66 Mustang build.

[boxhead]

Hey all, I figured that most in here love to see Automotive builds, so if its ok I will document the build of my brother inlaws (here after known as Ron) 1966 Mustang Coupe build.
The car was originally imported into Australia in January 2004, it came into Qld through an importer. The previous owner bought the car as a driver with intentions of restoring it for his wife.
The car was originally painted in EmberGlo with a "pony" interior (which from what I gather means it has the embossed horses in the seat and is 2 tone interior).
I am totally brand new at Mustang stuff so please enlighten me if I say something that isn't correct.
The previous owner started the resto including a complete strip down of the car and removal of some sheetmetal in engine bay, he ordered some replacement parts, and from here the project stalled.
I think it stalled when he got the car on a rotisserie and realized it needed new floors and rear subframe rails.
It then sat for a while before needing to be sold as he is moving family back to Qld.
The car was listed for sale local for a very long time, during which he sold off the engine, gearbox (not an issue as Ron wants to make the car an easy driver and going late model 5.0 and OD auto). The rotisserie was also sold off so when we inspected the car it was sitting on jack stands.
A deal initially was struck (dependent on import papers being located and supplied). We never heard back from seller, and assumed another deal had been struck somewhere else.
About 2 months later and the house is sold and time is tight for seller, they still had the Mustang. They contacted Ron out of the blue, advised they cant find the papers, $800 as is where is. I told Ron to buy it, as it is too cheap and if he doesn't I will (I don't really want to buy it as I would just advertise it and flip it), Ron is Ford guy and realizes that although he prefers the Aussie Coupe, at the moment they are out of his reach.
At the same time I contacted DOTARS and found that it is very easy and free to get new import papers reissued.
So he bought the car and made a frame to allow it to roll around to load on tray truck.
The car was delivered to my shed, I bought a 3.6x3.6 garden shed (second hand), Ron and I assembled it so he had somewhere to store all his parts.
He emptied the car out and sorted all the parts.
I offered the Rotisserie the Charger is on, but I think he is keen to make his own.
First job is to reassemble front engine bay sheet metal, to return some strength into from assy before it goes onto rotisserie, I have just emailed CJ Pony parts to confirm I am ordering correct bits.
Once confirmed parts will be ordered.
Ron has given himself 12 months and $12k to do the car.
The plan is to buy a EL/EF to rob for drivetrain, I am not sure if we can swap the front suspension into the car? But we will see, would like to use the Falcon disk brakes and rear diff is we can, or swap the rear brakes onto the 8 3/4 diff that was originally fitted.
Luckily the seats and carpet in the car are in really good condition, but will get new door trims, rear trims etc.
Here are some pics to get started.

Here is the car being delivered.


Unloaded in the shed, you can see where the seller has removed inner aprons and the radiator panel, The car came with a new radiator panel and the front R/H apron, we are ordering rear apron both sides, filler panel from apron to firewall, also getting firewall outer sections.






And here are the firewall areas to be replaced.
The first picture you can see where it has had a piece of gal plate tacked over the top.




And lastly, here is the rear subframe rail, a new pair of these are also being ordered when number confirmed.


Once we have it on the rotisserie, the next sheetmetal order will be placed.
This should be floors, boot floor and possibly rear quarters, or sections off, we will figure out what is needed after the paint is removed.

[750hp]

Deal of the year!
How do you have time to go to work with all these projects?

[PeterAllen]

This is a Cobra forum and should be restricted to Cobra builds only.

[750hp]

Haha!

[Rog246]

ROLFMAO !!

Dave the front end is the same as XW-XY Falcon I believe.
You can get a complete coil over front end and rack & pinion steering for it all Australian designed & made too

[750hp]

RRS stuff is monstrously expensive. You'll eat up the $12K build budget just in parts from them.
Rebuilt stock stuff seems to do the trick. Of course, you'll have to do the "Shelby drop" for the control arms, if for no other reason than the link to Cobras...

[dave295]

Don't forget the Shelby Mustangs of 1966, or the Hertz "rent a racer", also with Shelby's input.
Does that help keep it in the forum.
Oh, and, they had "Cobra" embossed on the rocker covers.

[deano59]

just saw a convertible stang come out of the spray booth down in candy apple red I think the paint job went close to 15g

[BJ's Snake]

Nothing wrong with a '66 Dave, but I am a little biased.



Good luck with it.
Cheers

[albanycobra]

yeah i have owned a 66 aswell. i did a RHD conversion with RS parts , was very easy. i think there are a few pics in my gallery.....give me a buzz if you want to talk about it.

[boxhead]

If the EF/EL suspension doesn't go, then he will probably get a complete rebuild kit (includes arms Koni shocks, sway bars etc, these are at about $600. He can get a really good deal on freight.
Not looking at steering racks or RRS upgrades etc.

What is the "Shelby drop" mentioned?
This car originally had a black vinyl roof fitted, I am trying to convince him to go with a white/bone top. Plus the white lower stripe.


Picked these rims for it on Saturday (cheaper than marked price).


This is what interior looks like, seats are like new (I suspect they have been re-trimmed before coming to Oz)


And the embossed seats.

[BJ's Snake]

Shelby drop is where the upper control arms are lowered by an inch
for better handling. You can buy the template off various sites.

Cheers

[Rog246]

Originally Posted by BJ's Snake

Nothing wrong with a '66 Dave, but I am a little biased.



Good luck with it.
Cheers

Isn't the steering on the wrong side of that Mustang ????

[750hp]

http://www.mustangbarn.com/PDFs/Arni...ion%20Drop.pdf

[BJ's Snake]

As it should be Rog...

[boxhead]

Cheers Craig, That will be done.

Ron made a start after work yesterday, He started by cutting out some of the rust in the R/H side of firewall and plenum/cowl area.
Sadly by the looks of it, there is rust in the plenum as it looks like someone has wedged a piece of gal plate in there with a big blob of silastic.
So he will cut the cowl panel off next and we will have a better look, most likely order a cowl and plenum, these are available as a full replacement for under $400

[750hp]

The plenum area of Falcons and Mustangs up to '67 are probably the most consistently bodgied/butchered area of the whole car.
$400 for a whole replacement will probably save days and days of finicky fabrication and patch panels...

[albanycobra]

Box i have ordered heaps of stuff from CJ pony parts.....just ordered a set drake hood pins today......

[boxhead]

Hey Dave.
When buying from CJ's do you just order online?
I have sent them an email about 10 days ago now to confirm part numbers before placing order, but I have had no reply yet.
I used there live contact and was liaising with a guy, he said he can see that the mail had been received and I should get a reply soon, but that was last Wednesday.

[albanycobra]

i think I just answered the question on another thread. But yeah contact them before ordering because if a part is on back order they will take your money and not tell you the part is on back order till it's to late. Other than that ,when i was building up my 66 i got heaps of stuff from them and the freight and quality was always good. I also bought my RHD kit off RRS or what ever they are called.....bolted straight in was easy job. I cut out the firewall and replaced with flat sheet, came out real neat. I have been thinking about another Stang lately as well. My dream garage would be GT40, Cobra, 67 Fast back Stang and a Westfield Clubman.....I'll keep saving...