Kevin Tetz LPGT 66 Modular Mustang
 

I've had some alone time with the car... finally got the proportion figured out with the late model GT headlights..... Thankfully the facia is 'glass and is easy to mock and rework. New firewall, more welding, and general dinking around to make everything work together. Brian Finch gave me the great tip to remove the distribution block from the side of the Hydroboost and tap the return line, giving me tons of extra lateral fit. ( not tons, less than an inch, but that's all it took. ) Now it looks like it'll fit between the cam cover and the hood hinge. Thanks Brian! One day per weekend is not enough... I feel a tickle in my throat... gotta call in sick a couple days! LOL!

More later.

KT.

KT,

Nice work so far. Keep those pictures coming.

I gotta ask about the frame rails. Those exhaust cutouts look like they really compromise their integrity. Are you going to reinforce them somehow? Or are you leaving the rocker panels intact to support the car?


jp

Cant wait to see how the new headlights look in there, great idea!

Thanks for the kind words! The exhaust cutouts are made from 1/4 inch thick tubing, which is substantial, and yes, if the frame was the only thing giving the car strength I'd opt out of creating weak links at those welds, but the unibody is still intact and gives extra support. I'm going to reinforce them at some point when I figure out exactly what I'm doing with exhaust routing, maybe plate with steel above and below the opening.... something for my peace of mind, although Muscle-Up says it's fine. I'm using the side-exit Spintech mufflers since they're lower profile and will give the look I want and not force me to weave exhaust tubing through the four link... that's a few weeks down the road if everything goes well.

There will be more pics to come... for now here's some more of what I worked on this past weekend.

That should be a pretty cool car when finished !! Any more details?

Jason

Nice project it will be sweet when your done. Is that an ISIS wiring module I see?

Yes! It's an ISIS multiplex wiring system. I'm a couple of weekends away from starting that process; the coolness of the ISIS system cant be denied! from what I've researched it's very reliable as well. My engine management system is from Dunne-Rite Performance and is one of their very first 4V modular swap harnesses. Very well dedigned, three wire hookup with PATS, EGR, downstream cats, and speed control defeated. More on this system later. We're also using one on the TRUCKS! show in a V8 Ranger we're building... I'm waiting on my gauges and installing the 04 Cobra dash into the car before I wire and plumb. The late model dash is only a couple of inches wider than the inner assembly in the '66, but I don't anticipate it'll be easy to do..... I also wanted to weld in my firewall before cutting the dash out just in case there would be pressure/tension issues I'm going with the Autometer gauge pack for 04 Mustang with pillar boost & wide band gauges. I've got the power seats from a wrecked 05 GT and will have some kind of rollbar in place, along with good belts. I spoke with Brett (ridetech) @SEMA and he said they're working on a tiger cage for early Mustangs, and I love the way those systems look. I want a really clean look inside and under the hood, but a safe ride as well; good brakes, nice handling setup, and probably wider (stickier)tires before the car debuts anywhere. Power goals are an honest 500 RWHP, which is very doable with the Terminator/T56/ 9 inch 3:70 combination. I pan on functional brake ducts fro the side scoops that haven't showed up yet... Im incorporating aftermarket late model scoops and will rout Shelby-like ducting to the rear rotors through the quarters. I still have to mini-tub the rear wheel houses, and generally clean up a bunch of welds on the main tub before priming and blocking. I'll be running with A/C as well.... early Mustangs dont ventilate well in the best cases.... I want to be comfortable at speed and have A/C at autocrosses. I plan on ( in all my free time...:hail: ) attending as many NMRA, Goodguys, Sema shows as possible with it, and I'm actually saying out loud that this coming (2010) summer it'll be done. I don't know how, but it will. Now that all the main vehicle systems are actually sitting in boxes at my shop I've got no excuses! Nearly forgot to add Ricks Hot Rods SS fuel tank, and FORE Precision fuel hat and billet rails will complete fuel delivery (through braided stainless lines and a/n fittings.)

Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for asking about details... I've been driving this one in my mind for a while now. LOL!

KT.

what a cool idea !!! the mustang in my opinon is the best looking and performing new "retro" pony cars. you also cant deny the terminator setup...good luck! cant wait to see this thing come together

cobra dash in 66 Coupe
 

Had a chance to work on the interior..... got the donor car (04 Cobra) dash fit into the 66 Mustang's seemingly tiny interior. It's one of those things that seems like it wont work until you get out the cutoff wheel and sawzall... I had to trim about 6 inches off the front edge, and an inch off each side, alter the main support bracket, and trim the side mounting tabs to squeeze it into the factory cowl space (after the OE dash was trimmed out and sacrificed). Since I'm using all new electronics, this is going to give me a way to access the main harness and dash connections, as well as a cool look that still looks "Mustang"

Wow!
I love the way this car is going!
I check every day hoping for an update, love the headlight idea, and now the interior! I cant wait to see this one finished! :thumbsup:

Looking good Kevin, when is your next day in the shop?

