69 Coupe Restoration with upgrades

[hblair 10]

Hi Guys, Heath Blair here. I registered on this site a while back but I don't think I've posted. Back in 2010 I bought a 70 camaro on ebay, went to the coast of North Carolina to pick it up and immediatley noticed it was a rust bucket. They didn't bother including the photos of the worst corrosion. Anyway, on the way back thru Atlanta that night my son told me he liked mustangs better anywaay, So we got on our phones looking at craigslist, and found some mustangs, we narrowed it down to the one we have now, which looked nice at about 12:30 am on a saturday night in the weeds behind a barn in a pasture. The car had no engine, trans in it when I bought it. We got it back here, long story short, it wasn't near as nice as I thought it was. After media blasting, we saw that were going to end up replacing several panels.

 

We replaced the quarters up to the style lines, the drop down panels, the right trunk floor, rear body panel pieces, etc. Also replaced most of the drivers floor, the Battery tray and apron panel. Aptch panels in the doors and fenders. The one redeeming quality of this car is it's never been hit in the front.

 

We did most of this work 2-2/12 years ago, then it got put aside for a boat project we had going at the time.

 

I know this cars not going to be worth much when we're done (coupe), which didn't matter to me because it was going to be a father son project. Well, the son dropped out of it, so looks like it's going to be a father project lol. I've spent too much time/money on this thing to quit now.

 

Here's a little info on it, The cars vin is 9T01F111485. Built in New Jersey, hardtop, The lesser 302, manual trans. Like I said the engine trans were gone when I got the car. I picked up a 97 mountaineer 302 engine with the gt40p heads, my engine guy has it now. I think we're going for around 400-420 hp, havent picked up a trans yet. I'm thinking T5? Haven't gotten to that yet. I purchased an 8.8 inch limited slip rear axle (3.88 gears I think, been two years) out of an explorer, purchased heidts 4 link rear suspension kit. The axles now got the brackets welded to it and has been under the car. I have a mustang 2 front end. I originally went this route thinking a I needed some room in the engine compartment because I thought I wanted to go with a 460 or 429 engine. I since decided against that because of the weight, and I just like the 302 engine.

 

The car was lime gold originally so I'm thinking of going with a late model GM green, or maybe the green on the new challengers. Anyway, here's some photos of when we tore it down, and where we are now..

 

http://s159.photobucket.com/user/Heath_Blair/slideshow/69%20Mustang%20Coupe

[hblair 10]

Hi Guys, Heath Blair here. I registered on this site a while back but I don't think I've posted. Back in 2010 I bought a 70 camaro on ebay, went to the coast of North Carolina to pick it up and immediatley noticed it was a rust bucket. They didn't bother including the photos of the worst corrosion. Anyway, on the way back thru Atlanta that night my son told me he liked mustangs better anywaay, So we got on our phones looking at craigslist, and found some mustangs, we narrowed it down to the one we have now, which looked nice at about 12:30 am on a saturday night in the weeds behind a barn in a pasture. The car had no engine, trans in it when I bought it. We got it back here, long story short, it wasn't near as nice as I thought it was. After media blasting, we saw that were going to end up replacing several panels.

 

We replaced the quarters up to the style lines, the drop down panels, the right trunk floor, rear body panel pieces, etc. Also replaced most of the drivers floor, the Battery tray and apron panel. Aptch panels in the doors and fenders. The one redeeming quality of this car is it's never been hit in the front.

 

We did most of this work 2-2/12 years ago, then it got put aside for a boat project we had going at the time.

 

I know this cars not going to be worth much when we're done (coupe), which didn't matter to me because it was going to be a father son project. Well, the son dropped out of it, so looks like it's going to be a father project lol. I've spent too much time/money on this thing to quit now.

 

Here's a little info on it, The cars vin is 9T01F111485. Built in New Jersey, hardtop, The lesser 302, manual trans. Like I said the engine trans were gone when I got the car. I picked up a 97 mountaineer 302 engine with the gt40p heads, my engine guy has it now. I think we're going for around 400-420 hp, havent picked up a trans yet. I'm thinking T5? Haven't gotten to that yet. I purchased an 8.8 inch limited slip rear axle (3.88 gears I think, been two years) out of an explorer, purchased heidts 4 link rear suspension kit. The axles now got the brackets welded to it and has been under the car. I have a mustang 2 front end. I originally went this route thinking a I needed some room in the engine compartment because I thought I wanted to go with a 460 or 429 engine. I since decided against that because of the weight, and I just like the 302 engine.

 

The car was lime gold originally so I'm thinking of going with a late model GM green, or maybe the green on the new challengers. Anyway, here's some photos of when we tore it down, and where we are now..

 

http://s159.photobucket.com/user/Heath_Blair/slideshow/69%20Mustang%20Coupe

[stangme428 33]

looks like a fun project.. keep us updated! looking good!

