Grill Trim and Rocker Panel

I managed to find some fastners which would work to mount the trim around the grill opening. I was glad to finish this part as I worried I would not find a way to fasten the trim. It is hard to describe but if you saw the fasterners originally used, you would understand how duplicating them would be difficult.

The other difficult part is installing the single bolt in the lower back side of each fender. There is a nut which slides up into the fender. The nut is like a square welded to a rectangular nut. These side into a square hole and should turn and lock into place. You must then kind of pull on the bolt while tightening to ensure the nut does not spin around in the hole (you can not reach the opposite side).

I finished the driver side and mounted the rocker panel with little trouble. I tried the passenger side but can only get the bolt 75% of the way tightened before the nut begins to spin. No matter what I try, I can't get the nut to stop moving. I decided I would quit for the night and will try again tomorrow.

Headlight and Grill Trim Installation

I started off tonight by working on stripping the grime from the bumper mounting arms. I cleaned almost all of one of the four arms. I then decided to move on to something more productive.

I installed the grill trim except for the hockey stick shaped pieces which go along the headlight buckets. This trim requires a special type clip. The originals are bent so badly the cannot be reused. I checked the NPD catalog and a set of these clips is $12. I'll look around the garage to see if I can come up with a different mounting method for now.

I then installed the headlights in the Mustang. I rolled it back to the back edge of the garage and aimed the headlights properly. They are not perfect but I don't intend on driving at night. I'm just glad it all works so I'm able to get an inspection.

Splash Guards & Reinstalling Sheet Metal

Kyle and his dad stopped by this morning to see the progress I'd made on the Mustang. Kyle last saw the Mustang when we installed the coil springs a week and a half ago.

My next goal is to have the car reassembled and inspected by this coming weekend. To reach this goal, I need to first complete the rear splash shields so the fenders can be installed. I'm going to install a few parts unfinished so I can begin driving the Mustang again. I'll take them off and refinish them as time allows. I'm taking this step as the parts I need to refinish require media blasting and I won't have access to the media blasting cabinet for a couple more weeks.

I stripped and painted one of the back splash guards this past Wednesday night. I then used the undercoat/bedliner on it Friday night and Saturday morning. The rubber surround was attached with the original style stapes last night. I then worked on the other splash guard yesterday and this morning to finish it also.

I started with the fenders and the new headlight bucket (the original driver's side was badly cracked). They were not too difficult to install. I lined them up properly and tighened all the underhood bolts. I then added the hood support (unfinished), grill (unfinished), and stone shield. I stopped as I'm not sure if I want to go ahead and refinish the bumper brackets first since they are going to be hard to remove later.

I'm excited to see the Mustang back together again. While I always knew I would get it back together, there were many times when the path ahead seemed like it would take forever. I started this project on May 21st of last year. I put everything on but the sheetmetal and started the car on March 20th of this year. Ten months is a long time but I've learned a large amount and the car is much better as a result.

I'll try to work a little each night this week. To get the Mustang running and inspected, I need to do the following:
- Alignment
- Shorten the sway bar end links
- Install the bumper
- Install the front valence
- Install the grill trim
- Install the headlights
- Break in the new pads/discs

Oil Change & Spark Plugs

The engine in the Mustang has seemed to run a little rougher than I recalled. I went to O'Reilly to buy some vacuum caps. While there, I decided to buy spark plug wires since I don't know the age of the current set.

When I arrived home, I started up the Mustang to warm up the motor for an oil change. While it was running, I looked over the spark plug wires again. It was then that I noticed the spark plug in the #8 cylinder was loose. I stopped the engine, tightened the plug, and restarted the car. This cleared up the rough idle.

I've not changed out the spark plug wires. It is a fairly easy project I can do at anytime. This weekend, I would like spend a little time reinstalling the sheetmetal so the car can be inspected.

I did decide to go ahead and change the oil. I used Mobile 1 High Mileage 10w40 oil as I did for the first oil change. I also used a Fram High Mileage HM8A oil filter.

I cut open the original oil Fram filter. I've heard rumor they are not produced very well. It does not look to be constructed poorly. The filter does not look as high quality as I would expect but it might do the job just as well as one which looks better.

Tire Repair

I mounted the '68 Steel Wheels on the Mustang this past weekend. One of them was low on air so I filled it up on Sunday then mounted it on the car. By Tuesday evening the tire was flat.

I took the tire to a local service station yesterday and they checked the tire. The tire bead had slightly separated from the rim. He took the tire off and put sealant along the rim and mounted it all back together. Unfortunately, he said the valve seems needed to be replaced. He only had rubber ones so this one does not match the others which have chrome valve stems.

Last night I tried to mount the tire and as I rolled it up the driveway, I heard something bouncing around inside. I figured it was part of the valve stem and took it back today. Sure enough, part of the old valve stem was left inside the tire. He fixed it up within a few minutes during my lunch break.

There is a '68 coupe parked outside the repair station. I've seen it a few times over the past few months and it has not moved. I asked about it and found they did some repairs and the owner cannot afford to pay for them. I checked out the car and it is a coupe with bucket seats. It has factory air and clock with the louvered hood. The VIN was covered and I did not want to open the hood so I looked up at the oil pan to see if it was an I6 or V8. It was a V8 but the amount of rust on the frame rails and floorpan was shocking.