1968 New owner of a GT/CS

[dalorzo_f]

Hi,

Posted here a few times, but just became a "legal" member.

Found a ~100k apparent survivor, black Cal plate, White/black std interior, black vinyl top, AM, bare bones optioned 289/c4 C code just down the road from me in Brisbane, Australia.

Deposit paid, pick it up Saturday.

:smile:

can't post a link, Oz Ebay ( ebay.com.au) item no 280558109378

 

[Ruppstang]

Congrats! and welcome! If you have been on this site much you know there is a lot of help to be found here from a lot of great people. Post pictures when you can. Marty

 

[dalorzo_f]

Site tells me I can't post links as I am too new... guess I'll bump up the post with filler like this to get over the limit! :wink:

 

[dalorzo_f]

And, sadly, I am planning on a replica EXP500 out of it... swap out the 289/c4 for a stroked 445 FE and a bolt on throttle body EFI, C6, add a 9" rear and add '68 Shelby front glass.... but as its all replaceable all the original bits will be photographed, bagged, tagged and stored so it can go back to stock without too much drama, if the urge hits...

 

[green56]

new member

i have a cousin who lives in Orange we were their in Apirl for two weeks would go back as soon as i can country is beuatful wish i could live their but cost of living to high. Lots of interst thing to see we saw a lot of things in sidney

 

[Mosesatm]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI...09378&_sacat=See-All-Categories&_fvi=1&_rdc=1

 

[Midnight Special]

And, sadly, I am planning on a replica EXP500 out of it... swap out the 289/c4 for a stroked 445 FE and a bolt on throttle body EFI, C6, add a 9" rear and add '68 Shelby front glass.... but as its all replaceable all the original bits will be photographed, bagged, tagged and stored so it can go back to stock without too much drama, if the urge hits...

...'Nothing "sadly" about that. There are as many imaginative and performance oriented members here as purists. The EXP500 is a real "looker" and it would be great to see one being enjoyed rather than another "model" carted around on a trailer. Shelby engineers built theirs from a GT/CS...Why can't you? Welcome and please keep us posted with photos.

 

[nfrntau]

Ditto ..

 

[hookedtrout]

And a Ditto from me as well, enjoy it how you want to enjoy it.

 

[robert campbell]

I love to hack my cars up!!! 455 FE!!! Yaaaaa babeeeee.

Rob

 

[dalorzo_f]

Cool! Thanks for al the support!!

I picked the CS as it will save me a lot of $$$ (and grief from what I hear) with glass and bodywork over converting a coupe. While the 390 and 9" won't be original the cost of a 428 is getting very high for a replica, and I hink the 445 will get me down the road! I would like to keep the factory-ish FE look as much as possible and will be looking for 438 exh manifolds and proably go with cast irn era heads (still debating). the cost of the stroker kits is near what I would spend locally to source and refurbish all stock 390 bits so why not!

Other than that it will be as faithful a replica as I can do. Done two S codes, converible and GT coupe to near factory. No paint daubs and paper tags as they go on the raod on their own, not on a trailer.

Dark green, black vinyl top, shelby 10 spokes, ivy gold deluxe interior, beefed up C6, may even look into making a one-off 445 emblem like the 428 for a subtle twist.

The IRS is a challenge, not sure which way to go in that as I'd need engineering approval and there is scarce info about the system, I have done some research it appers to have been a complete one-off so hard to replicate. So maybe just a 9" w/Truetrac or other LSD.

Will be a while before the project gets going full bore, need to finish the coupe, it's in assembly phase, but will post progress pics and ask a lot of questions here!!

 

[Doug]

Great plans and keep us all posted - when you can add photos please do so.

 

[Doug]

Hi,

Posted here a few times, but just became a "legal" member.

Found a ~100k apparent survivor, black Cal plate, White/black std interior, black vinyl top, AM, bare bones optioned 289/c4 C code just down the road from me in Brisbane, Australia.

Deposit paid, pick it up Saturday.

:smile:

can't post a link, Oz Ebay ( ebay.com.au) item no 280558109378

Great car and if my converison is correct decent price at $21,000 US dollars

 

[vman]

good to see another here in oz. Has been for sale a long time and sounds like you got it at a great price.Love the plans you have for it. I will try to post some pics of it for you.

 

[dalorzo_f]

Yep, works out to about 20k US... I saw some "cheaper" in the US but with shipping (3k minimum from Cal), insurance, tax, duty, fees, etc it was a push. A bit more, but being able to see it in person was worth a grand...

And it was for sale for ages, I had seen it months ago and was not in buy mode. Saw it on Ebay again and a few days later saw it and bought it. The owner dropped me a line a few hours later that a lookie-lou tire kicker who had been by before called up after the Ebay auction ended wanting to buy (lowball after the end). Gone... got upset as he had called long ago "wanting it" but never followed up.... glad I went with a wad of cash and made the call!

