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MY 1968 GT RESTORATION

Started by CobraJoe, 2024-12-27 18:21

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CobraJoe

2024-12-27 18:21 Last Edit: 2024-12-27 18:33 by CobraJoe
I started this a while back on a couple of other forums and thought maybe I should post it here also.
PLEASE let me know if it's not appropriate and if I should take it down.

I'll drag the posts over a few at a time until it's caught up.

When I was fourteen years old, I was amazed at how unintelligent my father was. By the time I turned twenty-one, I was astounded at how much he had learned in the last seven years!

'96 Bronco,
'39 Ford Coupe,
'57 Fairlane,
'68 Torino GT
'15 F150,
'17 Escape,

CobraJoe

#1
2024-12-27 18:26
As some of you know, I picked up this rust-free (pretty rare for New England) '68 GT. It was a Las Vegas car, so it has the usual cooked topsides (including the dash pad), but is a very solid car.

It's a stock rebuilt 302 w/a C4 but I am going to build it as 347 stroker w/ either a toploader or T5. The guy who started working on it installed all new front suspension with Wilwood power disc brakes. He also had the seats reupholstered and it came with new door panels, new rug, visors and a headliner.

















When I was fourteen years old, I was amazed at how unintelligent my father was. By the time I turned twenty-one, I was astounded at how much he had learned in the last seven years!

'96 Bronco,
'39 Ford Coupe,
'57 Fairlane,
'68 Torino GT
'15 F150,
'17 Escape,

CobraJoe

#2
2024-12-27 18:31
My plan for the Torino are a full Resto, but not a show car, it will be a driver.

Currently have a stroked 302 so I can keep it somewhat original. It made 455 ft. lbs. of torque and 461 hp on the dyno.



When I was fourteen years old, I was amazed at how unintelligent my father was. By the time I turned twenty-one, I was astounded at how much he had learned in the last seven years!

'96 Bronco,
'39 Ford Coupe,
'57 Fairlane,
'68 Torino GT
'15 F150,
'17 Escape,

CobraJoe

#3
2024-12-27 18:33
Started to strip it back down to bare metal:



This Harbor Freight Metal Surfacer makes short work of it:





When I was fourteen years old, I was amazed at how unintelligent my father was. By the time I turned twenty-one, I was astounded at how much he had learned in the last seven years!

'96 Bronco,
'39 Ford Coupe,
'57 Fairlane,
'68 Torino GT
'15 F150,
'17 Escape,

57chero

#4
2024-12-27 19:14
I think it's cool to see something besides a 57 occasionally as long as its a Ford product, what's that tool with the brush called.

RICH MUISE

#5
2024-12-27 19:47
I'm sure no one will have a problem with watching that build. Cool looking car.
I can do this, I can do this, I, well, maybe

CobraJoe

#6
2024-12-27 20:13
Thanks guys.
The tool is from Harbor Freight and it's called a  "Surface Conditioning Tool"



When I was fourteen years old, I was amazed at how unintelligent my father was. By the time I turned twenty-one, I was astounded at how much he had learned in the last seven years!

'96 Bronco,
'39 Ford Coupe,
'57 Fairlane,
'68 Torino GT
'15 F150,
'17 Escape,

mustang6984

#7
2024-12-27 22:34
I have one as well. Nice tool. Wish I had one when I stripped the Courier!
I think it is fine to post this here Joe. Car looks to be a real solid platform. Even has all the letters on the hood...that is rare!
Hope to see more!
Nothing is impossible...
The word it's self says I'M POSSIBLE  (Audrey Hepburn)
2 '57 Ford Couriers AND '57 Fairlane
3 Mustangs, '69 fastback-'84 SVO-'88 Saleen Convertible
'49 Ford P/U
'50 Dodge P/U
'82 RX-7
'65 Chrysler New Yorker

CobraJoe

#8
2024-12-28 07:23
Forward progress....



When I was fourteen years old, I was amazed at how unintelligent my father was. By the time I turned twenty-one, I was astounded at how much he had learned in the last seven years!

'96 Bronco,
'39 Ford Coupe,
'57 Fairlane,
'68 Torino GT
'15 F150,
'17 Escape,

CobraJoe

#9
2024-12-28 07:28
I am amazed that there is no rot on this car; quarter panels are usually the first place to rot...



When I was fourteen years old, I was amazed at how unintelligent my father was. By the time I turned twenty-one, I was astounded at how much he had learned in the last seven years!

'96 Bronco,
'39 Ford Coupe,
'57 Fairlane,
'68 Torino GT
'15 F150,
'17 Escape,

oldave57

#10
2024-12-28 09:04
That is a beautiful car and totally appropriate for this website (after all it will be 57 years old in '25).  Having a new interior is a big head start but it looks like you have had that paint stripping tool in your hands for quite a few hours (body looks amazing).  Keep us posted on progress.  Are you planning to paint the same color or something different?  Either way it's gonna be a showstopper.

RICH MUISE

#11
2024-12-28 10:04 Last Edit: 2024-12-28 10:08 by RICH MUISE
Another hooray! for Harbor Freight. They didn't have that tool when I started stripping mine almost 20 years ago. That said, I'm not sure  I could have done my car without Harbor Freight. I certainly couldn't have bought major brands stuff I needed........power tools, welders, compressors,jacks, etc etc. Actually, I AM SURE,.........I never would have got it finished. There's just so many tools you need to restore a car 100%, and a normal person would have built that stuff up over the years, but if you're like I was and doing it for the first time, it seems like everytime you turn around another tool is needed. I had one rollaway and chest 20 years ago. I nw have 5, and a rack of power tools.
I can do this, I can do this, I, well, maybe

CobraJoe

#12
2024-12-28 10:50 Last Edit: 2024-12-28 10:54 by CobraJoe
 The OG color is Royal Burgundy, same "X" paint code as the 65-66 Mustang, except it was called Vintage Burgundy in 1965.
I have two red cars already and I am going with Medowlark Yellow, code "W", as it was the color of my Dad's car back in the day:(I was 14)

I will put the GT stripe back on, only painted black instead of vinyl and add the optional GT hood scoop.

When I was fourteen years old, I was amazed at how unintelligent my father was. By the time I turned twenty-one, I was astounded at how much he had learned in the last seven years!

'96 Bronco,
'39 Ford Coupe,
'57 Fairlane,
'68 Torino GT
'15 F150,
'17 Escape,

CobraJoe

#13
2024-12-28 10:56
It amazes me that there is so much desert sand under the moldings . Here's when I pulled the back window:







This stuff is in every nook and cranny of the car.

When I was fourteen years old, I was amazed at how unintelligent my father was. By the time I turned twenty-one, I was astounded at how much he had learned in the last seven years!

'96 Bronco,
'39 Ford Coupe,
'57 Fairlane,
'68 Torino GT
'15 F150,
'17 Escape,

mustang6984

#14
2024-12-28 11:35 Last Edit: 2024-12-28 11:37 by mustang6984
Nice color. Good choice.
Yea...sand gets into EVERYTHING! But you are right about the condition of the body being good. That tool is a life saver!
Oh yea...what is the frame with the wheels/tires and no body for? Inquiring minds (mine anyhow) need to know.
Nothing is impossible...
The word it's self says I'M POSSIBLE  (Audrey Hepburn)
2 '57 Ford Couriers AND '57 Fairlane
3 Mustangs, '69 fastback-'84 SVO-'88 Saleen Convertible
'49 Ford P/U
'50 Dodge P/U
'82 RX-7
'65 Chrysler New Yorker
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