A car with no name. by 67catmando

5 minute(s) of a 76 minute read

2-16-2012

I am still debating. I have been piecing together a really nice A+ console, a 68 xr7 non AC in parchment, found nos parts and did a quartz conversion on a sweet rally clock. However, I need to put in switches for the windows and mirrors and would like to have an armrest and maybe a cup holder or 2 if I was making one from scrap. I am having a hard time laying out the switches on the padded top at all because it gets quite narrow. I want the driver to have all 4 windows controls and not on the doors. Also I am not sure the XR7 clock matches the rest of the gauges too well. The console I have put together is too nice to mess up with a bunch of holes. 

Lately I have been leaning towards a custom console that butts up to a chrome radio bezel. I was thinking of putting the wood trim to match running down the console and maybe on the doors. I would use the shift indicator and the rear lamp. Otherwise, maybe a stitched vinyl sides that transition to carpet on the outsides, wood in the center, a billet trim ring around the shifter, an armrest with a box, and 2 cup holders. I think I will build it to see if I like it. It is going to be a lot of trial and error with fitting the frame on the hump.

I am not sure, I picked the 72 Torino because the parking brake release rod came straight forward instead of jogging over like some of the later mustangs and cougars. Plus it has the stainless trim ring around a rubber pad that matches my 67. I did not weld it in. I used grade 8 bolts and solid 2 inch thick steel spacers to get it away from the kick panel. The nuts are welded to the plate which is mounted on the outside of the kick panel. It is super solid. I wanted the level of the pedal to look right with the other pedals so it is mounted high under the dash. Also, this allows the pedal to travel without scraping the carpet on the floorboard. This is what causes it to encroach on the vent. I am thinking I can take a vent and cut a couple of inches off of the tophat shaped vent tube and pvc glue weld of the fins back into the tube. It needs a bunch of its length to accommodate the metal flapper door pivoting inside. I was also thinking of looking at other models for a shorter vent tube and similar mounting. But for now I just capped it with a plate of steel and a gasket. It does occupy the same space as the high beam switch. I haven't figured out what to do about that yet. I may change this to a switch on the dash if I cant find a better location. Regarding the washer pump, I plan to do an electric pump conversion with a switch or push

3-10-2012

Well I got some garage time. I bought a lot of Cougar grilles off of craigslist. There were about 7 grilles in all. Some were varying degrees of broken. I still have a complete (but completely crooked) grille on the car. I am going to make a really nice grille on the bench. I was fortunate that it looks like at least 3 of these grilles were from 1968 which I hear are stronger. I just threw away everything that was beyond saving, rusted out buckets, broken grilles, etc. Now besides a real mess, I have all the parts I should need to get the grille done right. I think I am going powder coat everything I can for durability. This is what I have to work with....

Now comes the careful selection process. I did learn some of the differences between 67 and 68 grilles though in the process of taking all of these apart. The rust looks worse in these pictures than it really is. Nothing beyond blasting really.

I think I will try to make a frame to fasten the largest piece to. DrDesoto told me he made a frame and hung it upside down. I will probably look into the lower temp powders too. But most importantly, I will test it on one of the junky pieces. If I can't find anyone to do it, I will paint the thin pieces and powdercoat the boxes, doors, light cups, center latch etc. I really like how Ahunt191's grill parts came out.