So there I was doing homework and what not and I get a call from Carlos.
A call from him can mean one of two things: something awesome happened or something is wrong...
more than likely something is wrong.
He tells me the driver's side fender (left) is bent and has some rust damage. I'm given two options: have him repair it or go buy another one.
After doing some research regarding price I had an approximate amount for a new fender. I called him back and told him the price. It would be cheaper for him to repair the old one than buy a new one.
Well that sucks... But at least I know that he is being honest with me.
Good man.
Monday, October 15, 2012
15 August: New Body Parts!
I get a call from Mustangs OC. When I pick up the phone to answer the first thing I hear is: "The Eagle has landed." Everything was ready for me to inspect and pickup.
I was there the next day. It was extremely satisfying to see all those new beautiful body parts for me. It was a sign of progress, that's all I need to make the car right.
That weekend... rushed up to Yorba Linda to give the parts to Carlos (I was leaving for Chicago in the next couple days so that could explain the sudden rush). Once I got there, Carlos wanted to inspect the body panels as well just to make sure.
We hung out for about an hour just talking about cars, school, and such. It was a really pleasant experience. I told him that I was going away to Chicago and wouldn't be back til Thanksgiving or so. With confidence he told me that a lot of progress would be done between now and then.
Sorry no pictures.
Mid July: Calling in a Large Order
I called my local Mustang store, Mustangs and Fast Fords OC, to see if I could place this ridiculous order. Turns out that I could get everything I need from this store.
It would two weeks to have everything in store so I had to wait a little more.
When I heard the total amount of said body parts all I could think of is "there goes summer's earnings"
It would two weeks to have everything in store so I had to wait a little more.
When I heard the total amount of said body parts all I could think of is "there goes summer's earnings"
Mid July: Mustang's down to Bare Metal
With summer in full swing, including a job and an internship, I was always waiting for the phone call to see the Mustang. My patience paid off when I finally got the call.
It wasn't exactly good news... apparently a part of the body was all kinds of messed. I really couldn't picture what kind of damage he was describing but I had to go see it.
I went up there later that week with my dad and Steve. We met up with Carlos and he showed us the car. I was quite shocked to find the car like this...
IT'S NAKED!
I kept looking at the car as if I had never seen it before.
Now back to car business...
The driver's side (left) of the car is in good shape but the passenger side was a different story.
(I'll describe the two biggest problems)
The front right fender was rusted along the bottom and would need to be replaced.
The BIG problem was the right rear quarter panel...
See all those white spots that are next to the trunk and run along the rest of the body?
OK so here is the best hypothesis of what happened.
Sometime in 80s or early 90s the car got hit pretty hard and it needed some parts replaced. The body guys back then replaced the "fastback" quarter panel with a "coupe" quarter panel. This is a HUGE problem because the sheet metal between the body styles has a completely different shape. Those white spots are the weld marks needed to make the 'coupe' quarter panel "fit". There were 3 rows of weld lines on the quarter panel!! AND the tail light panel and lower valence were messed up too.
In short it all needs to be replaced.
It was a pleasant meeting with Carlos and I left with a rather large shopping list.
New Hood
Hood Scoop (actually I want that)
Right Fender (has to made by original Ford tooling. Reproductions don't match up nicely)
Right Quarter Panel
Front Lower Valance
Rear Lower Valance
Tail Light Panel
Door Hinges
Where's my catalog?!
It wasn't exactly good news... apparently a part of the body was all kinds of messed. I really couldn't picture what kind of damage he was describing but I had to go see it.
IT'S NAKED!
I kept looking at the car as if I had never seen it before.
Now back to car business...
The driver's side (left) of the car is in good shape but the passenger side was a different story.
(I'll describe the two biggest problems)
The front right fender was rusted along the bottom and would need to be replaced.
The BIG problem was the right rear quarter panel...
OK so here is the best hypothesis of what happened.
Sometime in 80s or early 90s the car got hit pretty hard and it needed some parts replaced. The body guys back then replaced the "fastback" quarter panel with a "coupe" quarter panel. This is a HUGE problem because the sheet metal between the body styles has a completely different shape. Those white spots are the weld marks needed to make the 'coupe' quarter panel "fit". There were 3 rows of weld lines on the quarter panel!! AND the tail light panel and lower valence were messed up too.
In short it all needs to be replaced.
It was a pleasant meeting with Carlos and I left with a rather large shopping list.
New Hood
Hood Scoop (actually I want that)
Right Fender (has to made by original Ford tooling. Reproductions don't match up nicely)
Right Quarter Panel
Front Lower Valance
Rear Lower Valance
Tail Light Panel
Door Hinges
Where's my catalog?!
(Still) June 2012: Meeting with the Body Guy
In an earlier post, I mentioned that my buddy Robert would get me in touch with his paint and body guru Carlos. I got the guy's phone number and we set a time to meet up.
I gotta say that the first meeting went really well. Stripping the car of most its interior was a good idea so he could a decent idea of what's going on. I quickly realized that I did not strip the car nearly enough for his standards (hey it's my first time).
He said that the car looks like a good start and it's really cool that I got a hold of a fastback.