Great creativity.....going to love watching this build.

Killer build, please keep us posted as it progresses :thumbsup:

That dash is going to look good in there. I know you said the dash wouldn't be easy to install but how has it gone in so far?

Thank you all for the kind words and support!

Actually the Dash is proving to be surprisingly simple to install. It's about 2 1/2 inches too wide so I shaved an inch off each side. It's about 6 inches too deep with the wrong contour where it meets the windshield, and I'll have to get creative when it comes to defrost vents, since they've been trimmed off... but the good news is that there's TONS of room under the dash for a Vintage Air A/C heat system, and I'll figure out a way to utilize some of the factory ducting for vents and outlets. I'll utilize the main support bar in the Cobra dash, and make mounting tabs from the inner top, and the sides, as well as at the base of the trans tunnel, so I've no doubt it'll be secure ans solid. I'll create end caps from the trimmed sides that fit to the pinchwelds, and since I'm using analog/electric gauges I've got several options in that department. The passenger side will have an airbag delete, and I'll use and Ididit tilt column.

I know a really really good upholstery guy, that will cover all of my sins with leather and I'm sure the look will be very natural. The true ace-in-the-hole is the ISIS wiring system, which will allow me much freedom to cross mingle different systems. Im trying to keep the GVW to below 3000 lbs, so I've got to carefully weigh comfort against utility, but I'm loving the process!

I'll definitly post more progress as I make it.... thanks for giving us a place to showcase our passion.... there's so many awesome builders on this forum, some of which I can call my friends, and Im proud for that!

More soon!

KT.

Hi Kevin. To mod your tranny tunnel, did you do it before or after the curved tunnel brace? If you did it after (I think you did?), did you use part of the original to create a new one, or did you go from scratch? Any pics of that from underneath?

I ask because I'm getting started on a 68 coupe that's going to get a 6-speed, so I need to make some space :)

Thanks!
Jeff

I completely removed the trans tunnel brace, after that I sectioned the tunnel at the floor, moving it up and over to the right (passenger side) an inch. I also replaced the shifter opening with one from the donor 04 Cobra. I can sacrifice some structural parts with the Muscle Up full frame chassis, and have eliminated alot of clearance issues that would not have been possible to move without it. I'm assuming you're still a total unibody car, but count on reinforcing regardless. I have to eliminate the seat risers as well, but will plate thefloor with 2 inch wide strips of 1/8 inch flat stock to mount the 06 GT seats.

The photo is the closest I've got of a bottom floor shot until it's back on the rotissery... it shows the braces for the chassis and the lack of center tunnel support.

KT

Im doing the same thing with my Maverick. Instead of trimming the sides of the dash though I going to cut reliefs in the doors and flow that into the door panels once their made. The Maverick is getting a Cobra 4.6 as well. So Im watching this build closely.

Thanks for the info. I found another interesting build that the put a different tranny tunnel into it and lower the seat mounts. Search for T-67 by SVP Unlimited.

Edit: Here it is.
http://forums.themustangsource.com/s...highlight=t-67

That is our build, we used the S197 tunnel because we were using the '07 GT500 6 speed and made the most sense so that we could use the S197 style shifter.

If we can be of any help just let me know or you can ask svpjason here as well.

Paul - I don't want to take his thread off-topic by too much but I just wanted to say that I really like the way you routed that exhaust to clear the WL. I was trying to figure out how I was going to get the exhaust out of the rear (I don't care for side exhaust except on a real Cobra). :)

Thanks Jeff....We refused to just dump the exhaust or go the side exhaust route and just decided to get creative with it. Nobody had ever run exhaust past the Griggs Watts setup but most were running it on race cars and didn't care about the noise...being a street car we wanted it as civilized as possible.

Ok... Long overdue for an update!! :willy:

I agree how's it going.

Another TTT for updates! :)

Updates...... OK, I finished the mini-tubs out back, put the body back on the rotissery for seam welding and tidying up, and then medial blasting..... I've almost got the passengers side headlight (06 GT) matching the drivers side, but it's a challenge.... The good thing is that I can sit the doghouse on the chassis and work on it independantly, while the rest of the body is on the rotissery. My blower has come back from POSI PERFORMANCE, with his race port on the huffer and inlet elbow as well as a 2.79 upper pulley. All the engine needs is a once-over tocheck bearing wear, etc... before firing it up and dfinitly to break the trans and engine apart to check clutch wear and flywheel condition.

