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  1. #1
    FEP Super Member JTurbo's Avatar
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    Talking Rotter Resto (82 GT T-Tops)

    I actually bought this car about 4 years ago and it's basically sat on (and off) my car trailer ever since. And a few other projects in between have pushed this car to the back burner several times. I've nicknamed this car the rotter for obvious reasons. In fact my wife has advised more than once to simply take this car to the JY If it wasn't for the fact that this car is a T-Top, I probably wouldn't have ever bought it and it likely would have been history by now.

    Here is the link to the thread when I originally bought the car:
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=50325

    And a few pics of the car back then:



    A few weeks ago, hurricane Irene came through and I pulled the car trailer out it's parking spot in the woods just in case one of the trees deciedd to let go. So after going to the last car show at Mustangs Unlimited and seeing Paul's black 82 GT (and seeing TwinViper's very low mile 82 GT f/s), I finally got the fire under my butt to get going on this car.

    Now I bought the car basically as a roller and over the last several years I have picked up quite a bit of the parts I need to put it back together. So this past weekend I unloaded the car,, pressure washed it and stuck it in the garage:


    First problem is that some rodents have taken up residence in the car and it smelled like, well just use your imagination. So I decided to strip the car of just about everything that's bolted down inside. This is a first for me, I've never taken a car down this far
    1979 Indy Pace Car Mustang 302 / 5spd
    1982 Mustang GT T-Top 302 / 4spd
    1986 SVO Mustang - 1C

  2. #2
    FEP Super Member JTurbo's Avatar
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    Here are a few shots of the gutted car. I've even removed 90% of the wiring from the interior and engine bay:



    And I pulled off the nose as well:


    Last night I completed the initial disassembly and tonight I washed the inside of the car with Mr. Clean and a scrub brush and then hosed it out. So now my rotter is lemon fresh clean! The basic structure of the car is in decent shape, especially considering it's an original Mass car (from Cape Cod, last registered owner).



    1979 Indy Pace Car Mustang 302 / 5spd
    1982 Mustang GT T-Top 302 / 4spd
    1986 SVO Mustang - 1C

  3. #3
    FEP Super Member rancheronut's Avatar
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    nice
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    was in 3rd gear, right foot to the floor and Cones where flying!


    1)who cares if you don't like my functional illiterate

    2)if i write like a 2nd grader, isn't that still better than texting?

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    4)Statistically speaking, six out of seven dwarfs aren't Happy

  4. #4
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    Nice project! I wish I had the room to do that. Good luck and keep the pics coming. Thanks.

  5. #5

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    HOLY crap Joe! She's naked! What's the pile of parts look like? lol

    Good luck - I'm sure it will turn out as awesome as your others!

  6. #6
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    And away we go!! Onto another great rebuild and repaint adventure with Joe!

    This one will get to you, dont lose hope, and keep the end result in mind at all times!! If it gets to you, or you need a hand, as you know i'm not far away, just give a shout.

  7. #7
    FEP Power Member BigSkyGT's Avatar
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    I like these threads!

  8. #8
    FEP Member 85.0's Avatar
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    and I was about to ask about the 86 convertible.......

    went through the thread from when you bought the car, man have you been putting off the SVO for paint, 2007!!!!!!!!!

    looking forward to this one

  9. #9

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    Boy this really does look familiar! You're ahead of me though starting with a roller. Are you going to replace that entire floor pan? I've actually nicknamed my Capri stinky after the aroma of the interior. But I'm pretty sure with new insulation it will be fine in the end. I can't believe how smelly it was.

    Edit: Is that a crudely placed piece of sheetmetal or your garage floor towards the back on the driver's side? I know you'll fix that. Just curious what method you'll use.
    Last edited by 85GT-79FJ40; 09-22-2011 at 07:33 PM. Reason: looked at the photo closer
    86 Notch under construction

    2011 4Runner Trail edition
    2014 Suzuki V-Strom 650

  10. #10
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    Looks like progress. Keep the pics coming.

  11. #11

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    Joe, do you go home and get to eat dinner first at least? Or do you get a pizza delivery straight to the garage. I am just in awe seeing what you are able to turn around in short order. Wow, just wow.

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  12. #12
    Neither here nor there
    Capriman86's Avatar
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    I remember this car now, it was in Springfield or near there right?

    I don't know how you work so damn fast.

