1979 Coupe-The Tangerine Machine

[Mike1157]

Dude, you gotta take those mud flaps back off.

Or, conversely, you can only drive car with your pants pulled up way over your waist, cinched tight w/ a belt to hold it right below your ribs, while at the same time exposing at least two inches of the ankle, hopefully sporting a pair of white tube socks.

They are waay too long and add a blue hair cheesiness to an otherwise perfect stock restoration.

In a bizarro world flip, You have effectively turned " Buddy Love" into the Nutty Professor.
**Before mud flap....


** After..

[E2ZZGLX]

Was it missing when you found it or did you send it in?

Power steering rack was the only part along with the hood badge they was pulled...robbed off her when a found it.

[Travis T]

Dude, you gotta take those mud flaps back off.

Or, conversely, you can only drive car with your pants pulled up way over your waist, cinched tight w/ a belt to hold it right below your ribs, while at the same time exposing at least two inches of the ankle, hopefully sporting a pair of white tube socks.

They are waay too long and add a blue hair cheesiness to an otherwise perfect stock restoration.

I have the same ones on my GT. My only comment would be to move them up to where the top of the flap is even with the top of the body side molding. It won't protect as much but will look better.

[82GTforME]

Dude, you gotta take those mud flaps back off.

Or, conversely, you can only drive car with your pants pulled up way over your waist, cinched tight w/ a belt to hold it right below your ribs, while at the same time exposing at least two inches of the ankle, hopefully sporting a pair of white tube socks.

They are waay too long and add a blue hair cheesiness to an otherwise perfect stock restoration.

I have the same ones on my GT. My only comment would be to move them up to where the top of the flap is even with the top of the body side molding. It won't protect as much but will look better.

Man, tough crowd around here these days.

I have to assume these flaps were dealer installed and they were previously in this location already as I used all the existing holes. Whether that seems "too low" to one person's eye versus another's is another question. With the car now slightly lowered it may become an issue.

Eight screws and four flaps can sure make a difference in appearance and opinions it seems. The good thing about them is they can be removed without much effort if or when the time comes.

[84StangSVT]

Man, tough crowd around here these days.

I have to assume these flaps were dealer installed and they were previously in this location already as I used all the existing holes. Whether that seems "too low" to one person's eye versus another's is another question. With the car now slightly lowered it may become an issue.

Eight screws and four flaps can sure make a difference in appearance and opinions it seems. The good thing about them is they can be removed without much effort if or when the time comes.

I agree with all 3 of you as weird as that is. I agree with you on wanting to put them on, I agree with Mike that they just don't look right at this time and I agree with Travis that I think they need to go up and that will drastically help the look of it. Here is a thread I found and it has some good reference pictures.

http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...-splash-guards

If it looks good on Esco's car, they can look good on the tangerine machine too. The difference between them and yours are, theirs are the Motorsport ones so there is more print on them to reduce the visual effect of them being as low. If you raise yours up to reduce the space between the print and body, it should work out good.

[82GTforME]

So in the never ending saga of cumulative small victories to get to the goal, I made it over another proverbial hump.

Now that the rear bumper cover was repainted, next on the agenda was installing the mouldings.

I had previously had them all prepped and ready to go.

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The proverbial hump was that little seed of doubt that something will go amiss. With my learning style and the number of pieces to stick, the odds weren't in my favor

Having my' 82 parked in the garage next to this car gave me the details I needed to ensure I got them exactly where they needed to go!!

I used some surface cleaner prep prior to sticking to ensure good adherence. A peeling moulding would kind of suck. I did manage to successfully put them all on except the most forward ones due to the bumper cover not being on yet to line up to.

A little more contrast to that bright orange




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[82GTforME]

Love it! Especially the 2.8 badges!!

So one thing, leads to another right?

A nice finishing touch. I think they were the last two in existence (to be found online currently at least)


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I was just going to mock them up but why stop there?

I was thinking of putting the emblems on the trunk lid also but I figured that the dude I am going to get to do the traditional pin striping may prefer an unhindered stroke area to work around. They can wait I suppose

Armed with the trusty measurements I was good to go! Ooooh, aaaah!




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[Gemini1999]

The moldings look great. I love the badges. I almost want to buy a set of 2.3 badges for mine...why should 5.0 GTs have all the fun? As for the splash guards (I like that name better), I like them. If you saw the stone chips in my lower rear quarters behind the rear wheel, you'll be happy to have them.

