'69 Eliminator Project Update
I thought I'd give you all an update of my father/daughter build. It's an orange '69 Eliminator and although I have not ordered a Marti report, I have Ford's copy of the original window sticker, three build sheets that were under the carpet (one in excellent condition) and copies of titles that go back to the original owner. So I guess my first question is ... what additional benefit is there in getting a Marti report?? I don't see anything new that would come from it ... Thoughts??
In regards to our car, the following has been done ...
- complete tear down of every last nut & bolt on the car
- all sheet metal issues addressed (new RH front inner fender apron, new front radiator core support, welded shut 5-6 small rust holes under the RH rear seat and patched in a 2X2 hole in the trunk area)
- removed all surface rust (that was fun)
- put all new body seam filler throughout the car
- primed and painted the engine bay
- rebuilt the front brake disc spindles with everything new. Only reused parts were the spindle and the anchor plates. Everything else was new
- cleaned and repainted the original argent GT wheels. Put on new BF goodridge radial TA's, new trim rings and center hub caps
- rebuilt the entire front suspension with new upper & lower control arms, spring saddles, springs, inner and outer tie rods, tie rod sleeves, idler arm, sway bar links, strut rod busshings, shocks, etc. This was done after having repainted the drag link, the crossmember, the strut rods, and the sway bar. Also hung the rebuilt spindles.
- Primed and painted the trunk area, the interior, the window & door jams, and the rocker panels in the original Comp Orange color. The contrast of the orange and black are really cool ... looks like the great pumpkin.
- I had the control valve, the brake booster and the steering gear box all rebuilt and I've repainted the finished units ... they are likely to go in today.
- all chrome has either been rechromed or polished. Rear bumper has been rebuilt with a restored taillight fixture, license plate bracket, and mounting brackets.
- I have disassembled the steering column, cleaned all the tubes and bars, and repainted it all. On the bracket with three aluminum mounting brackets ... one was missing a spacer. I found out that if you cut a one gallon milk jug you can fashion the spacer and it works perfectly. If you do it right ... it even looks good. Today I will install a new turn signal switch.
- I am tearing apart the steering wheel as the rim bolow switch was hard, brittle and cracked. I am having to chip it out and I'm over 1/2 way through it. I have a new switch and would appreciate any advice if someone has done this before. I am also going to use a new epoxy (POR15) to repair the cracks in the wheel. I found 1/8" chrome tape for the outer circumfrance of the wheel and look to have the wheel finished shortly.
- the rear end (w/3.0 gear) was totally gone through and repainted. On the 'To Do' list for today, I will install the three rear brake lines and install the leaf springs and the rear end. I'll then hang the rear two wheels.
- several other sub assemblies have also been gone through and I have them staged for installation when the car hopefully comes home from the body shop in February. These include the blower motor assembly, firewall pad, carpet underlayment & carpet, front turn signal lights, fresh air vents, parking brake assembly & cables, hood pins, new running lights for the fenders, cougar scripts, new rocker panel hardware with repolished panels, new antenna, grommets, pedal assemblies, etc. I've even located an extra set of deluxe door panels that I will re-dye white when I get ready to reinstall the interior.
The car is an original Eliminator and I feel it will be worthy of a total rebuild. I wish I could upload a few pics ... but every time I try to attach a file using the 'paper clip' or the 'insert an image' on this app, the app just spins forever once I browse to the jpeg.
The car was a 351W 4bbl, FMX, pwr disc brake, power steering, console, Eliminator package, AC, rear window defroster, deluxe interior car that I am also adding the light group to. In other words the opera lights and the switched map light in the dash. I will also add intermittent wipers when it comes down to wiring the beast.
Anyway, if you read this far I appreciate it. Although friends & family think this is cool, no one here is that interested except my daughter Jenny and I. I'd look forward to having some friends I could show it off to along with our '69 GT Convertible Mustang.
