Progress Thread Clean slate!

Spikely15 · Nov 6, 2019

Hey All,

I've gotten my '68 coupe back to square one with a whole lot of new metal. She's all cleaned up and sealed up, just about ready to be put back together in slow fashion. Short of what little old paint is left to strip and re-prime, I'm looking towards modernizing the front and rear suspension as my next big ticket expense/project. I'm hoping this community could give me some guidance on some of the must-have's and not-so-much components in an upgrade. For an easy riding cruiser, do I need to consider all out Control Freak-style suspension, or would new upper and lower control arms, sway bars, etc. suffice?

Thanks in advance for any sage advice you all might send this way.

Cheers!

Dustin

Olivethefet · Nov 6, 2019

Thats a nice looking project you've got there! I wouldn't think that you need " Control Freak-style" suspension for just a nice riding car. In my 65 I just replaced the control arms, springs, and consumable steering components (tie rods). My car, like your car, is still in a million pieces though, so it hasn't been driven since the upgrades.

Are you upgrading the brakes as part of the rebuild?

Spikely15 · Nov 7, 2019

Thanks! That's what I was hoping/thinking too. She's not meant to be a show car or track car, just something fun to work on with my very young son, to cruise around in, and pass on.

Yeah, is like to put disc brakes on the front, but I'd probably just rebuild the drums in the rear.

2Blue2 · Nov 8, 2019

Holy crap is that all the stuff you cut off that car?
Wow fun to see!

Maybe your a candidate for a mustang 2 conversion - new everything for the front wheels and no shock towers
Might be cheapest way for new everything up front as long as your doing the cutting/welding
Was just a thought

I have to ask........what color your going with?

And welcome aboard!

Spikely15 · Nov 9, 2019

Thanks 2Blue! Yeah, from this latest session of progress over the last few months, that's all she gave up! I've been very blessed to have an old family friend mentor me in the metal work.

I've never even heard of a Mustang 2 swap - guess that wouldn't be advertised on catalogs too much! I'll have to check that out.

My 3-year old son thinks green is the way to go, but I've always had my heart set on red.

02 281 GT · Nov 9, 2019

Very nice! A baseline MII kit may be cost effective if you’re doing the work yourself, as mentioned before. I’m planning an MII or IFS for the front on my ‘66 because I want my car to at least handle as well as my ‘95 Cobra.

However, if you’re just wanting to cruise and aren’t really concerned with great handling, new control arms and other hardware will be just fine. There are also plenty of companies that make upgraded suspensions that still utilize the shock tower setup.

2Blue2 · Nov 9, 2019

Spikely15 said:
My 3-year old son thinks green is the way to go, but I've always had my heart set on red.

Red and Green, nice colors but Sounding like Xmas (just time of year timing) But before I vote for blues I would like to know the factory original color.

Mutt2 front set ups
Lots of makers, good way to have power steering and disk brakes in a streetcar.
They average about 3000$ and take all the drama out of the front suspensions on 1st gen. mustangs
If you just add up rack power steering kits and front disk brake kits you just about get that price and will still have to rebuild the old stuff.

Some companies offer more than one style of front suspension, Cj pony parts carry some of these options as do most mustang venders
Kits to peruse;

Fat Mans
Heidits
Total cost involved
Classic Performance Products
Rod and Custom

This one is from Rod and Custom with coil overs, power rack, disks, big sway bar, and room for that Boss 429 or coyote engine you been dreaming of.
but most m2 will need a rear sump oil pan swap.
Ohh Shiney!

Spikely15 · Nov 11, 2019

02 281 GT said:
Very nice! A baseline MII kit may be cost effective if you’re doing the work yourself, as mentioned before. I’m planning an MII or IFS for the front on my ‘66 because I want my car to at least handle as well as my ‘95 Cobra.

However, if you’re just wanting to cruise and aren’t really concerned with great handling, new control arms and other hardware will be just fine. There are also plenty of companies that make upgraded suspensions that still utilize the shock tower setup.

Thanks! I live about a half hour west of Ocean City MD and they have two annual cruise-in's that I'd love to ride into, but beyond that, I can't see taking her on any grand road trips - that's what the wife's Suburban is for! For that reason, I hesitate to pursue the MII kits just because of the price tag...but there's always that lingering "what if" scenario of what I'll want to do with it as I get older, ya know? Hell, if I'd been able to build this project when I bought it in 2004, younger dumber me would have restomodded and now older (still dumb) me wants an easy, classic cruiser!

Spikely15 · Nov 11, 2019

2Blue2 said:
Red and Green, nice colors but Sounding like Xmas (just time of year timing) But before I vote for blues I would like to know the factory original color.

Mutt2 front set ups
Lots of makers, good way to have power steering and disk brakes in a streetcar.
They average about 3000$ and take all the drama out of the front suspensions on 1st gen. mustangs
If you just add up rack power steering kits and front disk brake kits you just about get that price and will still have to rebuild the old stuff.

Some companies offer more than one style of front suspension, Cj pony parts carry some of these options as do most mustang venders
Kits to peruse;

Fat Mans
Heidits
Total cost involved
Classic Performance Products
Rod and Custom

This one is from Rod and Custom with coil overs, power rack, disks, big sway bar, and room for that Boss 429 or coyote engine you been dreaming of.
but most m2 will need a rear sump oil pan swap.
Ohh Shiney!

Ohhh that's purrdy! You're right about the cumulative price tag of $3k. Doesn't seem to matter how you put it together (or buy it all in one), it all seems to land in that neighborhood.

She was Meadowlark Yellow originally and some poorly done bright red when I bought her. I have great respect for originality but I can't bring myself around to the original yellow - just not my thing. I have a black 2006 GT and I've entertained the thought of matching this one in black as well, but beyond the novelty of that, I'm not really on board with that choice either. Black is such a bitch of a paint job to keep looking pristine.

2Blue2 · Nov 11, 2019

I agree, no yellow today

Maybe seven up colors

02 281 GT · Nov 13, 2019

Yellow is probably one of the only original colors that I wouldn't want to duplicate.

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will be trying this sex one when I can find it

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