[Laurie_S]

After the judging debacle in Pensacola, my friends and I decided to do some extensive restoration on my coupe. We removed the 289, C-4, exhaust system, bumpers, front grille, and hood yesterday. Before doing this, my friend and I went over the judging sheets and the car (we're both 1967-68 MCA certified judges). We have documented many errors on the sheets, some of which are just unbelievable. Some of the points, of course, we can't disagree with, but there aren't many of those. I decided to go to the extreme on the car and will take the 289 to the machine shop for tanking and rebuilding. They did such a phenomenal job on Trouble's 390, the 289 should do great. I also need to replace the muffler as mine is rather banged up (although no points were deducted on it at the show, go figure). Everything else is just clean and repaint. The undercarriage is essentially in great shape, again we just need to clean and do some touch-up. We'll be pushing it to get done by the Albuquerque show on Memorial Day weekend, but it will be worth it. After that show, we'll redo the rear axle for the Grand National. This will keep me out of Trouble for awhile, that's for sure. *G*

I love it when a plan comes together!

[color:red]1968 Coupe, "Murphy" - Original (car and owner)</font color=red>
[color:blue]1968 Fastback, "Trouble" - Restomod</font color=blue>
[color:white]1967-1968 MCA Certified Judge</font color=white>

 

[Guest]

Geez, I have enough trouble with only 1 Mustang in pieces. I don't know how you can be doing two. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif


-Brian

66restomod's Home Page
[color:red]Updated: 4/13/2001</font color=red>
"In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable."-Eisenhower

 

[corey07850]

I really have to give you show guys credit for all you do. I could never completely rebuild any part of my car that really didnt need it just to satisfy a judging sheet. keep up the good work!

'66 coupe resto in progress... IT NEVER ENDS

 

[autoxsteve]

Can you graft and send me a section from your money tree? I would also like a crossbreed with the free-time tree. *G*

Steve Leslie, 65 coupe in restoration. 302, toploader, A/C, disc brakes, bench seat

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1571478&a=12409371&p=45488890&Sequence=0.jpg

 

[Teebone]

Laurie..what recourse do you have, if any, if the judging sheets are totally out of reality?

'59 T-Bird..[color:blue]'70 Mustang Convert</font color=blue>...[color:green]'72 Mach One</font color=green>
http://clubs.hemmings.com/baymustang/t-bird.jpg
The Black Bird At 42,she's the oldest in my Ford stable

 

[Guest]

i have enough trouble rebuilting pieces together to make a mustang but restorating an already restored mustang...maybe i will understand someday!!!!

 

[avj97]

I hope you took some digital pictures to document the mistakes. Not that it will change anything, but it would certainly prove your point. Also, I bet it would change things for next year, knowing that there is someone out there looking over their shoulders.

JJ
69 Fastback 302 2v 3sp. trans.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1605599&a=12251632&p=44630868&Sequence=7&res=high.jpg

 

[Guest]

sounds like a lot of work, but if you want it right then I suppose you have no choice. will be hard to do this without knicking some paint or damaging something. good luck.. post pictures for us.

Charles Turner
MCA Gold Card Judge(64.5-65, 66)
'65 Fastback
'00 GT Conv, triple black


Check out my 65 [color:blue]fastback!</font color=blue>

 

[Laurie_S]

It's easy, my mechanic has my fastback so I don't have to worry about tripping over the pieces. *LOL* This work on my coupe is going to be down at lightning speed so I probably won't even get Trouble back before we're done. If I do, it will get to spend some time in my garage as my coupe is at my friend's house.

I love it when a plan comes together!

[color:red]1968 Coupe, "Murphy" - Original (car and owner)</font color=red>
[color:blue]1968 Fastback, "Trouble" - Restomod</font color=blue>
[color:white]1967-1968 MCA Certified Judge</font color=white>

 

[Laurie_S]

Thanks, but I'm not doing this to satisfy the sheets (especially the Pensacola sheets!). The engine and drivetrain have never been out of the car before and they really did need cleaning and detailing in those areas I could never reach. Also, because of the tight fit in the engine compartment there are several areas on the lower walls I could never clean well. It's basically just time to bite the bullet and finish detailing the car if I want to stay in the concours trailered class.

I love it when a plan comes together!

