Optimus Prime - The '68 Coupe
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Headlight Removal Part I
The headlights were next. I was a bit surprised when I went to unplug them that you can't get to the back of the headlights from inside the engine bay like you do on modern day cars. The actual headlights are housed inside the front fender extensions which are like formed buckets with a solid back. It will make more sense when the fenders are off the car.
Technically here we are removing the headlight doors. Talk about a stupid name, were the Ford part namers on vacation that week or what?
The headlights were next. I was a bit surprised when I went to unplug them that you can't get to the back of the headlights from inside the engine bay like you do on modern day cars. The actual headlights are housed inside the front fender extensions which are like formed buckets with a solid back. It will make more sense when the fenders are off the car.
Technically here we are removing the headlight doors. Talk about a stupid name, were the Ford part namers on vacation that week or what?
horseballz
10 Year Member
Gregski,
From all your pics it appears that you may need a pair of hinges for your new hood. I have a pair that are not pristine but are easily workable. You are welcome to them for the shipping $$ from 89119.
Keep Up The Good Work,
Gene
From all your pics it appears that you may need a pair of hinges for your new hood. I have a pair that are not pristine but are easily workable. You are welcome to them for the shipping $$ from 89119.
Keep Up The Good Work,
Gene
Thank you for the offer bro, but i got two pairs in the bins in the garage, I am lucky to have a ton of parts for the car, I just need to clean them up and assemble it all.
Headlight Removal Part II
Moving right along the retainer rings came off next, then the headlights themselves, I was trying very hard not to wipe away any of the dirt or weeds that were trapped inside these parts as I removed them. I wanted to show you all the crap that accumulates in there over the years, and what you would be painting over.
Notice someone left the corral opened and the horsey ran away!
Moving right along the retainer rings came off next, then the headlights themselves, I was trying very hard not to wipe away any of the dirt or weeds that were trapped inside these parts as I removed them. I wanted to show you all the crap that accumulates in there over the years, and what you would be painting over.
Notice someone left the corral opened and the horsey ran away!
Front Valance Removal
The front "Valancia" as I like to call it was next to come off. I only left it dangling cautiously by the parking light wires for picture purposes, honest, I normally don't do that. Other than one non stock flat head screw/bolt that was super tightly screwed in, the rest came off nicely. Remember what I said earlier there's always that one stubborn fastener who's sole purpose is to piss you off and hinder your progress.
Was the guy who wrote P/S on there a visionary or what? How did he know it was going to turn out to be such a big Piece of ***** some day? LOL come on you gotta have a sense of humor
The front "Valancia" as I like to call it was next to come off. I only left it dangling cautiously by the parking light wires for picture purposes, honest, I normally don't do that. Other than one non stock flat head screw/bolt that was super tightly screwed in, the rest came off nicely. Remember what I said earlier there's always that one stubborn fastener who's sole purpose is to piss you off and hinder your progress.
Was the guy who wrote P/S on there a visionary or what? How did he know it was going to turn out to be such a big Piece of ***** some day? LOL come on you gotta have a sense of humor
Rusty67
Dirt-Old 20+Year Member
Depending on what color you paint the car you might want to paint the front side of the turn signal buckets black as well. Might look good if you do it on key pieces. I've got a nice grey color in mind for the rest of the car with the black accents here and there. Then again I'm just saying this on a whim.
I may have said this before, are we gonna talk or are you just gonna do the Vulkan Mind Meld and read my mind directly, LOL. Yes I'm considering painting not only the signal/headlight buckets black but maybe even the whole front grill section as well as the tailgate. Yes the car will be gray, and here's the cat out of the bag, all the chrome pieces will be powder coated black. (It's my way of dollar cost averaging all the chromers out there.) Don't get me wrong chrome is very durable and good looking but saying it is overdone is an understatement, am I right my Back 'n Black Army?
ok, my 9 year old son took these pictures for me at the Sacramento Autorama, I thought I had my mind set on the color of the car, light silver metallic it was going to be, till I saw this car, and it turned my world upside down. The pictures do not give you the right impression, imagine an almost primer flat gray looking tint from a distance anyway. However according to another bistander it appears to be a charcoal metallic with possibly a flat clear (if there is such a thing) over it.
Ma ma, makes me weak at the knees just thinking about it!
Off With The Ornaments
Removed the Pony off the driver side fender, which was held on with 4 nuts and bolts that you have to unscrew (I think the one on the other side ran away before I got the car). Then the "Mustang" signs just came off with a flat screw driver. Non of this stuff is going back on the car, and the holes eventually will be welded closed.
Yes I did start sanding the fender before taking these off, I had to get away from working on those darn doors, I'm only human you know.
