Optimus Prime - The '68 Coupe

[other_shoe]

I must be color blind or crazy

Not crazy at all. I love red mustangs, but this was a cheap red that lacked depth, faded quickly after I got it, and would not polish up to my satisfaction. I went with another color to make a break with this and other corner cutting by the PO.

And I really like the red engine compartment on yours.

 

[Red5oh]

I really need to update those pics.. it looks even better. I got bored and polished up an explorer intake and actually cleaned underneath there... it looks MUCH better now.

 

[gregski]

More things to come off the doors

Still trying to get the door panels off, but first the inside door handle, and the window handle had to come off. Easy jobs but still had to be done.

Note: If possible I put the screws / bolts back into their original locations instead of zip loc bags or cardboard boxes, makes re assembly that much easier.

 

[gregski]

Door Panel Is Off

Finally the door panel is off, let's see what lurks under it?

Right away I notice the black ugly sticky hardened goop that will have to come off. Question is how will I do that?

Notice I don't gorilla anything, although I am making a promise to myself that this baby will get all BRAND NEW interior, (and I hope you help me keep that promise when I try to cheap out, and oh I will try, lol) nothing is just ripped off or destroyed, who knows someone may want those pieces, and or I may use them for something like templates, or vinyl paint practice, etc. Good idea to keep everything around in as good of a condition as you can, it's also good practice for removing the new pieces later and reinstalling them. You want to practice good habits. Otherwise installation becomes no longer the reversal of uninstallation.

 

[Red5oh]

The goop that is in between the door panel and the door is the sealant used for the 'paper' water seal. When you get it all done and cleaned up, you will replace this paper with a new one that is black on one side and plain on the other. This keeps the away from the inner portion of the door panel. The goop is for sealing the paper around all the openings.

So, you dont have to clean it up that good, as you are going to put it all back. Problem is how do you want to proceed as you will be painting the color later and if you dont seal anything off, and drive it for quite some time, you will expose the inner door panel (new or old) to water and ruin them further.

Good luck!

 

[other_shoe]

Problem is how do you want to proceed as you will be painting the color later and if you dont seal anything off, and drive it for quite some time, you will expose the inner door panel (new or old) to water and ruin them further.

I know the paper is supposed to be there, but I've never encountered it on my two or the three of my friends' mustangs. It never occurred to me that it was there to protect the interior trim panel from water running down the window and through the door. Thanks for explaining this.

 

[gregski]

One Man Wrecking Crew

well to do things right the doors had to come off, here's how I did it alone, using nothing but some love juice, a 1/2 inch socket, and a ratchet... oh yeah a jack and a block of wood (optional)

by the way I bought this jack at COSTCO and I love it, it is awesome low and sturdy

 

[gregski]

Um ok that's nice

Um ok that's nice, but how do we know you did the other side? And can we see that jack trick again.

... for crying out loud!

 

[gregski]

Door Weatherstriping

There is sure a lot of bits on these doors. Some used bits will find their way back on the doors, others such as the weatherstripping will get replace with brand new bits.

Here I remove the weatherstrip and the door window rear upper seal, (say that ten times fast!) lol

I keep all the small parts even if they are going to be replaced with new ones just so I know what to order later.

 

[gregski]

Few more things

OK, a few more things, removed the screws from the door latch and just shoved it inside the door. Then I had to cut the rubber door bumpers off using a box cutter after trying to pry them out with a flat screw driver to no avail, they are just too brittle and stubborn to come out. After that it was time to go to town with a 4 inch wire wheel on my cheapo angle grinder.

 

[65springtime]

The last post was March 2010. How is the car coming along? Looks like a great job so far. Would like to see more.

 

[Red5oh]

No, that date is when he joined... the last post was today at 12:58AM

 

[blacklab]

nice job so far!

 

[gregski]

Door Handle Off

Tired of sanding around the door handles I decided it was time for them to come off. Each door handle was held on by a deceivingly long phillips screw and a 3/8 nut inside the door. A little WD40 on the cotter pin and the handle was off, oh yeah and yes i lost the cotter pin that held the rod to the handle, when it went flying accross the driveway in the dark, no worries you usually wanna replace cotter pins anyway (at least that's what keep telling myself).

 

[gregski]

Door Vent Window Out

Next was the door vent window, weren't those the coolest back in the day, I don't think modern single piece door windows are an improvement at all. They are cheaper to make though, and I'm sure that's what matters most.

This piece was held on by two 1/2 inch bolts and two 1/2 inch nuts. Of course two of the three fasteners came right out and the third gave me a hard time by spinning. I had to use some vice grips on the back half round type a nut to get it loose. The fourth fastener (not shown in the photo) is towards the bottom of the door behind a round rubber grommet.

I also ended up using an allen wrench to remove the studs which the nuts sat on in order to slide the contraption out of the door shell. Well put together although I got a sense I was building a ship in a bottle sorta speak.

 

[gregski]

Space For Rent

Well since the passenger door had no window in it, I didn't have anything to take out, so I am saving this space for when I remove it from the other side.

 

[gregski]

Door Parts Summary

After removing the doors and disassembling them you kinda appreciate what goes into one of them things we take for granted on a daily basis when we get in and out of our cars, (and these don't even have anything power). So here I summaries some of the common things that will have to come off only to go back on again, I'm sure I missed a few things:

1. inside door handle

2. window handle

3. arm rest

4. door panel

5. hinges

6. weatherstripping

7. latch

8. rubber bumpers

9. outside door handle

10. lock assembly

11. vent window

12. window

13. seals

14. runs

15. plugs

16. regulator

17. mirror

... you guys better be paying attention I'm gonna count on you when it comes to putting all this stuff back together, LOL

 

[gregski]

Door Jams

Hey I thought this phase was on Doors and Door JAMS, so why are the doors hoggin's all the space.

Alright, on to the door jams then. Removing the upper door trim, molding, seal, what ever you wanna call it. The rubber piece is held on with one screw on the bottom front. Naturally that single screw was rusted on so tough, that neither soaking it with WD40 nor attempting to drill it out worked. I had to grind it off. The rest of it is just tucked in and easily comes out by hand.

 

[gregski]

Upper Door Window Thingie

Then it was time to remove the chrome piece which was held on with 9 easily removable screws and one not so easily removable screw... surprise! Nothing my trusty 4" angle grinder couldn't persuade. After the screws were removed I learned that this piece is glued on using what appears to be some sort of a double sided sticky strip... out with the spatula. I also taped the rain gutter with blue tape to prevent it from getting scratched as I worked my way around the roof line to pry it off.

 

[gregski]

Rocker Panel Molding

Well since I didn't have the rocker panel cover molding, I have nothing to show you other than some action shots. I'm still trying to figure out why it's called a rocker panel to begin with. Actually I believe I may be missing the metal molding and the rubber trim that slips over the vertical bottom edge, if someone could post a pic of what those look like that would be greatly appreciated.