Picked up this 68 fastback this week. Always wanted a fastback so when one popped up close by for a reasonable (compared to what you normally see) price, I picked it up.
Plans are to swap the 289 out for a roller cam 351w, which will eventually be stroked to a 408w.
-put the 67 Shelby nose from MTF on along with the 68 Shelby hood.
-4 wheel disc brakes, sticking with 04 Cobra set-up. Same as the coupe only going to stick with manual brakes
-FiTech EFI kit with Tanks Inc EFI fuel tank
The car really only needs some parts of the floorpan replaced. I have lots and lots of parts from the previous owner. It is a factory console car and factory AC. I plan on getting the Marti report soon, I like to have them.
The story from the previous owner is that in 1984-85, this car was owned by a restaurant manager who let a couple of his employees drive it drunk one night. They smacked a wooden fence and took out the grille/valance and dinged up the fender. The owner had it sent to the body shop where it was sanded down and going to be completely repainted, but the owner lost interest. The guy I bought it from was driving by the bodyshop and saw it, bought it from the them and placed it in a warehouse where it sat till last December (2015). He was slowly gathering parts to do a big build on it, but never got around to it. He had 3-4 other classic Mustangs sitting around when I picked this one up. He did a full tune-up and re-did the brakes all around (4 wheel drum currently).
The car runs and everything seems to work except the gas tank and the heater. While sitting is storage the heater core gave out and thats why the floorpan needs fixed. The fuel tank is super nasty, the car currently the car runs off a 1 gallon gas can.
Thanks! The body looks much rougher in those pictures. In reality, the body is pretty straight, just has surface rust. Waiting on the new wheels for the coupe so I can get the fastback in the garage for sanding/primer.
Been working on the fastback lately. I'd say its easier doing a second car, since you have alot of knowledge about what works and what doesn't work. But its also harder because theres the desire to make the car better the the first right off the bat.
So far I've pulled the old 289, I have the 351w pretty much ready to drop on, just waiting on new mounts (RMP drop mounts)
Then I started reading about Eastwood's 2k epoxy primer in an aerosol can and decided to try that out. It's fairly expensive at about $24 a can, but the they have lots of sales and coupons that usually drop it to just under $20 a can.
I am going to sand down the quarter panels and prime them hopefully this week.
Area's I've noticed that need body work:
Front passenger floor board
Rear drivers floorboard
a few tiny spots on the passenger quarter
The battery apron was "replaced" previously but looks terrible, so I ordered a new one.
Now to kick my ass into gear and practice welding.
Got a small stack of parts waiting to be installed. Gotta finish the body work first.
I have a new EFI fuel tank from Aeromotive with a stealth 340 pump. Gonna have to order all the fittings to run the lines once I get the rear coated with POR 15.
Here's my current progress. The exterior (and interior doors and dash) is getting sanded down and painted with the black 2K epoxy primer. The interior and under side of the car is getting coated with POR 15. POR 15 is awesome, it looks wet still even after it dries.
I've been out of town for last few months, wont get back to the car for another month. Just wanted to update that the car is coming along very well.
Put in new floor panels on both sides along with new 1969 seat risers to lower the seats an inch, new battery apron, new driver's side door, new drivers side fender.
The exterior body has been sanded down to bare metal and the primed flat black with Eastwood 2K Epoxy.
The interior of the car and the fenderwells have been coated with POR15
The underside of the car has been sanded and coated with Eastwood Rust Encapsulator.
Engine crossmember has been replaced with a Boss 302 style crossmember that ties into the lower control arms mount.
Parts in boxes waiting for me to get back to install:
Just gotta figure out brakes and get a center chuck assembly. Definitely going with another Tru-Trac like I have in the Coupe, prolly 3.70 gears too. I can't wait to get back home and start installing all these parts though, looks great.
I'm back and working on the car again. Life keeps kicking me down, but I'm still here. A couple progress pictures. The entire front end is coated with POR 15. Looks nice when it's clean, it attracts dirt/dust like a mofo tho.
I had to change direction on the brake set-up. I was originally going to use S197 GT500 Brembos but got a sweet deal on some custom brakes that I think will work better. I'll post pics on Monday when they arrive.
This is a shot of the SoT Bilstein coilover set-up mostly installed. I also added Global West shock tower covers that allow the suspension to go lower before bottoming out.
Got the rest of the floor welded in this weekend. I still need to do the underside of them. Gonna wait till I get the wheels and brakes on so I can put the subframe connectors on while under the car.
The entire engine bay is being sanded down and then painted with Eastwoods rust encapulator and covered with POR15 black top coat.
I am going to go with a Baer master cylinder because they're made in USA, look awesome, looks to be built/designed very well. Baer Master cylinders
I wasn't planning on it. I know I'll prolly wish I did but I can do that down the road once the engine gets pulled for a stroker build. Its just going to be a freshened up 351w going in for now.
I am coming up pretty soon for my window to PCS and need to get the car at least to roller status before that happens.
Brakes should be in today, I ordered new front brake lines and and going to call Baer today and ask about a master cylinder. I have to start putting the new driver's door on this week too.
How did I not know you were working on this?! Awesome project man. I need to have the floors replaced in my new project before I can move forward with it. I want that 351 you got there :drool
The column went in without any issues. I got a couple brackets from Mustangstofear to bolt it in.
The EFI is the HP set-up by Holley. They were the only option I saw that gives fully sequential EFI with the capabilities I wanted. It's expensive since you have to piece it all together.
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