Category Archives: Overhaulit

Come along for the ride in this 100-part series as we take three class cars – a 1965 Ford Mustang, a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette and a 1970 Plymouth – and overhaul them into dream rides!

Overhaulit Part 51
Here’s a tip

Overview

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Description

Most people buy mufflers for the way they might sound, or maybe the fit. Not us. What would we do without the aftermarket supplying us with all those new pieces to replace the scratched-up, rotted, worn-out and beat-up originals on our cars? You get what you pay for: a seemingly good deal on a new aftermarket exhaust turns out to be a mess of kinked bends.

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Overhaulit Part 52
Pipe fitters

Overview

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Description

Not that you can get your fingers or a wrench or socket between the bolts, the headers and the ’65 Mustang’s inner fenders. And then you realize you forgot the gaskets and have to begin all over again.
So, we brought our own hammer to the party . . . and a grinder.

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Overhaulit Part 53
A test of metal

Overview

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Description

To make sure it wasn’t heading in the wrong direction at any point, we made daily stops with the camera to check out the progress and provide input. You really need to do this – and be decisive with the direction – or you’ll be spending a whole pile of money on something you don’t want.
Take my word for it.

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Overhaulit Part 54
Standing the test of tire

Overview

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Description

Because we’re not dealing with replacement tires for a minivan, here, we’re talking about restored classic cars and that brings up an issue of “correctness” and aesthetics that often come at the expense anything resembling modern road-holding.

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Overhaulit Part 55
Driven around the bend

Overview

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Description

Mail-order exhaust systems fit perfectly without any modifications . . .Nah, just kidding.
It gets a little stranger with older cars such as our 1965 Mustang because as they get older it’s more likely that they’ve been modified, which might prohibit use of a ready-fit exhaust system from a box.

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Overhaulit Part 56
Body in white

Overview

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Description

Three body shops later, guess what . . . we’re now looking for a fourth. “Body in white” is an industry term that refers to a vehicle’s bare shell. White also happens to be the color we’re painting our 1970 Plymouth
project car . . . if we can actually find the right someone to paint it, that is.

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Overhaulit Part 57
On the right patch

Overview

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Description

Talk about a patchwork quilt.
I expected some damage and then the corresponding bodywork to repair it, but our 1963 Corvette has had such extensive fiberglass reconstruction that had I known about it in the beginning, I wouldn’t have bought the car.
The motto here is simple: when you think you’re done sanding, sand some more.

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Overhaulit Part 58
The scoop

Overview

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Description

Trying to fix a hood-clearance problem – with a new hood – leads to a whole lot of other problems. Great, more fiberglass work to do. Say, what car is this again? When the topic is fiberglass, most people assume that I’m referring to our 1963 Corvette project car, which is made – and has been remade – almost entirely of fiberglass.
Surprise, surprise, because as it turns out, our 1965 Mustang needed a little fiberglass work, too.

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Overhaulit Part 59
Carbon disaster

Overview

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Description

We end up “hood”winked after a custom builder has more talk than talent. Now, what, exactly constitutes a big mistake? Accidentally cutting the roof off the car with a torch would be one. Painting the car pink instead of black would be another. And contracting an unknown outfit to make a carbon-fiber hood for our 1970 Plymouth project would also be right up there.
Talk about bad blood.

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Overhaulit Part 60
The pleasure of sanding

Overview

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Description

The bodywork was so extensive that we had to actually check if the gas cap and rear emblem still fit. This is what several coats of sprayable body filler look like. Let the sanding begin. No, not really. We hate sanding, with a passion . . . but to get the smooth final result, you have to love it.