’71 Mach 1 Resto Project

[tpj71mach]

Thanks for the connection on this, turned out so cool!
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Looks Great!

 

[tpj71mach]

Thanks for the connection on this, turned out so cool!
View attachment 66553

I was just in San Luis Obispo three years ago for a friends wedding. It is really beautiful there, I had never been to central coast Cali before. He lives in Grover beach. I rented a Jeep for the time my wife and I were out there and one night we all drove out on the beach and had a bonfire, it was awesome.

 

[bishoppeak]

I was just in San Luis Obispo three years ago for a friends wedding. It is really beautiful there, I had never been to central coast Cali before. He lives in Grover beach. I rented a Jeep for the time my wife and I were out there and one night we all drove out on the beach and had a bonfire, it was awesome.

It's a wonderful place to live. Was able to swim in the Hearst Castle pool Saturday night. Anyone here should stop by and say hi if in the area

 

[tpj71mach]

It's a wonderful place to live. Was able to swim in the Hearst Castle pool Saturday night. Anyone here should stop by and say hi if in the area

That's awesome, we went up and toured the castle and saw the pool but they weren't letting anyone swim in it. The outside was just reconditioned and the inside pool was going to be reconditioned next when we were there

 

[tpj71mach]

I haven't been doing too much on the car because my wife and I have been busy with non-Mustang stuff lately. This weekend we were running all weekend again, but I wanted to get something done last night. I wanted something I could do in a short time frame and still see some change. I decided to measure and drill the holes in my hood for the factory hood pins I am adding to the car. As it usually happens when you are trying to do something "simple" something goes sideways. When I was drilling out the first hole the guide bit on my hole saw broke and the hole saw skipped on me. Thankfully didn't do real damage and swapped bit and finished up. At least I feel like I got something done this weekend.

I laid in the hood scoop inserts to get an idea of how it will look. I can't wait until it is painted with the satin black up the center!

 

[mjseakan]

Oh man. I bet you're glad you didn't wait until the hood was painted to cut out the holes!

 

[tpj71mach]

Oh man. I bet you're glad you didn't wait until the hood was painted to cut out the holes!

I sure am, I learned the hard way on one of my previous restorations to try and get all holes drilled before paint.

 

[tpj71mach]

Still waiting for my engine to get out of Dyno jail. They tell me they are hoping to get it done by next Friday but we will see. I have an empty engine compartment ready and waiting. The transmission is done just need an engine to bolt it to and then drop them in.



In the mean time I am starting to do the final body work one panel at a time and getting them ready for paint. I started on my passenger front fender considering that needed to most work. Overall the panels are all good to really good condition just some dings and dents to work out.

 

[tpj71mach]

Everything lines up pretty well in the trial fitting of the front end sheet metal. The passenger side fender was from a different car and only partially mounted to the car when I purchased it so I wasn't sure how it would line up. Especially considering it was really mangled along the top where it mounts to the inner apron. The pic shows some of the damage, you can't see in the pic but it actually got worse toward the front, bit it was rust free so I felt it was worth saving.

 

[timachone]

Awsome before and after photos! Great work you did, the engine department looks simply wow!

 

[Sheriff41]

Lookin' good! It sure has come a long way from what you started with.

 

[tpj71mach]

Unfortunately, I haven't got anything substantial done to the Mustang lately, I have been too busy with other stuff. I did make an interesting Ebay purchase, I bought a 1973 Mustang AM/FM stereo radio for cheap that the seller listed as unknown working condition. I just thought it would fill the hole for now.



I cleaned it up and got the right knobs for it and installed into the face plate. And it looked pretty but I didn't expect it to work. My plan was to send it out at a later date to have internally redone and upgraded.




but I thought I might as well test it to see if it works and to my surprise the radio actually played and the light lit up.

View attachment Video (7).mov

So I installed it and it will be good enough until I save up some money after the resto is complete and send it out to be internally upgraded with more power and blue tooth functionality. But for now the hole is filled and it looks right and it even plays music, I'm looking at it as a win, win.

 

[tpj71mach]

Haven't been working on the Mustang for a few weeks, too distracted with traveling and family functions, it's been a busy few weeks for birthdays, weddings and anniversary parties. I got back to work a little yesterday and got both doors ready for their first coat of primer. I sprayed the doors with an epoxy primer and then sprayed the outer panels with some slick sand polyester primer. I started with the doors because they had the most dings and dents in them to be repaired.





Next I need to block them down and spray the urethane high build for final blocking and the doors wills be ready for color.

 

[Kilgon]

Sometimes having those breaks gives you an extra boost when you get back working on it again. You really have come a long way with it. It's going to be one very nice-looking ride when you're done.

 

[timachone]

+1 to exactly what Kilgon said! I know your feelings, same here often... But moving forward is moving forward! The doors are looking great

 

[tpj71mach]

+1 to exactly what Kilgon said! I know your feelings, same here often... But moving forward is moving forward! The doors are looking great

Thanks, you and Kilgon are right as long as I keep moving forward it will get there. I was hoping to be painting by November, which would be within one year of buying the car but that's not going to happen, but it will get painted, hopefully by the end of the year. Good news is allegedly my engine is actively on the Dyno today so should know what the performance numbers are in the next day or so and hopefully get my engine back by the weekend. As long as nothing goes wrong.

 

[tpj71mach]

My engine finally got dyno'd this week, it pulled 437 HP and 451 torque. Of course that is with a Holley carb and I plan to run it with a Sniper EFI. I am told that shouldn't affect it too much at all, the horsepower will be about the same just better drivability

 

[PoFoMoCo]

What an incredible journey over the last 12 months. I really enjoyed reading thru the thread and see all the pictures and the progress thru your build. Nice numbers from your engine build as well. Well done!

 

[tpj71mach]

Got up early and there wasn't anything I could do without waking the family, (attached garage) So I decided to try and restore my fuel door to see if it was salvageable.

It turned out pretty nice the chrome has some scratches and on the release button is pitted but overall decent condition for 50 years old.




I like before and after shots it makes me feel like I accomplished something. Once the paint cures it will be time to pack it away until the car is painted.
From an angle if you squint your eyes a bit it looks pretty good LOL

 

[PoFoMoCo]

Very very nice. I know a brand new one is “perfect” but for me I prefer a nicely redone and presentable original piece even if it’s aged, pitted and imperfect.

It actually makes me feel good every time I look at a piece I restored vs buying one repro online.

Great Job!