.  Guessing not what you want to hear now that the deed is done. 

What size tires, wheels, and wheel offsets are you using, and did you narrow the rear end?

[turbohunter]

Beautiful job.

[afret]

Thanks guys for all the kind words.  Yeah, it sure was a lot of work but turned out pretty well.

I don't see how you can install those T-Bird lights without replacing or cutting the rear panel?

The rear housing is the stock length.  The wheels are 15X10 with 6" BS.  If you have rear disc brakes, you could add maybe another 3/16" BS or so.

[amdscooter]

Really nice job there and I love the custom "paint booth". I was thinking of just hanging plastic in the garage, but setting up one of those frames in my buddys shop seems like a much better way to go.  keep us updated, wanna hear it when you fire it.

[jayb]

I don't see how you can install those T-Bird lights without replacing or cutting the rear panel?

I was wondering about that too.  Doug, can you elaborate?  FYI the rear fiberglass panel has a bulge that extends towards the front of the car, so you would at least have to cut that bulge away to have any chance of fitting without cutting the taillight panel.

[babybolt]

I just went the other way, had a 69 Mustang that had a Shelby taillight panel and took it out to go back stock.  They used a 68 Shelby taillight panel and diecast 65 Thunderbird back cans and only had to cut some holes in the stock 69 Mustang sheetmetal to clear the light socket wiring.  This was an older conversion.  With the new LED lights out now they would not had to cut the panel at all.

Posted some pictures below of the assembly as removed:

[afret]

Thor took the car to get the roll cage certified.  After an all day wait at the Spokane track, the roll cage got the sticker!  He should be taking the car to the track soon to get things worked out and hopefully he will get to run at the divisional race.  Got to get new tires and a new safety harness ordered.

[jayb]

Awesome, Earl.  What times are you shooting for?

[afret]

Thor is busing getting his Cougar roll cage ready for the certification inspection.  Hopefully he won't have to wait all day at the track again for that.  When he's done with that he plans to take the stocker out a few times to T+T to get used to it and get it dialed in some.  I don't know if he wants to put the wheelie bar back on it.

[ec164]

Great Job,also Great story, I really like your colors and stance.......Hope it shakes down good for you .......................Al

[sixty9cobra]

Nice work looks awesome!!!

[Tommy-T]

Good to see the stocker coming back together. It's also good to see that you and Thor are teaming up.

The car looks beautiful...and I'm sure it'll run good.

Mrs.-T and myself hope Kay is doing well too. Did you and he get your garages finished?

Wish we could come up and play along with y'all!