73 Mustang convertible

[Mark57]

  Hey everybody, I own a 73 Mustang convertible. It's really rusty so I'm looking for an
opinion on weather to restore it or sell it for parts. Sorry I am trying to figure out how to
transfer  photos I have on CDs

[Soaring]

You have to have a web host such as picture trail, then cut and paste the pics to here. 

[Mark57]

          I am going to figure out how a web host works. Maybe I can transfer some ugly pictures after alll.

[Thierry]

 A web host won't be any help if you can't upload pictures here  When you post a message you will see a link "additional options" below the location where you write your messages. Then you click on Browse and a window will pop up asking you to locate your file. In the field "Look in:" You have to find where your CD is in your computer. On mine it's called D or E. Double click on the right drive and find the picture you want to upload. Once you have it click OK and your photos will be displayed with your post when you submit it. Let us know if you have any problem.

[Mark57]

Thanks for the advice. I will see if this works.

[ ERROR: SPECIFIED ATTACHMENT MISSING ]

[Soaring]

It worked great.  There is more than one way to skin a cat.      I can relate to your present restoration process.  Here's mine from 10 years ago.  So, even though it may look hopeless right now, it is a really fun project that will wile away many many  hours of your free time.  Beats the hell outa watching TV.   

[Thierry]

 We can't see much on the photo you posted but it doesn't seem too bad. Cars in worse condition have been restored and it would be better to save it than parting it out. If you can't do the work yourself it could be very expensive to have it done by professionals. I hope you or someone else will save this Mustang from the junk yard

[Soaring]

Yeah, from what I can see, there isn't any rust.  Maybe the fenders and hood were rusted, but that can be replaced easily. 

[Mark57]

I purchased this car 3years ago and it must have sat unprotected for years. The photo I submitted doesnt truly show 
how much rust is on the car. The floor is gone on the drivers side and the passenger side frame rail is shot. I have been slowly removing the interior or whats left of it. And am getting ready to remove the drive train. I have been taking alot of photos to keep track of how it should go back together. My one concern is parts availability. I wood like to restore this car to original as the car came with the original engine/tranny. I've seen some replacement parts like fenders in catalogs but I don't want foreign sheetmetal that needs tweeking to fit. So I guess I'll have to find some parts from southwest auto junkyards. Anyway your opinions are appriciated. And I will continue working on restoring as I determined.I'll send photos as I progress.

[Soaring]

Mark, as you have noticed, your picture was somehow deleted.  We are working on resolving that problem so bear with us.  Please submit the pic again, and any other pics you may have such as the rusted out floor pans.  Good luck with the rebuild.  It takes a true mustang enthusiast to do what you are doing. 

[Mark57]

Heres a shot of the floor by the emerg. brake pedal. I think this may be part of the inner frame rail.

[Soaring]

It doesn't appear to be too far gone.  Slap some POR 15 on all those metal rusty parts and let it dry, then slap another coat on it.  Paint it and you will be good to go for another 40 years

[Mark57]

 Thanks for the input. I will do that on the surrounding areas near the floor pans. But I am going to replace the full length of at least the drivers side pan.

[Soaring]

Yeah, that pic shows the cancer all the way up to and into the toe board and the frame rail.  Take out the floor pan and see what you have left to save.  While you are in there, you may want to consider replacing the toe board as well.  Or, if you have welding skills, at least a patch to put new metal in there.  Good luck with it.  If you are rich enough to own a plasma cutter, then the job will be easy.  If not, then you can at least rent one.  I would do that before drilling out all those rusty spot welds.

[Mark57]

It's not impossible but there are options. One good thing is my girlfriend bought me a Mig to weld in some replacement panels. She's a real trooper!! So my intention right now is to finish removing all remaining interior components including seat belts, wiring,etc. and drill out the seat supports from whats left of the floorpans . I don't have a garage but I do have a concrete driveway so this is going to be thought out carefully. I am taking pictures of this project from beginning to end.

[rmodel65]

welcome, mark look like you gotta project there. jump on it and getting driving for the summer i need to jump on mine too

[Soaring]

I don't know how you guys take on a huge project like this, and don't even have space in the garage.  I envy your dedication. 

[Mark57]

Its a little tight but can disassemble the car label everything and store the parts in my attic. In the winter I have a small workshop I can heat. and clean or buff up parts. I just tarp the car. I'll probably use my neighbors garage for painting when I ever get to that point. I want to pull the engine/tranny soon.

[rmodel65]

were you console and delux door panels in decent shape those things are quite pricey.

[Mark57]

The floor console is in fair shape. Needs painting and a little cleanup. The deluxe door panels were rotted out at the bottom. I can buy replacements thru several venders when I get to the interior part of the project.