What do I fix first?

alextank8 · Apr 12, 2011

Hey guys I need some help Please.
Here are the following things I have to do to my 65 fastback project in order to get in running, but I have no idea where to start.

- Rewire entire car (previous wiring ripped out)
- No trans. (I have a 302 manual engine)
- Redo brake system (no idea how or where to begin with this)
- Both doors need work but I can get by for a while
- New interior (probably going to buy an interior kit)
- needs the rear section of the r/s rear frame rail where the back of the leaf spring bolts up to
- both side trunk floors
- gas tank
- section of the trunk floor that goes from where the gas tank bolts to up to the openings for the rear shock access holes
- r/s inner wheel house
- r/s quarter panel assembly (I'm sure this could wait as well)
- and lastly I plan on rebuilding my 302, but not sure what order to do this stuff in

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Alex

2+2GT · Apr 12, 2011

Do this first
- Both doors need work but I can get by for a while
- needs the rear section of the r/s rear frame rail where the back of the leaf spring bolts up to
- both side trunk floors
- section of the trunk floor that goes from where the gas tank bolts to up to the openings for the rear shock access holes
- r/s inner wheel house
- r/s quarter panel assembly (I'm sure this could wait as well)

- No trans. (I have a 302 manual engine)
No such thing. Stick a pilot bushing in the crank, it's a manual. Take it out, it's an auto.

- Rewire entire car (previous wiring ripped out)
- No trans. (I have a 302 manual engine)
- Redo brake system (no idea how or where to begin with this)
- gas tank
- and lastly I plan on rebuilding my 302, but not sure what order to do this stuff in

Do this last-

- New interior (probably going to buy an interior kit)

robbz28 · Apr 12, 2011

step 1...if you are married, build a doghouse, because you will be spending more time with your car than your significant other, lol....then do everything that 2+2 said.

alextank8 · Apr 12, 2011

haha no don't worry i'm only 17 my dads going to help but not kill himself over it,

and 2+2 i didnt mean my engine was a manual my bad i just didnt put in a comma, i'm pretty sure a manual tranny would be cheaper but correct me if i'm wrong, and do you know how i would go about the frame rail or where i could get one i'm not really understanding what to do here.

robbz28 · Apr 12, 2011

Sounds like the butt of your car is pretty rotten...don't worry because this is not a rare problem. Some pics would help out, but from what i can gather your car may be a candidate for an entire floor swap....these panels are reasonable, but are a MAJOR chore....but it can be done, even by a first timer. You will need to strip your car down, take it all apart, tag and bag all of your parts, take lots of pictures. Tear it down to the basic body and put it up blocks and start to work on the body. Pour some water in the cowl vent in front of the windshield and see if water ends up on the floorboard, if so then you will need to address the cowl rust as well, may be minor, may be major (mine was major). Just ask plenty of questions, google is your friend, were all here to help, have fun!

rbohm · Apr 12, 2011

i would start by getting rid of any rust in the body/chassis. if this isnt done, then the rest of the work is flushing good money after bad.

next i would do suspension and brakes.

after that drive train

wiring

paint and body

interior and other details.

alextank8 · Apr 12, 2011

here's the link to the pictures. He said he just replaced the cowl so I don't think and am hoping there shouldn't be a problem with that. Also it looks to me like the trunk floor is the only bad floor part, the rest looks pretty good i guess but i'm not an expert so i dont know.
Thanks guys

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=9828gbeq.3qj65fby&x=0&h=1&y=wmfehw&localeid=en_US

Above is link to pics

2+2GT · Apr 13, 2011

In your place I'd use a T5 5-speed. Start shopping now, for a deal on a T5. You can get rebuilt ones for $950, so if you can get a decent used one for half that…

mustangmutt · Apr 13, 2011

That looks like a great project.
Definitely attack the rust first. Then the suspension and brakes. A Granada or a Maverick is a good donor for front disc brakes on the cheap. Just make sure the donor car has 11" rotors.
Those two things should keep you busy for a while.

alextank8 · Apr 13, 2011

what all do i need to buy if i redo the brakes, like a whole rear and front disc brake kit or something?

Pony66 · Apr 13, 2011

alextank8 said:
what all do i need to buy if i redo the brakes, like a whole rear and front disc brake kit or something?

That is sweet if you have disc brakes. Most old Mustangs had drum brakes. What year is yours? For drum brakes a rebuild could mean new wheel cylinders, brake shoes, have the drums turned, new flexible brake lines for each wheel and a hardware kit with springs and stuff. If you have a 65-66 I would put a dual chamber Master Cylinder on it.

mustangmutt · Apr 13, 2011

alextank8 said:
what all do i need to buy if i redo the brakes, like a whole rear and front disc brake kit or something?

Call around to your local salvage yards and ask if they have any Granadas that still have the front disc brakes. If you find one get the spindles and proportioning valve. If the Rotors are good get them too. Although new rotors, calipers and bearings are not expensive. You will also need to get Granada outer tie rods. If your car has factory Power Steering the drivers one won't work but you can get an adapter bushing from Mustangsteve.com.

On the Rear it is easy to adapt mid to late 90's Crown Vic rear discs. I think there is a thread on this swap here on the Forum.

The stock rear drum set up is adequate for a daily driver, but front discs make a big difference. Especially when you drive in the rain. Use a Master cylinder for a Maverick with Manual Disc brakes. I have done this to a few cars. All showed a major improvement over the stock Drum Drum set up. For some reason one of them worked exceptionally well, you would think it has Power brakes.
There are also people on ebay that sell complete packages for the Granada upgrade, but its funner to scrounge around a Junk yard.

robbz28 · Apr 13, 2011

My car had front drums and I managed to find a conversion online that converted some late model chevy calipers to mustang and it was a complete power swap kit, with the master cyl, prop valve, new pedal, rotors, everything and it cost me 650....it's nothing original, but it works great...much much better than those spongey old drums. If you are interested I can probably find more info about it.

alextank8 · Apr 13, 2011

mine is a 65 as well

alextank8 · Apr 13, 2011

ya im interested thanks. i really dont know much about the brake system as i do other stuff so anything will help

alextank8 · Apr 13, 2011

about how much do you think a new granada kit would cost me both front and rear

robbz28 · Apr 14, 2011

alextank8 said:
about how much do you think a new granada kit would cost me both front and rear

Theres a front brake swap on fleabay for 550...no power booster or master cylinder tho, so after you add those items that will put you about 750. There is that kit that I mentioned earlier on there as well for 650. You might can piece you a granada swap together, but if your junk yards are like ours, they dont have anything older than mid 90's.

mustangmutt · Apr 14, 2011

alextank8 said:
about how much do you think a new granada kit would cost me both front and rear

Brows ebay for disc conversion kits. The Granada is only for the front, but there are many choices for the rear.

Hack · Apr 14, 2011

There's really no need to do rear discs. If you're on a budget most of your stopping is in the front anyway. Leave the rear drums and just do discs in the front and your car will work a lot better. Mustang Steve has some very good budget options too. I'd rather put Ford parts in my Mustang than Chivy. Just me.

alextank8 · Apr 14, 2011

ya i agree i want to keep as many ford parts as i can on it

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