[stangme428 33]

looks like a fun project.. keep us updated! looking good!

[Mike65 475]

Heath, nice looking project you've got there. I am also re-building a 69 Coupe that spent all its life in NJ. I have replaced both quarter skins on mine too. Sounds like you have replaced the same panels that I have replaced on mine.

 

 

[Mike65 475]

Heath, nice looking project you've got there. I am also re-building a 69 Coupe that spent all its life in NJ. I have replaced both quarter skins on mine too. Sounds like you have replaced the same panels that I have replaced on mine.

 

 

[hblair 10]

Thanks stangme428. Similar cars huh Mike?

 

I just ordered the heidts crossmember (part no. RM-023) and a T5 transmission crossmember off of ebay. I guess I decided on a T5 transmission :), which I need to purchase next. I have a friend with a 67 mustang who has the 302 out of it. I think I'm going to borrow it to mock up the drivetrain. The explorer rearend has the driveshaft off center and I'm gonna have to see how thats going to work, whether it will interfere with the floor or the driveshaft loop. Has anyone of you guys used the explorer rear before, or am I blazing my own trail here? From what I recall it was within an inch of the same width.

[hblair 10]

Thanks stangme428. Similar cars huh Mike?

 

I just ordered the heidts crossmember (part no. RM-023) and a T5 transmission crossmember off of ebay. I guess I decided on a T5 transmission :), which I need to purchase next. I have a friend with a 67 mustang who has the 302 out of it. I think I'm going to borrow it to mock up the drivetrain. The explorer rearend has the driveshaft off center and I'm gonna have to see how thats going to work, whether it will interfere with the floor or the driveshaft loop. Has anyone of you guys used the explorer rear before, or am I blazing my own trail here? From what I recall it was within an inch of the same width.

[Mike65 475]

I am using a T5 & a 5.0 in mine. Mine was also built in NJ, & was originally meadowlark yellow.

[hblair 10]

Where did you get your T5? All the used ones are depleted around here. I'm thinking of buying a reman unit. I need to get it ordered in the next few days. We got it off the rotisserie yesterday. Sitting on all 4's now...

 

 

 

[hblair 10]

Worked on the car some this afternoon. Got the deck lid and the quarters fitting fairly well. I'm going to have to refit the rt quarter to the tailamp bezel. The lt, sides going to need some attention too. I don't rember them fitting this badly two years ago. Of course, I don't remember much from two years ago. :confused1:

 

 

 

Edited November 9, 2014 by hblair

[Mike65 475]

Where did you get your T5? All the used ones are depleted around here. I'm thinking of buying a reman unit. I need to get it ordered in the next few days. We got it off the rotisserie yesterday. Sitting on all 4's now...

 

I bought my T-5 from a member on another Mustang forum local to me in south Jersey. Get in touch with Modern Driveline @ http://www.moderndriveline.com they sell T-5 & the conversion parts to do the swap.

[hblair 10]

Thanks a lot Mike. I actually ordered a reman unit early last week from OReillys here in gadsden. It should be coming in sometime this week. Again, I appreciate the information.

[hblair 10]

I ordered some new fenders and I'm actually pretty surprised at how well they fit. So surprised that I went ahead and ordered some doors too. I'll have to do some fitment work on the panels, but it will be much less than what I was facing with the original sheetmetal, not to mention zero rust to deal with on these panels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 13, 2014 by hblair

[Tony Coupe-r 20]

Nice work lining everything up- I didn't have the same luck with my repop fenders and doors... I think mostly due not so much to the quality of the repops, but more so because I had custom support structure made after the front end upgrades, which has thrown off alignment a bit.

 

Be forewarned though that the door repops don't have any holes for electrical and mirrors- they are also crappy fitment between the upper fender and upper door under the windshield trim (I've had to weld some rod in place and trim out to make the gap look half decent)... if you can save your doors your better off- mine were completely gone w/ rust and accident damage that was hidden under almost 1/2 inch of filler...

[hblair 10]

Thanks Cooper, Gotcha on the fitment. It seems they all have issues at the top of the fender/door gap. My OEM fenders and doors didn't fit worth a flip at the top either. I'm expecting to have to do some doctoring on them. Thanks for the heads up.

[hblair 10]

I got the doors on today, they fit pretty well. I have some tweaking to do. The top front of the doors are going to have to be cut and refitted. I'll prolly use some 3m panel bonding adhesive around the inside of the skin to the door frame to help stiffen up the doors.

 

 

 

 

[rwcstang 201]

looks good!

[Mike65 475]

Nice work. Here is a pic of my 69 Coupe.

 

[hblair 10]

Thanks guys. Looking good Mike. Trans bellhousing is supposed to be in tomorrow, look forward to dropping eng/trans in the car to get an idea of ride height in the front.