Rorshach (Login Rorshach) from IP address 153.91.65.170
Hello all. My first post here. I just wanted to share my experience with my 1971 Cyclone. It's currently undergoing a frame off restoration. I hope to have the car back late winter or early spring '07. I bought this car from my brother about 5 years ago, and he bought it from the original owner (a California original). It was pretty beat up, but my brother did some body work and cleaned it up, partially rebuilt the engine, but didn't touch the interior.
The downside is that I'm not a mechanically inclined person. The upside is that I discovered 5 years ago that the state prison has an auto restoration facility - and they charge $1.50/hour for the labor. Can't beat that price, so I got on the list and my turn finally came this past August.
My car I am doing right now has some repairs in it that my buddy (the Prev owner) said his cousin fixed.
I guess his cousin learned his skills is prison. He pointed to a spot in the quarter that a felled tree bounced and crushed.
The guy pounded it out. I can't tell at all. Litterally can't find the area he fixed.
You may not be mechanically inclined but aside from tools you only really need one thing, the nads to try it.
Thats what most folks lack, the confidance to just give it a try.
I know my 1st sucessful disk swap lead to 4 years of insanity of restos.
This message has been edited by Rorshach from IP address 4.245.44.212 on Mar 3, 2007 1:43 PM This message has been edited by Rorshach from IP address 4.245.44.212 on Mar 3, 2007 1:43 PM
The only rust on the car was on the rear quarters, the inmates have removed all of the rust and welded in new sheet metal. Might be ready for paint in a couple of weeks.
This is what the car looked like prior to surgery:
This message has been edited by Rorshach from IP address 4.245.44.212 on Mar 3, 2007 1:45 PM
In reality it's a 1971 Cyclone GT that has been made up to look like a Spoiler. My brother didn't like the 71 stripe design, so after he painted it, he placed 1970 Spoiler stripes on her. The original color was a god-awful green with a white vinyl top - green interior, with a 140mph speedo and the optional instrument cluster that stretches across the dash pad. Engine is a 351C 4bbl and a C6.
I have the same set of hub caps. Were your caps already in that good of condition, or did you have them chromed or polished? Was curious because mine are scratched up from mechanics just throwing them on the ground, and or some minor dents. If yours had dents, just wondering if those came out too?
Mine fell off somewhere - that grid part that sets between the tailights - do you have yours? I purchased a good one on eBay, but I'm going to make a mold and a few reproductions, keep the original in a safer place than on the back of the car.
The pix above show the same tail lights that I have - three per side. Between the pairs there should be a grid. It seems to me that on models with two tail lights per side (Montego) there was a 'Mercury' script instead of the grid. Not sure what years were that way though?
Anyway, I was just asking if his was there or not, as I couldn't tell in the photo. If it's missing, I may have a few replicas made early next year.
Probably make a parts run later this month, stainless steel brake and fuel lines showed up at my door last night! Seats should be finished next week too (at an actual upholstery shop) - I'll say hi to the Warden for ya!
Top tire is 225/60/15, bottom is 275/50/15
New Magnum 500's should be here monday! Went with Specialty Wheels version. 15 x 7's front, 15 x 8's for the back.
look awesome! you could fit a lot of contraband in the seats to reward the captive crew working on your car-a couple of skin books,some jack daniels and a bag of substance should fit the bill
I was told I couldn't buy a new rear window rubber seal. Several restorers told me no one makes a seal. What did you do? If you were able to buy one, where did you get it?
