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  1. #1

    Default 1985 GT "Dominator" project

    I finally have the time to pick back up the '85 Dominator project again. I have most everything stripped out of the car (save for a few side panels and the seat belts). It looks like some floor pan work and bottom of the doors will need TLC. Also some minor rust in other spots but the frame rails look good and most of the car is really solid.

    Here's some pictures after the tear down and prior to final clean up before taking to the body shop for metal work and paint.

    1. Driver side passenger floor

    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...urrent=004.jpg

    2. Driver side front floor pan

    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...urrent=005.jpg

    3. Passenger side floor pan

    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=004-Copy.jpg

    4. Driver door and Driver side pictures

    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=005-Copy.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=006-Copy.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=007-Copy.jpg

    5. Passenger door and Passenger side pictures

    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=009-Copy.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=008-Copy.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...urrent=014.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=010-Copy.jpg

    6. Rear Hatch, Rear Seat and Rear Hatch view pictures

    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...urrent=008.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=003-Copy.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=001-Copy.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...t=002-Copy.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...urrent=007.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...urrent=006.jpg

    7. Exterior pictures

    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...rent=009-1.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...urrent=010.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...urrent=011.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...urrent=013.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...urrent=003.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...urrent=009.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...urrent=002.jpg
    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o...urrent=001.jpg


    There is definitely some work to do! Wish me luck!
    Last edited by dakota4eyes; 08-16-2010 at 07:45 PM.
    2012 Boss 302

    1985 Canyon Red GT "Dominator package" T-Tops . . 7 year restoration

    1986 GT Conv. (Rare Black/Tan combo) Original 58k car

    1985.5 SVO . . #242 of 439, #50 of 75 1B Medium Charcoal Metallic 4 year restoration

  2. #2

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    wow that is alot of rust is that a norther states car or what. did you find it in a barn and what is the difference with a dominator

  3. #3
    FEP Power Member mb84gt's Avatar
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    That rust isn't too extensive. Pretty common for the t-top cars to need some floorpan repair. Glad the car is on its way back to glory. Kudos to you!
    Matt

    1985 Cougar XR-7 5 speed manual.

  4. #4
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    "Pretty common for the t-top cars to need some floorpan repair"

    Not where i live :-)
    66 7 Liter Galaxie 4 sale
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  5. #5
    FEP Super Member 79mustangcobra's Avatar
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    Dakota - it looks like you have lots of room to work in. That is so nice. I have to take my Cobra outside to open both doors in my one car garage!

    What is a Dominator Mustang?

    Thanks!
    1979 Mustang Cobra 5.0
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  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by 79mustangcobra View Post
    What is a Dominator Mustang?
    I was going to ask that, too.

  7. #7
    FEP Power Member mb84gt's Avatar
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    There is some info in this thread.
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=48793
    Matt

    1985 Cougar XR-7 5 speed manual.

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by mb84gt View Post
    That rust isn't too extensive. Pretty common for the t-top cars to need some floorpan repair. Glad the car is on its way back to glory. Kudos to you!
    Thanks Matt!

    Pictures definitely look worse than it really is. Driver floor needs work, and the underside of the doors. The main structural parts are really solid. It definitely is a poster child for an upper midwest T-Top car. If I can only get this one to look like yours, I would feel blessed!

    As far as room to work, the beauty of SD is there are only about 5 people up here so we can really spread out. Seriously, I do live just outside of town and I am blessed to have a 40x70 shed to work in. If I only had concrete on the floor!

    Timm
    2012 Boss 302

    1985 Canyon Red GT "Dominator package" T-Tops . . 7 year restoration

    1986 GT Conv. (Rare Black/Tan combo) Original 58k car

    1985.5 SVO . . #242 of 439, #50 of 75 1B Medium Charcoal Metallic 4 year restoration

  9. #9
    FEP Power Member mb84gt's Avatar
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    Timm, I have a question for you. There is a guy at my work that said his brother worked at Summit Ford and personally modded all the Dominators. He said that all the carbureated cars had water injection. I know that you have already disassembled the engine/engine bay, but did you see any evidence of any kind of water injection?
    Matt

    1985 Cougar XR-7 5 speed manual.

  10. #10

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    Matt,

    I don't remember seeing any evidence of water injection, but I will look at it again. Did he say how it was set up?
    2012 Boss 302

    1985 Canyon Red GT "Dominator package" T-Tops . . 7 year restoration

    1986 GT Conv. (Rare Black/Tan combo) Original 58k car

    1985.5 SVO . . #242 of 439, #50 of 75 1B Medium Charcoal Metallic 4 year restoration

  11. #11
    FEP Power Member mb84gt's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dakota4eyes View Post
    Matt,

    I don't remember seeing any evidence of water injection, but I will look at it again. Did he say how it was set up?
    Unfortunately, he didn't have much info. He was just telling me what his brother told him.
    Matt

    1985 Cougar XR-7 5 speed manual.

  12. #12
    FEP Power Member bluesfannoz's Avatar
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    There was no water injection on my 85 Dominator. You would only want that if they had added a turbocharger or supercharger to cut down on detonation occurring from the forced compression increase. They may have added it to some of the later fuel injected models when the superchargers became popular.

