8/22/10

I've been very busy with the K convertible, lots more progress than I can share right now. Here are a couple items of interest. Date stamps applied to horns and installed.



Brakes were challenging and something that most would have no idea how difficult it is to get right. For a Thoroughbred level car, it could possible be displayed with a drum taken off the rear. The rears are absolutely 100% correct, with FoMoCo shoes and all the proper bits and pieces. The rear brakes were originally Kelsey Hayes backing plates, so the parking brake lever and equalizer bracket are also KH stamped. The rear drum is also KH, date coded correct. Colors of the springs were matched using originals, hardware re-plated as necessary. Front brakes are exact except for the brake shoe liners are "Ford" instead of FoMoCo. Everything else is exact.

8/9/10

Restored and detailed the hi-po engine mounts. These were fun parts to restore and came out really nice. The upper brackets were blasted and tumbled. Lower bracket with the stud was a little more challenging. Blasted and tumbled them and then detailed the pressed in studs to a darker appearance than the bracket. After that, used a torch to heat the original welds so they looked like they were just done. Followed by a rubbing with steel wool and oil. Original long shafts were re-finished in phosphate and correct locking nuts used. NOS large insulators with C4ZA numbers molded in and original FoMoCo upper donut insulators used. To finish off, replicated yellow markings as found.

8/8/10

Passed a big milestone today, the engine is painted! Seems like it has taken forever to get to this point, but it was well worth the wait. The black turned out perfect in my opinion, not too shiny, not too dull. Once the paint had cured, I started putting parts on. These parts have been waiting a long time! A 12/64 (4MA) hi-po distributor was installed and looks great. Yes, it has NOS FoMoCo points, condensor, rotor and cap! Correct olive-drab style oil sender unit installed. Original, rebuilt 3939S hi-po fuel pump installed with correct white gasket and re-plated original bolts. NOS PCV valve used with proper valve cover grommet and original hose/clamps. Original valve covers were re-chromed. Rebuilt original alternator with restored original brackets. Yes, that is an NOS upper radiator hose, I have the matching lower. Have a few more pieces to go before it's ready to drop in the engine bay. The transmission has been rebuilt and is ready to go, will post pics of it soon. Here's some nice engine pics:













In between parts drying, restored a super nice glove box door. Absolutely no blems in the chrome, really nice piece. Went ahead and attached it to just about finish out the dash. The only thing left is buttoning up the wiring along the bottom edge and installing the convertible support brace.

8/7/10

I suppose that folks have been wondering about the engine and the eye candy they were promised! Well, here is the first look at the original K engine, ready for paint. Some detail marks were applied, such as the orange marks, which were typical of the time period in identifying high performance parts. The water pump is like it was out of the box, I did not apply the orange mark. It is indeed a hi-po water pump, dated 12/64. It is not rebuilt, it is an NOS, never used pump that was acquired new, still in the old FoMoCo box. Original hi-po manifolds, date proper, were re-finished in a dark heat-treated appearance. All other components are date and period correct. As you see the engine is how they were assembled (to the best of my knowledge), before they were painted. I chose not to install an oil filter at this point as I hope to use one of the 1,000 mile hi-performance break-in filters. Here's a few pics, enjoy!

8/1/10

Rear leaf springs are completed. NOS bushings used on the front along with NOS, early style, rear shackles. Green/yellow spray dots replicated. Original style leaf clamps used with round holes, supplied by Jim Cowles at Shelby Parts & Restoration.



Took a break from heavy parts restoration and assembled the vent window assemblies. These are original frames that were re-chromed and look fantastic. NOS weather-strip installed, correct tubular rivets used to install the vertical pieces. Rivets facing out as original. Original glass, professionally buffed. Not shown in pic are the correct slider tracks with plastic inserts. The RH is NOS and the LH is nice used original. Have one original corner seal and an NOS one. All original attaching hardware restored/re-plated. Will get a few more detail pics later.

7/29/10

More suspension progress. This picture shows the front sway bar. I had several original ones of these and when stripping in the blast cabinet, I could not find any trace of black paint. I chose to go with a dark heat-treated appearance. The flash makes the part look a little more lighter than it actually is. Correct end links used with NOS bushings and combination of NOS/original restored hardware. Have to get the car on the ground before I can get the top bushing on.