The 1981 Thread/Build

[cobra_4]

I hesitate to call this a project thread, but more of an on going update thread. So I left "project" off the title. I've had the car about a month now and have really been enjoying it, I've put about 1,000 miles in it and its doing great. But a few things need some attention before spring time. So in the dead of winter, what better time than to put it on the lift and make a few improvements. Here's the plan.


Oil Change
New Thermostat
Maybe a tune up
Install old school rear mud flaps
Clean interior
Buff and wax paint
Repaint and restore trim and all black parts
Polish wheels
Clean under the interior bay and paint where needed



Here are a few good photos I took of it to serve as kind of a before.






Here is a copy of my Marti Report the wife got me for Christmas.


Stay tuned for updates!

[richstang]

It looks like you have a nice solid car to start with. I bet it looks real sharp after you buff the paint and get the black trim painted. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

[cobra_4]

Did a little taping tonight, gonna try and get a lot done tomorrow night in place of partying too much for new years. Then maybe try and work on it all day Wednesday, maybe not, really in no big hurry, but I miss driving it already!

As I was walking out of the shop I noticed the car is sitting way sideways? I'd noticed before with a full tank of gas it scrubs the right rear tire but I didn't think anything of it. Wonder what is causing this?? Busted shock?

[mustangxtreme]

It could be a bad spring.

[cobra_4]

It could be a bad spring.

That's what Im thinking, or someone put spacers in it and one fell out, its got a little bit of rake to it so I think that may be the case.

[rkuhn]

Looks like the left side is high, Make sure the spring on that side has been installed correctly. That will make it sit up high on one side a squat the other side. Love the car though!

[cobra_4]

Okay, so I got up under the car, but I really don't know what's going on.

This is the drivers side, the one that's sitting up.




This is the passenger's side.




And the shock view, passenger side first.



No spacers or anything, I mean both springs are probably factory, but they both look equally as worn, if nothing the drivers side looks worse than the passenger? The hock on the right side doesn't seem to be holding much pressure, I can push the car up from underneath, but the driver side has similar movement in it too. I don't really know what to do other than replace shocks and springs and hope that fixes it?


Got the trim finished taping off, started with some paper but by that point I had spent my hour or so on it for the day so it was on to other projects!

[cobra_4]

Finally jumped back on the car today for a little while. Nice to have some warm weather!

Got most of the tape work done except for one little piece. Now I just gotta tape of the plastic pieces, then finish taping around what they don't cover. Then the scuffing and fun part starts!

[cobra_4]

Finally got her taped off! Won't get to work on it tomorrow night, but hopefully Thursday night and Friday night I can get her scuffed down and prepped. Then if weather allows paint on Saturday.

It was alot more work taping off to do the window trim, but I'm glad I did. I skipped that on the '79 and have always regretted it.

[mustangmania]

Cool car!

[cobra_4]

Cool car!

Thanks!!!!

[Gemini1999]

I'm looking forward to seeing how the trim comes out. I love the 79-82 hatchbacks!

[cobra_4]

Jumped on it tonight after work and got the scuff work done. Blowed off the dust and the lift so i wont pick up any dust. Now all i gotta do is hit it with some wax and grease remover, wipe it down good and spray. I may try and ease home a little early friday and get the first coat on if its warm enough.


Sent from my iPhone powered by my Coyote 5.0

[BDASPNY]

hey jeff! glad to see you working on this. great looking ride.

[cobra_4]

hey jeff! glad to see you working on this. great looking ride.

There goes the neighborhood!!!

[cobra_4]

Got off a little early yesterday and worked on her. Got two coats of paint on it! It turned out really good, or looks like its going too. It's got a few imprecations in it that your just not going to get out with 30 year old trim pieces but it should be a ton better than it was before.

1st coat











2nd coat






Gonna check it tonight and maybe do one more coat, just depends on how it turned out after it dried. Then, while I've got the car all taped up(and before I clay bar, detail, etc) I'm gonna raise the car on up tonight and paint/undercoat anything that needs attention underneath the car. It's really solid as is, but a little protection can't hurt anything while I'm into it.

Then the plan for Saturday is to un-tape her and start working on the paint!

[85FLGTCONVT]

Can wait to see how it turned out. I trim mlds are in need of a respray as well. I cant wait to see what you do with the undercarriage. I dont have any rust on mine but you can see that age is catching up on mine. Please take plenty of pictures.

[cobra_4]

Can wait to see how it turned out. I trim mlds are in need of a respray as well. I cant wait to see what you do with the undercarriage. I dont have any rust on mine but you can see that age is catching up on mine. Please take plenty of pictures.

I'll definitely take lots of pics! I'm not planning anything too serious underneath, nothing show car quality or anything crazy, just some nice preventative maintenance.

[BDASPNY]

There goes the neighborhood!!!

i think i have heard that before....


after sarah got her 86 i needed a place for specific info. looks great around here.

[cobra_4]

DId a little undercarriage work. Nothing major, just wanted to paint the rear end, etc.






Painted the pieces you can see below the doors down below the rocker panels, I had a before picture but I must have lost it.


Gotta have attention to detail, painted my screws for the front emblem and the headlight bezels.

[cobra_4]

And the finished product!





Turned out pretty good, only have one tiny spot I got a little black on the paint, and about two spots I need to touch up that didn't get painted, no big deal.


Next step is to do a little paint correction and a little touch up. Hopefully I can bring back some of the bad spots back to life!

[rkuhn]

Good Job!!! Love that car!

[cobra_4]

Good Job!!! Love that car!

Thanks buddy!

[bull-vette]

Nice work. Keep it up and the pictures coming!

[TopGear85]

Great work, it really made a nice improvement...well worth the time, effort, and $$. What's next (after you do the touch-ups you mentioned)?