  13. #13
    FEP Super Member K PONY's Avatar
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    I can't wait to see the out come of this
    Past Mustangs:
    1965 "K" Code Coupe... 289/271HP 4 speed Poppy Red
    1986 GT... Canyon Red 5 speed
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  14. #14
    FEP Power Member 82stangracer's Avatar
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    Um......Wow! You really tore into her. Look forward to progress.
    Chris

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    Too many that I wish I'd kept!

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    69 Mach 1 "M" Code
    82 GT 308(my 1st stang)
    82 GT T-top (a new beginning) Rebuild Thread
    71 Torino GT

  15. #15
    FEP Super Member JTurbo's Avatar
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    Thanks for the positive comments guys!

    Quote Originally Posted by n20capri View Post
    HOLY crap Joe! She's naked! What's the pile of parts look like? lol

    Good luck - I'm sure it will turn out as awesome as your others!
    Mike - my basement looks like a used parts warehouse

    Quote Originally Posted by mustangjoe413 View Post
    And away we go!! Onto another great rebuild and repaint adventure with Joe!

    This one will get to you, dont lose hope, and keep the end result in mind at all times!! If it gets to you, or you need a hand, as you know i'm not far away, just give a shout.
    Thanks - I'll keep pecking at it a little a bit at a time. And I appreciate the offer. I'll keep you posted if I need an hand with anything....

    Quote Originally Posted by 85.0 View Post
    and I was about to ask about the 86 convertible.......

    went through the thread from when you bought the car, man have you been putting off the SVO for paint, 2007!!!!!!!!!

    looking forward to this one
    yes, it's funny how projects get re-shuffled. SVO is basically done for now, so I'm moving on.

    Quote Originally Posted by 85GT-79FJ40 View Post
    Boy this really does look familiar! You're ahead of me though starting with a roller. Are you going to replace that entire floor pan? I've actually nicknamed my Capri stinky after the aroma of the interior. But I'm pretty sure with new insulation it will be fine in the end. I can't believe how smelly it was.

    Edit: Is that a crudely placed piece of sheetmetal or your garage floor towards the back on the driver's side? I know you'll fix that. Just curious what method you'll use.
    As for the floor, I've already got the replacement driver side pan in the basement, and I see that MU has the pans for ~110 per side. So I'll probably head over to Manchester in the not so distant future and get the other side.

    And I'm not sure what sheet metal you are referring to??? What pic #??

    Quote Originally Posted by eeprete View Post
    Joe, do you go home and get to eat dinner first at least? Or do you get a pizza delivery straight to the garage. I am just in awe seeing what you are able to turn around in short order. Wow, just wow.
    Haha - actually I usually head out the garage after my daughter goes to bed Ed.

    Quote Originally Posted by Capriman86 View Post
    I remember this car now, it was in Springfield or near there right?

    I don't know how you work so damn fast.
    Yup Jeff - that's the one. Lovely, isn't it???

    Well tonight I dropped the front sway bar, removed the brake booster and got rid of the engine mounts left from the previous slug. It's extrememly humid out there - so I'm done for tonight!
    Last edited by JTurbo; 09-22-2011 at 08:15 PM.
    1979 Indy Pace Car Mustang 302 / 5spd
    1982 Mustang GT T-Top 302 / 4spd
    1986 SVO Mustang - 1C

  16. #16
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    Love the car. I have never taken a car down this far, I seem to work on sections at a time. I take pictures, bag and label bolts, sometimes labeling each bolt if they are different, and sometimes I still end up scratching my head when i am putting things back together. What's your method to keep it all straight?
    85 GT vert

  17. #17
    FEP Senior Member SVO4PWR2's Avatar
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    Let me know if ya need anything . . . we'll talk over the Reunion

    -RICH-
    84 CAPRI RS FOR SALE
    i'm a car junkie - i love junkie cars

  18. #18
    Moderator wraithracing's Avatar
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    Congrats on the progress! Looks like you are really kicking it into high gear. Other than the floor pan, it looks like a pretty decent project!

    Good Luck!

    Trey
    ​Trey

    "I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"

    "I've spent most of my money on Mustangs, racing, and women... the rest I just wasted."

    Mustangs Past: Too many to remember!
    Current Mustangs:
    1969 Mach 1
    1979 Pace Car now 5.0/5 speed
    1982 GT Stalled RestoModification
    1984 SVO Still Waiting Restoration
    1986 GT Under going Wide Body Conversion Currently

    Current Capris:
    1981 Capri Roller
    1981 Capri Black Magic Roller Basket Case
    1982 Capri RS 5.0/4spd T-top Full Restoration Stalled in TX
    1984 Capri RS T-top Roller
    1983-84 Gloy Racing Trans Am/IMSA Body Parts

  19. #19
    86 50CPRI
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    Damn, fast work. Joe, I'd say by the number of posts, it appears you have quite the following. See, it wasn't just me looking for the thread...

