Machspeed

Thanks for the kindly words, friends. I forgot to show the 1984 inspection sticker in the post above. That was the year I put her in storage. I no longer live in Texas, rather Oklahoma….small town south east of Tulsa. As to my plans for the car, I will be resto-modding her, much like Buckeye did with his. In fact, I’ve been following his build since the very beginning. Of the 250,000 plus views he has, I’ve contributed about 20,000 of them. I want the car to look essentially stock but with some minor modern amenities and performance enhancements. The car will receive a full rotisserie restoration and repainted in Gulfsteam Aqua. The only deviation from the factory Mach 1 paint scheme will be a blacked out trunk and rear tail light panel. The car has always been that way and I just like it better. She’ll sport some 15†Magnum 500’s as well. Ohhhh, I will also be going with a shaker. For the drive train, I have a Keith Kraft Racing built 408 stroker motor pictured below. A modified TKO-600 will be mated to it and that power will be delivered to a Jack Roush built Detroit locker with 389 gears. I’ve been buying parts for this car now for at least five years. The wife would kill me if she knew how much money I’ve spent on those parts. Some of you know what I’m talking about too! Here's a couple pics of my acquisitions!

This is the beginning of my build, as I just pulled her out of storage this past weekend. I've had this car since 1977, bought as second owner with 51k miles on it. I drove her all through high school and a few years after when I decided to use it as an occasional Friday and Saturday night cruiser. I pulled the original 351 2v Windsor and installed a 351 Cleveland. After a few years and a few motors I put her in storage just prior to joining the Air Force. As you can see from the inspection sticker, it's been in storage in at least four different storage units in two different states since 1984. Raising two children, acquiring a degree and building a business has taken much time from me, but I've finally arrived and this is the day. I wished I had all the money that I spent on keeping her in storage, not to mention dragging her to several locations over the years, but this car has always been special to me and as you will see fated to be mine. Let me explain. I grew up in San Antonio Texas. Occasionally, during the summer months when we were out of school, my father would take us to the nearby mall for dinner. I was about thirteen then and in the parking lot of the mall was this gorgeous Mustang. I would look for it every time we went to the mall and more often than not it was there. Eventually the day came when its respective owner moved on and subsequently the car went with him. Fast forward three years, I'm seventeen stocking shelves in an Albertsons and needing a ride. I've got some money in the bank and am routinely searching the Sunday classifieds for my dream car. Eventually, I come across an ad listing a 69 Mustang Mach 1 for $1,100. I showed dad the ad, called the owner and hopped in the old Country Squire Station wagoner for a cruise across town to take a look. As we rounded the corner to the owner's house I could see the car in the driveway and noted that it was the same color as the car that I remembered at the mall a few years back. As we pulled up into the driveway, I realized, "that is the car that was at the mall!". I was freaking out and my dad was telling me to maintain some composure as he had plans to haggle with the guy. After the generous nine-hundred dollar offer was declined, I blew it by screaming, "It's my money, just give him the $1100". Again, that was 1977 and I've had the car ever since. Over the past several years I've been watching many of you and your builds come to fruition here and you have been such an inspiration to me. Many of you don't know it, but I've learned so much from so many of you and as such I hope you'll join with me here as I go through my very own resto. I've been looking forward to this for a very long time.

That does look great! Might I inquire as to the cost? Thanks for posting.

Hey Friends, I’ve been collecting parts and preparing my shop for a rotisserie style restoration on my 69 Mach for almost two years now. The car has been in storage since 1985....yes, 1985! I have long awaited these coming days. I will be doing all the mechanicals, electrical, and interior, but will sub out most of the paint and body. In all this, I have been researching a plethora of different aspects of the restoration. That said, I need “how to†information on removal and installation of the windshield and rear glass. I’ve been all over the web and have not found a clear and concise outline on this. For me, video would be best. The glass is all original and I do not want to break it. Can someone advise? Thanks, John

Raven, this was taken right off the Dupont Paint Chip samples that I have..... 4868LH. And yes, the paint is fine metal flake.

