Happy birthday, dear chux0rMustangproject- happy birthday to you

Has it really been a year? Guess so! In October of 2015, I rolled into our main work bay the 65 Mustang gotten out of a barn and purchased from my buddy Jason, and initiated this 2-year restoration project. I suppose this is a great time to stop and reflect on things.

Although I know a few things, the goal was and is to learn the rest by just doing it. In many ways this project doesn't have much to do with cars as much as it is about conquering some of my demons. Number one demon was the notion that I don't know enough to do this. As much as I've picked up over the years, I always labored on the sidelines under the notion that I needed to be some sort of super expert to even begin. Stupid, right? If you don't start, nothing will ever happen! I wasted so much time paralyzed by this thing, afraid that I'd mess something up. Ridiculous, I know. No more. I acknowledged I will definitely mess something up, and that it's no big deal. In fact I have already messed up a couple things, then went back and recovered, and in doing so have learned a great deal. Number two demon is patience. There are really no quick fixes on this project- all of it requires focus and patience. Focus I have in spades. Patience? Well let's just say I think I am getting better at this. The penalty of course for being impatient is you get to redo whatever you just rushed and messed up.  

Full disclosure: The 2-year time estimate I pulled out of my ass. I had no idea what I was in for, but 2 years sounded like enough time to stumble into problems, figure out what needs to be done, learn the stuff I needed to learn, and get at it. I might be right, who knows. Right now feels middle-ish. Here's everything the kid and I have done:

Engine overhaul.

We didn't think the engine needed major work at the get-go, but I suppose one needs to expect this every now and again when picking up a non-running project. I thought maybe it was just a starter and a fuel delivery problem, but when I found the valvetrain trashed, I knew we were going to have to tear it way down. First time I've pulled apart an engine all the way to bare block. Not bad for making shit up as I go! It's also worth noting that I benefited greatly from my local machinist, who knew exactly what I needed even though I didn't really know at first everything I needed to ask. Learned tons about what to do, and what not to do. I like the way it turned out. Can't wait for the next engine build!

Rrrrrrrust! Welcome to Illinois.

Like the engine, the rust didn't seem terrible until we picked at it a bit. It's still not, like crazy rusty, but there's just more than I thought there would be. The rust in the floors and firewall and trunk and wheelhouses was all just masked really well. I peeled away slowly all of the tin patches, the body-filler, the undercoating, and the riveted panels to reveal the rust that was always hiding there, and set out to figure out the best ways to address it a) properly and b) permanently. Luckily I had already taken some welding classes at my local community college. After adding a welding rig to the garage and making about every rookie mistake a greenhorn welder can make, I got dialed in and down to business.
As for sheetmetal, one can buy any panel on this car from a variety of restoration catalogs, and I have bought some big ones to replace large sections of rusted floorboard, but I am fabricating smaller patch panels with no or simple bends.

Highlights

I've taken a wire-wheel on an angle grinder to the belly at 10,000 RPM after kicking back off a corner, ooooh baby. Yes, it left a mark. I've overtorqued and broken bolts after looking up the right torque specs to the wrong engine, requiring a trip to the machinist. I learned how to gap rings, lash valves, assemble the rotating assembly, and disassemble an entire car down to the bare chassis. My garage boogie is close to perfect enough for JoAnne to suggest a web cam. This could be a thing. Jegs and Summit like me so much I get full catalogs sent every month, making my bathroom magazine holder happy. Best is yet to come.

The next 12 months

In the next 12, you will see welding, priming, painting, wiring, chassis work. We are going to tub the rear end. We'll drop our new engine in. We'll install a modern 5-speed transmission (and learn how to drive stick!) We'll install the interior. Paint and detail. Vroom.

Best of Pics, last 12