updates on my 1989 ssp

[calimustang]

Hello,

I found out that this car do have serious rust issue on passenger side floor pan... we took out the carpet and center console out, (it was very difficult to remove the center console) you could see SSP item on both floors.

rear quarter panel area is all intact, no rust of any kind. It made me puzzled where the water leak is coming from????

Passenger side seat, bracket is rusted out as you can see in those pictures i just uploaded.

What's your advice on the floor pans?

Unfortunately, no build sheet! :No no:

http://public.fotki.com/calimustang/1989-ssp/

[calimustang]

Also, most of my interior parts are very faded of blue but all intact except the center console, it's done for due to warp on the top of the console where it meets the dash by the radio...

which would this work for my interior? or have a better suggestion?

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/MET-FL37/85-89-Mustang-Regatta-Blue-Lacquer-Interior-Paint

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/MET-FV37/85-89-Mustang-Regatta-Blue-Vinyl-Interior-Paint

[predator20]

You could try to clean up the rust and see if it's completely through the floors. Otherwise you'll have to replace them with new sections. The window could have been left down for a period of time, best thing to do is spray it with a water hose.

[calimustang]

It's already opened on photo #11 (IMG 0556). Guess i'll take door panels off asap since both are slightly warped due to wood plate that holds the panel is warped due to heat and age or? Any advice of that?
You could try clean up the rust and see if it's completely through the floors. Otherwise you'll have to replace them with new sections. The window could have been left down for a period of time, best thing to do is spray it with a water hose.

[calimustang]

no answer to the post above?

so far i left it to sit outside for a month and found no water into the interior, so the conclusion rules out many except two, bad heater core or leaving windows open. as far as i know, i took the door panels off and looked inside the doors, no dirt or any kind, very clean. door panels are original and sadly... warped on the bottom sides... is that repairable?

so that leaves the issue is bad heater core?

new updates so far on my ssp today...:

ok i posted up new picture updates of my ssp with moldings removed and found rust on drivers' side fender... what can i do about that?

you can see my fingers pointing out on tail lights area, that's the strobes' connectors and yes they are completely intact, surprised me after 22 years...

i also cleaned up the motor bay, will remove dead motor out and will be painted sometimes this month and repair/replace floor pan and such.. it will be repainted to original color. then will drop stock 1991 motor from a donor rear ended convertible 5.0 that's freshly rebuilt about 6k miles old.

ok, another question.. i noticed the bumper on both sides are warped, are they repairable or recommend replacement for OEM bumpers?

also rear deck, I'm not sure if its normal?

sorry for rookie questions, please BEAR with me.. this is my first actual restoration and i want this done right.

so far i found blue interior set from 1993 coupe in 1-10 condition as rated 8 from Chicago, my best buddy picked it up for me and i will go up there and pick it up sometimes soon with my 2011 VW Jetta TDI :-D (tdi = turbo diesel injection)

http://public.fotki.com/calimustang/mustangs/1989-ssp/

[ImEvil1]

MJ,

It'd be easier for us to see what you need help with if you posted the pics in the thread.

You car, BTW, is one of 3, according to the VIN list. Any luck yet finding where it served?

[calimustang]

Mike,

can you clarify what you meant about 1 of 3?

no clue on where it has served yet, all i know is bucktags.. i haven't gotten up there to Ocala PD area yet... do you have any way of reaching them?

ok i uploaded photos from today, ranging from IMG 0988 to IMG 0989 as picture 1 to 21, is this helping? picture 22 and after are old.

to be specific:

http://public.fotki.com/calimustang/mustangs/1989-ssp/img-0981.html

http://public.fotki.com/calimustang/mustangs/1989-ssp/img-0980.html

http://public.fotki.com/calimustang/mustangs/1989-ssp/img-0979.html

http://public.fotki.com/calimustang/mustangs/1989-ssp/img-0998.html

http://public.fotki.com/calimustang/mustangs/1989-ssp/img-0995.html

http://public.fotki.com/calimustang/mustangs/1989-ssp/img-0996.html

[ImEvil1]

Whoever used your car ordered 3 of them. Your car is the first of the 3.

[calimustang]

Can you give me more information about that? This is something i never knew about.
Whoever used your car ordered 3 of them. Your car is the first of the 3.

[GSPI]

With you being in Concord, California, you probably don't get rust around the area there. Depending on how bad the rust is, I would suggest "etching" the rust using a caustic to clean it and then a rust neutralizer from Eastwood as a possibility. So you've not had experience yet in this area and it's important that you stop any rust on the car.

