ujslost
02-25-2008, 03:43 AM
Back around June 07 or there abouts. I bought a 79 Ghia Coupe from a guy for $325. And believe me it was a $325 car at best!
Description of car when bought:
Blue with white vinyl top. 14 Inch wheels and tires. 4cyl, automatic. Non air car. Car actually ran! But needed a master cylinder. Fixed master cylinder and drove it a few miles and found out it needed some vac hoses. Fixed those drove it a few more miles. Everytime I fixed something, it would run fine for a day or so, then some more crap would go wrong. I planned on driving it with the 4cyl while I started on the body panels and interior. That didnt last but about a month before I finally deceided it was time to throw the v8 and T5 at it.
Started on the body work and interior. Immediatly took the vinyl top off to find out that under it wasnt as bad as I thought it was gonna be. tore the ragged interor and found out the floor panels were pretty much shot. So out came the grinder and I went to cutting out the bad stuff. Bought some new sheet metal and began repairing the floor pans. Done some minor sanding and threw a coat of flat black spray bomb paint on the body to get it all one color after removing the top and other panels. Sold the 79 front clip to a guy in MS since the front bumper cover was in mint condition. Then bought myself a 85-86 front clip. Removed dash and bought new console and carpet and seats. Painted all interior plastics black along with the dash and new console. Picked up a set of Mint condition escort exp grey halo headrest seats for the front and a rear 86 back seat and hat rack and had the interior 80% restored.
A few weeks ago ordered some new door panels from online. And all new door seals. Uprgraded to 86 model manual window and lock doors.
So far the interior is 90% restored the v8/t5 swap has been done and the car is running again after some long struggles with a werid T5 problem I encountered which involved the ford t5 having a chevrolet out put shaft and some home made modified drive shaft! Well threw crap in the parts pile and aquired another t5 from blue90lx and rebuilt it and problem solved now. Threw on a set of used draglites and some new rubbers. Rewired taillights to work with 87-93 taillights and installed updated taillights. Painted engine bay cast blast and dressed the engine up a little bit since I was doing a I4-v8 swap and needed alot of new parts anyhow.
Still need to swap my 8.8 in and replace the power steering. Need to have all glass removed and resealed since all the seals are nearly 29 years old. Its been a long but pretty quick road to where shes at today. Thus project "To Hell and Back" is born!
Its 4:32am now so I will upload some before and after pics ASAP as I have taken many many along the way. But here are a few to give ya an idea. I have yet to get any engine pics.
Before Pictures!!!
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/79coupe004.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/79coupe005.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/79coupe009.jpg
After Pictures!!!
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/coupe002.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/coupe001.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/FlatBlack002.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/fenderspainted001.jpg
Description of car when bought:
Blue with white vinyl top. 14 Inch wheels and tires. 4cyl, automatic. Non air car. Car actually ran! But needed a master cylinder. Fixed master cylinder and drove it a few miles and found out it needed some vac hoses. Fixed those drove it a few more miles. Everytime I fixed something, it would run fine for a day or so, then some more crap would go wrong. I planned on driving it with the 4cyl while I started on the body panels and interior. That didnt last but about a month before I finally deceided it was time to throw the v8 and T5 at it.
Started on the body work and interior. Immediatly took the vinyl top off to find out that under it wasnt as bad as I thought it was gonna be. tore the ragged interor and found out the floor panels were pretty much shot. So out came the grinder and I went to cutting out the bad stuff. Bought some new sheet metal and began repairing the floor pans. Done some minor sanding and threw a coat of flat black spray bomb paint on the body to get it all one color after removing the top and other panels. Sold the 79 front clip to a guy in MS since the front bumper cover was in mint condition. Then bought myself a 85-86 front clip. Removed dash and bought new console and carpet and seats. Painted all interior plastics black along with the dash and new console. Picked up a set of Mint condition escort exp grey halo headrest seats for the front and a rear 86 back seat and hat rack and had the interior 80% restored.
A few weeks ago ordered some new door panels from online. And all new door seals. Uprgraded to 86 model manual window and lock doors.
So far the interior is 90% restored the v8/t5 swap has been done and the car is running again after some long struggles with a werid T5 problem I encountered which involved the ford t5 having a chevrolet out put shaft and some home made modified drive shaft! Well threw crap in the parts pile and aquired another t5 from blue90lx and rebuilt it and problem solved now. Threw on a set of used draglites and some new rubbers. Rewired taillights to work with 87-93 taillights and installed updated taillights. Painted engine bay cast blast and dressed the engine up a little bit since I was doing a I4-v8 swap and needed alot of new parts anyhow.
Still need to swap my 8.8 in and replace the power steering. Need to have all glass removed and resealed since all the seals are nearly 29 years old. Its been a long but pretty quick road to where shes at today. Thus project "To Hell and Back" is born!
Its 4:32am now so I will upload some before and after pics ASAP as I have taken many many along the way. But here are a few to give ya an idea. I have yet to get any engine pics.
Before Pictures!!!
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/79coupe004.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/79coupe005.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/79coupe009.jpg
After Pictures!!!
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/coupe002.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/coupe001.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/FlatBlack002.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w91/ujslost/79%20notch/fenderspainted001.jpg