Black Gold 380R's 65 Mustang Build Thread

[geoffmt]

You have turned a nice rebuild project of a cool car to an over the top awesome build and looks like you may have a finish line in sight! I always look forward to reading the updates. Thanks for not canceling the thread


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com

 

[Black Gold 380R]

You have turned a nice rebuild project of a cool car to an over the top awesome build and looks like you may have a finish line in sight! I always look forward to reading the updates. Thanks for not canceling the thread.

WOW, thank you geoffmt! I really appreciate your feedback. It is always nice to get feedback from other car guys and the feedback I have received in this thread is way too kind, so I'm glad I didn't stop this thread either.

My next major hurdle will be the painting of the engine bay. So, I'm trying to figure out when and how to best handle that task. I have a friend who works at a body shop and I'm thinking about asking him to help me with this task. Once the engine bay is painted it will be all downhill from there. So, although the finish line may not be that far off, I have not made it over the crest of this project just yet.

I really do appreciate your post. It motivates me in progressing and finishing my build.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Hello All,

No updates, but a point of view.

I was thinking about @geoffmt comment about my finish line being in sight. I started thinking about what I have left to do and started to wonder how much progress have I really made. So, I went back through my thread and "just" looked at the pictures.

I started this project in May of 2020. So, I have been working on this car for 9 months and mainly only on weekends, holidays and any time off I had. DAMN, I have really made a significant amount of progress on this build. It actually surprises me how much I have actually been able to accomplish.

Not trying to pat myself on the back or anything, but for those of you who are interested go back and scroll through all the pictures. It's pretty cool to see how far this project has actually come in 9 months.

I'm still looking at how much more needs to be accomplished in order to finish this project. It is still a lot, but if I can make a few things happen I still believe I can get this project completed by the Aug/Sep 2021 deadline.

Fingers crossed LOL.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Okay everyone,

I thought it was going to be a slow weekend due to me having limited parts on hand and because of the Super Bowl. However, a couple of items were delivered on Saturday and it ended up being a pretty productive weekend considering I stopped early on Sunday.

First I reinstalled my steering column and steering wheel as my fabricator will need to mock up my steering shaft for me while he builds my radiator tubes, radiator cover and, possibly, my exhaust early next month.

I ordered some Carroll Shelby signature graphics. I originally wanted it above the 427 emblem on my glove box door. However, it really didn't fit and it looked busy. So, I decided to mount it center on the glove box door. I didn't want a huge graphic. Just something a little subtle and I'm happy with how it came out.

 

[Grabber70Mach]

Don't know why but I can't see the pictures at this point on Tapatalk. Glad to hear that you made some more progress.

Update now I can see the pics.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Next on the too do list was installing my fuel lines. I was racking my brain on how to route them as I wanted them out of the way and to not interfere with anything else. Particularly my exhaust. I think I got it as I ran the lines where the factory did, just on the passenger side instead of the driver's side.

From the tank to the front of the car I decided to run hard line.

Hard lines (feed and return) attached to the tank.

Ran over the axle an against the frame rail. Note I need to remove the shock in order to install the rubber mounting clamps.

Got the lines up to the front and terminated at the bottom of the firewall. I'll use -6AN hose from here to the intake.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Okay, while I was installing the fuel lines on Saturday, the postman dropped off my driveshaft (I upgraded to an aluminum driveshaft) and my double DIN stereo with backup camera .

So, I decided to install my driveshaft.

After I installed the driveshaft I downloaded an app from TREMEC that verifies if my driveshaft angle is correct. You have to place the phone on the transmission tail shaft, driveshaft and rear-end and it reads the angles of each. Then it calculates everything for you. If everything reads "GREEN" then you're good to go. SWEET!!!

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Once my driveshaft was installed I decided to see where I could best install my Estopp electronic emergency brake box. The factory had the cables going through the transmission tunnel. I verified the fitment and the Estopp box did fit between the top of the tunnel and driveshaft. I know the rear-end will move up and down, but I don't think the movement will translate to the front of the driveshaft that much.

So, I installed the Estopp box near the transmission and feel I have plenty of clearance for the driveshaft to move up and down slightly.

Here you can see how high above the transmission tail shaft the box is.

Here you can see the cable lines up with the factory brake line mounts. Sweet! Note, I'm not going to use them LOL. The Estopp kit utilizes a different brake line mounting bracket, which is on backorder. Once I receive it I'll be able to mount my E-brake lines/cables.

Here you can see there is plenty of clearance between the box and driveshaft.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Okay, after the Estopp project was done I decided to mount my double DIN stereo into the center console.

So, I removed the center console and got the face plate area cut out. I then got the mounting brackets mocked up. I drilled holes in the fiberglass and then made countersink holes for the screws. I then epoxied the screw heads in place in order to hold them so they would act as studs for the mounting plates.