I'll have to look at the photos some more so I can get an idea of what happened with the warping or the rust on the floor. Most of that rust on the bottom of the seats is from wet feet when it rains or snows and you don't have a mat in place on the carpet.

[calimustang]

Concord, CA is my original home which is 20 years ago, i currently reside in Mount Dora, FL which is central FL near Ocala, Fl about a hour drive up north. Sorry for the confusion, i have been a member of fotki for a long while, forgot to update it.

[ImEvil1]

Can you give me more information about that? This is something i never knew about.

MJ,

That is all the info that I have.

[calimustang]

ah i see.. 1 of 3 ordered for the same options of this ssp or ocala, fl bucktags were ordered as 3 units or? or just VIN itself?

[ImEvil1]

ah i see.. 1 of 3 ordered for the same options of this ssp or ocala, fl bucktags were ordered as 3 units or? or just VIN itself?

Your car was most likely ordered with two others (making it a total order of 3, yours is 1 of those 3). That is it. Nothing about options.

[calimustang]

many thanks! will update more later on... as far as planned.. will get repainted this month or next month.. what about bumpers and drivers side fender as seen in the pictures? are they restore worthy?
Your car was most likely ordered with two others (making it a total order of 3, yours is 1 of those 3). That is it. Nothing about options.

[GSPI]

Now that you mentioned that the car is from FL it probably is close to the ocean or gulf and will get salt on it and sometimes has worse results than the snow and salt used on the roads up in MI.

[calimustang]

ok guys, I'm going to have it towed today by a buddy to his house with every tools he have and swap dead motor out and put stock 5.0 in and get it drivable and get to know what issues are on it, it'll stay unpainted for a while until i have enough funds to get it painted. sorry guys, i couldn't wait and keep watching it sitting... i just miss driving a good ol' 5.0...

[calimustang]

little updates... found more rust on floor pans hidden from plain view until the car is on body stands, could see rust holes around front floor pan on passenger side, drivers side just STARTED to develop so that's a easy fix but as for passenger floor pan, replacement floor pan for passenger side are recommended?

let me know.

what color is correct to black out the 10 hole rims?

what color is correct to paint upper intake and valve covers?

that's all I'm thinking for now.

also the 3" exhaust system from headers to pipes are going to be discarded and will be getting offroad h pipe mated with 2 chamber 40 series flowmasters plus brand new ford radiator is on the way along with shorty headers.

i need Coolant Over Flow Bottle, anyone have one to spare that's in excellent or new shape?

[28HopUp]

what color is correct to black out the 10 hole rims?

I don't have a paint code to give you, but the correct wheel color is Satin Black. I'll let others chime in on your remaining questions. :)

[calimustang]

many thanks!
I don't have a paint code to give you, but the correct wheel color is Satin Black. I'll let others chime in on your remaining questions. :)

[GSPI]

There is a PPG paint code from Ford of 9381 which is their blackout color for 1989 and they call it "Flat Black" which my guess is the correct color as their finishes are a semi-flat when actually applied. Check with your paint supplier to see the finish consistency of their mixture using this paint code.

[mac88chp]

Using an original, always been kept in the trunk spare black SSP ten-hole for comparison, the powdercoaters I used for my wheels determined that it best matched the sheen of Krylon Semi-Flat Black spray paint. The results look spot-on to me.

[GSPI]

Powder coating is great and durable but do you guys have any issues with the cap on the 10 holes causing any chipping?

[mac88chp]

Powder coating is great and durable but do you guys have any issues with the cap on the 10 holes causing any chipping?For me not so far but that's because in 9 years I've never had them off the wheels. Have enough miles (about 5k) to warrant a tire rotation but the tires are also just about timed out so I guess I may find out when they get changed for new ones in the near future.

[calimustang]

ok i'll hold off the paint on rims until it gets totally painted, it might be this september... whoo! i cant wait. so far i got flowmaster exhaust system, headers, new cobra spec radiator (aluminum), BBK shorty ceramatic headers (damn they look real good), also got new SSP coolant hoses set and I'm very glad i found them!

Now it's on the process to get it hooked up and fire her up after many years of not being on road as i believe since 2005 or longer .. then i can test drive her and fix any issues to make sure she's all good as mechanically sound then take it apart and.....

get heater core replacement done.. it's the fawking GREMLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it's what destroyed the passenger side floor pan but how can the previous owner who drove this on a daily basis neglect the leak and let it flood??????

so far the mechanic friend said my clutch on fan isnt good.... plus overflow canister looks ugly. more to come soon....

