Mustang of the Week 1/11/02
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VMF Name: 66emberglow
After going 3 years without a classic Mustang, I decided it was time to get back in the game. I had already had a 68 coupe and a 67 coupe. This time I was set on finding a convertible that I could use as a nice occasional driver. I found my 1966 Emberglo convertible in Atlanta. It belonged to a dentistÕs wife, who referred to it as her "tennis car". They had owned the car for over 20 years, and had a huge folder of receipts to prove it. It was in good mechanical condition, and the body was decent. I could tell it was going to need floors and patches on the lower quarters, but I had done those things before on my 67. It was original, complete, and drivable. And most important of all, it was loaded with good options. ItÕs powered by a 289 2 bbl and C4 transmission. It has the Emberglo/Parchment deluxe "pony" interior, visibility group, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, and a power top. After some haggling, I loaded it on the trailer and headed home.
I decided it would be a good idea to drive the car awhile, to get to know what works and what doesnÕt, before starting the restoration. That schedule was accelerated when a connecting rod cap from my 13,000 mile "remanufactured" engine came loose. So I took a wrench to it. Bolts starting coming out, and the search for new parts ensued.
I rebuilt the engine using flat top pistons, a new crank, and an SVO 204/214 cam. It appears stock in all respects, but may have a little more umph. I put the original C code intake and carb on for now, but might upgrade to 4 bbl next year. I bought a tranny kit and a book, and rebuilt my first tranny. Another task I would have never tackled had it not been for the “Pool of Wisdom” found at VMF available for consultation. During the tranny rebuild I met Art (of VMF fame), whose a good mechanic and now a good friend. A new aluminized dual exhaust kit completes the new drivetrain.
Nyltak and TennesseeCub taught me about inner rockers, which are so important on a convertible. Mine had some small rust spots, so I decided to replace those, the floors, and the torque boxes. IÕm glad I did, because the inner rockers were very rusty. These supports are hollow beams that donÕt have any real drainage, so they rust from the inside out. It took me a solid week of work to get that job done, but now I know itÕs solid.
I was half joking with a local club member when I asked him if I could borrow his body rotisserie. I was surprised when he said, "You have to come get it." So what started out as a daily driver was now going to get a rotisserie treatment. I removed all the exhaust, rearend components, and gas tank, and cleaned, painted, and detailed the undercarriage and rear suspension.
Next, I chemically stripped the car, cut out the rust, and welded in patch panels. I installed rust free donor doors, and finished the bodywork. I spent a lot of time with the www.autobodystore.com <http://www.autobodystore.com/> discussion group and learned as much as I could about paint. I had painted a dozen cars or so in the past, but I still had lots to learn. I finished wetsanding the shell for the final time, cleaned the paint booth, and started to roll the car down a small incline into the booth. I lost control of the car and it rolled right into the side of the garage door opening, oil canning the rear quarter. I was absolutely sick to my stomach. But I took a break, had a beer, and started working the dent out. When it was finally ready, I painted my car with PPG Urethane BC/CC. It really turned out nice, if I may say so.
When it came time to install the engine / tranny, I had another bad day. The engine leveler I was using came apart while the engine and tranny were hoisted three feet in the air. The engine turned upside down and fell to the floor, breaking a head, the carb studs, my tranny bellhousing and tailhousing. I had another beer or 6 that evening.
My good friends, Jpony645 (Commissioner of the Office of Post Accuracy) and Art, helped me round up replacement parts and finally install the drivetrain without incident. It started right up, and now runs beautifully.
Now IÕm in the reassembly stage of the game, and the car is drivable (up and down the driveway). Boy, reassembly sure is expensive. All the parts that used to be good enough suddenly look ugly against the new paint and chrome. So I have had to take this step slowly, so as not to upset the almighty SWMBO.
I hope to be totally finished by this spring, and would like to take it to the Pensacola show in March. The VMF has been an enormous help to me during my restoration. IÕve gotten answers to every single technical question I had, and I have made some lifelong friends in the process of building AmericaÕs Favorite Car, the Ford Mustang Convertible.