1982 Mercury Capri RS T-Top 5.0 4 speed Resurrection

[NAVYCAT]

Floor replacement! Good to see you getting time with the capri

Hey looking good, but I have a question 4 ya......in the picture looking down at the bumper cover (so my question is) my cover between the headlights (in front of the grill) is as wavy as a dogs rear leg! do you know of a way to smooth it out? (also it is already mounted on with the rivets across)

[wraithracing]

Hey looking good, but I have a question 4 ya......in the picture looking down at the bumper cover (so my question is) my cover between the headlights (in front of the grill) is as wavy as a dogs rear leg! do you know of a way to smooth it out? (also it is already mounted on with the rivets across)

Thanks!

There are a couple of things you could try. The first would be to use some Rigid foam or wood blocks between the metal bumper reinforcement and the urethane cover. Then use either a heat gun/heat lamp to warm the cover up as much as possible. Then allow the cover to sit and cool and hopefully it will smooth out and stay. You might need to set it out in the sun for several days or weeks to make it work.

The other option is to use some metal pieces under the cover and some 2K urethane adhesive to attach the metal to the cover. The metal would span across the wavy area to help level everything out. The metal doesn't have to overly thick, but probably 16-18 gauge. If you want/need to talk about it a bit more, send me a PM and I will give you my cell #.

[NAVYCAT]

Great Thanks Trey, I was thinking about using foam blocks and push them under the cover and use some heat on them. I also got in my brand new fender extensions for both sides from (johns Cougars) really nice IMO and $85.00 each was well worth it and fit perfect

[wraithracing]

Great Thanks Trey, I was thinking about using foam blocks and push them under the cover and use some heat on them. I also got in my brand new fender extensions for both sides from (johns Cougars) really nice IMO and $85.00 each was well worth it and fit perfect

No problem! Glad to hear things are coming together for your Capri too!

[NAVYCAT]

so far so good

[wraithracing]

Since the weather here has been terrible for almost 2 weeks with super high humidity and constant afternoon thunderstorms and the occasional shower though out the day, we have been unable to get any paint work done on Erratic50's Saleen Clone. Everything is prepped and waiting for the weather to improve next week. So in the mean time we have been working on other stuff and lucky for me that even includes my 82 RS.

The 1982 RS that just keeps on giving was kind enough to show this once the front sheet metal was removed.



Honestly surprised me since the passenger door was in good shape, but the driver's door is rotted out. Oh well! So all of that ugliness had to be removed.



Now that the rust, crud, and nasty stuff has been removed and cleaned up! Time to put it all back together.







That takes care of the major repair on the passenger side. Now just the rest of the Capri!

[STANGMAN116]

Wow great work!!!! Awesome to see some progress on it!!!!

[onetrackrider]

I' gonna be so jealous...will you let me drive it when your finished

Looking good..bud..

[Davedacarpainter]

Very nice Trey

[SECESH]

My TRX came with the the same wimp-o-rary spare.

[erratic50]

You had WAY more fun than I did today..... glad to see it!

[wraithracing]

Thanks Guys!

You had WAY more fun than I did today..... glad to see it!

It was more therapeutic than anything. I have realized that when I don't feel like I am moving forward or making progress on projects I start to get irritated and frustrated. Not being able to get the trim sprayed on your Saleen Clone has been driving me crazy for the last almost 2 weeks. Although the trim is ready to spray it all looks sad, just sitting there waiting for color. I was sick of looking at my RS sitting in the corner not getting any love and 3/4 torn apart.

We even cut down a new driver's door to replace the rotted out original that is too far gone to save.



The rear roof has been patched and repaired and finally welded in place and riveted to the T-top panel. Some filler work on the sail panels and some primer to protect it and get ready for some block sanding to see what we have missed.





Now I just need the spare time to cut the floor out of the 1986 that donated it's roof to the Saleen Clone and we will be ready to get ride of the rusty/crusty floor in the RS. Then we should be ready to wrap up the body work and get some color on the car.

[Davedacarpainter]

Thanks Guys!



It was more therapeutic than anything. I have realized that when I don't feel like I am moving forward or making progress on projects I start to get irritated and frustrated. Not being able to get the trim sprayed on your Saleen Clone has been driving me crazy for the last almost 2 weeks. Although the trim is ready to spray it all looks sad, just sitting there waiting for color. I was sick of looking at my RS sitting in the corner not getting any love and 3/4 torn apart.