I also have white original interior and mine does not have the red stripe.

Indeed, even the cable looks a bit different. I can stomach the cable, it's just that huge aluminum fitting that I can't deal with. You know, how hard is in this day and time to accurately reproduce these types of things. I mean, a lot of these repops are simply crap.....i.e. hood lip molding and shaker hood trim ring are a couple that I have been looking at the past few days. Okay, that's my rant for the day. Again, thanks Buckeye.........

Just pictures and measurement of the fittings.....length and width. Don't car about the cables. Thanks!

Good eye, Maxum. I've seen the cable in Lowes too but was not sure about the fittings. Buckeye, any chance we could get you to post a picture and some measurements of those fittings? BTW, I did purchase the NPD kit you mentioned but I could not go the $79 for the cables. Thanks!

Yeah, your repop looks just like mine and I'm not very pleased with it. Just pulled the trigger on a used OEM unit off ebay. Seller stated it as "perfect", we shall see.

My apologies, Buckeye. I thought that molding was your first stab at it....sheez! Sad thing a simple part like that can't be reproduce with accuracy and quality. Thanks for the info on the hood pins. Hey, If I may bother you further, I noted in one of your older posts a comparison between a repop shaker hood trim ring and an actual OEM trim ring. I have a repop from CJ Pony that came with my hood when I ordered it. The hood is great, but the trim ring sucks. Did you look into other repop trim rings prior to repairing your OEM part? I'm wondering if the trim ring goes the same way as the hood lip molding.

Wow, you got lucky on that hood lip trim. Good for you!!! What's up with the missing chrome trim around the head lights? Also, what did you do for your hood pins, plates and cables? I'm having a hard time finding an accurate OEM repop?

If there's one thing I know about you, it's perfection. I figured you had something going on with that hood trim piece and was curious as to what you had in the works. It is an absolute shame we can't get a quality re-pop for that piece. Again, the car looks awesome!!! Thanks for sharing your work.

Breathtakingly beautiful! Noticed the hood lip is missing, but then it appears there's not much out there now in regards to quality reports. What will you do for that?

Wycked69, are you saying that you make your own bushings? If so, curious as to what material you used to make those bushings out of. Thanks!!! BTW, great thread here!

Let us know your thoughts on the product....pictures too, if possible?

Great post, as I'm in the market for this stuff. I'm liking what I see in regards to the Mustang Market stuff. Can anyone comment on their seat covers and carpet?

I too have spent time talking to Barry and he is first class, as is the product that he sells. My application of his SPI epoxy primer was for something a bit different then an automobile part and he still worked with me. I have nothing but praise for the man.

It is, isn't it.....the mark of an engineer! Thanks for getting the pics back up, Buckeye........

"imaginary creature".....LOL! I can imagine. I'm about to put my 69 through a rotisserie type resto, attempting most of the work myself. I will likely dole out the paint work, as it is metallic and I just don't feel comfortable enough in that area. If it were a solid color, I'd consider it but things are a bit different with a metallic. Regardless, I'll be following your build closely. Thanks for posting......

I noted that you and the wife did a ton of work before sending it off for paint. Did you suspect that your painter was going to re-do all that he did? Lastly, will you be sending the 69 off to him for paint as well?

Thanks 82, I have Tinman's and thought they looked familiar. BTW, I spent a good 45 minutes reading the resto on your 67 Eleanor project at the SPI forum. Pretty cool that you have a wife who shares your passion. What is the status on that car? Last post there it was painted but not assembled. Keep posing on the 69.

I'm enjoying the build, please keep posting. And you're right about Barry and SPI, first class person and product. Might I inquire about the subframe connectors on your car? Who makes them?

Thanks for sharing, Mike. Good luck to you and happy restoration.

Kris, you live in Oklahoma? Sapulpa is not too far from me and yet I've never been to this Mustang1 place. I'll have to check it out. You make the Mid-American Mustang Shelby Meet this past Summer?