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Mustang5l5's Progress Thread - Archived Progress thread '08-'20.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mustang5L5
  • Start date Start date Aug 2, 2008
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Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,179
17,882
224
Massachusetts
Oct 21, 2020
#2,661
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #2,661
Also, I decided I hadn't spent any money in a while, so I purchased a personalized statistic report from Marti to see how common (or uncommon) my car is.

1988 wasn't a low-number year for the Mustang with 211,000 made, so I doubt i'll get it back showing it's a 1 of 2 made. But i'm curious.
 

Steel1

Mustang Master
Aug 18, 2017
1,419
639
143
Connecticut
Oct 21, 2020
#2,662
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #2,662
I wouldn't think the factory used different paint in the engine compartment on these cars.

Not sure if you're doing this in a attached garage or not , if so be careful of fumes getting in the house.
I sprayed only once in my two car attached garage , both doors open, fan blowing fumes out and plastic
sealing off entrance door.
Somehow it still stunk the first floor of my house up, good thing the wife and kids were out for the day.
If I do any painting now it's either outside (weather permitting ) or at my buddies house who has a makeshift paint booth.
 

BlakeusMaximus

Still got to try a little lube on my speedo head
5 Year Member
Jul 12, 2017
2,474
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Oct 21, 2020
#2,663
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #2,663
Mustang5L5 said:
So mustamg engine bays are typically fully painted right? They are also painted in a paint that can typically withstand solvents right?

I did an acetone wipe of the firewall and found the black paint easily came off without much effort.


Bottom left, you'll see some black paint that remains, as well as into the trans tunnel. That's the POR I spread about 15 years ago. Glad to see it doesn't come off easiy. I may actyally add some more POR-15 in that lower area while i'm here.

But, it's interesting to see that below the firewall seam, the black paint came off easily and down to the E_coat. Above the seam, it remains. Wasnt the only spot i was able to wipe the black paint off. Rad support and aprons also had paint wipe off, although not as much. I couldn't go crazy though as i obviously needed to stay away from the body filler. I found out the hard way that acetone softens that right up. Oops. ALl fixed now.

On the plus side, i'm pleasantly surprised to see all the other sheet metal is in really good shape. Well..other than the frame rails. But no rust around the cowl and base of windshield as well which was a relief.


With all these fumes and solvents and paints, i ended up buying a supply air respirator. Pump goes outside in the fresh air, and then a 20-25'hose feeds fresh air to my mask. The smells of the filler and acetone give me headaches. When i'm done, i'll sell the respirator off.
Click to expand...
Even now Mike, vehicle manufacturers don’t use much material in engine bays and some jambs on vehicles. I can imagine how little they used back then.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,179
17,882
224
Massachusetts
Oct 21, 2020
#2,664
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #2,664
Steel1 said:
I wouldn't think the factory used different paint in the engine compartment on these cars.

Not sure if you're doing this in a attached garage or not , if so be careful of fumes getting in the house.
I sprayed only once in my two car attached garage , both doors open, fan blowing fumes out and plastic
sealing off entrance door.
Somehow it still stunk the first floor of my house up, good thing the wife and kids were out for the day.
If I do any painting now it's either outside (weather permitting ) or at my buddies house who has a makeshift paint booth.
Click to expand...

I can open the front of the garage up and the back door and get some airflow through. I was planning on doing it on a day when nobody was home.

I also have a whole house fan. 10 mins with that will really change the air out several times iver.

But yeah fumes are a concern which is why I’m still on the fence about using 2k paints, especially now when it’s colder so windows on the house are remaining closed. My families safety is more of a concern than a pretty engine bay.

Its an attached garage with a room over the garage. I’ve been able to do regular spray paint and acetone in there without stinking out the house. When I’m done I run fans and turn on the whole house fan. Youd never know I did anything
 
Last edited: Oct 21, 2020

Steel1

Mustang Master
Aug 18, 2017
1,419
639
143
Connecticut
Oct 21, 2020
#2,665
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #2,665
Mustang5L5 said:
I can open the front of the garage up and the back door and get some airflow through. I was planning on doing it on a day when nobody was home.

