To Do List

Now that I have decided to tackle the Mustang, I figured it would be good to put together a list of the projects standing between me and a completed car. I am actually starting with a project I didn't figure I would tackle for a long time: roll bar. 6 point. The reason I am looking at doing this first is because I recently purchased a new headliner which needs to be installed. In order to install the headliner, the windshield and rear window need to be removed. The headliner is actually tucked behind the glass, and if you attempt to do install a new one with the glass in place, you end up with wrinkles. The headliner needs to be removed for the roll bar installation, so to prevent doing the work twice, it makes sense that I start with it.

When I get back from Detroit on Sunday, I will 1) Take the 'stang to a glass shop for glass removal 2) remove interior 3) take 'stang to shop for roll cage installation 4) install interior 5) have glass re-installed. Luckily, the class I race in at ORP doesn't have an event this month, so I have some time to do all this.

Second Project: Exhaust. No big deal, but needs to be done before my neighbors sale my house for me. The previous exhaust had to be removed because the ladder bar suspension took up all of the room. I'll either run turn downs just before the axle, or route it to dump in front of the rear tires

Third project: Transmission conversion. This is going to come before the paint, as it is a bolt-in conversion, and I expect less downtime with it than with a paint job project. Plus, needing a paint job isn't preventing me from doing anything with the car, the 3 speed auto with 4.11:1 gears makes it a bit of a chore to drive to work, town, and impossible to head to some of the cruise-in's about 30 miles away.

Fourth project: Paint. I am going to do it myself. I talked with an engineer at Cummins who does paint and body work on the side, and he is willing to patch the rust spots for me. TIG-ed patch panels, the right way. Everything else will be me, except for the vinyl graphic installation.

Fifth project: Fuel injection. I am tired of fighting with carburetors. I like the Edelbrock Pro-Flo EFI system, which is a MPFI system that is a direct replacement for the carburetor and manifold. No rush on this one, but something I would like to do. It makes the list mostly because of the cost of the system.

Those are the big ones. Also in there I would like to get rims and tires, matching the rears, probably with BFG G-Force T/A KDW-2 meats. Somewhere along the line, in no particular order, I am going to rewire the car, get a new set of door panels, steering wheel, pick-up a stiffer set of springs for autoxing (probably in conjunction with the rim/tire purchase) and whatever else I decide to get along the way.