Progress Thread 87 T-top slow progress

[wobbyguy]

So I have been a stangnet lurker for a while... I bought my 87 t-top back in 2013 and had big plans! Pretty much stock except for BBK headers, exhaust and CAI.

Then I got married... then I had kids... You know, life. Did the cheap LMR 5 lug conversion that still has drums in the back, put in a set of 5 lugs off fb market place, 130 Amp alternator, and a ram air hood and just enjoyed the car as is.

In 2023 I worked out a deal to get it repainted with the bodyshop across the street from my work, not a perfect paint job but a hell of a lot better than it was.

So I have finally been able to carve some time out to work out some of the issues with the car. Right now I'm rebuilding the door guts, new door lock actuators, window rod bushings, front and rear channel weatherstripping, inner and outer dew wipes and molding, and refreshing the door panels.

Been working on the rust under the door molding this weekend, gonna sand a little more then I have some etching primer and oxford white paint

Still working on it... I have a neighbor who has done bodywork before so I'm gonna be picking his brain...

After this I think I need to do ball joints and check out all the suspension components. Am I gonna chew through tires if I get some lowering springs and shocks but don't do CC plates till later?

Honestly ya'll not to get sappy or anything but, stangnet was one of the big things that helped me stay motivated to keep the car and stick with it. Seeing some of the transformations here has been amazing! Looking forward to keeping ya'll updated on my progress and thanks for the advice ahead of time!

 

[LILCBRA]

There are alternatives to c/c plates. You may be able to get away with offset bolts for the struts to improve camber.

https://lmr.com/item/HDW-3105CB/1979-04-Mustang-Camber-Adjustment-Bolts?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=&scid=scplp&sc_intid=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAzPy8BhBoEiwAbnM9OzYBmvk8Tl1V3MYXfLIXgpYKwCYc4Pz8BK4f_ZuGEk_USniRV7oZHRoCP3YQAvD_BwE

 

[91AOD5.0LX]

Glad you held onto it and now have some time to make it how you want it.
Paint came out nice! Keep posting pics during the progress.

 

[General karthief]

I'll make a suggestion, too much white, find a gray, to match the wheels closely or a color close to the interior and pin strip it down the side, gotta break up all that whiteness, just a thought.
Looks good

 

[limp]

Make sure you don't lose pressure to that paint booth....

 

[AeroCoupe]

The red/orange stripes in the body molding broke it up before. You could go back with the wheel color like the General was talking about. I just loth pin striping which is why I would go with the color in the body molding but that it just to my liking. Car looks good and keep up the work!

 

[General karthief]

The red/orange stripes in the body molding broke it up before. You could go back with the wheel color like the General was talking about. I just loth pin striping which is why I would go with the color in the body molding but that it just to my liking. Car looks good and keep up the work!

The wheel color would look good inside that body molding, I agree that'll break up that white.

 

[85GTStangGuy]

The red/orange stripes in the body molding broke it up before. ..... I would go with the color in the body molding ....

Agree there.

Also, imo, the 1-piece headlights kinda add to the monochrome look some. 3-piece lights would break up the front end (only) a bit.

@wobbyguy - In case you're interested...

https://lmr.com/item/GE-N001RED/87-93-Mustang-GT-Red-Body-Molding-Stripe

or, if you want to be different...

https://lmr.com/item/GE-N001BLU/87-93-Mustang-GT-Blue-Body-Molding-Stripe

 

[wobbyguy]

I'll make a suggestion, too much white, find a gray, to match the wheels closely or a color close to the interior and pin strip it down the side, gotta break up all that whiteness, just a thought.
Looks good

I have been kicking that around it had the red stripe originally and had just gotten chipped dingy and kinda sad... I definitely dont wanna go back with the red stripe but dont wanna have something clash with the interior either. I have thought about getting the "MUSTANG GT" letters in a color I think that would break it up some too.

The guy that painted it I think was just being lazy and painted the door handles white too. Now I kinda dig it, but I totally see your point! After having bad paint and a black hood for years the fresh paint just makes me smile lol

Agree there.

Also, imo, the 1-piece headlights kinda add to the monochrome look some. 3-piece lights would break up the front end (only) a bit.

@wobbyguy - In case you're interested...

https://lmr.com/item/GE-N001RED/87-93-Mustang-GT-Red-Body-Molding-Stripe

or, if you want to be different...

https://lmr.com/item/GE-N001BLU/87-93-Mustang-GT-Blue-Body-Molding-Stripe

I fought 3 piece headlights leaking and fighting getting the bulbs to point actually toward the road, then saw the one piece in sale at LMR and just went for it. I know they are... controversial... in the foxbody community but I dig them!

I have the window rod out of the driver door but I thought before I put it back in it would be way easier to do the front run channel seal with the glass so loose. I had to finish dealing with the rust on the door first so here we go..



First coat down waiting to put the 2nd... this is my first time doing any auto paint and I figured it will be under trim so it was a good learning opportunity but we will see how it turns out

 

[wobbyguy]

So I finished painting. When I taped it off I guess I covered up a bit of the rust I was trying to take care of under the outer door molding. I donno I might try to sand and just hit it with a paint pen... I'm just looking to prevent further damage and it's covered up so I don't think I have to be precious about it.

For my first attempt I'm satisfied, and it was a good low risk learning opportunity.

I'm gonna have to tape it off again to repaint the little piece between the mirror and windshield so I will probably try to get that rust again then and I'm gonna repaint my mirrors at the same time.

So I was hoping to get the front window run channel weatherstripping in but got stuck on dad duty...

I keep going back and forth if I should get the window guide rod in first? Am I gonna make getting the Weatherstrip in easy but make the guide rod a nightmare? That's the job that really scares me with putting pressure on the glass lol...

Since I'm stuck watching Bluey and reading Animal Friends till the superbowl (go Chiefs!) and NOT messing with the car I figured I would ask ya'll what the best order of operation would be?

 

[General karthief]

You got the order right.
Bluey first, then Animal Friends, maybe a nap then the Super Bowl

 

[wobbyguy]

You got the order right.
Bluey first, then Animal Friends, maybe a nap then the Super Bowl

Man if I had known it would have been such a blow out I would have just kept watching Bluey and not pissed off the 2 year old!

Hey Karthief did I see old Polk County in your profile? My wife is from the Metropolis of Lake Wales!

 

[General karthief]

Hey Karthief did I see old Polk County in your profile? My wife is from the Metropolis of Lake Wales!

whoo hoo!! Got her out in the nick of time?

 

[nickyb]

I have been kicking that around it had the red stripe originally and had just gotten chipped dingy and kinda sad... I definitely dont wanna go back with the red stripe but dont wanna have something clash with the interior either. I have thought about getting the "MUSTANG GT" letters in a color I think that would break it up some too.

The guy that painted it I think was just being lazy and painted the door handles white too. Now I kinda dig it, but I totally see your point! After having bad paint and a black hood for years the fresh paint just makes me smile lol


I fought 3 piece headlights leaking and fighting getting the bulbs to point actually toward the road, then saw the one piece in sale at LMR and just went for it. I know they are... controversial... in the foxbody community but I dig them!

I have the window rod out of the driver door but I thought before I put it back in it would be way easier to do the front run channel seal with the glass so loose. I had to finish dealing with the rust on the door first so here we go..



First coat down waiting to put the 2nd... this is my first time doing any auto paint and I figured it will be under trim so it was a good learning opportunity but we will see how it turns out

I like the headlights,and the white paint.