HokieStang
New member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2015
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Gainesville, Virginia
- My Car
- 1972 Mustang Convertible
Hi everyone - I'm a new forum member and wanted to introduce myself. My name is Matt and I have a 1972 convertible. I purchased it in the spring of 1998 when I was 16 and it was my first car. I restored and updated it through high school and college and it was my daily driver until 2006 when I needed a more efficient car for commuting. Updates were done as I could afford them so most were piecemeal and just enough to get me by - until I overhauled the entire drivetrain midway through college.
My dad and I spent many hours working on it, swapping out engines, drivetrains etc and after I retired it as my daily driver in 2006, it sat mostly unused except for the occasional weekend cruise, etc. Work and life in general put the mustang on the back burner until this year when I moved into a house with some land and a big garage. Adding to that, my father passed away very unexpectedly a few years ago so I am more determined than ever to bring the mustang into it's full potential and glory as a kind of tribute.
It's been approximately 10 years since I seriously researched parts and I am blown away by how many more repro parts are available for our cars!!
I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention how incredible this forum is. I don't spend a ton of time online but to see the wealth of knowledge and moreso the eagerness to share it amongst members and newcomers is truly inspiring. Even the support for the non conventional restorations or restomods is impressive. Refreshing to see respect for 'to each their own'.
A little back ground on the Mustang:
Purchased in '98 with rusty quarters and taillight panel with a red interior/various gray colors exterior
I had the quarters and tailight panel replaced and the whole car painted. It was a Maaco repair/paint job and for the amount paid (HS kid budget) I really couldn't complain.
I replaced trim/chrome/convertible top and interior items as parts/money was available. I swapped in a Jasper 302 (to replace the dying 302 that was in it) and drove it with that motor for 2 years. My 2nd year in college I was running a landscaping business on the side and could afford a new drivetrain. I had a stroked 347 built, swapped in a c4 trans and a 9" rear end with disc brakes (all around). Another swap in my parent's garage....took my dad and me a couple weeks working in the evenings and weekends.
The drivetrain is still the same:
stroked 347 (dyno'd 400/405)
c4 w/ higher stall
currie 9" rear end w/ 3.50 gearing
for the past 7/8 years it's been sitting in a townhouse garage and then the past year at my friend's house - he did a bunch of minor things to it to get it in great running shape again. So now I'm going to start working on my game plan which will involve a decent amount of bodywork.
At the very least I need to address:
fender aprons
rear wheeltubs near torque boxes
lower rear quarters (maaco didn't do a great job rustproofing the repairs)
front radiator crossmember on the driver side
as is usually the case...i'm sure that list will grow once get into it. I'm looking forward to more welding practice!
I added subframe connectors a few years back (Global West) and dual exhaust. Here are a few pictures - really looking forward to learning more on the forum and sharing anything I learn/know in return.
My dad and I spent many hours working on it, swapping out engines, drivetrains etc and after I retired it as my daily driver in 2006, it sat mostly unused except for the occasional weekend cruise, etc. Work and life in general put the mustang on the back burner until this year when I moved into a house with some land and a big garage. Adding to that, my father passed away very unexpectedly a few years ago so I am more determined than ever to bring the mustang into it's full potential and glory as a kind of tribute.
It's been approximately 10 years since I seriously researched parts and I am blown away by how many more repro parts are available for our cars!!
I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention how incredible this forum is. I don't spend a ton of time online but to see the wealth of knowledge and moreso the eagerness to share it amongst members and newcomers is truly inspiring. Even the support for the non conventional restorations or restomods is impressive. Refreshing to see respect for 'to each their own'.
A little back ground on the Mustang:
Purchased in '98 with rusty quarters and taillight panel with a red interior/various gray colors exterior
I had the quarters and tailight panel replaced and the whole car painted. It was a Maaco repair/paint job and for the amount paid (HS kid budget) I really couldn't complain.
I replaced trim/chrome/convertible top and interior items as parts/money was available. I swapped in a Jasper 302 (to replace the dying 302 that was in it) and drove it with that motor for 2 years. My 2nd year in college I was running a landscaping business on the side and could afford a new drivetrain. I had a stroked 347 built, swapped in a c4 trans and a 9" rear end with disc brakes (all around). Another swap in my parent's garage....took my dad and me a couple weeks working in the evenings and weekends.
The drivetrain is still the same:
stroked 347 (dyno'd 400/405)
c4 w/ higher stall
currie 9" rear end w/ 3.50 gearing
for the past 7/8 years it's been sitting in a townhouse garage and then the past year at my friend's house - he did a bunch of minor things to it to get it in great running shape again. So now I'm going to start working on my game plan which will involve a decent amount of bodywork.
At the very least I need to address:
fender aprons
rear wheeltubs near torque boxes
lower rear quarters (maaco didn't do a great job rustproofing the repairs)
front radiator crossmember on the driver side
as is usually the case...i'm sure that list will grow once get into it. I'm looking forward to more welding practice!
I added subframe connectors a few years back (Global West) and dual exhaust. Here are a few pictures - really looking forward to learning more on the forum and sharing anything I learn/know in return.
[THUMBS UP SIGN] Regards DK73
