1993 FHP 1363 equipment install thread

[NoDrama43]

I have had a bunch of inquiries reference the equipment for the FHP unmarked car. I have been photographically documenting the teardown of the interior to try and help figure out the correct configuration or at least get as close as possible. I have found a couple of interesting items in this car today and wanted to post it up.

This car had a bracket attached to the dash above the A/C vents. The holes do not line up with a micor or spectra bracket. The large 2 inch hole next to the three holes suggests a radio harness was installed there. A single tier 4 channel micor head sits at the same height as the wear marks on the back of the dash (from the harness). I am changing out the dash pad since it has glue/epoxy of some sort on the front that will not come off. I removed the old dash pad and found a 1 1/2 inch by 5 1/2 inch bracket laying loose on top of the ducting for the a/c. It is a bracket that was installed by FHP when the radio equipment was attached to the dash. The aluminum plate is drilled and threaded and the holes line up with the holes in the top of the dash. I can only assume that FHP dissasembled the dash pad to do the install as there is no other way to get to it. Here are the pics. In the first pic you can see the edge of the bracket as it is laying down.

[NoDrama43]

When I removed the carpeting from the car I found several holes in the floorboard and transmission tunnel area. When Bret owned this car last year he had found a hole in the floor in front of the rear seat near the drivers door. A trooper friend of his told him that in south Florida some Troopers had a rigle or shotgun mounted in this location. I could see another hole in the transmission tunnel behind the console but had figured that was a speaker location for the spectra radio when it was added.

After pulling the carpet out today I found a total or three holes. 2 near the door and one in the tunnel. It does appear that there was a rack of some sort mounted here. There are also three very small holes in the rear sail panel but I believe they were for a streamlight or mag light of some sort. Here are the pics.

[NoDrama43]

We all know FHP installed anti theft devices on their mustangs. When removing the interior today I took some pictures of the device in this car. It is activated by pushing in the button on the side of the shifter, which drops a cog in the shifter to allow travel. When the cog drops it closes the switch wich in turn grounds out the coil killing the engine.

This car also has the second plunger style switch under the dash, and the toggle switch location to activate the system. Here are the pics.

[NoDrama43]

ready to install..... Painted the cabinets and the repeater switch. looks much better than it did.

[86NeSSP]

Great information and looks great. Can't wait to see it complete.

[ImEvil1]

+1. Great documentation for those restoring FHP unmarked cars.

[Winterpark SSP]

Love the detail :)

[NoDrama43]

I had an old two piece shotgun rack laying around so using the original holes I bolted it in the car. I will need to get the correct insert for the electric release but I think this is close to the way it was mounted.

[NoDrama43]

one more

[bmt336]

god, why did i sell this car back?..........:banginghead:

very very nice........

[NoDrama43]

god, why did i sell this car back?..........:banginghead:

very very nice........

cause your my bud !! :)

here is another pic of the equipment going in the car. I need an 800 mghz antenna, the spectra trunk bracket and correct radio harness to go to the head unit. I am still looking for those pieces.

[ImEvil1]

Looking great, Jim.

I like the bracket you fabbed with the toggle switch....good stuff.

[stubes]

looking good. i almost have the some pile of equipment accumulated for my car.

[stubes]

regarding the micor mounting bracket, did the single tier micor use the shorter bracket?

the one that came with my car has the taller mounting bracket with it.

[NoDrama43]

yes the single tier used the shorter bracket. the taller bracket would be used with a clamshell/2 tier setup. In the picture is also the bracket we talked about for the pancake light.

[stubes]

my car came with the exact micor radio you have pictured in addition to a clamshell bottom and tall mounting bracket.....i chucked the bottom.

need to find a shorter micor mounting bracket then.

i bought a light bracket holder similar to the one you have pictured on ebay for my pancake.

[mac88chp]

my car came with the exact micor radio you have pictured in addition to a clamshell bottom and tall mounting bracket.....i chucked the bottom.

need to find a shorter micor mounting bracket then.

Russ - I have a short bracket that I didn't need for the Micor head I installed in my CHP car. PM me your address and I'll send it to you.

Jim - great looking pile of stuff! :cool:

[FHP813]

Looking good Jim! What paint did you use to paint the Motorola cabinets?

[NoDrama43]

Dupli Color # T414 Storm Gray.

It is not perfect but very very close. To get any closer I would have to take a panel down to the paint shop and let them computer match it. I figured I would try this for 5.00 a rattle can.

[FHP813]

Cool, so you just masked the letters?

[NoDrama43]

I did not paint the front of the radio at all. it was perfect and the paint matches well enough that I just painted the top and sides to clean it up.

[NoDrama43]

original windows that turned out just fine......

[NoDrama43]

painted the window frames, installed NOS roof rail mouldings and NOS ventshades. Have to work the next two days so the car gets to rest. Did order a pint of the correct Opal Gray interior/vinyl spray. Have to pick it up this evening on the way to work.

[FHP813]

Looking good!! Who needs $800 quarter windows,when they can come out looking like that.

[stubes]

what is your method for redoing quarter glass trim?

i have pretty decent extra pair with very very light pitting starting.

[NoDrama43]

lightly sand with 400 grit, spray with flexible high build primer. sand again with 600 paper and spray with flexible satin finish bumper paint.

