1967 Mustang Coupe Build (Electra)

[shearjs]

You've got that thing looking good!

[JRANGER]

Originally Posted by shearjs

You've got that thing looking good!

Thanks Jason!! Wish it was looking as good as that truck of yours

[JRANGER]

Well started taking things apart to replace the thermostat only to find that the housing was jacked up. It was so rusted and nasty I had to replace it as well as the water pump hose..So new 180 degree thermostat, new housing, new gasket. and new permatex, So far so good i drove it for about 10 minutes and let it idle for about 25 and it never even made it to halfway on the temperature gauge. It kinda cold though so im not certain its fixed, just need to take it for a drive sometime soon and see how she does. Only thing is its leaking out of the temp sending unit screw that on the new housing..I should of rethought it and put Teflon tape on it but i wasn't thinking about it. Ill do that here soon, its barely leaking

[screamin_c10]

Hell that one is in great shape... check out the one I pulled off the Cougars 289...

[JRANGER]

Took the mustang for a drive to see if the new thermostat did any good. The car did great and didnt even come close to over heating. So when i finally got back home around 4 I went to work on what I thought was going to be a quick install. A new export brace and Monte Carlo bar. Needless to say it took several hours to tweak the export brace in place. The Monte Carlo bar was a little hard but not big deal. I still have to drive for the top holes but it was time to call it a night.

[67ChevyRedneck]

It sucks you already did it, but I've been told by quite a few people a trick for making the export brace fit (if it doesn't) is to let the car sit on jackstands over night (place them near the firewall on each side), and it should let the car settle enough over night to get the bolts started. I have one I bought months ago, but I want to pull my valve covers and repaint them before I install it. They're already hard enough to get off with the A/C and heater hose crap everywhere.

Did you add the extra brace on the firewall? (I don't see it in your pic).

http://forums.vintage-mustang.com/vi...ort-brace.html

[JRANGER]

I read about that but I have a slightly slanted driveway I wouldn't trust to do so. I didn't add an extra firewall brace. Is it needed?

[67ChevyRedneck]

I don't know. From thread above they look like they don't fit very well either... It supposedly keeps the firewall from getting fatigue cracks... but there isn't anything there with the other braces... so... ??? I have one, but I haven't checked it for fit. To be honest, I went out in the garage after reading that thread (mine came from NPD too) to check the fit and I couldn't find the damn thing

I think I asked this already, but are you planning on going to the big 50th show in Charlotte in April?

[JRANGER]

I am not planning as of right now. I have to see how the mustang comes a long at this point. Just trying to take it a day at a time. The brace is def hit and miss. I read a bunch of threads about its a hit and miss pain in the butt. So o well, my car is a pain in the butt! LOL

Drilled a few holes and Finished installing the Monte Carlo bar this morning

[Dieselwrencher]

I'm curious, what is the MonteCarlo bar supposed to do? When we do my Mom's 68 I'm planning on welding in subframe connectors to help stiffen the car up. Is the MonteCarlo bar just giving the fender wells more strength in the spring pocket areas?

[JRANGER]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

I'm curious, what is the MonteCarlo bar supposed to do? When we do my Mom's 68 I'm planning on welding in subframe connectors to help stiffen the car up. Is the MonteCarlo bar just giving the fender wells more strength in the spring pocket areas?

The Monte Carlo bar and the upgraded Export brace are suppose stiffen up the suspension and help prevent shock tower flex especially on cornering. Alot of people have said there is a noticeable difference with installing these setup

From CJPONYPARTS "tubular bar ties the inner fenders together across the front of the shock towers to reduce chassis flex. Helps improve body rigidity for better handling"
" export brace will strengthen the front end and help reduce shock tower fatigue and cracking"

[67ChevyRedneck]

It's just to provide more lateral stiffness. There can still be some movement with the export brace. Most would argue that unless you're racing your car and throwing it into corners, the monte carlo bar is unnecessary, the export bar stiffens the car up enough for regular driving, but there are benefits to having both.

[JRANGER]

Didnt get as much done as I had hoped today but I did get the holes in the rear window frame welded shut and put some bondo on it to smooth and fill a bit.

I also welded one of the bolts in on the export brace on the shock tower. The bolt was spinning and i had enough room to feed wire under it and weld it in. Now its nice and tight.

After putting in the new bolt to the firewall portion of the export brace it tightened and made all the other bolts loose. So I ended up having to use 2 new bolts and 2 old bolts. (New ones are slightly smaller so i didnt want to use all 4.

Also installed my mini tach and took her for a drive.

Next week I hope to get her disassembled and get started on sanding her smooth for paint

[Rusbuilt]

What... No pictures? lol

[JRANGER]

LOL....I know right but i figured do more take less pics....plus its just pics of bondo and a mini tach....

Removed the bumpers this morning.

Investigated the steering noise and its very close to the ball joint but i see no wear or signs of grinding. So i have no clue as to why i get knocking when turning left. Maybe it has something to do with the frame rail just not certain

[JRANGER]

hmmm, checked into this and people with the same problem suggest checking the wheel bearing. Guess that could be it...

[JRANGER]

Sanding....LOTS of sanding.... I have found bondo from the previous owner but its not a lot. It seems to be all on pitting spots so nothing major as of yet

[cubber]

That blitz black is gonna be SWEET!

[JRANGER]

haha, yes sir!!!

[JRANGER]

Well a lot more sanding has been done.

Removed the front windshield and discovered a big hole. So welded i shut and did some grinding on it. Also noticed that both Pillars had been replaced at some point...craziness

The whole car got its initial sanding completed other then hand sanding areas like the headlight areas and such. Car has skim coats over all the needed areas.

Now to sand the bondo in a few days and get those other areas.......PAINT SOON MUHAHAHAH

[Denee007]

That's starting to take shape! Looks like a Mustang for sure!

[cubber]

Man, I'd cover those wheels and tires asap!

[JRANGER]

hahaah! Its just dust but they will be covered soon

[cubber]

I know, but if your luck is like mine, you better be REAL careful, lol. The sanding looks well done, though!

[JRANGER]

haha gotcha...Id hope so, i went through over 100 sanding discs lol