Garage paint shop in action - Thanks to Mark the painter

almost annual update

I knew it had been a while but didn't think it had been over ten months since an update....getting along on final body work... ugh another learning curve Let's get 'er done.

Thanks to Mike Page for posting the old pics from 1975 on Facebook. I copied them here. This was a camping trip with six of us and gear piled in the car. No wonder it was hugging the ground. I remember the u-joints going bad a few months after the "watch this" moment in the creek. Who is that 20 year old idiot sitting on my car? Oh it's me.

Some pics of rear bumper brackets being fabricated and in place, plastic pipe mock-up of front auxilliary bumber and start of metal aux. bumper fabrication. Also recently installed side marker lights but guess I didn't take in pictures. I'll get some on here next time.

So most of June was dedicated to getting the project to actually run. success was achieved in late June after having the fuel injectors cleaned and draining out all the old gas from circa 2003. Someday I may post video of the mutliple trials that it took. The first trip around the block on July 1 probably killed any mosquitos within a half mile. It has been running OK since and i've logged about 30 miles of around town driving with no front fenders or hood. Other happennings since the last post...

• wiring is about 90% complete
• LED tail/backup lights mounted in modified taillight "buckets" that were purchased off e-bay. Taillights also required a converter to get the signals correct for combined tail/signal.
• Mirrors mounted and wired (electric remote). These are aftermarket replacements intended for early 90'd ford pickups that were the last to have wind wing windows. The fun part was the support arm that sticks into the door that you don't see.
• Fenders and hood installed for now, may have to come off for final body work etc.

On the to do list....

• Front and rear bumpers
• trailer hitch (I found one at a Phoenix junk yard )
• front and rear side marker lights
• finish wiring... interior lights speakers, center brake lights etc.
• tires/alignment/full suspension check
• roof insulation, headliner
• final body work
• interior and exterior paint
• door panels
• mechanical checks/fixes, I think it has a few minor leaks
• A/C check/re-charge/repair?

The rear window switch and the sunroof switch mounted in the dash panel. Turned out well if I do say so myself. Lots of detail to get the Dash in place. Got have it all to make the computer happy in order to try and make the car run.

been a while

Ok ....I already set up a post and lost it ......arrrrgh! So this will be quick. Three pictures of some of the activities since September.....

Adding a roof support that came out of the parts sedan

Installing a custom panel in the right rear interior.

And adding reiforcment in the left rear panel.

since April.... someone at fordsix.com found the pic of the white Ranchero, A friend and I snapped the pic of the yellow Ranchero in Willams, AZ, I more or less completed the engine compartment less a few parts that need replacing and I've been working on details around, on, in and under the dashboard including the custom defroster ducting in the picture. I still don't understand how to format these blogs with pictures and text. So if this looks wierd - so what!