Sorry for the delay in my updates, I went to the end of the world and when I saw it was as cold as at my place where we're in bellow freeze temps for ages, I went back!
To be honest, the real reason is that my oldest daughter bought her first place and some stuffs needs to be done, so I've spent 3 weekends doing NON mustangs things.
So here's some of the things I've done with few hours I had left this past 4 weekends...
After a good derust of the inside of my cowlvent, it was time to handle the firewall. Because the only paint stripper that reacted to the custom paint layers that were applied over the years, did some research on the best product I could find in Europe as better alternatives like Aircraft are prohibited over here. I wasn't really looking forward to sand down that firewall by hand, as many places are not even allowing mechanical solutions to help my poor paintstripper. In luck, found out this product was like magic also offered as a new item at the place where I bought most my stuff. Not cheap, but certainly worth it if it would work...
So despite a temperature just few degrees above freeze point in my garage, I've applied with a brush a first layer (wearing my paint mask at all time, because the smell told me it would also remove the paint in my lungs if I did not)
Not 5 minutes later, the paint that so far none of my chemicals got further than becoming soft was peeling and popping up in many places! Yesssssss!
The first pass removed at least 2 of the layers, or better said, got them so soft that using a metallic brush and/or a bondo knife was enough to remove it all really easy. Tho, It was clear a second pass would be required, as it turns out once it evaporates, the paint returns in a more solid state that makes it again hard to remove.
During warm and dry days, I think using a plastic sheet to let it work longer before it evaporates would be a must.
In the end, let's say a small pint of that thick liquid was enough to get the firewall till the transmission mounts free of paint, all in less than 2 hours without much efforts. A pretty impressive elbow oil saving!!
Another great property is that the rests on the ground are not staying soft/goo like as with my other paint remover. But after all was done, ventilating and let the dutch cold air enter the garage was a must. Even so, I've kept my mask with filter on and left the garage till next day.
Of course, in corners and under the cowlvent lip, the rust had made some nests. So next was my beloved phosphoric acid, spraying it at 20% with warm water on a pre-hitted metal. 2 hours later with only few help of a metallic hand brush to speed up the process, the rust was gone and it was time for a soda rinse. Let's just say that at this point my garage floor was not looking that good!
I can now mark the firewall, cowl vent in and out as rust free and now in a temporary zinc layer, they can wait for warmer days without chance of corrosion..
Another perl that I've found during paint (and bondo) removal was that the front member had a dent at the eye for the strut rod anchor. Not really structurally of importance, simply highly annoying to my eyes, I decided to do something about it. At first I thought I could slam it back from the hole of the rod on the other side, I tried but limited by space to really slam hard enough and the angle at which the impacts were possible, it was clear it was time to use the good old plan B...
After inspecting the damage and thinking about what I would need to do to put everything back (there is not much space to move the torch on the front due to the radiator support and the idea being to have really solid welds), I've cut where the metal was most bended and where I was certain to be able to lay a solid weld bead.
Because of the dent shape and the way it was distorted, I've cut underneath a tad more and of course after the arch was restored, I needed to add more metal at the right angle to the patch. Welded it both sides and ended up after grinding with a solid patch slightly bigger than the hole in the cross member, in order to have enough material over to set it back as flush, close as possible with enough meat for a V shape connection...
Ater a few gymnastic moments and upsidedown welding session, ended up with a solid repair. Most work went on the curve/lip where of course no grinder can go. Files, and dremmel cutting discs got me there.
It was time to give it an acid bath followed by a soda pass, heat gun it dry in and out before spray some rust protective epoxy as I was out of zinc primer last week. A day on a stoopid dent passed...
I did also more things, as next is to do the lower frame/parts of the engine bay, I needed to lift the car and remove suspension and steering components.
Here a nice impression of the brakes, which had new brake pads!! Coil spring out, still fighting to remove the lower arm (penetrating oil is working for me as I type)
Also started on the driver outer side (here a 4 weeks old pict), but I'll post more picts on these beauties later on.
All with all, despite the very cold weather and lack of time, some progress is slowly made..
To be continued...
