I have had some emails saying why don’t I do a before and after photo set of the restoration? Then I got to thinking as to why I hadn’t up till now. There was no reason, so this post may be cheating a little as there is nothing new here. But what is new is the fact they have never been compared side by side before. As I didn’t start my blog until a year after I bought the car, some of the earliest pictures don’t exist as such, during that time I had re-wired the car for the first time, managed to fire the car up, got the locks working (sort of), painted the trunk section and interior floor pans. Obviously if I had of known I would be doing a blog at that time, I would have documented it all much better than I have done. However my early work was re-done once the car had got to Mustang Maniac. Under their supervision and help it would be done “Properly” as Adam told me. So in effect you are indeed seeing the restoration from scratch, all be it not as bad as it was. I suspect that I would be playing catch up to keep on top of the car all the time to keep it looking good, especially with the original route I was going to take, ie; the amateur way.
Body Work:
Rebuilt Back End:
Underside:
This was the old underseal, dirt and what ever else was squirted on there. Welded, ground down, filled, sanded down, painted with red oxide and painted with proper underseal and satin black paint.
Doors, Roof and Sides:
Rebuilt Front End:
Interior:
Inside was originally treated with POR15 for rust protection. This was later removed and proper sealant applied at paint and then primer and top coats. The last step was the Dynamat sound proofing, before the carpet that is.
Engine:
The story here was that I wanted to go sort of modern with the silicone look. As I knew I wanted a blue look to the car I went for the blue silicone and the blue spark plug leads. I went of the idea and eventually swapped them for the revised black and chrome look. The spark plug leads were changed at the last month as was the valve covers. The cable routing went through a number of variations until I was happy with it at that point. Rewire of the car was the first job as I had to see if the engine started, which it did on the second turn of the key after twelve years of standing years. Pretty impressive.
Transmission:
Steering and Suspension:
Brakes:
Even the brakes look as good as the outside of the car. The front drum brakes were replaced with disc brake conversion for stopping power and safety. The brake servo was original from the factory but was upgraded to dual system, again for safety.
Electrical:
All electrics have been replaced and the bulbs converted to LED where I can.
Glass and Bright Work Trim:
Paint Process:
There are hundreds of photos I could add here but I have kept it to the more key stages of the process.
Transportation:
These were some interesting shots of the car coming and going to different places.
Driving Her:
Special Thanks:
I have mentioned this before, but none of this would have been possible without the help and moral support from Mustang Maniac and their associates; Adam, Al (Yogi), Paul (Lob Monster), Chris (Careful), John, Paul (the paint), Lance (OCD from Marketing). I have learned so much from them all, above all I have gained some great friends who have all helped me realise a life’s ambition and dream come true.
If patient is a virtue, then you are full of one! by the time you’re done with restoration all my nails have gone bitten, eaten my flesh and you’ve a blue Mustang… 🙂 What a journey, learned a lot from your blog, I’m in debt, congratulations!!!
Hi Sami, thank you very much for the kind comments. Sorry about your nails, now you get the chance to grow them back again. There will be more posts on my blog so don’t dissappear just yet. 🙂
It was a pleasure to follow the process of its restauration and to see how your dream comes true. Congratulations!
Thank you Dana, I will still be posting, hopefully trying to get that perfect photo of the car on a day out.
Fantastic job my friend 👍 Obviously not enough mention of the 🐻Yogi but still great well done
OK, I get the hint. Lol. I will make the mentions. 👍
Excellant photos Adam. Lots of hard work I see.
I love the before and after comparison shots. You really appreciate the work that has gone into the car.
Thanks, but It’s funny that I was thinking similar when I put the photos together. How many man hours was all that, I shudder to think. I must try and work it out one day. 🙂
Beautiful restoration. You must be very proud. I know when my husband restored his Mustang, he carried around photos in his wallet like they were his babies.
I admit it, I carry photos with me but they are on my phone. That means I can carry more than just a few, more like thousands – literally.
He stored his Mustang in the late 1980s, so we didn’t have the technology we have now. Although, he does have the old scanned photos on his iPhone now. He’s very proud of his Mustang too.
Proud and justifiably so, it’s not a quick thing to restore a car as I have no doubt you are more than fully aware off. I would like to see those photo’s one day. 🙂
Sure. I actually posted them on my Flickr account. Follow this link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeinredondobeach/albums/72157632607109678
Wow, what a transformation, intake my hat off to awesome job he has done. She really does look awesome.
Beautiful…this is going to be at Cruising Hines in Dearborn this summer, right…?..
Thank you, it would be lovely to take her back home to her birth town for a cruise. I suspect I would buy another one and bring that back for some tender loving restoration.