Progress Thread The "grátis" 1966 Coupe - final sheet metal repairs

horse sence · Jul 13, 2022

I just finished the body on mine and was made an offer i couldnt refuse ...yep ,its gone ! Dont worry i still have 3 left .

02 281 GT · Feb 5, 2023

Been a little while.

I have been having trouble with the air compressor that made me think the motor or pump was going bad. Turns out it just needed a new belt as the original had become a bit stretched. One new belt later and it starts and runs like new. With my seemingly renewed air compressor running like a top, I decided to do a bit of work. I nearly got the final bit of rust repaired on the passenger quarter.

Some of the wheel house was also swiss-cheesed.

This is where I called it a night. I'll finish this up next weekend, probably. Nice to get some work done.

This is the patch that will go in. Sectioned out of a CJ Pony Parts quarter skin.

02 281 GT · Feb 12, 2023

That'll do.

And I FINALLY welded in the new ignition mount. Thanks @horse sence !

None of it is perfect, but I'm happy with it. It's not too bad for a DIY restore.

RaggedGT · Feb 12, 2023

Your welds sure are looking good these days

02 281 GT · Feb 13, 2023

RaggedGT said:
Your welds sure are looking good these days

I appreciate it. They're definitely better than when I started.

2Blue2 · Feb 13, 2023

I’m loving the new progress on this!
Carry On!

manicmechanic007 · Feb 15, 2023

Not bad at fabricating that piece either
Good job

2Blue2 · Mar 16, 2023

2Blue2 · Apr 29, 2023

RaggedGT · Jul 7, 2024

What’s been happening brother-

Noobz347 · Jul 7, 2024

And don't think we didn't notice that you visited tonight at 7:21 PM and didn't update this thread.

02 281 GT · Feb 6, 2026

RaggedGT said:
What’s been happening brother-

Noobz347 said:
And don't think we didn't notice that you visited tonight at 7:21 PM and didn't update this thread.

Much apologies, y'all. It's been a little while. I'm in the final few weeks of what is hopefully my last trip to the sandbox. I definitely have some plans to get working on this car once I get back!

Biggest priority will be to finish the underside of the car and get the suspension installed so I can get it on the ground and off the rotisserie. I have an AJE front K-member kit and their 4-link rear suspension kit. The rear end that I pulled out of the Cobra will keep its 3.73 gears, get a reseal, and will find a new home under the '66. It shouldn't be too wide with fox axles and the SN95 brake adapter brackets (LMR now sells their own version). I may have to go with a little more offset on the rear wheels, but it shouldn't be too big of a problem. It'll only be one inch wider on each side than the original rear end.

I'm also collecting the final parts to finally build my freshened up 302. Way back in 2020 I found a 5.0 in very good shape out of 1995 GT at the local Pick-n-Pull. I had a machine shop go through it and check everything. It's been sitting in the garage waiting to be assembled along with the GT40 heads I acquired from revhead347. The only thing I still need to decide on is a cam. I'm still unsure if a custom grind would be worth it or if I should just go with a TFS stage 1. I'm not trying to get as much power out of it as I can. It will make at least as much power as the completely stock engine in my Cobra and will do so in a car that weighs nearly 1000 fewer pounds. I think it'll be plenty.

More to come!

Realmongo · Feb 7, 2026

02 281 GT said:
And I FINALLY welded in the new ignition mount. Thanks @horse sence !

None of it is perfect, but I'm happy with it. It's not too bad for a DIY restore.

Wow! What's the story behind that one?

02 281 GT · Feb 10, 2026

Realmongo said:
Wow! What's the story behind that one?

Someone removed the old one by just ripping it out of the dash. There’s a few pictures of it earlier in the thread.

02 281 GT · May 25, 2026

Finally did something. I'll be installing a 4-link rear suspension on this and needed to remove the shock mount to install the rear cradle. Next up will be prepping the front side for the k-member. I also plan to redo some of my earlier welds that weren't so great.

Once I get the suspension sorted, I'm finally going to get the car dustless blasted and get it in one color. Very much looking forward to that. Then, I can go ahead and take it off the rotisserie.

2Blue2 · Jun 6, 2026

02 281 GT said:
take it off the rotisserie.

Theres a milestone!

GOvert · Jun 6, 2026

What will reinforce the removed rear crossmember? The new rear cradle? I've been looking at front K member possibilities after talking one of my '66 customer's out of the Mustang II aftermarket crossmember idea. I'm enough of a vintage classic Mustang purist to want to keep the stock shock towers.
This AJE K-member kit is one of the possibilities. AJE K-member explained
Here is a link to their site: ajesuspension.com
Keep up the good work, using only what you need from a larger repair panel is a sign of metalwork maturity. I'm referring to post #763, rh quarter patch work.

02 281 GT · Jun 6, 2026

GOvert said:
What will reinforce the removed rear crossmember? The new rear cradle? I've been looking at front K member possibilities after talking one of my '66 customer's out of the Mustang II aftermarket crossmember idea. I'm enough of a vintage classic Mustang purist to want to keep the stock shock towers.
This AJE K-member kit is one of the possibilities. AJE K-member explained
Here is a link to their site: ajesuspension.com
Keep up the good work, using only what you need from a larger repair panel is a sign of metalwork maturity. I'm referring to post #763, rh quarter patch work.

I'm going with the AJE front and rear kit, yes. You still need the tops of the shock towers, but a good portion of them can go. I was originally looking into the Mustang II-style coilovers, but all those kits are way more money than I have to spend.

Progress Thread The "grátis" 1966 Coupe - final sheet metal repairs

horse sence

02 281 GT

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

02 281 GT

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

RaggedGT

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

02 281 GT

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

2Blue2

will be trying this sex one when I can find it

manicmechanic007

2Blue2

will be trying this sex one when I can find it

2Blue2

will be trying this sex one when I can find it

RaggedGT

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

02 281 GT

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

Realmongo

I prefer to be called "Evil Genius"

02 281 GT

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

02 281 GT

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

Attachments

2Blue2

will be trying this sex one when I can find it

GOvert

02 281 GT

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

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Progress Thread The "grátis" 1966 Coupe - final sheet metal repairs

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

will be trying this sex one when I can find it

will be trying this sex one when I can find it

will be trying this sex one when I can find it

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

I prefer to be called "Evil Genius"

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

Attachments

will be trying this sex one when I can find it

Agreed...My wife has great Boobs

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