Basket Case 65

[SfcColts]

Hello everyone. Last October (2013) I purchased a 1965 Mustang coupe in a basket case condition.

The car was purchased by the previous owner in 1992 and over the next 2 years he and a buddy tore it all down. They put new quarters, rockers, doors, fenders, floors, and engine compartment aprons. Most of the new sheet metal they just screwed on or tack welded it in a couple of spots. They rebuilt the rear end, front end, motor, tranny, brakes, and more. Then 1994 rolled around and the work stopped due to his buddies death. The cars had 4 or 5 moves from garage to garage and Kansas City, Mo to Des Moines Ia. Then the car sat for 21 years with no progress until I happened along needing a winter project.

I've put the motor and tranny in the car and piddled around trying to organize the boxes and baggies of parts and pieces. In May of 2014 I took the Mustang to a body shop where my body man proceeded to weld in properly the panels applying por 15 to the underside of panels and the car. Then he painted it titanium metallic grey. Since the return from the body shop I've been putting the interior in, glass, and trying to get it finished. #1
SfcColts, Friday at 8:45 AM

 

[tx65coupe]

Looks like its come along way so far.

 

[Thomas Druby]

Looks great!

 

[Gearoholic]

Nice to see you brought it back from the dead. Looks really good....

 

[SfcColts]

Thanks for the comments.

I unfortunately need to drop the transmission to put the correct bolts in the flywheel and torque converter. When I got the car the motor, tranny, and torque converter was not in the car and that was 1st priority. In my haste I grabbed whatever bolts I had and put them in. Not when the motor runs (motor was rebuild and sounds great!) I have the tang-tang-tang sound of a too long bolt hitting somewhere

Another update. While at my Dad's house, his neighbor (the one who I purchased the Mustang from) was having a garage sale. As a borderline hoarder (that's what my wife calls me), I had to stop. Low and behold in the garage sale was a Chilton's manual for the mustang. how to restore your mustang guide, and the ORIGINAL OWNERS MANUAL!!!!!!!! These were supposed to be given to me when he found them but somehow made it into his garage sale. Anyway $10 later and they were mine!

 

[horse sence]

If you have the long flywheel bolts on a automatic flex plate ,they are probably rubbing the rear main cap inside and that is not good /metal in the pan . The wrong torque converter nuts ,if to tall , will rub the backing plat between the motor and transmission .

 

[SfcColts]

The sound is a tinny noise which makes me believe (and hope) it's the torque converter bolts rubbing the backing plate.

 

[SfcColts]

Thought I would post some progress pictures. I've been a little slowed with working on the Mustang because I got a brand new hip! I got the carpet installed, kick panels, and most of the wiring for the dash sorted out. I'm still missing the power wire that goes to the back of the ignition switch. I believe is GONE and I will have to run a new wire from the fuse block. All the upholstery is finished except the headliner which I plan on starting in the next few days. You can see on the rear seat the gauge cluster that I spent the $26 or so dollars for. Well worth it if you ask me. This is a picture of the vent and door window that I've spent hours trying to figure out where all the pieces go. It isn't finished but I had to quit working on it or I would lose my mind.

 

[tos]

For your tinny noise- make sure your torque converter is installed correctly. In otherwords is the drain plug on the front of your converter protruding thru the hole in your flywheel/flexplate? It is possible to bolt it up out of position and it will bow your flywheel enough to make it rub. Sadly I know this from getting in a hurry on my cousins 66 vert.

 

[horse sence]

Yep tos is right ,that could very well be the problem .It is very easy to misalign the converter bolts and drain plug with the flex plate holes .

 

[SfcColts]

New job and cold weather had derailed me lately on my rebuild. Today I was able to go by my body shop guy's house and get the pictures he took of the car while the Mustang was there. I will post a couple of these.

 

[SfcColts]

Now that spring in hopefully here, I'm gearing up to start working on the Mustang. I've been contemplating putting on a split exhaust manifold on the 6 cylinder. Has anyone done this? Will it improve the performance or even sound cool?

 

[n8rfastback]

Wow that thing has come a long way!

 

[SfcColts]

Ok, over the last two days I've made some progress. I put new rubber around the vent windows so they won't whistle when you go down the road, I've sorted out some of the wiring issues, installed the package tray, rear speakers, radio. Then I installed the vent and side windows as well as the door cards. Then came the gauge cluster. I'm far from finished but gaining ground! I put new tires on my Corvair and will put the raised white letter BF Goodrich TA Radials on the Mustang with hubcaps.

 

[SfcColts]

New shoes today on the Mustang! I like the look of the raised white letters with hubcaps.

 

[horse sence]

I have always ran BFG TAs on my mustangs ,i just like the ride .The older BFGs used to crack in between the treads but i am told they changed the rubber compound now .I put a set on my 69 Shelby replica and some day i will get to drive it .

 

[SfcColts]

My frustration and aggravation over floweth!

I took my Mustang to a shop to have them diagnose the noise and get it running right. I got the call from him today that the noise isn't a misaligned torque converter bolt, the flex plate rubbing, or the flywheel bolts or torque converter bolts hitting. What was the noise you ask? As I have mentioned before, the previous owner had this car for 24 years and 5 moves while the car was in pieces. At some time the rebuilt motor must have gotten tipped over or whatever because the oil pan was dented and the crankshaft was hitting it.

While they have the Mustang I'm going to have them fix some more things so it will start, stop, and go down the road safely. Once that is fixed I'll bring it home and finish up the little details.

 

[SfcColts]

Put 22 miles on the Mustang today! First time it has been on the road in 23 years!!!! Took it to a Coffee and Cars event at Karl's Performance in Des Moines, Iowa. Many nice comments on the paint, body work, interior, and overall rebuild.

 

[SfcColts]

Ok, so here is a depressing update. After putting on over 200 miles I decided that I need to replace the rear wheel bearings. The growl was horrendous. Not a bad job and one needed done.

BUT before I could start this project I decided I was going to take the mustang to the grocery store. As I pull into the parking lot I hear a loud POP and I suddenly have NO STEERING! I limp the Mustang into a spot and inspect the steering box. Since there was nothing leaking I decided it was OK to drive it home. WOW, was that an adventurous ride. Thank GOD it wasn't very far. As soon as I pull into my driveway I hear another POP and the wheel spins freely to the right. I put it up on car dollies and pull it into the garage.
Conclusion:
1) I guess I'm in need of a steering box. Any suggestions?
2) I guess it wont be ready for the Good Guys event in Des Moines on the 4th

 

[SfcColts]

I forgot to add that I'm not sure if my steering box is a 16:1 or 20:1 ratio.
The tag on the box reads:
HCC AT
5A13B
I'm not sure if this means anything.