Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted May 3, 2014 (edited) Some progress today. A couple steps forward as far as the interior is concerned: second door done and proper shifter boot nicely installed. Did the fender splash shields as well. I am almost done in there. Edited May 5, 2014 by Guillaume69 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted May 5, 2014 On the downside, I will have to change the head studs. They are 3/8", but the threaded part is smaller (5/16"?). Therefore, the rocker bolts don't fit. So I'm in for removing the heads, and have the studs replaced. I'll also go for screwed-in studs, which will be a lot more reliable. Edit: Done today. Heads are on their way to the shop. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted May 25, 2014 (edited) I have made good progress with my seat belts. Sourced all the missing bits (new retractors, rear harnesses, etc.) and refurbished it all. Loads of elbow grease for a fair result. I am happy to say I followed the advice and experience shared on this forum. Thanks! Edited April 24, 2015 by Guillaume69 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted May 25, 2014 (edited) All I have left to do is replace the female buckles on the retractors by factory ones, as the new ones are about 1/16' thicker than stock and therefore, won't go in my original female buckles. With that, I'll be done. *Edit: that´s done. It is now fully functional and looks nice. Great improvement those retractors! Unbelievable how a refreshed set of seat belt harnesses can improve your interior. Edited April 24, 2015 by Guillaume69 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flanders 46 Report post Posted May 27, 2014 looks fantastic! Elbow grease was well worth it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted May 30, 2014 Thanks Flanders! I agree, it was well worth following some of the advice I got here. Now, got my heads back. Looking good and solid! Last thing remaining is measuring to get the right pushrods. With that, we'll be done. Putting everything back together, torquing heads and intake, and START! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted June 1, 2014 Heads are back on. Measuring and ordering strong push rods is next. Slow progress, but never been that close... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted June 8, 2014 Some progress in the interior. I think I am pretty much done in there. Interestingly enough, while in Charlotte for the 50th, I found out about a trim piece that goes on top of the rear seat, where it attaches to the package tray, for those 69-70 non fold-down rear seat sportsroofs. Had never seen it or heard about it. I was not able to find a new one (no repros?) but sourced a nice original one. It came to me in Florida all the way from Washington State! Blasted, painted it, and put it in the car. It fits perfectly, and really adds to the overall look and finish. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted July 7, 2014 (edited) Hello. I hope you all had a wonderful Independance Day week-end! I certainly did as I got my engine started!! I finally put everything back together, heads, pushrods (Trickflow Chromoly 5/16 x 7'750), rocker arms (Scorpions 1.6), intake (Weiand Stealth) and carb (600 cfm Edel Performer). Man, that engine sounds awesome and I already love that set up! The camshaft is just brilliant. It's referenced as # 221275-10 on this web page (check the "retro-fit hydraulic roller camshafts tab): http://www.howardscams.com/ford-v8/ford-v8-351w-1969-1995 Still need to align her, re-bleed the brakes (spongy brake pedal) and most of all, go back behind the dash, as I have a plethora of electric bugs... I suspect it all ties down to the new instrument cluster printed circuit, which is probably grounded. Some obvious signs: No gauges at all, no instrument lights, etc. Additionally, courtesy lights flicker, like a cut every 5 seconds or so. It happens when engine is off, and when engine runs, well, I lose a cylinder every time those courtesy lights flicker. So that electrical bug also affects the ignition... So next step is to troubleshoot the under dash wiring / instrument cluster, hoping I'll be able to handle by myself. Edited April 24, 2015 by Guillaume69 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted July 7, 2014 (edited) And a couple videos. The crappy sound from my iPhone does not make it justice at all! First start: (note: as opposed to what my friend says, it was not the firing order that was wrong, but rather an ignition issue, as previously mentioned). Just before the first test drive: Edited July 7, 2014 by Guillaume69 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zipppo 11 Report post Posted July 7, 2014 What an amazing build! Everyhing from top to bottom from front to rear all rebuilt,restored, and with such perfection. Once you get the electrical sorted out the road will be so worth it. Better than new. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted July 7, 2014 Thanks Zippo! I just sent a PM to Randy, from Midlife Harness Restorations, to see if he can help me to refurbish my under dash harness, which probably is one of my issues. I guess that would have been a clever thing to do when I had it out. Thought I had it right... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TexasEd 188 Report post Posted July 7, 2014 Beautiful car. I love the logo seats. If I reupholster mine I want to do that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
390mach1 49 Report post Posted July 8, 2014 Awesome car. makes me want my car back even more, its at the paint shop now getting candy apple red with blacked out hood. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted July 8, 2014 Patience is the master skill here, my friend... Everytime I rush something, I screw it up. Additionally, as soon as the car goes to some other shop, things tend to drag out of control by weeks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted July 12, 2014 Front end is now sharp and square! Greased, tightened, cotter pins all around, and aligned. Wheel rebalanced and the car feels on rails again, like it used to. Everything still looks brand new under that car, I love it! My brake issue was not due to air in the lines (personal success here!) but rear drums not adjusted properly, leading to a "low" brake pedal. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted July 13, 2014 And put the hood back on this morning. It's been a year and a half... [ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted July 13, 2014 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
michael2938 24 Report post Posted July 14, 2014 Looking good. I like the Boss 302 sitting next to it, too! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted July 18, 2014 Got this in the mail yesterday. Wonderful quality! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted July 18, 2014 I also started what I hope will solve my remaining electrical bugs: got the under dash wiring harness out again, boxed it, and wrote Midlife on the box! While I was at it, I found out that the passenger door latch mechanism was not working properly. So I will also be checking this. The Never Ending Story... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted July 19, 2014 (edited) I think I am done with the rear of the car. The valance is really fitting well. Never used to. Edited April 24, 2015 by Guillaume69 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TexasEd 188 Report post Posted July 20, 2014 That's a pretty good fit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted July 20, 2014 (edited) That's right. In fact, the original design is really poor. That braket basically gets pulled when you try to tighten the valance and then, it never fits correctly. So we got a little creative. Only issue is that I got the idea after the valance was undercoated and painted. So had to get it repainted... Edited April 24, 2015 by Guillaume69 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume69 150 Report post Posted July 20, 2014 With hood and rear valance back on, I can now use that really, really nice cover I bought a little over a year ago. Fan-tas-tic quality! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
