Restoring my 68 302-4V coupe

[C0braFan]

I've owned this car since age 18, back in 1990, which means in one more year it will have been with me for half my lifetime. I've debated selling it over the years, because it's a "run of the mill coupe", but it being my first car, I can't part with it. I bought it for $6,000, which was a high price in 1990, but it was an unrestored low-mileage original in perfect condition. Here's the earliest photo I have of it.



I started restoring in 2002, but knew absolutely nothing about mechanical work, so I got as far as replacing the fuel tank, lines, intake, carburetor, and fired it up, thinking I would just keep it as-is. But as is usually the case, the more I got into it, the more worn out parts I wanted to replace, until it became a 100% restoration. Here's the Ford 999 report.



I've tossed around the idea of taking it back to factory stock, then to a restomod, but I settled on something different. At the last CMC show in October, there were at least a dozen stock coupes, and they are nice, but that isn't my style. So, I've finally settled on building it as a resto-racer with a retro Trans-Am theme, reminiscent of the Jerry Titus and Dean Gregson 68 coupes....but it will be street legal and comfortable. I want to do some NASA racing, but not for points.

Here was the car two years ago, when I finally decided to fully restore it. I yanked all of the new parts off that I'd installed (new suspension, etc), and pulled the engine shortly after taking this photo.



You can see the high-compression 10:1 factory pistons here, and on the other side the left head is still on, you see the factory pushrods and rockers. This engine, which put out factory-spec 230 hp, had 150k miles on it, with knocking, blow-by... I don't know why I thought I could drive it as is. Now that I've come to grips with reality, I'm going to build it up with a high-lift roller cam, roller rockers, stud girdle, forged internals, and a forged stroker crank, which should take it to 400 hp.


Toying with the idea of doing a Boss 302 "mechanical prototype" car, the new Ford crate Boss 302 engine intrigued me for a while....but this very engine was the Boss 302 test mule during early development.



Here's the current progress I've made on the body work. I'm learning as I go, having no mechanical skills to start with, but it's enjoyable work, if frustrating at times. My current dilemma is that my 30-gal air compressor runs out too quickly while powering a sander, so I need to buy an electric sander to continue work. I'm also drilling out the inner fender aprons in the engine compartment to replace them, and this is also a new learning experience.


This last image shows the condition of the sheet metal...not bad. The drivers side floor needs a small replacement. I believe the cowl is good, but for long term it might be wise to cut it out and replace it...which is a terrible job. But, now is the time to do that sort of thing, not later.


At this point, I'm 5 years into the restoration, having changed directions a couple times, with about 2 actual years of work on the car (and during that time, two more children!). I sure wish I'd known someone experienced with car restoration to help me do it right, but by taking it slowly and not taking any shortcuts, I hope to get it done this year.

Is there a member of Copperstate Mustang Club who has time to assist me with this project? I would like to get a professional evaluation of whether I'm on the right track, what I could do better, etc, from someone who has already restored a car from the ground up. I can pay a fair price per hour. I live in Avondale, 4 miles from PIR.

[ASUSMC]

That is awesome man. Beautiful car and so much potential. I would love to help but I have no experience.

[Jacostang]

There is plenty of people to help you out here!!!! Since you are doing most of the work yourself, you will be saving alot!!! Talk to me and I'll give you some numbers about finishing off the sheetmetal pans and then doing some sound insulating.... You getting to the fun part!!!! watching it become a real dream car!!!!

[C0braFan]

That is awesome man. Beautiful car and so much potential. I would love to help but I have no experience.

I sort of knew it would be a difficult job, but was in denial about it going in, because I didn't know what else to do...pay someone $20 grand to do it for me? Not an option. So, you just start digging in, go as far as you can, then seek help, I guess. I did waste those first two years trying to build it as a daily driver, but that was a learning experience. Now it suddenly dawned on me that it's been another three years already...man, how the time flies, especially with a house full of kids.

Jacostang...thanks for the note. I'll contact you off-line for those leads on getting help.

[Jacostang]

Not a probelm. let me know what I can do

[C0braFan]

Hi Folks

I'm throwing in the towel on the initial sanding job, and taking the car in for media blasting. I have half of the car down to bare metal (rear quarters, hood, fenders, doors) but the interior, roof, and underside are too much for me so I give up.

Does anyone have a wheeled body dolly willing to loan or sell? I'm looking around, prices are about $400 new. I need to get the stripped body off jack stands and onto wheels in order to get it hauled to the media shop. I would need to borrow it only long enough to get the media blasting and underside coating.

Any help would be appreciated!!

[C0braFan]

There is plenty of people to help you out here!!!! Since you are doing most of the work yourself, you will be saving alot!!! Talk to me and I'll give you some numbers about finishing off the sheetmetal pans and then doing some sound insulating.... You getting to the fun part!!!! watching it become a real dream car!!!!

Soooo...as these things go, six months just flew by again and I've lost the best cool AZ months with work, wife, kids, etc.... ;-) I found an affordable body cart at www.accessiblesystems.com for under $300. It would be great to hook up with some other guys who are in the midst of a resto project. It seems that not many people are going the DIY route these days.