Removed the Pony off the driver side fender, which was held on with 4 nuts and bolts that you have to unscrew (I think the one on the other side ran away before I got the car). Then the "Mustang" signs just came off with a flat screw driver. Non of this stuff is going back on the car, and the holes eventually will be welded closed.
Yes I did start sanding the fender before taking these off, I had to get away from working on those darn doors, I'm only human you know.
Turn Signals Were Next
Had to remove the turn signals, or blinkers as we call them here west of the Mmiissiissiippii
I like the wiring, all the plugs are distinct, imagine that, that way you can't plug the headlight into the parking lights.
Aren't all cars like that? Obviously you haven't worked on anything German, LOL.
Yes Joe Dirt showed up AGAIN!
Had to remove the turn signals, or blinkers as we call them here west of the Mmiissiissiippii
I like the wiring, all the plugs are distinct, imagine that, that way you can't plug the headlight into the parking lights.
Aren't all cars like that? Obviously you haven't worked on anything German, LOL.
Yes Joe Dirt showed up AGAIN!
Driver Side Fender Sanding
Yup it's that little $15 dollar cheapie Harbor Freight (oops we can't say that on the Internets) cheap Chinese tools store 5 inch random orbital sander kicking all that butt. Remember get your sandpaper discs from Lowe's or online in bulk, as they cost an arm and a leg at the auto parts store, and yes you will go through them quickly. They make two kinds that velcro on with holes in them, lets just say some have more holes than others and don't align with the vent holes on your sander. (don't ask me how I know)
That 3x5 bondo card in the front of the fender is the only bondo i found on the car.
I have no idea why there is an electric drill in the picture.
Yup it's that little $15 dollar cheapie Harbor Freight (oops we can't say that on the Internets) cheap Chinese tools store 5 inch random orbital sander kicking all that butt. Remember get your sandpaper discs from Lowe's or online in bulk, as they cost an arm and a leg at the auto parts store, and yes you will go through them quickly. They make two kinds that velcro on with holes in them, lets just say some have more holes than others and don't align with the vent holes on your sander. (don't ask me how I know)
That 3x5 bondo card in the front of the fender is the only bondo i found on the car.
I have no idea why there is an electric drill in the picture.
Rusty67
Dirt-Old 20+Year Member
Removing the Front Fenders
came across this video on You Tube when trying to recall how many bolts actually held on my front fenders (9 I think, but it really doesn't matter), it's worth a look, so why reinvent the wheel, please check it out you may be pleasantly surprised
YouTube - Mustang Project - Part 3 - Remove Front Fenders
came across this video on You Tube when trying to recall how many bolts actually held on my front fenders (9 I think, but it really doesn't matter), it's worth a look, so why reinvent the wheel, please check it out you may be pleasantly surprised
YouTube - Mustang Project - Part 3 - Remove Front Fenders
Driver Side Fender Off
Actually sanding as much of the fender on the car as possible was the way to go for me, the fender was sturdy and easy to work on. However it had to come off so that I could inspect it in it's entirety especially the back side. Also I did not know how to remove the front fender extensions until I removed the fender, I'm sure they come off with the fender on the car, but it was a whole lot easier this way.
I don't know about you, but the front of that fender sure looks interesting to me, it's nothing like what I'm used to seeing on modern cars, I mean it's got all that extra stuff up there, yes it unscrews and comes off, but still it's not just a stamped semi flat piece of metal.
Actually sanding as much of the fender on the car as possible was the way to go for me, the fender was sturdy and easy to work on. However it had to come off so that I could inspect it in it's entirety especially the back side. Also I did not know how to remove the front fender extensions until I removed the fender, I'm sure they come off with the fender on the car, but it was a whole lot easier this way.
I don't know about you, but the front of that fender sure looks interesting to me, it's nothing like what I'm used to seeing on modern cars, I mean it's got all that extra stuff up there, yes it unscrews and comes off, but still it's not just a stamped semi flat piece of metal.
Passanger Side Fender OffThe passenger side fender is off. Check out all the crud tha
The passenger side fender is off. Check out all the crud that fell off when I removed it. Can you imagine trying to paint over all that, I'm sure some would be hidden, but some would blow out when the compressed air from the gun swooped across that nook and cranny. It's a lot more work, (once you see the surface rust behind the fenders), but I have no regrets for taking off the fenders.
The passenger side fender is off. Check out all the crud that fell off when I removed it. Can you imagine trying to paint over all that, I'm sure some would be hidden, but some would blow out when the compressed air from the gun swooped across that nook and cranny. It's a lot more work, (once you see the surface rust behind the fenders), but I have no regrets for taking off the fenders.
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