'83 Mustang L "Project Penny"

[Newfie63]

Alright guys so this project is going to go much further than I had intended originally, so I figure I might as well start a build thread for it! I had picked the car up for $600 running and driving with a V6 auto, with intentions to fix it up a little and 302 swap it, and that would be it... but we all know how that goes I picked the car up when I was 15 in 2011 and have been working on it ever since! I won't back track and fill the thread with pictures so I'll give you some back story on it, mod/fixing wise(In mostly chronological order): I got it, took it home, had a cousin rattle can it black for me which lo and behold turned out awful. Instead of worrying about that I went to the interior, stripped it down and left only the dash hull, cut out rusty floor area and put in some sheet metal, I painted everything from the dash pad up red, and I switched out the mexican blanket seats and door panels for 86 GT gray stuff. had to take apart 3 center consoles, and separate foam/plastic/cover from the armrest, and actually managed to make one good one! removed chrome trim, and did flat black, disassembled front clip, sanded the whole car down, replaced the trunk, and did some extensive metal/filler repairs on the passenger 1/4, and 2 front fenders, and primed the whole car. replaced the rear shocks with Munroe coilovers, replaced the front springs and shocks with KYB. Drove the car down the road to a buddys, put it in the garage did final prep and painted the next day. skip a few weeks of odds and ends, taped up around side windows and did whole area flat black. Sent the car to the garage for entire brake job every single thing from the master cylinder back was done brand new, had it inspected and that was that. mostly untouched since bought a parts car the winter and soon going to be doing the engine swap! with out further ado the link to my photobucket is in my signature, I try to keep it updated, and I'll start here with the much more recent picture of the car and motor.

[mustangxtreme]

That aught to get you down the road.

[grabbergreen84]

Did you shave the Pony emblem on the hood?

Paint looks pretty striking.

[83gtstang]

Did you shave the Pony emblem on the hood?

Paint looks pretty striking.

The hood is from a 83-86 Mustang, not a 79-82.

[Mike1157]

I think it needs to come down from the upper atmosphere about 2".

[84StangSVT]

The hood is from a 83-86 Mustang, not a 79-82.

The nose is from a 79-82.........The hood would be right and the nose would be wrong if this car is in fact an 83 as the thread title states.

Either way, the paint looks extremely good.

[ZephyrEFI]

I won't back track and fill the thread with pictures

You say that like it's a bad thing! That's what these threads are for!!

Car looks kickass by the way.

[83gtstang]

The nose is from a 79-82.........The hood would be right and the nose would be wrong if this car is in fact an 83 as the thread title states.

Either way, the paint looks extremely good.

LOL good catch, I didn't pay attention to the title of the thread. Yes nose is not for the year of the car for sure if it's an 83.

[84StangSVT]

LOL good catch, I didn't pay attention to the title of the thread. Yes nose is not for the year of the car for sure if it's an 83.

I got your back brother LOL!

[83GLCoupe]

And that would be why the hood is pushing down on the grill and creating the gap above the headlight surrounds.

Other than that, she looks sweeeet!

[Newfie63]

Thanks for all the compliments gents! And yeah before I bought it she was in slight accident, so the bumper was replaced, which I am quite okay with I honestly like it more anyways, plus I got a Pacecar hood scoop and a hood I just need to fix it up and paint it. And a lowering kit wouldn't hurt but I'm waiting to wide body it because any lower right now and my tires rub the fenders/1/4's

[4-barrel Mike]

I LIKE that color!



Mike

[Travis T]

I like that color too, it's different than the usual. When you get ready to paint and install that hood, don't forget you'll have to change out the cowl trim and fill in a few holes to match the trim to the hood so you'll want to paint that at the same time.

[Jerry peachuer]

Looks like a postcard with mountains in the background
Your view sucks lol j/k

[mustang22]

Nice coupe . congrats

[83gtstang]

I had a 79 notchback. Funny thing is I ended up swapping the hood and nose for an 84. I like the color too.

[Newfie63]

Well guys, figured I'd throw on an update! v6 Motor and tranny pulled, got the wiring harness removed from all the clips and put up over the fender in the the corner by brake booster. I just pressure washed it today, if the weather is fit paint will happen tomorrow! (Flat black engine bay, everything else will stand out, don't judge me lol) got the motor back together with new timing chain/gears & gaskets and has since been painted up, along with transmission. in the process of the transmission I found out some funny things, the pump is from a 66 fairlane the guts of it are from a 64 fairlane, bell housing is from a 77 (?) and center housing is from a 74(?) all mismatched part numbers.. Anyways, here are some pics!

[Newfie63]

So guys I finally got the 5.0 in, got the carb fully rebuilt, got it running, towed it to get exhaust done, picked it up the next day, finally went to make her move under its own power.... andddd the Transmission was slipping like mad, so we took it out Saturday(yesterday), and brought it to get rebuilt luckily a good buddy of mine used to work at a place called "Transmission experts" and the title is fitting lol! so with any luck I'll be rollin' in my 5.0 by the weekend! And just incase anyone wants to hear her purr- Here you go! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-offKhAxZ0

[83gtstang]

Cool man congrats! Did you have open exhaust?

[Newfie63]

Thanks! I had open headers which was in the video, but I put 2 "Turbo" mufflers on Thrush or Cherry bomb makes them. I thought it'd be a quite sound but it actually gave it a decent rumble, its 2 2 inch straight pipes turned down by the axle.

[82GTforME]

It's a nice looking car; little Penny. What did you do for the wing on the trunk?

[83gtstang]

Is it me or is the engine sitting a little higher on the driver's side?

[Newfie63]

The wing I honestly have no clue what it is, I bought it second hand but I've had people tell me its off a Trans Am GTA style. And I think they're right! ... And 83gtstang, I never noticed that before but I'm quit confident in saying its just the picture, because it looks perfect in person

[Newfie63]

Another late update but Everything is fixed up, she now runs, and I've had her for a few runs! Carb is still acting up though, needs some tweaks. Sadly the dual snorkel air cleaner didn't come with the motor so I had to make due with the '79 one. Also I did some fiberglass and body filler work on a hurting unit of a hood scoop, but all in all I must say it turned out good if I do say so myself!

[Newfie63]

I figure 11 months later is still a good a time as any to update the thread lol, but anyways I have ambitions to turn this into a T-Top coupe, so I went and found a parts car (that was far beyond salvagable) and got the works of it! So here a few pics I snapped of the poor car before and after. Now is just wait for the right time to put my car under the knife.... Any suggestions as to cutting up for a T-Top would be appreciated!