84 5C/35 TuTone 5.0/T5 Coupe Restoration (Concours)

[Travis T]

Are those struts any good after sitting all this time?

[4eyes]

Are those struts any good after sitting all this time?

That's an excellent question. Anyone know how I can check?

[wraithracing]

If the struts are pressurized units you should be able to depress the piston shaft by hand and if it returns and fully extends then they are fine. If they don't return then most likely the struts are no longer good.

Trey

[4eyes]

If the struts are pressurized units you should be able to depress the piston shaft by hand and if it returns and fully extends then they are fine. If they don't return then most likely the struts are no longer good.

Trey

Thanks Trey,

The one already extended compressed and rebounded very smooth. The second shock had never been unlocked. It took a few assisted attempts but it loosened up and now functions almost as easily as the first! That would've been a bummer because these are hard to find...

[4eyes]

What does the "M" on the end of the part number denote? The second box doesn't have it.

[4eyes]

Well it's been way too long since I posted any updates on the restoration. To get things back on track, I'll start by posing a couple questions, first who thinks my interior was painted gray or this is just a really bad case of fade?

Next, what color should screw heads holding head light bezels in place be? Mine are black but wondered if they were painted by PO.

Thanks!

[4eyes]

Noticed this yellow paint stamp on driver's side shock tower. It says "12 01." I know the car was manufactured on 12/1/83 so think this is a factory marking. Anyone else find four digit stamp on left shock tower?

[rodster]

Yes, have them on my 83 TBird and 84 SVO. You are correct, it's the factory build date stamping.

[79mustangcobra]

Very nice! Thanks for posting your progress

[dk5_cobra]

thank you for taking all of the extra time to document all of these little details. you're doing important work for people who do concourse style restorations. and nos motorcraft shocks? sweeeeet. I have a nos set of taillights waiting to go on my 79 cobra among other smaller nos pieces. they're my favorite

[4eyes]

Very nice! Thanks for posting your progress

thank you for taking all of the extra time to document all of these little details. you're doing important work for people who do concourse style restorations. and nos motorcraft shocks? sweeeeet. I have a nos set of taillights waiting to go on my 79 cobra among other smaller nos pieces. they're my favorite

Thanks guys! I'm a subscriber to both your threads. Your kind words give me extra drive to do this right... cut no corners. I'd love to just rip every component, harness and bolt off then start the rebuilding process but this time is different. This is an investigation, a research project. Hopefully, in the end, I'll do this car justice. Stay tuned!

[4eyes]

Update time: actually, maybe a bit of a confession... I've been dragging me feet on the restoration because I had an offer from a restoration shop to help me with the job, at a discount, if the project could be used in a youtube show, advertising, etc. Well, the deal has finally dissolved as they continue to drag their feet and I want the car done. I've been restoring parts as I've taken the car apart but very slowly since the majority was suppose to happen on camera.

I'm now back to original plan to do the job myself. I'll have engine and trans rebuilt, body painted after I do most of body work, and seats reupholstered. Most everything else will be in house.

I was hanging out at Green's Sales yesterday, very lucky to have such a great resource within 30 minutes, and found the last "unique" piece for Special Tu-Tone paint, the correct blue tri-color tape stripe!



We figured out the blue/silver and blue/light blue tu-tone cars share same tape stripe except the fender extension. On silver car the extension has silver triangle under stripe as in picture, my car needs a light blue triangle. My plan is to use this kit as a template and have a sign shop reproduce the kit for me with switched triangle color to light blue.

[Travis T]

Looking forward to seeing this car painted, I bet it was a pretty car when new.

[StangItMan]

Glad you are able to get back in the groove ... these cars are worth the attention.

[4eyes]

Here's a few interesting pics during exhaust removal. I'm trying to figure out a way to reuse the muffler shell but have new internals installed. If anyone "has a guy" I'd be interested in hearing from you. I'm glad rear end tag is still intact. Hopefully, all will decode to match rest of car.

Also, if anyone notices non-OEM parts in any pictures please point them out. We all can use an extra set of eyes.

[FoxChassis]

Axle Tag
WFC R-
3M01 = built December 1, 1983
3L08 = 3.08:1 gear ratio, Traction-Lok differential
A
75 = 7.5" ring gear
S271D = axle code (S = Sterling axle plant)

[STANGMAN116]

Amazing!!!!

[82GTforME]

That's great that the original muffler was still on the car. That's one thing that was changed on the Tangerine 79 I'm doing, although the remaining undercarriage and suspension were all original down to the tags on three of four springs.

Not sure about changing or replacing internals on them though. I'd like to hear if you find somewhere though Chris for future reference.

Keep up the good fight!

[4eyes]

Axle Tag
WFC R-
3M01 = built December 1, 1983
3L08 = 3.08:1 gear ratio, Traction-Lok differential
A
75 = 7.5" ring gear
S271D = axle code (S = Sterling axle plant)

Thank you sir! That matches build sheet and Marti report.

[4eyes]

That's great that the original muffler was still on the car. That's one thing that was changed on the Tangerine 79 I'm doing, although the remaining undercarriage and suspension were all original down to the tags on three of four springs.

Not sure about changing or replacing internals on them though. I'd like to hear if you find somewhere though Chris for future reference.

Keep up the good fight!

Darran, you'll come to learn I'm very bull headed... I'll do it myself if I have to because the car won't be correct in my eyes if it doesn't have this Ford muffler in place. I watched a video by Legendary Motor Car were they rebuilt one for a Ferrari, so it can be done.

I'm going to soak it in evaporust first to see how it cleans up. Stay tuned.

[4eyes]

Been wondering how bad metal is under the 1/8 inch of bondo caked on the roof and deck. So far nothing tragic, 1 ding in right corner near rear window and a low spot 6 inches in from edge of lid. Definitely looking up for being able to use original panels after rust repair instead of replacements. That'll keep originality of car even higher.

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[STANGMAN116]

Man im so gladtit's not catastrophic under. .. but you mentioned rust repair??

[4eyes]

Man im so gladtit's not catastrophic under. .. but you mentioned rust repair??

I'm cutting bottoms off both doors and replacing with new metal, doing the same with the deck lid. That way I know panel fitment is good. Don't worry buddy, I'm not talking cutting quarters or floors.

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[STANGMAN116]

Oh I was just curious at what rust you found... but I do recall the bottom of the doors, im just glad the roof wasnt completly hosed up...

[4eyes]

I haven't sanded roof yet but by inspecting from inside the car, it seems okay. I'll post pics when in bare metal prior to priming.

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