I am a HUGE fan of all the threads here that show folks working on their Mustangs and bringing them back to life.
well, I figured I would become a poster and not just a reader now. Here is my pride and joy, 1986 Mustang LX convertible with a 3.8 V6 (yes, another one!). I bought it when I was a poor Sergeant in the Marine Corps in 1999. The blue paint and those stripes caught my eye as I drove past the car lot. Little did I know what lay in store for me!
i took it to the hobby shop on base and lifted it to get an idea of what I was dealing with. I pulled the tires off and pulled the rear brake drums. Parts fell out of the drivers side rear! The oil was consistent with molasses and the trans fluid smelled like a forest fire. Top it off with the front end being just this side of falling off!
saved my pennies and bought new pads front and rear and hardware kit for rear drums. Bought two oil changes and a can of Risolene and a filter kit and fluid for the trans. I did the brakes and led them. I changed the fluid and filter in the trans. I changed the oil, drove it around the neighborhood, poured the Risolene into the crankcase and idled for 5 minutes. Drained that oil....nasty would be an understatement! Put a new filter and oil in. Did a tune- up with new ignition parts, changed all the fuel filters, and dumped fuel injector cleaner in the tank. Purred like a kitten!
Drove it daily for 2 years before being transferred overseas. Put it storage and there she sat for 12 years. Finally dug it out and dragged it across country to Virginia Beach where I live now. Know what a 1/4 tank of gas smells like after 12 years? My son, now old enough to help, has been invaluable in bringing the car back to life. Together we have gotten all the electric windows to work, electric door locks to work, and convertible top to work.
We we bought some 16 inch pony rims off Craigslist and will be repainting them and putting on new shoes soon. I will document the painting process of the rims. Been doing lots of research online on how to do it! Now it is time!!!
that is the history.....now it is time to do what all of you have done and share my triumphs and set backs. Let the games begin!
Connect With Us