  20. #20

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    ... nice progress

    For a long time i over looked the 82's but the more i look at this forum the more i love the 82's and pace cars.... Thanks for making my addiction worse ahahhahah
    1982 TTOP GT-under construction
    1983 Mustang T-top Dominator- black/Black
    85 Gt vert . canyon red/red- Rust heaven
    1982 T-top- Yellow/black
    1984 Turbo GT- Grey/grey

    I HATE MUSTANGS !!-
    THE BOSS IS BACK

  21. #21
    FEP Super Member JTurbo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Curtis View Post
    Love the car. I have never taken a car down this far, I seem to work on sections at a time. I take pictures, bag and label bolts, sometimes labeling each bolt if they are different, and sometimes I still end up scratching my head when i am putting things back together. What's your method to keep it all straight?
    I do plastic bag the small stuff, inc hardware but I don't label. I have a bag full of hardware from the interior, a separate bag from the front body panels, etc. It helps that I've been playing with these cars for so long, I have a pretty good sense of what goes where.

    Quote Originally Posted by SVO4PWR2 View Post
    Let me know if ya need anything . . . we'll talk over the Reunion

    -RICH-
    Will do Rich!

    Quote Originally Posted by 86 50CPRI View Post
    Damn, fast work. Joe, I'd say by the number of posts, it appears you have quite the following. See, it wasn't just me looking for the thread...
    Thanks Pete, you were definetly right....

    Quote Originally Posted by setty2706 View Post
    ... nice progress

    For a long time i over looked the 82's but the more i look at this forum the more i love the 82's and pace cars.... Thanks for making my addiction worse ahahhahah
    Thanks. Honestly I like all of the 4-eye front ends, but the PC and 82 GT really have an agressive look in my opinion.
    Last edited by JTurbo; 09-23-2011 at 07:31 PM.
    1979 Indy Pace Car Mustang 302 / 5spd
    1982 Mustang GT T-Top 302 / 4spd
    1986 SVO Mustang - 1C

  22. #22
    FEP Super Member JTurbo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by wraithracing View Post
    Congrats on the progress! Looks like you are really kicking it into high gear. Other than the floor pan, it looks like a pretty decent project!

    Good Luck!

    Trey
    Well Trey, the structure of the car is basically solid, including the main section of the cowl - so it's worth saving to me. All of the panels (doors, hood, pass front fender, hatch) will need to be replaced or repaired. And here are the highlights of the rot that I've either know about or found since disassembly (hence the nickname " The Rotter":

    Driver side QP:



    Pass side QP:


    A pillar:


    Pass side frame rail (Battery acid rot):



    Some minor stuff on the pass side of the engine bay:


    Antenna wire feed-thru:


    Same side bottom where the fender attaches:


    Driver side same area:


    Core support is in good shape (surface rust only), no one hooked a tow hook to it either


    The underside (not the best pic) is pretty solid with only minor surface rust:
    1979 Indy Pace Car Mustang 302 / 5spd
    1982 Mustang GT T-Top 302 / 4spd
    1986 SVO Mustang - 1C

  23. #23
    FEP Super Member JTurbo's Avatar
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    So tonight I finished pulling the rest of the stuff from the engine bay including the master cylinder and all of the brake lines. And I pulled off the calipers/hoses (the car should roll a bit easier now ).

    And here is the best part of the car and the only reason I didn't send it to the scrap yard:


    Open up and say AHHHHHH!
    1979 Indy Pace Car Mustang 302 / 5spd
    1982 Mustang GT T-Top 302 / 4spd
    1986 SVO Mustang - 1C

  24. #24
    FEP Super Member tORMENtOR's Avatar
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    Can't wait to see you bring this T-top Rotter back to life Joe.
    Last edited by tORMENtOR; 09-28-2011 at 08:28 PM.

  25. #25

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    Thats amazing Joe. I can barely get through one project.
    79 Capri RS
    341 rwhp,348 rwtq 11.20@127


    1939 Pontiac Deluxe 6. 73,xxx original miles. Barn find. Currently the secomd owner.

    2013 Focus ST
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    1997 F350

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