Looking good!

[IDMooseMan]

...I almost want to buy a set of 2.3 badges for mine...

I agree, Bryan. I'd like to get a set of 2.3 badges for my Ghia as well.

This is really looking great, Darran. Thanks for posting the measurements for badge placement.

[82GTforME]

The moldings look great. I love the badges. I almost want to buy a set of 2.3 badges for mine...why should 5.0 GTs have all the fun? As for the splash guards (I like that name better), I like them. If you saw the stone chips in my lower rear quarters behind the rear wheel, you'll be happy to have them.

Looking good!

Splash guards...must be a regional thing the way it's called. I'm going to remember that!

Thanks for the kind words. The badges I lucked out on the NOS ones even though I was going to refurbish the originals. Did 2.3 cars ever come with a factory badge or are you thinking the aftermarket factory looking ones?

I agree, Bryan. I'd like to get a set of 2.3 badges for my Ghia as well.

This is really looking great, Darran. Thanks for posting the measurements for badge placement.

I can't take credit for the dimensions. They were in a thread on the site. I just borrowed and thought I would include it!


You know Craig, I thought of you when I saw this FYI posted: http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...pe-4000-(Kent)

It's an '81 non-Ghia. I thought it would be a nice trade up for you

[82GTforME]

I had found a couple of pairs of lower engine side splash shields at the JY over the last while. I had heard of them missing on a lot of cars over the years and I know my SVO has two and my '82 has one. This car had none.

They cleaned up good once the undercoating was peeled off. When I went to dry fit them, it was then that I noted this car did not have the holes in the frame rails for them...Guess they won't be going on


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Long ago, I had also noticed that this car did not have the rubber splash strips that went on either side of the radiator. That it did have the holes for already.

I used my handy parts book (.pdf) that I have gotten pretty good at finding things. I found what I needed, found some online NOS and ordered them. Pretty sure it was something like "shield, radiator splash".

Problem was, what I was expecting to come didn't. This was what came. What I showed above, but a little different. Ah well, can't get that lucky, right?


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What I did was get some 1/8" X 8" X 36" strip of HD neoprene. It is a little heavier, less fibrous and a little less ridged but I think it should work out.

I pulled the old shields off my '82 to trace and got six pieces cut out of the strip. Two to use on this car, two for the '82 and two spares now.



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I used two sockets to make a stamp and die for the holes. Want to make them pretty you know.


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I will put them on once I know I'm not going to be spewing antifreeze out after feeling I flushed enough water through and put the green in for good.


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[IDMooseMan]

Splash guards...must be a regional thing the way it's called. I'm going to remember that!

Mud flaps, splash guards. It's all good either way. I've used both terms interchangeably for decades.

...Did 2.3 cars ever come with a factory badge or are you thinking the aftermarket factory looking ones?

I only know of the aftermarket badges. I don't think Ford had 2.3 badges applied at, or even available from, the factory.

I can't take credit for the dimensions. They were in a thread on the site. I just borrowed and thought I would include it!

Yeah, that looked familiar, but I still appreciate you including them. The more they're displayed, the better my chances of finding them if, or when, I decide to add 2.3 badges. I really think they add to the character of the car. I could get "fancy" and add 2.5 badges after boring and stroking my 2.3 to 2.7-liters. Sleeper, right?

You know Craig, I thought of you when I saw this FYI posted: http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...pe-4000-(Kent)

I posted a longer reply on that thread, but suffice it to say that is a very tempting car. It looks great. The automatic would be great for my wife and daughters, but they all have cars, so I think I'll spend the tax refund on my car. Susi will get some of the tax refund for her trip to Germany. I get to spend the rest. I wonder what I can get done while she's in Germany for a month.

It's an '81 non-Ghia. I thought it would be a nice trade up for you

It would be, but see the comment just above this one.

[Fearnot]

Your car is looking great! The moldings and badges look very good. You did a nice job on restoring those moldings. Gotta feel like a real victory getting those on. As far as the splash guards, I think you need one detail:Attachment 97214
Just mess'n with you, I think they look good

[Travis T]

The 2.8 and 5.0 cars are the only ones to ever get factory badges. Some of the prototypes I have seen had 2.3 and 3.3 badges, but I don't think they ever made production.

Man this car is really coming together now, it is going to be one sharp pony. You're going to have to work on the 82 now Darran, you can't have your son's car being nicer than your own!

