2.3L Turbo Engine | Body Mods | The Real Daytona Coupes | What'swith the "IIs"?

My Other

MUSTANG IIs

In addition to Project G.T. 140, I've also started work on three more Mustang IIs. Yes, it's an addiction!

 

The '77:

The second car I purchased was a '77 hatchback. Originally I was just interested in buying it for the 8" rear to install in GT140, but I just don't have the heart to part these cars out. This particular car was abandoned behind an old dealership for a number of years. I managed to track the owner down and as the place was within days of being bulldozed, he needed to sell the car right away. I managed to buy it for a whopping $50 Cdn. (about $30 U.S.). The car had been stored outside for about 10 years and the combination of a hole in the hood (for a scoop) and a missing intake manifold meant the 302 had swallowed a lot of water, dirt and other crud. I pulled the engine out and did a quickie rebuild. While it was out I also did a quick spray can paint job on the engine bay just to spruce things up a bit. This car was to be given to my daughter to use for two years on the condition that she helps restore it to driveable condition. She jumped right in and helped with the engine rebuild as well as a lot of the bodywork.

Due to some recent developments (see below) work on the '77 has ground to a halt and it's future is uncertain (but I do have some interesting ideas!)

 

 

My daughter and the '77

Specifications:
1977, 2+2 with 302 V8, C4 Auto
Light Aqua Metallic, cloth/vinyl interior

Options: aluminum rims

 

 

 

The original 302 after its rebuild.

 

 

The "Ghia":

The third Mustang II I've purchased was a '77 Ghia. I found this one in a local ad. Not wanting to see it chopped up for its front suspension (the owner already had several street rodders calling him) I quickly handed over the $370 to rescue it. After trailering it home, I went over the car and assessed my purchase. The car is fairly loaded with options including air conditioning, 4-way driver's seat, leather wrapped sport wheel, folding back seat (in a coupe?) and others.

The car is similarly equipped but not one of the " Ghia Sports Appearance Group" package cars offered in '77 as shown in this Ford ad. I've found a replacement luggage rack (thanks Matt!)since mine was missing but I will keep the aluminum slots instead of the "lacy spoke" design.

The first task I had was to get it running. The previous owner explained it was his son's car and he had been trying for months to get it going to no avail. I managed to get it going within a day but it ran horribly. Following the good advice of fellow II owners on Stangnet, I did a compression check and found the 302 was only running on half of its cylinders. At one time the timing chain had broken and rather than look for damage, the previous owner had simply replaced the chain. I pulled the heads and found the problem, five bent intake valves and one bent pushrod! Not wanting to spend a lot of money at the time, I purchased new valves from my engine builder and threw the car back together. Even though I didn't bother to grind the valves, the engine now runs great. The next steps were to remove the rotten vinyl top (will be replaced) and scrub, sand, and polish out some bright red, green and blue spray paint some "pinhead" had painted on her rear flanks. There was also some damage to the interior. Someone obviously didn't care for the factory Stereo 8-track player and had proceeded to smash it in damaging the dash in the process. A replacement dash was found at the wrecker and the greater part of a weekend was spent swapping it in.

 

 

The Ghia as it sits today

 

 

 

The 302 after the new valves and some fresh "Ford Blue"

 

The interior:

Gotta love the '70s wood grain!

 

My intention with this car is to restore it back to as close as factory as possible while still using it as my daily driver. I have installed a replacement AM/FM Stereo (Ebay), found a luggage rack, replaced the windshield. Now to replace the vinyl top and start on the bodywork. The Ghia will be handed over to my youngest son when he turns 16 (next year) so he is already referring to it as "his" car (grin).

 

The "T-Top":

The fourth Mustang II I picked up was completely by accident. While picking up the valves for the Ghia, my engine builder asked me what they were going into. When I told him a Mustang II, he asked if I wanted another.

"How much?" I asked

"It's free to the first person to haul it out of my yard" he replied.

Needless to say, I was there with a trailer the next morning! To obtain a legal bill of sale, I paid him $5 for the car (when I got it home I found $10 in change in the glove compartment so its already paid for itself). This car (a '78) was originally equipped with a 2.8 V6 (long since removed) and a 4-speed manual. Option wise the car has few. Apart from the T-top, it came with a map light, center console and a driver's side remote mirror. I gave my daughter the option of choosing this car or keeping the '77. As expected she likes the T-roof so my focus has switched to this car.

 

Not wanting to do another engine rebuild at this time, I have decided to swap in the 302 and C4 auto from the '77 into this car. The T-top was also equipped with manual brakes and steering so these will also be exchanged for the power ones from the '77.

 

As can be seen in the photos, I have my work cut out for me! The T-top has a lot of rust damage to the body and it looks like at least one if not both doors will need replacing. I recently made a "no swap rule" to prevent my kids from pilfering parts from each other's cars so now I have to track down a lot of new parts rather than pull them off the '77.

 

 

The passenger side inner fender was completely rusted away where the battery tray was located so some "quickie" repairs were made and the compartment painted to prepare it for its new driveline.

What's with the "II's"?

01/11/02:

 

Alberta winters have a way of sneaking up on you! I pulled the engine out of the '77 on a Sunday evening with the intention of installing it into the T-top the next day. I awoke Monday morning to this site!

While I waited for the weather to warm up a little, I cleaned up the steering racks that will be exchanged. It is much easier to remove and install these with no engine in the car! It is surprising how much weight difference there is between the manual and power racks, now I know why manual is popular with drag racers. I also pulled the master brake cylinders and driver's side engine mounts and prepared them for the exchange.

 

Later that week the temperature had climbed to around freezing so I decided to install the 302 in it's new home. Everything went smoothly this time.

 

 Next steps for the T-top are to swap driveshafts with the '77 (done), finish hooking up the wiring(done), bleed the brakes and get her ready for a test drive(done). Then work will start on the interior, which will be switched from tan to black (AND DONE!..time to do updates!).

As for the '77? I'm thinking a "Boss 302" will fit just nicely (grin) I've already started building a "Clevor".

 

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