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1968 GT/CS & HCS
2007+ GT/CS
1966-1967 HCS
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1968 Introductions - And bringing one back from the dead
- Thread starter Cool Manchu
- Start date
robert campbell
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2007
- Messages
- 4,322
One owner car so to speak. You are lucky beyond lucky! Try to get all the photos you can from the original owner. They will be precious!!
I am so glad you are so appreciative of what you bought. It tells me a lot about you as a person!! This car is in good hands!!
Rob
I am so glad you are so appreciative of what you bought. It tells me a lot about you as a person!! This car is in good hands!!
Rob
BigJim
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2012
- Messages
- 414
Someone's been watching Gas Monkey Garage (whatever the show is called).
OP
OP
Cool Manchu
Well-known member
Here is the Marti Report on the car. I also posted it on the Marti Report thread...
68sunlitgold
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2002
- Messages
- 1,359
A very nicely optioned car!
Doug
Doug
OP
OP
Cool Manchu
Well-known member
A quick update on the car. Since I don't have many "car friends", I wanted to share with y'all. 
So far a lot of the work to make the car safe for the road has been completed.
The front brakes are completely rebuilt, with new rotors and pads. The rear brakes have new drums and shoes. New rear wheel cylinders. New front calipers. New master cylinder. New shocks, tie rod ends, upper ball joints, new U joints, lower control arms. New rear bushings, sway bar and front end bushings. New Radial T/A tires, which I opted to go with 205/70R-14. Also the transmission has been completely rebuilt, a new gas tank and gas line have been installed as well.
It's a 289 2v currently. Since 1968 was the transition year for the 289 to the 302, I am rebuilding it as a true 302. I also want to take it up to a 4v. Advice I have read and have been given is all over the board, but I am thinking that I want to go with an Autolite 4100. That way it will look original, give me a bit more HP. However, I am not finding a straight response on what the ideal manifold for it would be. So I would really appreciate some insight on a good pairing.
One other change I want to make is with the color. From the factory, the car is Highland Green with a Parchment Vinyl Top. I am really considering painting the car Brittany Blue and a Parchment top. Do you have an argument one way or the other on this? If I want to show the car, how detrimental is it to change the original color?
I am working with Delta Bay Mustang to have a repro original grille and mounting brackets for the Marchal Fog Lamps. But I haven't been able to get a straight response on when everything will be ready. I will be needing to replace the grille molding, so if anyone has some that they are willing to part with, please let me know.
I also have some questions about the Marchals, so if someone is an expert, please let me know, as I would love to pick your brain.
Lastly, if anyone knows how to get the "gummy/stickiness" off of the dash pad, I would appreciate it. As the pad is still original and isn't cracked and I would love to save it. Also, there is yellowing on the steering wheel, if anyone has insight on how to clean it up, I would love to hear some ideas (the best I have heard is to make 50/50 solution of water and alcohol).
That's about it.
So far a lot of the work to make the car safe for the road has been completed.
The front brakes are completely rebuilt, with new rotors and pads. The rear brakes have new drums and shoes. New rear wheel cylinders. New front calipers. New master cylinder. New shocks, tie rod ends, upper ball joints, new U joints, lower control arms. New rear bushings, sway bar and front end bushings. New Radial T/A tires, which I opted to go with 205/70R-14. Also the transmission has been completely rebuilt, a new gas tank and gas line have been installed as well.
It's a 289 2v currently. Since 1968 was the transition year for the 289 to the 302, I am rebuilding it as a true 302. I also want to take it up to a 4v. Advice I have read and have been given is all over the board, but I am thinking that I want to go with an Autolite 4100. That way it will look original, give me a bit more HP. However, I am not finding a straight response on what the ideal manifold for it would be. So I would really appreciate some insight on a good pairing.
One other change I want to make is with the color. From the factory, the car is Highland Green with a Parchment Vinyl Top. I am really considering painting the car Brittany Blue and a Parchment top. Do you have an argument one way or the other on this? If I want to show the car, how detrimental is it to change the original color?
I am working with Delta Bay Mustang to have a repro original grille and mounting brackets for the Marchal Fog Lamps. But I haven't been able to get a straight response on when everything will be ready. I will be needing to replace the grille molding, so if anyone has some that they are willing to part with, please let me know.
I also have some questions about the Marchals, so if someone is an expert, please let me know, as I would love to pick your brain.
Lastly, if anyone knows how to get the "gummy/stickiness" off of the dash pad, I would appreciate it. As the pad is still original and isn't cracked and I would love to save it. Also, there is yellowing on the steering wheel, if anyone has insight on how to clean it up, I would love to hear some ideas (the best I have heard is to make 50/50 solution of water and alcohol).
That's about it.
OP
OP
Cool Manchu
Well-known member
That's exactly it Mosesatm. Those are the pictures I reference when I talk about it to others.
