DLedin
Well-known member
Hi folks,
I ‘m posting about my recently completed GT/CS project. My car is VIN # 8R01J150100 and it’s been in the registry since 1988.
In the beginning…
I bought my GT/CS in 1986 for $2800. At the time I was not very familiar with Mustangs but I knew enough that when I first saw this car I knew it was different from the run-of-the-mill Mustangs I’d seen.
At that time the car was a really nice, clean, solid daily driver. The original 302 4v was gone and a 289 2v was in its place.
Not having a lot of financial resources back then my goal was just to try to maintain the car in it’s current condition as best as I could until such time as I could take it to the next level. The car was always kept in a garage and driven mainly on weekends.
Over the years of owning my GT/CS I had time to weigh the pros & cons of doing a full out concourse restoration. I eventually decided that I did not want a trailer queen. I wanted a car that looked great but that I wouldn’t be afraid to drive.
While I completely appreciate the idea of restoring for historical correctness after looking around at the GT/CS landscape it was apparent that there were a number of beautifully restored GT/CS cars out there already.
So my goal for the car became one where I wanted it to look original on the outside and in the interior. But I also wanted to take advantage of the technology advances in things such as power steering systems, suspension, cooling systems, etc. The goal here was to make the car as reliable as I could. I wanted a car that I wouldn’t be afraid to drive across the country. A car that wouldn’t overheat in 100+ degree weather while being stuck on a freeway and running the A/C.
Then there was the “fun” factor to consider. For the engine I decided that I wanted an engine that had horsepower comparable to some of the higher performing Mustangs & Shelbys of the 60’s. To me, that meant a power plant that puts out around 350HP. My 289 2v was tired and wouldn’t get me there.
With those goals I went into a Mustang specialty shop and told them what I wanted.
As many know, back in the day you could go into a Ford dealer and order a Mustang with all the various options you wanted. It allowed you to “personalize” your new car. So that’s what I had in mind for my car now, 58 years later. This is now the car I would have ordered from the dealer, had I been old enough and had these options been available.
What was done:
The car was repainted in its original color. It was nice to get all the little scrapes, dents, dings, and chips that accumulated over the years taken care of. For the interior I had the headliner replaced, new seat foam and covers, new carpet and door panels adding new sound deadener in the process. I also had a safety panel added between the back seat and the trunk.
Under the hood and under the car virtually everything has been upgraded.
A few of the highlights:
The engine is a new 302 4v crate engine from Blueprint Engines. It dyno’d in at 368HP. It’s backed with a 4-speed automatic. The suspension is by Street-or-Track and we did the “Shelby Drop”. The power steering is a Borgeson set up. The cooling system was upgraded with a dual electric fan setup. The factory A/C was upgraded with a Vintage Air system.
My plan is to put the car into some shows as a “resto-mod” / ”daily driver”. Then I just want to enjoy the car before it’s time for me to turn in my keys.
Here are some photos of the results. Thanks for listening…
I ‘m posting about my recently completed GT/CS project. My car is VIN # 8R01J150100 and it’s been in the registry since 1988.
In the beginning…
I bought my GT/CS in 1986 for $2800. At the time I was not very familiar with Mustangs but I knew enough that when I first saw this car I knew it was different from the run-of-the-mill Mustangs I’d seen.
At that time the car was a really nice, clean, solid daily driver. The original 302 4v was gone and a 289 2v was in its place.
Not having a lot of financial resources back then my goal was just to try to maintain the car in it’s current condition as best as I could until such time as I could take it to the next level. The car was always kept in a garage and driven mainly on weekends.
Over the years of owning my GT/CS I had time to weigh the pros & cons of doing a full out concourse restoration. I eventually decided that I did not want a trailer queen. I wanted a car that looked great but that I wouldn’t be afraid to drive.
While I completely appreciate the idea of restoring for historical correctness after looking around at the GT/CS landscape it was apparent that there were a number of beautifully restored GT/CS cars out there already.
So my goal for the car became one where I wanted it to look original on the outside and in the interior. But I also wanted to take advantage of the technology advances in things such as power steering systems, suspension, cooling systems, etc. The goal here was to make the car as reliable as I could. I wanted a car that I wouldn’t be afraid to drive across the country. A car that wouldn’t overheat in 100+ degree weather while being stuck on a freeway and running the A/C.
Then there was the “fun” factor to consider. For the engine I decided that I wanted an engine that had horsepower comparable to some of the higher performing Mustangs & Shelbys of the 60’s. To me, that meant a power plant that puts out around 350HP. My 289 2v was tired and wouldn’t get me there.
With those goals I went into a Mustang specialty shop and told them what I wanted.
As many know, back in the day you could go into a Ford dealer and order a Mustang with all the various options you wanted. It allowed you to “personalize” your new car. So that’s what I had in mind for my car now, 58 years later. This is now the car I would have ordered from the dealer, had I been old enough and had these options been available.
What was done:
The car was repainted in its original color. It was nice to get all the little scrapes, dents, dings, and chips that accumulated over the years taken care of. For the interior I had the headliner replaced, new seat foam and covers, new carpet and door panels adding new sound deadener in the process. I also had a safety panel added between the back seat and the trunk.
Under the hood and under the car virtually everything has been upgraded.
A few of the highlights:
The engine is a new 302 4v crate engine from Blueprint Engines. It dyno’d in at 368HP. It’s backed with a 4-speed automatic. The suspension is by Street-or-Track and we did the “Shelby Drop”. The power steering is a Borgeson set up. The cooling system was upgraded with a dual electric fan setup. The factory A/C was upgraded with a Vintage Air system.
My plan is to put the car into some shows as a “resto-mod” / ”daily driver”. Then I just want to enjoy the car before it’s time for me to turn in my keys.
Here are some photos of the results. Thanks for listening…
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