[IDMooseMan]

Darran should probably give the '82 to his son and keep this one for himself.

[Travis T]

Back to the splash guards, you can see how I mounted mine in this old picture. They will be staying on the car because they do offer protection. Mine were put on when the car was about eight years old.

[stanger5.0]

looks good! but would scrap mud flaps and install black ten holes..like ssp cars!

[FoxChassis]

"Mud and Stone Deflectors" were factory optional in 1980 and 1981.

[87gtVIC]

Awesome job on the splash strips. Where did you source the neoprene?

[82GTforME]

Your car is looking great! The moldings and badges look very good. You did a nice job on restoring those moldings. Gotta feel like a real victory getting those on. As far as the splash guards, I think you need one detail:
Attachment 97214
Just mess'n with you, I think they look good

Funny Rich. I lean for them also.

Man this car is really coming together now, it is going to be one sharp pony. You're going to have to work on the 82 now Darran, you can't have your son's car being nicer than your own!

Thanks Travis. My SVO is going to get a little bit this spring I hope. I need to paint the trim grey. I also need to get that frustrating timing/ignition problem on the '82 figured out. Next step is pulling the cover off to check the timing chain for slippage.

Darran should probably give the '82 to his son and keep this one for himself.

Craig, is it bad to have already thought that?

looks good! but would scrap mud flaps and install black ten holes..like ssp cars!

Thanks! We have a set of ten holes that will probably be the day to day runners and save the others for special occasions.

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"Mud and Stone Deflectors" were factory optional in 1980 and 1981.

As in they installed them at the factory? I never expected that to be an option. I figured it was a dealer exclusive money maker!

Awesome job on the splash strips. Where did you source the neoprene?

Thanks, I managed to get this as a leftover from work. For the application we use if for, it has to be robust. We use it to wrap and clamp the air intake tubing (6-12" diameter) on bigger natural gas powered engines to isolate vibration. It actually seems quite heavy and more dense than plain neoprene IMO. It has a cloth-like/fine fibre reinforcement layer but is actually quite pliable. I fear it may be too pliable and flop over at the top. I will see though.

I decided not to cut the slits in them yet. My '82 has the two AC lines on the passenger side to the condenser and used it. This '79 has nothing on either side at the moment. If this does not work out no real biggie I guess.

I think this is the supplier we buy from. I will go and see what they can offer as an option if I need to. http://www.norwesco.ab.ca/

[82GTforME]

I will put them on once I know I'm not going to be spewing antifreeze out after feeling I flushed enough water through and put the green in for good.


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I ended up having to slit the drivers side to get around the tranny cooler lines and the lowere rad out let, but it looks like they will work nicely.


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Even though in my preparations I had read about higher temperatures during the initial break-in period. That was a true statement looking at two of these wire looms. Both of them were noted during the break-in and protected from further damage at that time but I was surprised by this. You can see some paint flaked off the one manifold a little too. Temperatures are quite normal now.

One runs above the driver's side manifold along the valve cover, the other was the positive to the starter which was radiated by the passenger side manifold. These were replaced now that I bought some replacement loom.



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Lastly to go on was the fan and shroud now that the coolant is in and there are no visible leaks at this time Oh, and the NOS filter element I bought a bit ago went in too



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[82GTforME]

So with the side moldings all on except the front ones, I needed to install the front end in order to do them

Honestly, I am surprised at how easy it went. The refurbished lower retainers I did so loong ago, worked out great! I had painted them with Gravel Guard after rust encapsulator. The won't rust out in my lifetime!


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While not the easiest job to do by yourself, it is doable. The hardest part was contorting around the air inlet tube inside the driver's fender. (Note to self: do the splash shields after the front next time!)

I was worried I was going to get a crack or chip along an edge where they joned and tightened but so far so good


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Once installed, I spent some time wet sanding the top and side near the marker light afterwards to diminish that rookie orange peel (remember this was one of the first things I painted ever!). This way it blends a little better to the discerning eye! I really took it easy knowing the problems I had earlier around edges and curves


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I ended up only having three out of four headlights matching that were GE brand halogens and I could not find them in the three local places I called so I ordered a (rather cheap) new full set of them off Amazon up here. Two day delivery; nice!


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Looking good! Now she's a four eye again!


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[conmech]

'Nuff said?

[79mustangcobra]

Looks great! Love the attention to detail

[Travis T]

You have to swing by the former owner's house when you get it on the road, he would be shocked.