  13. #13
    FEP Power Member mb84gt's Avatar
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    I agree bluesfannoz. I was just going by what the guy told me. He said every carbed car got the water injection. Kinda seemed strange to me.
    Matt

    1985 Cougar XR-7 5 speed manual.

  14. #14

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    I looked again. No sign of the water injection.

    Update on the project.. I have cleaned up the interior surface rust and put down rust fighting primer over the spots. I ordered the driver's side floor pan and that will be the next step.

    I also painted all the interior pieces back to original dark grey. So once the floor pan is in, The rest of the interior will go back together and it will just be the exterior body work and paint, and finally the drivetrain.

    I have the t-top headliner from FoxMustangRestoration as well to complete the interior.

    It's slow but steady progress!
    2012 Boss 302

    1985 Canyon Red GT "Dominator package" T-Tops . . 7 year restoration

    1986 GT Conv. (Rare Black/Tan combo) Original 58k car

    1985.5 SVO . . #242 of 439, #50 of 75 1B Medium Charcoal Metallic 4 year restoration

  15. #15
    FEP Power Member mb84gt's Avatar
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    Sounds like it is coming along nicely!

    What was your final decision for the engine? I can't remember if you were going with a 5.0 or something way bigger.
    Matt

    1985 Cougar XR-7 5 speed manual.

  16. #16
    FEP Super Member Blainer's Avatar
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    Mine had rust as well but hard work and patience pays off in the end.
    -Currently Searching for "The One"

  17. #17

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    Quote Originally Posted by mb84gt View Post
    Sounds like it is coming along nicely!

    What was your final decision for the engine? I can't remember if you were going with a 5.0 or something way bigger.

    I was going for a 347 (even bought a short bock and then sold it), but as time has marched on I have my eye on a 331 motor putting out 380/380 at the motor on 9.2:1 compression. I like the combo and compression, it gives good HP/Torque at a compression that should run most versions of pump gas.

    The roller long block is priced at $3195. I have most of the rest of the items to finalize the dress. I am probably going to go with a TKO500 tremec to back it up.

    Here's a link to an e-bay listing of the engine:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-...QQcmdZViewItem


    I'll let you know if and when I make the true purchase.
    2012 Boss 302

    1985 Canyon Red GT "Dominator package" T-Tops . . 7 year restoration

    1986 GT Conv. (Rare Black/Tan combo) Original 58k car

    1985.5 SVO . . #242 of 439, #50 of 75 1B Medium Charcoal Metallic 4 year restoration

  18. #18
    FEP Power Member mb84gt's Avatar
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    Wow, sounds like a killer combo. You would definitely be doing some "dominating."
    Matt

    1985 Cougar XR-7 5 speed manual.

  19. #19
    FEP Power Member bluesfannoz's Avatar
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    Tracked down Dave Anderson, the owner of Anderson Racing Inc(ARI) and builder of the original Engines that were put into the 1983 Dominator GT's. This sounds like what has been described as the Stage III. Here is what he had to say:


    Steve, We built a 302 with forged TRW pistons, Moly rings clevite bearings, a solid camshaft, Large valves & springs, etc. in the heads,double roller timing. At first we were selling the manifold and carb witht he engine but later the dealership just bought the base longblock.

    Later when the dealership became worried about the emissions factor and fines they simply put stickers ont he cars and did some minor things and sold cars based on the reputation of the "real" Dominators.

    Someplace in the boxes of old records there is probably an invoice listing everything that we did, but I do not have time to dig.

    Will tell you a cute story though. Several years after we had done some of the forst engines, I recieved a phone call from a Dr. in overland park. He wanted to know if we were the builders of the Dominator engines. I said yes, and He said I want to tell you something. And then He went on to say he had owned many a foreign sports car including a Porche and the Gt he owned was faster and more fun then any of them. then he wanted to know if we would do a tune up. We don;t do that and directed him to one of our racing customer shop owners who was capable of adjusting solid lifters as well as do the proper tuning. He stayed in touch over the years and a couple of years back sold the car to someone who called and obviously were not too car savvy, so don't know what happened to it beyond that. But the original ownere had it around twenty years. Our intention in building the engine was to improve on the original concept 271 Hspr used in the mustang in 1965. It biggest advantage was the slightly increased compression, larger valves and a solid cam that easily allowed 6500 RPM when you fed it the gas.

    Hope that helps a little.

    Dave Anderson
    Steve
    "Taillights in Your Face Jack? You've just been Dominated!"
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  20. #20
    FEP Power Member mb84gt's Avatar
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    Good info, Steve. Thanks for sharing.
    Matt

    1985 Cougar XR-7 5 speed manual.

  21. #21

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    Steve, thanks for the info!

