Iowa 73 Converible

Hey Everyone,

My name is Jeremy and I live in Central Iowa. I've owned my 1973 Mustang Convertible for about 3 years now. It's currently in the body shop being repaired from when I t-boned someone after they pulled out in front of me.

My goal with the car is to convert the exterior to look like a Mach 1 (since there were no Mach 1 convertibles). So part of the repairs being done are to add a mach 1 hood and grille. I'm also having the shop fabricate some new front bumper brackets so a chrome front bumper can be put on the car.

Mechanically, my plan is to have the old 302 rebuilt and stroked to a 331 or 347. I have no plans to race the car, or show it competitively, and my dream is to take it on a cross country trip with my wife.

I'll post some pre-accident photos, and some photos of what's going on with the repair when I get some more time

Jeremy

Welcome tot he forums! Glad to have you aboard and I can't wait to see the pics!

Welcome, aasukisuki! Can I call you aa for short?

Wow, sounds like a great[/u] project - I'm trying to picture it in my head, and it looks pretty cool. Do you plan on doing any of the work yourself?

Yes, please post pics when you get a chance. I learned a lot reading rocketfoot's informative post about photos in the Site Feedback area of this forum.

Doc

Welcome to the site {POST SOME PICS PLEASE}

WELCOME, Jeremy!

I really like the changes you have envisioned for your convertible and your stated plans for it.

I have a Grande that I have given essentially the same "treatment." It, too is currently in the "shop" being painted as the "last" part of my resto-mod efforts - - at least for this iteration .

Again, welcome to the site.

BT

Welcome !

Welcome from Virginia! Post up those pics!

These aren't the greatest pictures, but they'll have to do for now.

Pre-Accident:





Accident Photos:





Rust Found (OH NOES!):





New hood, fender and chrome bumper fitting:







Photoshop of the wheels i want and black top:

Wow, sounds like a great[/u] project - I'm trying to picture it in my head, and it looks pretty cool. Smile Do you plan on doing any of the work yourself?

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I don't plan on doing any of the body work b/c I don't feel like I'm really qualified to do that. I am going to try to tackle as much of the mechanical stuff as I can. I'm really kinda learning as I go here, using the internet and manuals as resources. In fact, we purchased a used VW Cabriolet for my wife that I pretty much use as a test car for doing anything, so I can learn on that instead of my mustang

The first thing I'm going to do when I get the car back is to upgrade the ignition system with a new Petronix coil and ignitor distributor.

Woot! Another greengold! That makes 3, yours, my coupe and the vert in KS owned by 73GreenGold (stange name me thinks :angel. Two interesting things to note, we are in IA, NE and KS and you have a black interior, the other vert is white and mine is avocado. Until recently I could not tell you where there was another greengold anywhere in the country. Are you planning to leave it or change the color?

Woot! Another greengold! That makes 3, yours, my coupe and the vert in KS owned by 73GreenGold (stange name me thinks :angel. Two interesting things to note, we are in IA, NE and KS and you have a black interior, the other vert is white and mine is avocado. Until recently I could not tell you where there was another greengold anywhere in the country. Are you planning to leave it or change the color?

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The black interior in this car is not original. It originally came with the avocado interior, and the PO changed it to black (which i'm ok with). I haven't decided what to do with the exterior color. I'll either have it repainted the original green-gold, or some other variation of green (maybe a bright grabber green or something). It will be the last thing I do, and probably not for another 5 years or more.

Welcome aboard! Its nice to see another 73 vert. Are you planning to equip you car with the ram air hood and aircleaner?

Mike

Welcome, good to see another ragtop.

Welcome aboard! Its nice to see another 73 vert. Are you planning to equip you car with the ram air hood and aircleaner?

Mike

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Yeah, after the rebuild I do plan on equipping the ram-air setup to make the hood functional, even though It's debatable if it actually helps anything

That does not surprise me as avocado interior parts are very hard to come by. I need to replace carpet, upholstery (front) and dash and am trying to figure out how I'll do it as the color is not reproduced. I have, thanks to this site, found a possible lead or two on some other parted out avocado interiors that I can get plastic parts etc from. And they are just now starting to produce avocado vinyl dye and interior lacquer. Once I order a Marti report and find out how truly "special" the gg exterior with av interior is I might decide to change it. Of course if there were only 3 produced I'm sticking with av lol!

That does not surprise me as avocado interior parts are very hard to come by. I need to replace carpet, upholstery (front) and dash and am trying to figure out how I'll do it as the color is not reproduced. I have, thanks to this site, found a possible lead or two on some other parted out avocado interiors that I can get plastic parts etc from. And they are just now starting to produce avocado vinyl dye and interior lacquer. Once I order a Marti report and find out how truly "special" the gg exterior with av interior is I might decide to change it. Of course if there were only 3 produced I'm sticking with av lol!

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Funny, I think my dash is still avocado, and it's in great shape. Maybe we can work out a trade for a black one and a full length console

were you able to install that front chrome bumper without changing to the 71 fenders, and etc? i'm totally for changing to a 71 bumper if it can be done without changing all other parts. but i'm afraid you cant.

were you able to install that front chrome bumper without changing to the 71 fenders, and etc? i'm totally for changing to a 71 bumper if it can be done without changing all other parts. but i'm afraid you cant.

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The fenders are still the '73 fenders, but custom brackets are being fabricated for the chrome bumper, which drops the bumper down about an inch and a half from where the giant urethane bumper normally sits.

were you able to install that front chrome bumper without changing to the 71 fenders, and etc? i'm totally for changing to a 71 bumper if it can be done without changing all other parts. but i'm afraid you cant.

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The fenders are still the '73 fenders, but custom brackets are being fabricated for the chrome bumper, which drops the bumper down about an inch and a half from where the giant urethane bumper normally sits.

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i'd like to see these brackets when they are done. i wonder why no company has thought of making those. or maybe somebody just needs to get a set of the 71 and modify it.

maybe i can invest in some like this once the car is done.

the 71 bumper, is there only 2 brackets holding it up? will the 2 huge bumper holders on the 73 still stay in tacked?