Here you can see the screwheads. I know it looks like crap, but once this thing is upholstered you will never even know they are there.

Got the double DIN mounted up and then I reinstalled the center console. I'm "REALLY" liking how this is turning out. (NOTE: my cup holders are on the way ).

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Lastly, I had a couple hours left before the game. So, I decided to mock up my EFI computer. It has to be under the dash and had to go on the firewall. Obviously I could not screw it to the firewall and I didn't want to weld more brackets to the firewall. So, I decided to go with industrial strength Velcro.

So, I decided to make some mounts for the CPU box. I ended up cutting some 1 inch aluminum square tubing.

I then placed rubber mounting tape on the aluminum brackets to provide some form of cushion for the CPU box. (NOTE: I will more than likely order some MSD box mounting bushings to help with reducing vibrations).

This is the area of the firewall I decided to mount the CPU box too. So, I took my air sander and took this part down to bare metal to ensure good adhesion.

Here is the CPU box mounted. I used the square aluminum tubing to save weight (Velcro is rated to hold 15 pounds) and to raise the box off the firewall to ensure air could circulate around the CPU to help keep it cool. (NOTE: I may take it back off and place some form of heat shield or Dynamate and then reinstall the CPU box).

I mounted the box this way in order to ensure the wire harness had good access and on the opposite side of the CPU box there are LED display lights that indicate if things are working or not. So, I needed access the wire harness ports side and the LED lights side.

When you are down at this level you can clearly see the CPU box, but when you are looking inside the vehicle or sitting in the vehicle it is out of sight.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Don't know why but I can't see the pictures at this point on Tapatalk. Glad to hear that you made some more progress.

Update now I can see the pics.

Yeah, I don't know what the deal is. On my tapatalk app I can see pictures on the front page, but as soon as I enter a thread no pictures are displayed.

 

[Grabber70Mach]

I can see them all now. Definitely enjoy seeing the steady progress, it's looking good. Who did you get the driveshaft from?

 

[Black Gold 380R]

It was included in the transmission package I got from American Powertrain. However, I had to install everything and then fill out their driveshaft order sheet before they will make it and send it out. I asked them to upgrade me to an aluminum driveshaft. Of course there was an additional fee for this service .

 

[biminiLX]

Loving that Borla Stack induction! Very sweet!
Glad I stumbled on this again, great progress.
-J

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Loving that Borla Stack induction! Very sweet!
Glad I stumbled on this again, great progress.
-J

Thank you J!!! Really appreciate you finding my thread again .

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Hello All,

Well I did not get much done this weekend due to Valentines (hey, happy wife = happy life LMAO) and it was freezing here in TX. I know for you guys up north this is nothing, but 14 degrees in Texas just ain't right LMAO!!!


Here's a picture of these things hanging off the side of my house. I've only seen these as Christmas decorations on the sides of people's houses before and they light up LOL.

It wasn't that cold on Saturday, so I did some work on my center console. Received my cup holders and flat switches last week. So, I decided to install them.

Found my center line.

Placed my hand held mini screen on the console to get a reference point.

The cup holders came with these foam ring gaskets. So, I used them to find my location points.

Then I went to Lowes and bought the proper size hole saw and went at it LOL.

After I got the cup holder holes cut I worked on the switches.

Since the marks were already there it was pretty straight forward. After I installed them I noticed they are a little smaller than the E-stop switch. I purchased 19mm switches, so I ordered 22mm switches to see if they match better. if they do, I'll install them to get a more even look and if they don't I'm good with this look as well. They will all light up red when depressed.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

Here is how it looked after I reinstalled it back in the car.

I really like the switches in this location!

Overall shot. It's really starting to look like something. Can only imagine how good it will look after it gets upholstered .

I also received my new chrome alternator casing. So, I got that taken care of as well. Reinstalled the front bearing.

Got it all put back together. Here is a comparison to the old aluminum case compared to the new chrome one. Much better.

Front view.

Got my aluminum pulley reinstalled.

Then I got it installed on the car. Really liking this look as I like it shinny LOL.

 

[Black Gold 380R]

I had a couple of hours of daylight left after the above projects. So, I decided to do a little wiring. I installed the power wire harness for my ECU. Then I ran my power and ground wire for my fuel pump and then I ran my ground and signal wire for my sending unit. After that it was time to end for the day.

Reconnected my fuel lines.

 

[SM94Cobra]

That console looks really good. Have seen some other custom consoles lately, makes me consider doing something more custom than my stock console.

 

[biminiLX]

Looking good.
And I was just talking to a Texas buddy whining about the cold.
We got 14” and it’ll be -7 in the morning, so no sympathy for some icicles
Really like what Aeromotive has been offering.
This car will be sweet when you’re done.
-J