flight96

Thanks for the input gents. I have sent Opentracker an email. I will let ya know what they say. Again, thanks !!

What do you guys think of this kit ? It seems to be a reasonable price for front and rear suspension. Please give me your opinions !! Thanks!

Thanks mikem ! The more I look at it the more it makes sense to do it now that I have the engine out, and have easy access to the "hard to get at" areas. I just have to see if the budget allows it right now.

Don't like it....No sir, I don't like it one bit....

Thanks ! Did you install the R&P yourself ?

So Im at the point where I am considering replacing the front suspension/steering. I have a few questions before I make up my mind.... 1. Is this something someone can do himself ? 2. What kind of cost should I expect ? 3. Where is a good supplier ? 4.There are a few kits on ebay, are they any good or should I just buy the parts separately??? Sooooo many questions..........:helpsmilie::helpsmilie::helpsmilie::helpsmilie:

Wow...looks great...I wish my budget could afford that !!! Im thinking of a complete front end (Steering/suspension). Was it hard to do ?

Well I didn't get to golf today:frown:...It was raining....Typical Victoria...Oh well, I'm playing hockey tomorrow night !! As for the car, I try to get a couple of hours a day on it at least. Tonight I started to clean the 40 years of road grunge and oil leaks from the front end. Some of the grunge in a couple of inches thick. The great news is, the frame is very solid. Just surface rust. All the steering/suspension parts are also very solid. Though I will probably be changing most of it, I'm happy to see how good it is. So that brings me to a question. How hard is it to replace the complete front steering/suspension on these ? It looks fairly basic. I guess I should ask this in a different thread...... Oh...Gas here is still 107.9.....The least they could do is kiss me while they F_ _ _ me !!! :-(

I almost bought a white 68 GT/CS when I bought the vert. It looked OK until ya got under it. It was T-Boned, thedoor post and lower sill was really bend badly. The engine was not a numbers matching engine. It was supposed to be a 289 but someone had put in a 351W and changed the tranny to an auto. So I decided on the Vert. As for progress, I pulled the engine and tranny out this weekend. I am storing it in my other shop until Im ready for the re-build. I have decided to rebuild the original one. If my budget allows I will go for some alluminum heads/intake. I'll be hoping to get between 320-350HP. Plenty enough for a daily driver. The only thing I may change is the trans. I may go to a C6. If not I will have to get the one I have re-enforced. Im not sure if the one I have is an FMX or C4. As for the body work, I am hoping to start on the engine bay tonight. I really wish I could find torque boxes for this thing. I can't start on the floors until I have the boxes changed. In the mean time I will start on the engine bay. I will post some pics tonight after I get home from work.... And Bill...Sorry to hear about the snow....I'm going golfing tomoroow.:whistling:

3 of the 4 inner fenders arrived today !! They look to be good quality. 2 are from Scott Drake. Parts are starting to get more expensive here in Canada. Our dollar is taking an a$$ kicking making cross boarder shopping 20 to 30% more expensive.:scared:.... I've started to strip the passenger side torque box after removing the inner fenders on that side. At first look it seemed to look good. But after a little more grinding on the underside of the box, it became apparent there had been some seriously shoddy work done in the past. There was about 2 inches of bondo over what looked like a spray in foam that hardened. I just don't get why people do this kind of work !!

My auto dark welding helmet finally arrived today !!! Woohoo... I can finally start to do some practice welding. I haven't welded much in the past. So I figure I'll do some playing around before actually welding on the car.

Well I am about to start to do some welding. Inner fender skirts/torque box's and, of course, floor pans. My question is this. What is the best seam sealer out there? I have used Sikkaflex in the past, the marine industry swears by it. I have also heard that you can get a sealer that acts as a weld. Some people are using it to do door skins instead of welding. Does anyone know what the product name(s) is ? I plan on rosette welding the pans in and seam sealing the rest. The 'weld' seam sealer sounds like it may be the best for this ? I have a wire feed flux cored welder (Gasless) that I hope to use. I really don't want to spend money for a new welder. If anyone has any welding advise I would greatly appreciate it !! Thanks in advance for all/any help...... I have a thread going in the "Progress" forum if you want to have a look at my project/dilemma !!

OK, Apparently I had a camera malfunction. No big deal though. I can take more pics at any time. Here are a few from the past few days. Starting tomorrow the engine gets ripped out...Pics to follow. Hey Bill !! How's Ottawa ? I'll be out there this winter. Hopefully I'll get to skate the canal !! Great to meet a fellow Canadian on the forum !! I'm out here in lotus land...Victoria.

OK, Just a quick update... I will post some more pics tomorrow, too tired tonight, I just wanna have a drink...or 5....I got all the inner fenders and the drivers side torque box cut out. I'm sure my neighbors are really loving the sound of that air hammer and grinder !! The inner fenders came off fairly easy. The torque box was a bit of a pain in the a$$. Next the motor comes out...Wish me luck !!

I am about to do my floor pans. I plan on rosette welding then seam sealing.

What engine are you thinking about using ? The crate Boss 302? I was looking at that for my 69 Vert. A Boss 302 vert would be a very cool ride. Here's the LINK if your looking....

What engine are you thinking about using ? The crate Boss 302? I was looking at that for my 69 Vert. A Boss 302 vert would be a very cool ride. Here's the LINK if your looking....

According to Ford Racing... "GT-40X XTRA PERFORMANCE “TURBO-SWIRL†ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS - THE FAST, EASY WAY TO BOLT ON 65 HORSEPOWER! TRUE BOLT-ON PERFORMANCE" Its no 80HP but 65 extra is nothing to sneeze at !! I'm considering these if I rebuild my 351w.

Keep in mind. the 69 will not go down in value. It will only go up. If I were you, I would try my best to keep the 69 as long as possible. Collectible cars are one on the few items that never seem to get hit too hard in bad economic times. It is true that we may put more money into these money pits than we get out of them when we sell...But that's just because we love the cars so much....Just my opinion...Again, GOOD LUCK !!

Good luck with the sale. I've just started my Vert rebuild. It's not a cheap venture. I don't think most people realize what's involved in restoring these cars. Hopefully you can find a way to keep it. Again, Good Luck !!

My vert has the deluxe interior as well but with the black dash and no clock. Strange...

Ahh...You and I are on the same road....Good luck !! Hopefully we can help each other. As for you question, they did come factory without the clock. My 70 had a rectangle clock space. It didn't have the clock just the plate for the clock if you decided to put one in. In 69 they just gave you the blank panel.Believe it or not, it's quit rare. Good luck !!! And post some pics !

The last of the pics for now. Time to get back to work...

More Pics.....

Well here I go. I haven't done a resto in years. I'm starting on my 69 vert. According to the VIN it was built in San Jose with a 351w (M Code 4V) The drivers door has been replaced in the past and,of course, they didn't migrate the data plate. So I don't know for sure what the specs are from the factory. I have contacted Ford and am awaiting my 999 report. As for the power train I am considering 3 options... 1-Rebuild the factory 351W (290-330hp) 2-Ford Racing 315W (400hp) 3-Ford Racing Boss 302(340hp) It would be cool to have a Boss 302 vert !! But I aqm still undecided. And as always, mney is a deciding factor!! So here are some starting pics. I've already found some suprises, both good and bad. Seems some shoddy body work was done in the past. But all in all the car is very solid. Comments, ideas and advise are greatly appreciated.