Finished photos of HM-2013

[dawger]

Received my kit between Christmas and New Years of 2013 and taking until July of 2022, tried to keep track of the time I spent which was just shy of 2000 hours in actual build time, the journey has finally come to an enjoyable end. Along the way I made some new friends that offered their input and advice that will cherish, you know who you are. Bobby, Mark, Aaron, and Russ which unfortunately passed away unexpectedly, as well as this forum along the way. I decided to go non-traditional with a 351 Cleveland and a TKO-600. The paint and bodywork all done by me and the colors I chose were GMC Unripened Green/Corvette Lime Rock Green and Ford Oxford White stripes. I have a few odds and ends that I will work on over the winter months but all in all, it was enjoyable learning process.

[dawger]

A few more...

[dawger]

Was able to attend a local show in late September, 104 cars showed up and they awarded the top 40 cars which I was able to be fortunate enough to be one. Alot of lookers and answering questions, all in all a good day.

Michael-

[FFR428]

Looks great! Really like the colors. Green is heavy on my list. And the 351 C is a super engine! VERY fast. Congrats it's a beauty.

[Greg K]

Mike,

Thanks for sharing the new pics, looks great! Will add some of them to the registry page too. Wish I had seen your trunk latch last week before I cut mine...also, what did you do to build out your door sills?

Thanks

[aarvig]

Mike!  She's an absolutely beautiful beast!  Congratulations on being finished.  I am not far behind.  I'm in for paint right now-I'll have finished pics by spring (hopefully).  Enjoy driving that thing.  The fact you painted it yourself is truly impressive and what a fine job you did!

[Bass And Hot Rods]

Beautiful work.  I'm envious.   Still waiting on my car to be ready for delivery.   Enjoy that beauty!

[dawger]

Thanks guys, means alot. I was worried due to it wasn't the traditional red or blue colors or a Windsor or FE powerplant.

Greg,
I used Russ Rittaman's build log of HM-2005 for the suggestion of door sill. Look at posts #95, #98 and #102. He used 3/4" MDF, however I used 3/4" Advantec flooring which is somewhat water-resistant, after taking a router to relief the areas around the latch and lower body mounting bolts, which went all the way to the down leg of the birdcage. I then painted them to help seal them up. I then wrapped in carpet leaving enough at the top to tuck under the edge of the body lip after installing some pinch on wind lace obtained from National Parts Depot (a Mustang parts supply house) item #WL-A pebble texture. You might be surprised at some of the items I purchased from various Mustang Parts suppliers, owning and restoring my '68 and '69 fastbacks helped in knowing some items could be used on the cobra. In Hindsight the only thing I can say is I wish I would have paid attention to the thickness of the door sill lip all the way around the opening, some areas where a little thick and made it challenging attaching the wind lace, as well as the area around the latch mechanisms/mounting bracket. Like usual one side was ok, but the other side had to be a little creative and some black hot glue helped.

Any other questions feel free to ask, willing to help.

Michael-

[Redstang69]

Michael, awesome job on your car. If you don't mind me asking, what is the piece in your heater hose that you can see just above the air cleaner?

[dawger]

Redstang69,
Funny you should ask. That my friend is a heater flush connection that I used as a fill/vent in order to help purge the air out of the coolant system. The heater is just slightly higher than the in line fill neck in the upper radiator hose. It worked pretty good after I put the front up on jacks to get the heater and the fill neck closer to level and used the flush connection as a vent. One day I'll figure out how to mount the 427 coolant tank like everyone else has done, until then...

Michael-

[Redstang69]

I figured that's what it was for. I've got a heater and have been working that point would be higher than my full point. Looks like I might end up needing one.
Funny you mention the FE tank. I'm in the process of modifying one for my build. Just drew the small block flange in CAD tonight so I can have a shop cut me out a flange.
Hoping to then cut off the FE flange and braze the small block flange on.

[dawger]

The Clevelands have a slightly different coolant pathway compared to a Windsor or FE where there is a flange on the intakes. Clevelands upper hose mounts to the block. One just needs to take some time and sit down and think about the design. From a design aspect out of the block then a 90* radiator hose to another 90* metal connection on the FE tank(basically cut the intake flange off the tank and connect the hose). Easy peasy, oh and figure out how to mount it securely as well all while making sure there is distributor, air cleaner and hood clearance. So nothing to it...

[Redstang69]

Haha yep nothing to it. I forgot you had a Cleveland.
If you have more pictures of your build process please feel free to share.

[dawger]

I'll see what I can do with some build pictures in the build section. Anything in particular, let me know and I'll check. Hope this will hold you over until then.

https://youtu.be/zMlMs1wWv_s

Michael-

[dawger]

Redstang69,

Sorry took so long, but I put a short build album together in the build section of the forum. For what it's worth I hope it helps you and others.

Michael-