[calimustang]

tomorrow might be the day we may fire her up, depending on the weather, not going to look pretty so.. crossing my fingers!

fyi, it's my first basic resto to get it running then drive it around to make sure she's mechanically sound then take it all out as interior is nearly bare right now as the original interior is shot/burnt. AC will not be hooked up this time because former 2 owners ago bypassed it, so i will replace new heater core as same time its stripped to be painted with one new floor pan.

do you know where i can find new reinforced floor plate thats similiar to SSP package?

[calimustang]

as for black wheels style, it'll be done at same time my car is to be painted. thanks for the advices, guys!

[calimustang]

new pics update...

http://public.fotki.com/calimustang/mustangs/1989-ssp/

[calimustang]

she runs!!!!!!! she sounded real good! Just didnt last 10 mins, seems iginition switch is bad and balancer is going bad, then she should be ready to go. whoohoo!:dancingbanana:

[MOstang]

Congratulations on reaching that point.

[28HopUp]

Congrats! That's a great feeling when you hear it start up. Don't get discouraged by the minor set-back - you're doing fine! :)

[1988Bullitt]

Awesome! congrats!

[calimustang]

yep! it sure feels like i was a little boy who opened up his awesome Christmas gift on Christmas day when it finally fired up after 7 years of being lifeless with dead motor (no oil pressure) and VERY ugly one that is.

[calimustang]

Remember I'm not making a lot in financial side like some of you guys so I'm doing my best as possible to make this ssp restored the right way, help me out for good advices such as what's good parts to get and what's not and hopefully i find its service history sometimes soon. This is my first restoration.

[ABN2060]

Remember I'm not making a lot in financial side like some of you guys so I'm doing my best as possible to make this ssp restored the right way, help me out for good advices such as what's good parts to get and what's not and hopefully i find its service history sometimes soon. This is my first restoration.

Congrats. It is a good feeling when you finally have a running car again. I know what you mean by doing this on a budget. People have helped me out before so let us know what you need. Some of us just have what you need laying around just waiting for a good home.

[GSPI]

Remember I'm not making a lot in financial side like some of you guys so I'm doing my best as possible to make this ssp restored the right way, help me out for good advices such as what's good parts to get and what's not and hopefully i find its service history sometimes soon. This is my first restoration.

Money is one thing, hard work generally is the best for any restoration. You have more appreciation and you know what was done. Take your time and do it right. If there is something that you are not good at get some help (paint and bodywork is generally the most troublesome for many). It sounds like you are getting the mechanical out of the way and working through some of the rough edges. The more you are able to do yourself, the lower the cost will be.

Historical stuff is pretty easy if you know where to look. Carfax is a good source to get started and then call a department and ask if they have a historian or a public relations officer to help you out. They can best direct you to who might be able to help you out. Know the approximate years of service and have a note pad ready to take notes. Keep your notes and photos together so you don't misplace anything and you will be able to get your whole restoration notes and all put together for a great scrapbook of the progress and the adventure that you've had.

Just some of my thoughts from rereading your posts here.

[calimustang]

Hello,

I've not done much to it since it has been running besides fixing idle issues, it's almost completely cured, TPS is the last thing which i will be replacing soon. Already replaced oxygen sensors and cleaned mass air sensor, solved surging idle issue and no more black smokes out of exhaust.

Trans has been shifting REAL HARD since day one, it made trans pan to get loose by its bolts and leaked a lot on my carport area... not cool. So i will have it completely rebuild next week so it won't leak anymore which i am looking forward to. My trusty shop tightened up the bolts for 2nd time in a month, it finally stopped leaking so I'll leave her alone until next week so that way no more mess on floor! I used about 3 large jar of trans fluids since she got on the road.

So far no luck finding 87-89 regetta blue interior... so i might be restoring my original set with this..

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/MET-FL37/85-89-Mustang-Regatta-Blue-Lacquer-Interior-Paint

Will restore my original seats with new foams and covers and good set of tracks as original ones are obsolete and beyond repairable condition. Anyone have good recommendations for foams and covers to be period correct as much as possible?

[calimustang]

just got marti report... now i see it was sold from ford dealership in Jacksonville...

[28HopUp]

Sweet! May I include your Marti Report in our VIN Project?

[calimustang]

oh yes you may. :)