I also have a whole house fan. 10 mins with that will really change the air out several times iver.

But yeah fumes are a concern which is why I’m still on the fence about using 2k paints, especially now when it’s colder so windows on the house are remaining closed. My families safety is more of a concern than a pretty engine bay.

Its an attached garage with a room over the garage. I’ve been able to do regular spray paint and acetone in there without stinking out the house. When I’m done I run fans and turn on the whole house fan. Youd never know I did anything
Click to expand...
Sounds like you might be ok , a large whole house fan can really move some air especially in a ranch style home.
Just wanted to mention it because I was surprised by the fumes, this was 2k paint on front and rear bumpers.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,179
17,882
224
Massachusetts
Oct 21, 2020
#2,666
  • Oct 21, 2020
  • #2,666
Yeah. Open a few strategic windows, flip on the fan and I can make the entire neighborhood smell like burned toast on a Sat AM when I burn breakfast
 
Reactions: Steel1 and General karthief

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,179
17,882
224
Massachusetts
Oct 22, 2020
#2,667
  • Oct 22, 2020
  • #2,667
New engine goodies.

the 20 year old BBK headers had to go. These are ceramic coated, so should help with heat. The BBKs were just raw stainless.
 
Reactions: 7991LXnSHO, Monkeybutt2000, General karthief and 7 others

02 281 GT

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs
15 Year Member
Feb 3, 2009
3,208
1,972
194
Cabot, AR
Oct 22, 2020
#2,668
  • Oct 22, 2020
  • #2,668
Mustang5L5 said:
New engine goodies.

the 20 year old BBK headers had to go. These are ceramic coated, so should help with heat. The BBKs were just raw stainless.
Click to expand...
You can't post that without also posting a picture of the old for comparison.

JBA is good stuff.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,179
17,882
224
Massachusetts
Oct 22, 2020
#2,669
  • Oct 22, 2020
  • #2,669
02 281 GT said:
You can't post that without also posting a picture of the old for comparison.

JBA is good stuff.
Click to expand...

i will when I put them on the engine. I literally just unboxed them in that pic.

pretty engine pics incoming soon
 
Reactions: 02 281 GT

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,179
17,882
224
Massachusetts
Oct 22, 2020
#2,670
  • Oct 22, 2020
  • #2,670
All you get for now

 
Reactions: Wayne Waldrep, Noobz347, Potomus Pete and 4 others

Davedacarpainter

Chicks can make things hard if they’re inspired...
SN Certified Technician
Nov 28, 2015
11,833
11,633
203
Discordia
Oct 23, 2020
#2,671
  • Oct 23, 2020
  • #2,671
Sorry to be so slow on responding to the engine bay paint posts Mike.

It’s just base coat in the engine bay, the upper area is more resistant because of clear overspray when the car is painted.

I assume you’ll be able to temperature control the area when you spray your 2k paints? It takes 60* metal temperature for the paint to catalyze. So, about 65* ambient temperature.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,179
17,882
224
Massachusetts
Oct 23, 2020
#2,672
  • Oct 23, 2020
  • #2,672
Davedacarpainter said:
I assume you’ll be able to temperature control the area when you spray your 2k paints? It takes 60* metal temperature for the paint to catalyze. So, about 65* ambient temperature.
Click to expand...