I think it's an amazing combo. My interior is parchment, so it will look great. Unless it's cost prohibitive for me to do or if someone talks me into keeping it original.
If I was to show the car at a car show, how detrimental is it to not have original paint? I don't plan on it ever being concourse.
I think it's an amazing combo. My interior is parchment, so it will look great. Unless it's cost prohibitive for me to do or if someone talks me into keeping it original.
If I was to show the car at a car show, how detrimental is it to not have original paint? I don't plan on it ever being concourse.
OP
OP
Cool Manchu
Well-known member
Given I know absolutely nothing about shows, I have no idea. I figured we could go to some shows, meet some people and make some friends. That's what's most important.
I figured we could go to some shows, meet some people and make some friends. That's what's most important.
franklinair
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2007
- Messages
- 4,744
A few observations (and opinions:smile
IIRC the difference between a 289 & 302 is the crankshaft & piston skirts.
I've had good luck with the Edelbrock Performer intake manifold. I grind off the Edelbrock name on the casting and paint it the same as the engine. The Edelbrock 500CFM, electric choke model works well, and is worry free. (The air cleaner covers the carb, so there's no visually glaring modification.)
Kevin Marti can make a new door tag to reflect the color change.
The Convenience Group is a rare, rare option. The weak link in the system is the Fuel Sending Unit. It has a temperature sensor on it for the 'Low Fuel' warning.
I opt for the underhood AC upgrade from Vintage Air. The Rotary compressor is smoother, quiet, more efficient than the old one lung unit. (It also will let you convert to R134 freon.)
Looks like a really sweet project (wish it were mine:grin
Neil
IIRC the difference between a 289 & 302 is the crankshaft & piston skirts.
I've had good luck with the Edelbrock Performer intake manifold. I grind off the Edelbrock name on the casting and paint it the same as the engine. The Edelbrock 500CFM, electric choke model works well, and is worry free. (The air cleaner covers the carb, so there's no visually glaring modification.)
Kevin Marti can make a new door tag to reflect the color change.
The Convenience Group is a rare, rare option. The weak link in the system is the Fuel Sending Unit. It has a temperature sensor on it for the 'Low Fuel' warning.
I opt for the underhood AC upgrade from Vintage Air. The Rotary compressor is smoother, quiet, more efficient than the old one lung unit. (It also will let you convert to R134 freon.)
Looks like a really sweet project (wish it were mine:grin
Neil
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CougarCJ
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2006
- Messages
- 2,216
Don't sweat the color or engine change. My GT/CS was originally Meadow Lark Yellow, it has now been painted Acapulco Blue.
1968 289/302's came with Autolite 4300 carburetors, you can use an Autolite 4100 carburetor, even though they were technically last used on a 289 in 1966. Unless you have the spread bore conversion done, I would only use a 1.08" venturi 4100. The 1.12" venturi was used on 352 and 390 engines.
I have a Autolite 4100 on my 1968 Cougar with J code 302-4V and 5 speed. Our Uncle Rob Campbell rebuilt it for me. :grin:
1968 289/302's came with Autolite 4300 carburetors, you can use an Autolite 4100 carburetor, even though they were technically last used on a 289 in 1966. Unless you have the spread bore conversion done, I would only use a 1.08" venturi 4100. The 1.12" venturi was used on 352 and 390 engines.
I have a Autolite 4100 on my 1968 Cougar with J code 302-4V and 5 speed. Our Uncle Rob Campbell rebuilt it for me. :grin:
OP
OP
Cool Manchu
Well-known member
Thank you folks, this is exactly the information that can help me make a decision.
Jester
Well-known member
Isn't the cylinder heads different between the 289 and the 302 as well? I'm lost in translation here so I need to ask what a piston "skirt" is??
franklinair
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2007
- Messages
- 4,744
IIRC, if you look at 302 heads the casting says 289.
Piston skirt is the bottom circumference of the piston.
Neil
Piston skirt is the bottom circumference of the piston.
Neil
Jester
Well-known member
Aha....makes some sort of sense. Guess I have to stand corrected on the heads as well. So when I got the suggestion to go with 302 heads for the engine rebuild that someone meant what? Boss 302 heads?
Mosesatm
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2005
- Messages
- 9,178
Neil,
I'm pretty sure the 302 4V heads have "302" cast into them. They should also have "4V" on them.
http://partsnetworkonline.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=162
Many 289 2V cars have "302" cast into the blocks because Ford ran out of 289 blocks and used the new 302 blocks instead.
I'm pretty sure the 302 4V heads have "302" cast into them. They should also have "4V" on them.
http://partsnetworkonline.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=162
Many 289 2V cars have "302" cast into the blocks because Ford ran out of 289 blocks and used the new 302 blocks instead.