But he had other projects that was finishing up before he could start mine so I had to wait two weeks.
Two Weeks later...
I drove up to Yorba Linda with my parental unit. Keep in mind that Yorba Linda is about one freeway ride away. The mustang did a good job on the freeway, it was happily cruising at 55mph. I was getting passed like no other but we eventually made it to his garage.
This garage was just awesome. There were classics parked inside and outside, I knew I was in the right spot. Inside he had: a 40s Ford, 70s Corvette, Nissan 270ZX, Ford Model A and VW Bug.
But the real show stopper was in his other garage... it was 1940s Dodge 4 door (I have no idea as to its true identity). Carlos told us that he painted the car back in the 80s and it still looks brand new (it really did)
We eventually agreed on a price for him to do a complete tear down including paint removal. That way we can really see any potential problems with the body.
Although I am extremely optimistic.
I gotta say that the first meeting went really well. Stripping the car of most its interior was a good idea so he could a decent idea of what's going on. I quickly realized that I did not strip the car nearly enough for his standards (hey it's my first time).
He said that the car looks like a good start and it's really cool that I got a hold of a fastback.
But he had other projects that was finishing up before he could start mine so I had to wait two weeks.
Two Weeks later...
I drove up to Yorba Linda with my parental unit. Keep in mind that Yorba Linda is about one freeway ride away. The mustang did a good job on the freeway, it was happily cruising at 55mph. I was getting passed like no other but we eventually made it to his garage.
This garage was just awesome. There were classics parked inside and outside, I knew I was in the right spot. Inside he had: a 40s Ford, 70s Corvette, Nissan 270ZX, Ford Model A and VW Bug.
But the real show stopper was in his other garage... it was 1940s Dodge 4 door (I have no idea as to its true identity). Carlos told us that he painted the car back in the 80s and it still looks brand new (it really did)
We eventually agreed on a price for him to do a complete tear down including paint removal. That way we can really see any potential problems with the body.
Although I am extremely optimistic.
Monday, September 10, 2012
June 2012: Driving Around Town
Now that the interior looks like this...
driving around is a bit different experience.
For starters there is some more noise in the interior and I figured out how those "gills" on the side of the car work. Once I got those things opened up, there was more ventilation in the cat. And I truly believe I was getting better fuel economy when I was driving around (less weight to move around).
And giving people a ride is a bit more uncomfortable... there is barely anything left in the car! A carpet, a steering wheel, one bench seat, and a dashboard is all that remains. But secretly I thought it was kinda cool.
I also took the Mustang on the freeway for the first time. Let me tell you... I was sweating bullets. A number of things could have gone wrong but luckily nothing happened. I cruised at around 55mph and everything went really well. That radiator I bought kept the engine nice and cool.
But driving was short lived. After talking with Robert, I scheduled a meeting time with Carlos (the body guy).
For starters there is some more noise in the interior and I figured out how those "gills" on the side of the car work. Once I got those things opened up, there was more ventilation in the cat. And I truly believe I was getting better fuel economy when I was driving around (less weight to move around).
And giving people a ride is a bit more uncomfortable... there is barely anything left in the car! A carpet, a steering wheel, one bench seat, and a dashboard is all that remains. But secretly I thought it was kinda cool.
I also took the Mustang on the freeway for the first time. Let me tell you... I was sweating bullets. A number of things could have gone wrong but luckily nothing happened. I cruised at around 55mph and everything went really well. That radiator I bought kept the engine nice and cool.
But driving was short lived. After talking with Robert, I scheduled a meeting time with Carlos (the body guy).
June 2012: Taking the Interior Apart (Day 2)
I showed up to the warehouse the next morning with high hopes of getting things done. I got tools I need, the zip-loc baggies, and a real big box to take care of the miscellaneous interior body panels.
Just like Gerry said, start from the roof and make my way down. When I started taking off the roof panel I was greeted with a pleasant surprise...
Yeah, I found a two-barrel carb gasket in the roof in my car. How in the blazes did that get up there?!?!
As I kept making my way down things were going real smooth. Carefully taking parts off and bagging them. When I removed some of the bigger interior panels I found some spider-webs. Apparently my car was a safe haven for all sorts of critters up in the mountains!
I had a lot of fun taking the car apart. It was really cool seeing how all the pieces fit together. One thing I was continuously vacuuming up the dirt and cleaning the grime that formed in the car. I was really pleased myself for doing such a good job (and without breaking anything!)
Here's what I took out of the car...
It looked pretty naked in there while I continued to drive around town.
Just like Gerry said, start from the roof and make my way down. When I started taking off the roof panel I was greeted with a pleasant surprise...
As I kept making my way down things were going real smooth. Carefully taking parts off and bagging them. When I removed some of the bigger interior panels I found some spider-webs. Apparently my car was a safe haven for all sorts of critters up in the mountains!
I had a lot of fun taking the car apart. It was really cool seeing how all the pieces fit together. One thing I was continuously vacuuming up the dirt and cleaning the grime that formed in the car. I was really pleased myself for doing such a good job (and without breaking anything!)
Here's what I took out of the car...
It looked pretty naked in there while I continued to drive around town.
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