Pick it up Saturday.... will be taking plenty of pics. Engine bay even has all the heat shield and snorkle bits, commonly gone in my experience, teal PS pump (think that is correct for 68 san Jose), even an Autolite battery and the radio resistor thingy on the cowl! A real time capsule as far as I coud tell. Spare set of OEM Ford rims and hubcaps in addition to the chrome GT's on it... a lot of documentation, Marti report so a good package!:icon_ecst

 

[dalorzo_f]

Picked it up today. Seller swapped out the Autolite and scavenged a few spares that were in the car, "take it or leave it"... so took it...

Still has paint daubs on the front springs, engine rebuilt with Holley instead of Autolite 2100 but other than that looking to be a very tidy survivor... underside shows no serious rust on a first look. Kinda reconsidering the EXP500 as its almost a shame to restore it, but I'll probably get over it!!! :wink:

A few initial questions:
- Where would the partial VIN be stamped on the block, if present (as a late '68 should be)? More familiar with FE's than 289's. As paperwork indicates block was reused hoping it has OEM VIN stamp for registration (you need not only the car's VIN but an engine number too!) I saw a flat on the passenger front side of the block, behind the alternator, but nothing stamped there...
- is that a standard CS grille, did it use a 68 less corral and horse?
- should the cap be GT or was the deluxe used on non-GT cars (not sure if it was aprt of the CS or not)
- Lucas light pedestals, painted argent from factory?
- trunk, inside its covered in black thick paint or soundproofing, tail panel, sides, floor, etc. Factory or PO?
- hood pins. They are in addition to the hood latch? Also, when closed they sit up about 1/4" off the hood, normal or in need of adjustment?

I am sure more to come once I get into a closer look...

 

[franklinair]

1.) The engine VIN is stamped on a flat area on the block at the rear of the intake manifold.
2.) The grill has been replaced with a standard 1968 grill. All those tabs you see are where the horse & corrals would be mounted.
3.) The Lucas pedestals (as well as the 4" wide grill trim and the grill itself should be a dark charcoal color.
4.) The trunk interior should be body color.
5.) The hoodpin receptacles (mounted on the radiator support) are verticly adjustable.

The car looks like a nice/easy restoration. I'd like to see you maintain it in its true GT/CS configuration. If I were going to modify a Mustang, I'd use a generic model rather than a limited production model. But that's just me.

Neil

 

[dalorzo_f]

Thanks for the reply. Is the VIN boss on the vertical or horizontal, I poked about back there with a mirror and didn't see a boss similar to the FE, assuming it would be a raised flat spot?

And the grille trims are not the standard Argent, but darker on the CS? Per this site: "These stands or posts were painted the same argent color as the trim to help them disappear and again give that floating appearance to the lights." ???

Have two 68's so spotted the standard grille, didn't think it was correct.

I debated (and am still) the mods to a low production car, but as its all really bolt-in/on and I'll maintain all OEM verifed parts it "could" go back with some work (repaint/rebadge/swap drive train). Debating having the shop repair and paint the hood and headlight buckets as well, and just set 'em aside. To spend the money to restore a C code to the standard I want for the EXP is probably over-the top. Both would be an investment of more then the worth of the end result, as is the nature of the hobby...

I was almost ready to buy a coupe, but using the CS saves me thousands in tail area parts, shipping and bodywork to fit... and is what was used by Shelby for the original EXP.

Done two near concours restos and while I appreciate them and originality was looking for a slight deviation, am still debating "molesting" the car, and am not 100% conviced I will... but closer to 80/20 as I don't see them as really "rare", but somewhat "special" (pun intended!). :smile:

 

[somethingspecial]

IMHO I think an EXP500 clone is an awsom idea. Just remember to reinforce the shock towers before you drop the FE motor in. The 428 PI used the same exhaust manifolds as the GT390. It is your car and as folks around here will tell you, do what you want with it. Whether it is restoring it to drive or haul around in a trailer like a model, or build it into the car of your dreams. The GT/CS is the best starting point for your project in my opinion. Mike

 

[dalorzo_f]

Yep, have two FE's and am well aware of the reinforcement, definately on the list, but thanks for pointing it out!

I'll be driving it around for at least a few months before any decisions, its a good little driver, and as it will be registered in a week or so, why not!! :grin: The all wheel drums are a bit ... "different" but nothing unsafe (drove my S code convertible with factory drums for a few years before upgrading to discs, if its OK for an FE its gotta be fine on a 289!) as its going to be light around town use until the final decision and parts are in hand... should turn a few heads, its a nice 15 footer...