Project Tetanus, my '66 coupe restoration

Started melting the lead seam and removed what bad part of the rear floor/trunk transition metal there was. Found a 1"x2" hole in the c-pillar they filled with half inch or so of Bondo. Hopefully that's the end of surprises on this thing. Test fit the new wheel housing with great results also.

Been busy since my last post but got a lot done. Installed the wheel housing, pass trunk floor, patched the pass rear seat floor, cleaned up and undercoated everything behind the quarter panel and finally finished installing the full quarter. Been a long 3yr journey with this metal work but despite a few odds/ends here all the big stuff is done. Quite happy I can start tossing the old metal (like the gas tank and such) away now that all test fits are done. Pics are lame but best I have at the moment.

Now I can put her on the cart and assemble everything to assess gaps and such . After that its strip the paint and send her off to body/paint.

After finishing the rear quarter, I bolted on the remaining sheet metal and some other parts for a quick test fit. All looks pretty good, nothing my body guy cant finish/tweak. After vacation this week I'll pick up my rental rotisserie and get the underside buttoned up.

My buddy and I built the tip jib about a month ago and it worked out great! Allowed me to grind away all the crap, finish welding panels, install the sub frame connectors, prime, paint, and bed line the entire underside. Now shes back on her belly and finishing the engine compartment is next. Have to figure out what to do with this jig now lol

Small update....

Installed all new front suspension over the last couple weeks. Since my part of the metal and body work is done, I'm working on making her roll so its easier to transport to the bodyshop. Keeping drum brakes for now due to cost as I'm sure some will ask. Shelby drop, 1" sway and Eibach springs make up the front end. All else is oem just brand new. This is pass side but drivers looks the same. Still have to undercoat the inner fenders but have to wait till it warms up a bit.

Well, after 4 1/2 yrs she's finally on all fours again... lol

Complete front/rear suspension is done and front brakes are new as well. Just need to rebuild the rear brakes but that can wait till I get her back from paint/body. Sitting kinda high cause its literally a shell. Hopefully I'll have the stance I want once there's more weight bolted on.

Plan is to take her to storage next week, then sending off to a shop (once I find one) in March. This winter is engine teardown/rebuild. I'm just glad there's no more grinding/cutting/welding in a cold garage.

In April my body guy took the car for paint and such. I'm not in a real hurry as engine/trans work keeping me busy with it, so it's sat at his place while he works on other projects. This week he started sanding the remaining paint off and worked out a plan of attack.

He said there was 5-6 layers of paint on the deck lid, roof and front fenders. May re-tweak the rear quarters I put on a bit, but otherwise no surprises. My goal is to have her running by my birthday next May so I'm in no hurry to get it back. If he kept it over winter it would help solve my storage problem.

Anyway, not much to report picture wise at this point, but there should be more activity on it soon.

Also, my daughter and I starting tearing down the 289 last weekend. Didn't find anything of real concern other than 50 yrs of gunk. The car was manuf in early April and the block's numbers say it was cast in late March, so quite sure its the oe engine.

More to come!

Long time since an update. Car is still with the body guy who should have it in primer and ready for paint in next three weeks. From there, he'll shoot it in Delmonico Red Pearl my wife picked out.

Meantime... got my first pieces back from the machine shop last night. Block and crank look amazing! Heads are next then I can start putting the engine back together. Attached some before/after pics.

Stay tuned!