[color:red]1968 Coupe, "Murphy" - Original (car and owner)</font color=red>
[color:blue]1968 Fastback, "Trouble" - Restomod</font color=blue>
[color:white]1967-1968 MCA Certified Judge</font color=white>

 

[Laurie_S]

*LOL* My money tree is more of a bush and I think with these two cars it needs a good watering and some fertilizer. Fortunately, I have several good friends who were mad as heck about what happened in Florida and are helping me tremendously with the car. There is no way I could do this otherwise, and I really appreciate them. They are my "free time." *G* I can work on the weekends, but my business just won't let me get away during the week right now.

I love it when a plan comes together!

[color:red]1968 Coupe, "Murphy" - Original (car and owner)</font color=red>
[color:blue]1968 Fastback, "Trouble" - Restomod</font color=blue>
[color:white]1967-1968 MCA Certified Judge</font color=white>

 

[Laurie_S]

Probably none, but it won't stop me from sending several letters of protest through MCA channels. You never know what will happen, especially as a number of people who I will be contacting are familiar with my car. The thing I have to do is thoroughly document the problems while also noting what I agree with (and there are deductions that are correct, no question about it). Then I write my letters (with photographs enclosed) and see what happens. I think it will help that I am a certified judge and that another 67-68 certified judge is working with me on this.

I love it when a plan comes together!

[color:red]1968 Coupe, "Murphy" - Original (car and owner)</font color=red>
[color:blue]1968 Fastback, "Trouble" - Restomod</font color=blue>
[color:white]1967-1968 MCA Certified Judge</font color=white>

 

[Laurie_S]

I'm doing this work for several reasons, but mainly because the car needs it. The engine has a collapsed lifter, the rear main seal leaks, and there are areas in the lower engine bay that have never been properly cleaned and detailed in 33 years. The rear main seal leak has created quite a mess of the tranny and I'm tired of trying to clean it up at each show. It's time to do this, especially with the lifter collapsing just before the Pensacola show.

I love it when a plan comes together!

[color:red]1968 Coupe, "Murphy" - Original (car and owner)</font color=red>
[color:blue]1968 Fastback, "Trouble" - Restomod</font color=blue>
[color:white]1967-1968 MCA Certified Judge</font color=white>

 

[Laurie_S]

Yes, I'm trying to photograph everything I can. It's hard, however, to document something that isn't there. I'm afraid someone will just say that we cleaned the car up before I took the pictures. For example, I lost 2 points due to paint overspray on the underside of the hood. There is no overspray as we had sanded and totally repainted the underside a few days before we left for the show. The hood is beautiful! We can't figure out what they thought they were seeing--there's nothing there!

I love it when a plan comes together!

[color:red]1968 Coupe, "Murphy" - Original (car and owner)</font color=red>
[color:blue]1968 Fastback, "Trouble" - Restomod</font color=blue>
[color:white]1967-1968 MCA Certified Judge</font color=white>

 

[Laurie_S]

Thanks, yes, the car has reached the point where this has to be done. The work now will save me a lot at each show in the future, and since I'm going after the grille medallion I want the car to be as good as possible. The engine and drivetrain came out with no problems, but it was tense moment or two when we pulled the front fenders. They had never been off the car and they did not want to cooperate. I think we got a little scratch, but not much. The hardest to handle was one of friends struggling with the exhaust system, which absolutely did not want to come apart.

I love it when a plan comes together!

[color:red]1968 Coupe, "Murphy" - Original (car and owner)</font color=red>
[color:blue]1968 Fastback, "Trouble" - Restomod</font color=blue>
[color:white]1967-1968 MCA Certified Judge</font color=white>

 

[Guest]

It's making me jealous! "Betty" needs more work and I can't do it cause it's my only car. Hey Laurie, *holds up his sign* 'Will Work for Car Restoration'

1968 Coupe, 6cyl Std, Bench Seat. Driven through 10 years of College.

 

[Laurie_S]

That's how I get my work done! After we finish my coupe and fastback I get to help with a 1966 and a 1972 convertible, and who knows what else. *G*

I love it when a plan comes together!

[color:red]1968 Coupe, "Murphy" - Original (car and owner)</font color=red>
[color:blue]1968 Fastback, "Trouble" - Restomod</font color=blue>
[color:white]1967-1968 MCA Certified Judge</font color=white>