Back to the trans tunnel, I started by cutting the entire tunnel out, setting the engine/trans combo in place, then sitting the tunnel back on the trans and literally "seeing" what needed to be done. IT came up 1 7/8 inches and over an inch and a quarter. This also matches the offset of the engine and the way the 04 Cobra console sits in the interior, so all that worked out. Using a UPR quadrant and pivot with adjustable cable, I wanted to keep the Cobra cip intact as much as possible for resale ( it's an 04 Mystic... kinda rare... and FOR SALE!:D ) so I didnt graft the OE console into the older car, although that's a GREAT way to do this.

I know I know..... pictures... I've gotta get back down to the shop ( almost an hour from the house) ad take some photos, and should be able to in the next few days with the long weekend coming up.

BTW, I'll be making a solid, one piece headliner for the '66 in the next few weeks..... should be fun! I'll keep everyone posted, as the headliner project is not just for Mustangs.... the project can be applied to any vehicle.


More soon.

KT.

I got impatient and found this today:
http://paintucation.com/blog/

Some more recent shots there guys. :)

I see Kevin beat me to it with an update though, thanks Kevin!

Glad to hear its all working out. I like the way the new head lights look so far. Nice work.

More work done! Got the mini tubs finish-welded, and the firewall metalworked, complete with recessed Hydroboost mount. Next is creating seat mounts flush to the floorpan so I can utilize the electric controls on the Cobra seats. The wire form is to make a framework for Percy's Hyperfiber to recontour the fiberglass facia to match the new profile of the 06 Healdights. will have photos of that process, as well as the solid headliner project Im doing with Hyperfiber as well.... pretty neat product. UV cured, has all the resins already in the weave, and has unlimited open-time as long as it's not exposed to UV.... kicks in moments when brought into natural (sun) light or artificial UV sources such as black lights. More on that later...

I feel a couple of "sick days" coming up.... cough, cough:_paranoid

Nice creative touch on changing the contour of the facia - me likes.

It looks like it going well,. and I think your right atleast 2 days.
You better go to the shop and sweat out what ever made you sick.

Subscribed

Anything new Kevin ?

I though you might find this photo interesting, same idea on a '67:

http://carter-engineering.com/presto...frontAngle.JPG

Wow that looks agressive.

That is interesting on the second Gen... those fenders lend themselves better ( in stock form) to the 06 Headlamps. I'd love to see how he mounted them; that was my biggest challenge by far. The other is to take a basically 90 degree square fender and taper it down ( so it doesn't slap shut:_paranoid ) in front to meet the contour. had to cut the peak of the fender up almost halfway and pie cut to where it meets the brow. To quote Mike Ring "The first side's fun, making the second side match is what takes all the time and work.." The last project I completed was the exhaust system, which is now mocked up and loosely routed to the sides... I have always wanted side exits, just because I think it's cool. The challenge is full length headers into cats, into an X pipe, then into mufflers and out the sides within about 5 feet of frame and underbody.... to say the least it's tight. I just have a crappy camera phone pic that's fuzzy that I wont post here. I'll be at the shop this coming weekend and take some well lit and clear photos of progress. Next on the agenda is the one piece headliner, finishing the front fascia, constructing seat risers/supports, then it's on to the functional brake cooling ducts in the quarters, and making all the fiberglass extensions and skirts work.

Everyone has their own taste and what they consider cool.... and far be it from me to pass judgment, but I wanted stock looking panels all along, no flares, no wide body conversions. Even with new headlights, I still wanted to stay true to the rendering and have the car instantly recognizable as a Mustang. I LOVE the radical builds... but I wanted this particular car to still be an early Mustang... but there's a cost to this as well! proportion rules and aesthetics are important in design, and I lean to a more subtle design philosophy..... Just my thing. At any rate, new photos are a few days away... thanks for keeping up with this build!

KT.

love the build ..what size wheel and tire combo r u running...:thumbsup:

Update.... Been working and stealing time away when I can. The new nose is mostly roughed in.... final panel gapping and tweaks soon to follow. I actually have primer/surfacer on the fascia and nose section... It's been a long time coming! Other progress has been permanently mounting the dash and fitting it to the ols style windwhield profile. The rear fiberglass has been a challenge to fit as well... getting there though!. Tire sizes are 285/35/18 up front and 305/35/18 in back ... on 8's and 10's respectively.

Look's good.Has a late model feel to it.:thumbsup:

Nice to see you're working on it :)

Is that a typo - 285s on an 8" wheel in the front?