    An update...

    I've painted all the interior panels back to grey. The driver floor pan looks to be the only one needing to be replaced. It's in my living room waiting to head with the car to the body shop on Wed. to be welded in.

    I need to order the interior carpet, a new set of interior screws and the rubber plugs for the floor pan. Then I can start putting the interior back together.

    Still at a cross roads on what to do with the front seats. They have the typical rips in the cloth.

    Car won't go in for body work and paint until January.

    Slow but sure!

    I'll post a pic as it gets loaded on the trailer to head to the body shop for the floor pan install.
    2012 Boss 302

    1985 Canyon Red GT "Dominator package" T-Tops . . 7 year restoration

    1986 GT Conv. (Rare Black/Tan combo) Original 58k car

    1985.5 SVO . . #242 of 439, #50 of 75 1B Medium Charcoal Metallic 4 year restoration

  22. #22

    Default Reply to Dakota4eyes

    After 20 years, I contacted some of the original people who put together the Dominator option package. I was told that from 1982 to 1985, Dominators were sold by Summit Ford in three stages. The man in charge of the Dominator package in the beginning was Vince Hancock. Vince now works at HMH Auto Sports, Inc. in Summit, Missouri. He told me that Dominators 1 and 2 came with the option Motorcraft Dural Spark 2 Ignition box with 6000 RPM Rev Limiter Chip Plug-in; 140 MPH speedometer from Ford Motor-Sport; Hooker Super Competition Header; modified carb and air cleaner. I believe they also have the 308 to 410 rear-end gears. Dominator 3 motors (only 27 cars were made) were built by Dave Anderson of Anderson Racing, Inc. in Grandview, Missouri. He used a totally different motor that dealer cost $6500.00. He still has information on everything that went into the different motor, but I haven't been able to get back to him to get the information. I do know he just rebuilt a 1983 Dominator 3 that had 140,000 miles on it. The owner sold it and I do not know who has the car now.

  23. #23
    FEP Power Member bluesfannoz's Avatar
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    Thanks for the info! I had recently come across Vince Hancock's name myself. Just had not had a chance to track down where he was. I would guess that the likely difference between Stage 1 and Stage 2 was the gears and 140 speedo. Because mine didn't have either of those. So it likely was a Stage 1.

    Keep digging!

    Btw welcome to FEP!
    Steve
    "Taillights in Your Face Jack? You've just been Dominated!"
    # Link to Facebook Dominator Mustang Fans # # Link to Facebook Predator Mustang Fans #
    # Link to Facebook Twister Mustang Fans #
    Current Stangs: Stangless
    Previously owned:
    84 Black GT, 85 Black T-Top Dominator GT # Link to Restoration Thread # 85 Dominator GT RIP 1995, 85 Predator GT, 83 Dominator GT, 82 Mustang GT

  24. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by 85DOMINATOR/GT View Post
    After 20 years, I contacted some of the original people who put together the Dominator option package. I was told that from 1982 to 1985, Dominators were sold by Summit Ford in three stages. The man in charge of the Dominator package in the beginning was Vince Hancock. Vince now works at HMH Auto Sports, Inc. in Summit, Missouri. He told me that Dominators 1 and 2 came with the option Motorcraft Dural Spark 2 Ignition box with 6000 RPM Rev Limiter Chip Plug-in; 140 MPH speedometer from Ford Motor-Sport; Hooker Super Competition Header; modified carb and air cleaner. I believe they also have the 308 to 410 rear-end gears. Dominator 3 motors (only 27 cars were made) were built by Dave Anderson of Anderson Racing, Inc. in Grandview, Missouri. He used a totally different motor that dealer cost $6500.00. He still has information on everything that went into the different motor, but I haven't been able to get back to him to get the information. I do know he just rebuilt a 1983 Dominator 3 that had 140,000 miles on it. The owner sold it and I do not know who has the car now.

    Guys, this is excellent stuff. It appears to me the Dominator is a little known package. These posts help bring talk of it into the mainstream. I would love to see a special section for these cars and those owning them come forward and be heard.

    BTW, mine has all of the above except the 140mph speedo and I haven't popped the rear-end to check the gear ratio yet.
    2012 Boss 302

    1985 Canyon Red GT "Dominator package" T-Tops . . 7 year restoration

    1986 GT Conv. (Rare Black/Tan combo) Original 58k car

    1985.5 SVO . . #242 of 439, #50 of 75 1B Medium Charcoal Metallic 4 year restoration

  25. #25
    FEP Power Member mb84gt's Avatar
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    I work with Vince Hancock's brother. He is the one that said that every carbed car got water injection. I guess 20+ years is too long to keep memories accurate.
    Matt

    1985 Cougar XR-7 5 speed manual.

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