[NoDrama43]

Looking good!! Who needs $800 quarter windows,when they can come out looking like that.

i need two more sets of windows. I have a couple of used sets that i think i can refurb. the nos ones are wayyyyyy past stupid now.

stubes if you want to sell your extra set i am interested.

[stubes]

i have two nice sets enough for both of my cars.
last set i bought cost me $200 on ebay. they are nice but have very minor pitting which should fill in good with the sem flexible primer i bought. just wanted to make sure i am doing mine the right way.

[86NeSSP]

WOW, that trim looks good. Great job Jim.

[NoDrama43]

the old original carpet looked like crap with fading and dirt.... here it is after pressure washing and and a SEM re-dye. It isn't perfect but it is way better than using the ACC stuff. I found that the secret to doing this and making it work is to use many very light coats, just misting it on and letting it dry good. I lightly brushed it with a wire brush between coats to make sure it din't get sticky or matted.

[NoDrama43]

I cleaned, prepped and re-dyed every piece of vinyl and plastic that goes in the car. Here is a pic with the dash pad, radio bracket and door panel re-installed.

[NoDrama43]

one more pic with the rear package tray, dashmasters, and my favorite sticker..... :)

[86NeSSP]

Excellent progress... That carpet looks near new in the pictures. Are you using only SEM on the vinyl door panels too?

[mac88chp]

That carpet looks pretty darn good Jim. Wish I had done something like that on my car rather than using the ACC replacement, which I was (and still am) disappointed with too.

[NoDrama43]

Are you using only SEM on the vinyl door panels too?

Matt at FMR gave me the SEM color code for 1993 Ford MED Opal. I had my paint guy mix me a pint of it but it was just slightly lighter than it should have been when I compared it to an unfaded piece of the interior (underside of the passenger side armrest support).

I took the interior piece in and the guy worked for about an hour, tweaking the color mix to get it perfect. Then I had him mix me an entire quart plus he gave me the formula on paper for future use.

It is a SEM vinyl, plastic, flexible paint product. It adheres very well and is a perfect match to the original color. I didn't think the door panels were all that faded until I took it all apart to repair the map pockets etc. Once I took the map pockets off it was a totally different color underneath. Looks new now.

As for the carpet I figured that if I ruined it trying, at least I tried. The acc "crap et" is horrible. The color is NEVER correct, it is thin as paper, and I have yet to buy a piece of it that actualy was the correct size. They don't give you an extra inch to ensure it fits well. Matt at FMR has a new carpet made by TRIM PARTS that is supposedly an excellent product. Had the original carpet not came out this nice I was going to get a carpet from him.

[Winterpark SSP]

:thumbsup:

Your car is coming out fantastic. I cannot wait to see the finished product!!!

[mac88chp]

The acc "crap et" is horrible. The color is NEVER correct, it is thin as paper, and I have yet to buy a piece of it that actualy was the correct size. They don't give you an extra inch to ensure it fits well.Hey Jim, you forgot to mention the joke ACC calls the pad but otherwise this just about sums that product up! :yes: :thumbsdown:

Matt at FMR has a new carpet made by TRIM PARTS that is supposedly an excellent product. Had the original carpet not came out this nice I was going to get a carpet from him.Hmmm...I may have to look into this as I wouldn't mind redoing the carpet with something better. Anyone here installed one of these yet?

[86NeSSP]

Jim, The car looks outstanding so far... I love it.

[ImEvil1]

+1. Good to see the car getting the restoration it deserves. (you can thank me later for the decal).

[jarhed123]

The car is looking great.

[NoDrama43]

radios are in the car now and I finished mounting the equipment in the trunk.

mounted the front dashmaster II and NOS steering wheel.

I need to mount the radio speakers, pancake light and shotgun mount then start wiring everything up. Here are a few pics.

[86NeSSP]

That install is very clean... If you didn't know this car had miles on it I would think it was a brand new car.

Great job Jim...

[NoDrama43]

thanks......I am trying to make the car look as though it is a new one that has just been equipped for service. I have a ways to go though.

[PoliceSSP]

You sure are doing a great job on it Jim. It looks fabulous.

[w4ata]

Outstanding job Jim, it looks great!:2thumbs:

[FHP813]

Nice install! Very clean. The interior looks fantastic also.:2thumbs:

[bmt336]

I can already tell it is missing some decals.....

[stubes]

one more pic with the rear package tray, dashmasters, and my favorite sticker..... :)

any extras of that sticker to have a copy made?

[NoDrama43]

no that is the only one i have of it.

[NoDrama43]

I cannot believe it has been three years and the car is still in the same condition. I have GOT to get this car done......

[sspanthony]

I think we all would agree !!! It is a beautiful car Jim....

[NoDrama43]

four years later ????

seats go to the upholsterer first of November. NOS Goodyear GT+4's are getting mounted on the NOS ten hole wheels.

This one will be completed by the March 1, 2016 if not before.

[bmt336]

Needs more dun.....

[NoDrama43]

March 1st 2016 came and went.....then March 1st 2017 is behind me as well...

Getting closer though. The seats are done and I ordered the last few pieces needed under the hood a few days ago along with carpet. Installed a new Carlite windshield day before yesterday and today had the NOS tires mounted and balanced on 1000 mile take off like new wheels.

inching closer.....

[NoDrama43]

another view...

[TWOCARNUTS]

They look GREAT!

[flagator10]

Way to go! Can't wait to see it done!