Woo hoo!

After 6 months of body work, watching my poor fastback go from ugly to downright awful, it is finally happening!

A buddy came over yesterday and helped be mount the hood and get the front end sheet metal aligned. (I had no concept of how much room there is for adjustment ) That's the last thing left on the check list before it goes to paint. Since that all happened relatively quickly, I turned to the engine, which I haven't even started since January.

I know, I know not the best way to treat your project, but I had it all wrapped up and masked off to minimize the dust accumulation. I figure this engine is on a rebuild that is at least 15 years old (more likely 20) and I cross my fingers every time I turn the key. That said, this little 'ol 289 never misses a beat. After 3 tries of the key and alot of accelerator pumping, VROOOOOM! I didn't even have to charge the battery. I think I just need to relax and have fun driving, not worry about this motor.

I'm not positive how long the painter will take as it is a fun side job for him, and friend prices for me. Shouldn't be too long since I did most of the body work though, so we'll see soon enough. I'm delivering it today, he'll start on it tomorrow. Man am I EXCITED!

Since I don't have pics (yet), I'll describe the finished product.
66 Fastback
Black w/black interior
Rocker panel molding deleted
front and rear bumper guards deleted
Antenna shaved
GT 350 scoop bonded to stock steel hood with hole cut out
Shaved F-O-R-D lettering on the hood
Pony and bars fender badge in grille (deleting big pony & corral)
GT exhaust rear valance (no backup lights) with slash cut chrome tips out the back

After much debate, I've decided to retain the stock badging. I had initially intended to shave most everything I could to clean it up, but being a black car, I felt it needed to keep some bright work.

Here's an old pic just so you can see how far along it has come, and where it's going.

EDIT: Wow, I forgot how forgiving 72 dpi can be to a car. I assure you that many, many details are left off of that old pic and make it look better than it does in person. Heck, you can hardly tell the car has red interior in that pic. Oh well.

 

schwwweeet! I know you are looking forward to the new paintjob....congrats on your progress!
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MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES. FREMONT. CA

 

If you can still leave the badging off I would consider it. It is something you can add later after you have time to digest the look and decide if you really want it or not.

Only badging I did was a take off on the factory '67 GTA emblems, instead with the correct powerplant info:

 

Also, did you ever consider a 2 tone?



or

 

Heheh, thanks man. I re-read my initial post, and I think I sound like a sugar-crazed kid on Christmas eve.

<!--QuoteBegin-Jay
If you can still leave the badging off I would consider it. It is something you can add later after you have time to digest the look and decide if you really want it or not.[/quote]

Yeah, I've had the opportunity to see some de-badged dark-colored cars and thought better of it. The factor that sealed the deal for me was that I've never heard anyone ever look at a nice car and remark that the stock badging (that I think looks good on our cars) ruins it.

I think I'll pass on the two tone, though those 'chops are nice. I like a slick solid black anyway. If I were to deviate from that, it'd be with a ghost flame job. I know, controversial to flame a classic Mustang, but I think ghost flames would be subtle enough to work.

 

You're a BRAVE man going back in black. We'll see how good your bodywork skills are!
I HATE bodywork! :bang:

Post some progress pictures! I bought a disposable camera when I turned my car over to the painter. Told him that if he'd take pictures, I wouldn't "bug him" everyday!

 

Brave has nothin to do with it. I couldn't afford to do a color change, and I wouldn't do one if I could. Black is by FAR my favorite color for this car, I don't car what a pain it is to keep clean or whatever. When it is clean, it'll stop traffic. This will absolutely be my last body work extravaganza. I might do some little stuff like fix a parking lot ding, but I'm never prepping another whole car for paint. This whole experience has been somewhat fun, but mostly frustrating, and back breaking.

My painter is quick with his digital camera, so I should be ok there. I took more than a few pre-paint shop pics myself.

He's probably just starting work on it right now. :dance: :w00t: