66 fastback/64.5 convertible

[satchel]

I come from a family of muscle car fanatics down in Texas and just over 30 years ago my parents surprised me one Christmas with a 66 mustang fastback gt as my first car.

I worked on that thing making it nicer each summer, and unfortunately about 4 years after getting the car and having it really dialed in, I was t-boned by a lady running a yield sign.

The damage was pretty horrendous. The interior passenger door was touching me on the driver side. The car at that point was pretty much useless but I decided to buy it back from the insurance company anyway, hoping that one day I could salvage it somehow.

About 10 years later a company called dynacorn started making reproduction shells/panels/etc. It took quite a while but we finally found some shops willing to take on grafting in a new complete passenger side of the car roof and all. The last 10 years since we started that project it has bounced from shop to shop. Little straightening here, welding there.

Finally, and with yet another rear quarter panel on the driver's side this time, we are getting close to time for paint.

I'll do my best to keep this updated as we start putting her back together.

Pics I just received below of what is hopefully the last panel replacements we need to do before starting paint. Crazy how little metal there is protecting you from the outside world.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Very cool.

I remember in high school a buddy had a blue 1970 Mach 1, fixed up and running awesome.

One morning it got run over all Smokey and The Bandit Christmas Vacation style where a semi didn't see him in his blind spot in the heavy rain and he ended up partially *under* the trailer wheels, which rolled up the back end when the driver tried to lane change.

As you well know the body shell and rear quarters are all one piece. Even in 1987 how these things were originally assembled was getting to be a lost art, that technique of melting lead and soldering the seam of the pieces. I bet even more shops now will want to spot weld and use Bondo?

 

[Crash]

I come from a family of muscle car fanatics down in Texas and just over 30 years ago my parents surprised me one Christmas with a 66 mustang fastback gt as my first car.

I worked on that thing making it nicer each summer, and unfortunately about 4 years after getting the car and having it really dialed in, I was t-boned by a lady running a yield sign.

The damage was pretty horrendous. The interior passenger door was touching me on the driver side. The car at that point was pretty much useless but I decided to buy it back from the insurance company anyway, hoping that one day I could salvage it somehow.

About 10 years later a company called dynacorn started making reproduction shells/panels/etc. It took quite a while but we finally found some shops willing to take on grafting in a new complete passenger side of the car roof and all. The last 10 years since we started that project it has bounced from shop to shop. Little straightening here, welding there.

Finally, and with yet another rear quarter panel on the driver's side this time, we are getting close to time for paint.

I'll do my best to keep this updated as we start putting her back together.

Pics I just received below of what is hopefully the last panel replacements we need to do before starting paint. Crazy how little metal there is protecting you from the outside world.

Which engine does it have? I had a buddy in high school that had either a ‘67 or ‘68 fastback with the 390 in it. Am I wrong to think that the engine had to be pulled to change the spark plugs on one side? The car was stupid fast - in a straight line.

 

[satchel]

Which engine does it have? I had a buddy in high school that had either a ‘67 or ‘68 fastback with the 390 in it. Am I wrong to think that the engine had to be pulled to change the spark plugs on one side? The car was stupid fast - in a straight line.

It had a 4 barrel carb 289, roughly 225hp. I recently found a great deal on a 347 stroker motor pushing about 350hp which I think will be great for how light the car is. Switching over to a manual transmission as well.

We have a 67 gt500 as well (think Eleanor from gone in 60 seconds), but it has a 427 not a 390. Those engine bays have a pretty good amount of room so I'd be surprised if you had to pull the engine to do the plugs but I never worked on that car so I'm not sure.

 

[satchel]

After months of redoing work that other shops had already 'completed', we are finally getting it primed and ready for paint.

 

[60ranchero]

Always wanted a Mustang fastback! I have a 1966 Mustang coupe which I have owned since I was 14 (45 years). Also own a 1960 Ranchero (summer daily for 33 years) and a 1967 Cougar. Current project is 1971 FJ40. Good luck with your Mustang project!!!

 

[satchel]

Very cool cars! I don't know much about Ranchero's but I love how they look! I've always wanted a cougar, love the headlight covers.

Might as well update the thread while I'm here.

The fastback is next in line for the paint booth. Original color is springtime yellow, but I hated that color when I was driving it around as a teen and always wanted to switch to ivy green. Now that I'm picking colors I'm having a hard time between what I always wanted and putting it back yellow like it was when I had it. Pretty sure I'm going with green.

Pics of both options on other cars for anyone that wants to tell me their opinion on these or other colors that would look cool. I have a week to decide and I am extremely torn.

On another note, we were offered a crazy deal on a 64.5 convertible that is essentially complete but needs to be put back together, so that will be my wife's car. Somehow it skipped ahead in line at the body shop and paint is going on now. We picked silver blue. Attached is our first taste of what it will look like when they are done.

For the fastback drivetrain, we are now building out a 347 stroker motor, and I'm ditching the old 3 speed auto for a 5 speed TKX tremec manual. Convertible will retain it's rare-ish 289 for that year and convert to an auto (from my fastback) from the 3 speed manual.

 

[Crash]

Very cool cars! I don't know much about Ranchero's but I love how they look! I've always wanted a cougar, love the headlight covers.

Might as well update the thread while I'm here.

The fastback is next in line for the paint booth. Original color is springtime yellow, but I hated that color when I was driving it around as a teen and always wanted to switch to ivy green. Now that I'm picking colors I'm having a hard time between what I always wanted and putting it back yellow like it was when I had it. Pretty sure I'm going with green.