It's something i'm keeping my eye on. Ambient temps are dropping. I might be able to heat the garage, but i'll need to open doors for ventilation. I have another week, maybe 2 before outside daytime temps start consistently falling below 60. I'm up against the clock, and still have some hours of prep ahead of me. Hoping I can wrap it up this weekend and start wiping down the bay and getting ready to spray

Trying to get this done ASAP, and then maybe take a few weeks off from the car and let it all cure before i start putting things back on
 
Reactions: General karthief, 95BlueStallion and Davedacarpainter

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,179
17,882
224
Massachusetts
Oct 23, 2020
#2,673
  • Oct 23, 2020
  • #2,673
Swapped the headers. I’m gonna get some stage 8 locking bolts, so I didn’t snug these up.




Hopefully I don’t need to dimple these to clear the mm steering shaft like I did the bbk
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,179
17,882
224
Massachusetts
Oct 23, 2020
#2,674
  • Oct 23, 2020
  • #2,674

Hopefully this bag-o-engine isn’t sitting in the corner for much longer
 
Last edited: Oct 23, 2020
Reactions: Wayne Waldrep, Habu135, Flatfoot and 11 others

FortySix&2

Active Member
Oct 24, 2001
86
28
28
Madison Wi
Oct 23, 2020
#2,675
  • Oct 23, 2020
  • #2,675
That is a good looking engine. The headers feel at home.
 
Reactions: Mustang5L5

BlakeusMaximus

Still got to try a little lube on my speedo head
5 Year Member
Jul 12, 2017
2,474
1,348
173
Oct 23, 2020
#2,676
  • Oct 23, 2020
  • #2,676
Yep, thats one good looking engine. That'll be right at home in a black car Mike.
 
Reactions: Mustang5L5

Essn95

5 Year Member
Jun 21, 2017
817
622
113
Oct 23, 2020
#2,677
  • Oct 23, 2020
  • #2,677
Mustang5L5 said:
It's something i'm keeping my eye on. Ambient temps are dropping. I might be able to heat the garage, but i'll need to open doors for ventilation. I have another week, maybe 2 before outside daytime temps start consistently falling below 60. I'm up against the clock, and still have some hours of prep ahead of me. Hoping I can wrap it up this weekend and start wiping down the bay and getting ready to spray

Trying to get this done ASAP, and then maybe take a few weeks off from the car and let it all cure before i start putting things back on
Click to expand...
Bring some of that weather here! Still stuck in the mid-high 80s in FLA
 

Willybill32

But at least it's tight!
5 Year Member
Jul 16, 2019
627
347
83
Lexington, KY
Oct 23, 2020
#2,678
  • Oct 23, 2020
  • #2,678
Mustang5L5 said:
Swapped the headers. I’m gonna get some stage 8 locking bolts, so I didn’t snug these up.




Hopefully I don’t need to dimple these to clear the mm steering shaft like I did the bbk
Click to expand...
I replaced the original Ford exhaust manifolds on my ‘86 with Bassani equal-length ceramic-coated shorties. Every tube of the old Ford exhaust manifolds had holes in them.
 
Reactions: 7991LXnSHO

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,179
17,882
224
Massachusetts
Oct 24, 2020
#2,679
  • Oct 24, 2020
  • #2,679
Cleaned the garage a bit. Found this guy. Hmmm.....


pop a valve cover



Dammit

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,179
17,882
224
Massachusetts
Oct 24, 2020
#2,680
  • Oct 24, 2020
  • #2,680
Ok, I by no means no what I’m doing when it comes to painting. Never did much of it, but I’m willing to try things out. This is probably the most prep and attention to detail I’ve ever spent painting anything.

needless to say, after hours of prep, buying Supplies and odds and ends, hours of research, and sanding and sanding filler, I found myself against the clock in terms of weather. Last weekend of 70s really. About to get cold.

so I said screw it. I may not have done every step properly, but dammit I did it the best that I could manage with what I had available. Not a show car by any means, but so far so good.

sitting in primer tonight, and the partial engine bay hole filling didn’t turn out too bad. Not perfect, but the engine and related hardware should hide most of what isn’t completely smooth. I’m happy so far.

 
Reactions: Willybill32, Boostedpimp, Gearbanger67 and 7 others
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