We even cut down a new driver's door to replace the rotted out original that is too far gone to save.



The rear roof has been patched and repaired and finally welded in place and riveted to the T-top panel. Some filler work on the sail panels and some primer to protect it and get ready for some block sanding to see what we have missed.





Now I just need the spare time to cut the floor out of the 1986 that donated it's roof to the Saleen Clone and we will be ready to get ride of the rusty/crusty floor in the RS. Then we should be ready to wrap up the body work and get some color on the car.

Phttttttt! Floorpan's a piece of cake........LOL!

Lots and lots and lots and lots of spot welds......Should be fun.

[wraithracing]

Phttttttt! Floorpan's a piece of cake........LOL!

Lots and lots and lots and lots of spot welds......Should be fun.

I agree, but I was thinking that Ford over did the whole spot weld issue. I am thinking a dozen or so per side should be just fine. Save me a ton of time too!

Getting the floor cut out of the donor car is more of an issue than welding it into the RS IMHO. Would love to just order a complete floor, but the budget just doesn't allow that right now. Besides I have a good one from an 86, so no reason not to use it.

[wraithracing]

I forgot to take pictures of the process, but this morning, me and a couple of buddies cut the floor out of the donor car for the Capri. Definitely not for the faint of heart!

Now all we have to do it cut off all the extra metal from the rockers, etc. not need and prep it for the installation into the Capri. Oh and cut the floor out of the Capri. I will get pictures soon.

[Davedacarpainter]

I forgot to take pictures of the process, but this morning, me and a couple of buddies cut the floor out of the donor car for the Capri. Definitely not for the faint of heart!

Now all we have to do it cut off all the extra metal from the rockers, etc. not need and prep it for the installation into the Capri. Oh and cut the floor out of the Capri. I will get pictures soon.

Woohoo! Right on Trey, Do you have one of those fancy .5" belt sanders? Or will you be wearing out some spot weld cutters?

[NAVYCAT]

I forgot to take pictures of the process, but this morning, me and a couple of buddies cut the floor out of the donor car for the Capri. Definitely not for the faint of heart!

Now all we have to do it cut off all the extra metal from the rockers, etc. not need and prep it for the installation into the Capri. Oh and cut the floor out of the Capri. I will get pictures soon.

Did you measure 10 times and cut once?????

[wraithracing]

Woohoo! Right on Trey, Do you have one of those fancy .5" belt sanders? Or will you be wearing out some spot weld cutters?

Nope don't have the fancy belt sander. I do have the Eastwood SCT now and have to admit I love that tool! Although probably not all that helpful with this application. Probably wear out some drill bits, some spot weld cutters, and a few air chisel bits too getting everything cleaned up. Only burned up one Plasma cutter tip getting the floor out of the donor so not too bad IMHO.

Did you measure 10 times and cut once?????

Measure . . . We Don't Need No Sticking TAPE MEASURE!

Nope, eyeballed everything and made about 100 cuts or more with the plasma. Over cut the donor floor, then clean up the excess, then the tape measure will come out to make sure the donor fits the Capri.

[erratic50]

Looks like a great way to blow off steam!

[69clark]

Subbing'

[wraithracing]

You know the guy doing this build up really needs to add some updates!

He's almost as bad as the guy doing that Saleen Clone . . . or the 82 GT T-top Build . . . . or . . . .

[83gt351w]

You wouldn’t believe how much of a slacker that guy with the 82 GT is! The updates are like waiting until the next season of your favorite show.

[wraithracing]

You wouldn’t believe how much of a slacker that guy with the 82 GT is! The updates are like waiting until the next season of your favorite show.

Worse it's like the show got cancelled and NO ONE Told You!

[Killingcivics]

Reading this thread makes me wonder what tragedies I will discover pulling mine apart. My door jambs worry me and I doubt I will ever find a decent sunroof roof.

[wraithracing]

Reading this thread makes me wonder what tragedies I will discover pulling mine apart. My door jambs worry me and I doubt I will ever find a decent sunroof roof.

Keep in mind this poor RS had been sitting behind the PO storage barn for 22 years. That unfortunately didn't help it in any way. That plus the humidity and rain of South East Texas didn't do the body or interior any favors. I have most of it fixed. Still need to address the floor and the front frame rail/core support and then she's ready for final blocking before paint.