Pics of both options on other cars for anyone that wants to tell me their opinion on these or other colors that would look cool. I have a week to decide and I am extremely torn.

On another note, we were offered a crazy deal on a 64.5 convertible that is essentially complete but needs to be put back together, so that will be my wife's car. Somehow it skipped ahead in line at the body shop and paint is going on now. We picked silver blue. Attached is our first taste of what it will look like when they are done.

For the fastback drivetrain, we are now building out a 347 stroker motor, and I'm ditching the old 3 speed auto for a 5 speed TKX tremec manual. Convertible will retain its rare-ish 289 for that year and convert to an auto (from my fastback) from the 3 speed manual.

The one my friend had, mentioned in my earlier post, was a lighter green that I didn’t really care for. The dark green in your picture is pretty sweet. Yesterday I followed a new 911 Porsche in yellow that just didn’t look right. I vote for the dark green.

 

[60ranchero]

Always wanted a Mustang fastback! I have a 1966 Mustang coupe which I have owned since I was 14 (45 years). Also own a 1960 Ranchero (summer daily for 33 years) and a 1967 Cougar. Current project is 1971 FJ40. Good luck with your Mustang project!!!

The Falcon/Ranchero is mechanically the same car as a first gen Mustang just as the second gen Mustang is mechanically the same car as a Cougar. In the mid 1990s I converted my 1960 Ranchero from 144 CID 6 cylinder/unsynchronized 3 speed on column and 4 lug suspension to 289/T10 4 speed/ 65 Mustang 5 lug suspension, brakes and steering. All direct bolt-in except is the steering center link on the Falcon is slightly narrower. I receive way more comments and thumbs up on the Ranchero than the Mustang or Cougar.

I owned a Springtime Yellow 1966 Mustang GT coupe years ago (sold it to buy the Cougar) and a friend had a Springtime Yellow 1967 Galaxie. My opinion is the Springtime Yellow looked better on the Galaxie. My vote is Ivy Green for your fastback as you are not going original anyway. I had a 1971 Ivy Green Pinto in college. Ivy Green is a great color, but is getting a little over-used on 67/68 Mustang fastbacks (Bullit clones). There were a lot of them at the Mustang Roundup in Cripple Creek last year. My Mustang was originally Sauterne Gold (light silver green) which was a rare color in 1966 that Ford brought back in the mid 2000's on the Mustang.

 

[Crash]

The Falcon/Ranchero is mechanically the same car as a first gen Mustang just as the second gen Mustang is mechanically the same car as a Cougar. In the mid 1990s I converted my 1960 Ranchero from 144 CID 6 cylinder/unsynchronized 3 speed on column and 4 lug suspension to 289/T10 4 speed/ 65 Mustang 5 lug suspension, brakes and steering. All direct bolt-in except is the steering center link on the Falcon is slightly narrower. I receive way more comments and thumbs up on the Ranchero than the Mustang or Cougar.

I owned a Springtime Yellow 1966 Mustang GT coupe years ago (sold it to buy the Cougar) and a friend had a Springtime Yellow 1967 Galaxie. My opinion is the Springtime Yellow looked better on the Galaxie. My vote is Ivy Green for your fastback as you are not going original anyway. I had a 1971 Ivy Green Pinto in college. Ivy Green is a great color, but is getting a little over-used on 67/68 Mustang fastbacks (Bullit clones). There were a lot of them at the Mustang Roundup in Cripple Creek last year. My Mustang was originally Sauterne Gold (light silver green) which was a rare color in 1966 that Ford brought back in the mid 2000's on the Mustang.

The pic on the left is what my friend had. Yep, dark green is the one.

 

[Beach Boy]

Just sold my 1970 Cougar.

 

[satchel]

You guys are helping solidify my ivy green decision. Appreciate the feedback! There was a midnight blue option I was considering as well but I'm kinda tired of over thinking it.

 

[Crash]

You guys are helping solidify my ivy green decision. Appreciate the feedback! There was a midnight blue option I was considering as well but I'm kinda tired of over thinking it.

Wasn’t Bullitt’s car the Ivy Green? Bam, there’s your answer. Hope I didn’t just ruin your choice.

 

[satchel]

Wasn’t Bullitt’s car the Ivy Green? Bam, there’s your answer. Hope I didn’t just ruin your choice.

No, not the same green, though most people would assume it is. It's close but that was different for the second generation mustang (highland green).

That's part of my dilemma, while it is a cool color, not trying to copy the bullitt like everyone else with a fastback.

Not like you see these cars every day so I'm probably over thinking it.

 

[Crash]

I’m definitely most people when it comes to Ford Motors. I’m sure the green you pick will be awesome. As for overthinking it all, why should you be any different than the rest of us?
I do own a Ford product.

 

[satchel]

Convertible paint wrapping up. Really digging the color.

 

[satchel]

latest pics.

 

[Telly]

Love it! I'm a muscle car fanatic too. Sorry to high jack your post. Here is my 68 RS Camaro I bought when I was 14 yo, restored it in high school, and sold it a few years ago (I never drove it and needed room). I don't regret it but miss that car! 5.3 cammed ls with Tremec 5-speed and 3.73 gear posi diff. Only regret is should have kept the original lemans blue ILO 69 Z/28 hugger orange.

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

latest pics.

lookin good!!

 

[satchel]

Slowly putting the convertible together and fastback primed and ready for paint.

Putting the convertible together makes me appreciate how easy the 80 is to work on. For being so simple, nothing goes in easily. Was struggling with the torsion springs for the trunk all day.