January 14, 2012 Donut Derelicts

I sure go to this place a lot. Go there too much? no way.

On this particular trip I had my cousin Jennifer come with me. She really thought that the whole thing was cool and that she wanted to get an old car as well.

When I back into a spot and get out of the car do I realize that I have parked next to two other Mustangs. This was pretty cool because each one was a different body style: fastback, coupe, and convertible.

 1968 Fastback              1968 Coupe           1969 Converible

It was even cooler that all three had different kinds of engines as well.

Lots of cool cars on this Saturday, I took a couple other pictures.

January 13, 2012 Radiator Fixed

When picking up the car I asked the mechanic if he would want to take apart the interior and install the new stuff. He agreed to do it while I was away for school.

When I usually go to the warehouse I usually take Airway Ave to get there. It's great because there is no traffic and it is a straight path to the office. I gun it...
this car is not the fastest by any means but it sure felt like it. The engine was loud and I watched speedometer make its way to the top. I make it to 70mph, a new personal record in this car. I know that it can do more.

No overheating at all.

January 12, 2012 Fords Only

When I got the car taken care of before I came for Thanksgiving, the mechanic told me that my radiator needs to be replaced. I can still drive it around Orange County but I can't push the car too hard. After nearly completely overheating on my way to Long Beach, I need a new radiator! I decided to buy a cool aluminum radiator from Mustangs and Fast Fords.

Turns out... it didn't fit. I had to pick up the radiator from Fords Only, return it, and find a replacement before noon. After numerous phone calls, I found one in Orange. I got a pretty sweet deal and the new radiator is a 3-Row which will keep the car a lot cooler. I run back to Fords Only to see if it will fit....
it does. I also asked if I could have the tail light fixed. I showed him the ticket... he laughed. He said he would do it.

Earlier that week...
I learned that the 289 V8 is a healthy engine after a compression check. It does not need to be rebuilt any time soon which truly confirms that getting the interior done is the priority.

The compression check. That orange car in the background is another 68 Fastback. That car is 100% done but I have mixed feelings about the orange

Early January 2012

After a relaxing trip in Napa Valley, it's time to get back to work. I now have only one week left to do something monumental. During the trip, I learned that my own mother has not even been inside the Mustang. It is now becoming more apparent to me that completing the interior is more important than going fast.

I look through my catalog books and I discover that I can buy an interior kit, which will basically replace everything that is disgusting in the interior. The price tag seems fair and I have shopped at this location before. This parts store is California Mustang, City of Industry. Dad and I decide to go to Industry on the upcoming Saturday.

Meanwhile...
I got pulled over by the POLICE. Turns out my left brake light was not working. I got a fix-it-ticket. In short I was not happy (obviously), especially since I fixed the right tail light in May!

A Side Note

For all those that are reading this blog, I really appreciate it. I know that some of the recent posts have been long but I'm trying to catch up on lost time. I hope you have been enjoying the story of turning this project car into a real 1968 Fastback Mustang. One thing I have not mentioned previously is that the people who have been helping me, I am truly great full.

As I have been going on this journey I have become more and more aware that my Mustang is exceptionally rare. Every time I tell anyone that I have a 68 Mustang they aren't impressed. When I mention that it is a fastback they become slightly more interested. When I mention that it is a bench seat, they are very surprised. Another rarity feature on my car, is the reflectors on the rear fenders. Most reflectors on 68 Mustangs are square, while this Mustang has a hexagon shape.

Christmas 2011 Part 3

After successfully completing the repaint of the engine compartment. It was time to begin thinking again of what to do next with the car. Stevie and his father (Mr. Schiesser) came by the warehouse to check out the Mustang. Mr. Schiesser was impressed by how well the spray painting turned out and thinks that it is a good looking car. After hanging out we all decide to go to Five Guys (thought it was only a MidWest thing, guess not).

While there Mr. Schiesser asks me what I plan to do with the car next. I tell him that I would really like to make it a hot rod at the expense of terrible cosmetics. He listened to what I had to say and he did not agree with my plan whatsoever. He used to work for a car dealer and has seen the different kind of trade ins. He told me that I can make it fast but it will still be a piece of shit. He's right, I'm ashamed to show anyone the bench seats in the car or the interior as well. Since the car drives and stops, performance can be put on the back burner. Make it look good.

A family vacation to Napa Valley temporarily stopped progress on the car. When I come from Napa, I have more homework to do.

Christmas 2011 Part 2

I went back to my friend Gerry asking what I could do to the car while I was back. He suggested that I really clean out the engine compartment and repaint the engine compartment semi-gloss black. I was very interested in this idea and I asked him everything that I need to buy and know. After I did my shopping, we met at a local quarter car wash place to steam clean the engine.

Needless to say, it was incredibly dirty! Gerry introduced me to the best cleaner for automobile purposes, Simple Green. This stuff cleaned the area extremely well and it even revealed a hidden secret about my car. I discovered a handwritten note from the factory that was on the top of the inner fender. It says: 24 and beneath that 3-14. I think it means that car rolled of the assembly line on March 14 and may have been car 24 for that day. After the steam cleaning, the engine compartment looked ten times better! But I wasn't done yet.

The next day...
Accompanied with my friend, Stevie Schiesser (John's brother), we were going to finish this project. Armed with our own pressure washer, we continued to clean the car. Gerry told me the day before that to do the best job, I needed to spray the engine from the ground up. We put the car on the wheel ramps to get the best angle.

The first step was to get Simple Green all over the greasy parts and then hit it with the pressure washer.

 One more thing! We took out the radiator and fan blade so we could have more room to work. We also had to cover all openings and electrical components before really using the pressure washer.

Now it's finally time to get washing!

Stevie was not messing around that day. He was the jumpsuit and safety glasses to get it done. He did a very good job, bravo Stevie. And we made quite a mess but don't worry we cleaned it all up. After some scrubbing with a toilet brush (new toilet brush), even more grease came off. Now we wait for the car to dry before we can apply paint. Time for lunch!

I don't have too much experience with spray paint, with the exception of Eagle Scout projects (as long as you can't see the bare surface you're good). I called in reinforcements... Dad. We taped off the paint on the body and put all around the fenders and grill area.

He showed us a more efficient technique. First we primed the compartment and much to my delight I begin spotting stamps in the inner fenders and reinforcement bars. We let the primer sit for a while at which point dad gave us some other work to do. Then we finally got to spray painting and it was fun.

When it was finished the semi-gloss looked really good. We decided to leave the car overnight to make sure the paint dried and stuck.

The next day...
It looks like all the other engine compartments I've seen on other Mustangs. There was a few missed patches so we quickly resprayed those areas. It looked complete and correct.