1986 Idaho car turns the corner....

[NoDrama43]

Earlier this year I spent a couple of weeks getting the 86 Idaho car back in good running order. Thread here: http://www.specialservicemustang.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4208

with all of the mechanicals accomplished and the car running and driving like a champ I made the decision to keep going on the car. During it's service life it was involved in two crashes, both front end damage and the repair work done was.....again......some of Bubba's best work. Here is the crumpled, cracked, welded, hammered drivers side fender apron.

[NoDrama43]

in this picture you can see how Bubba used about 6 washers to shim out the hood latch assembly so the hood would shut and latch. Also the right side support bracket that attaches the front bumper cover /header panel to the core support is missing. that is because the nut that is usually welded into the core support has been ripped out.

[NoDrama43]

I decided that if it's worth fixing it worth fixing right so I ripped into her with a spot weld bit and a big ole claw hammer. A new core support and two inner fender aprons later this is the result.

[NoDrama43]

passenger side....

[NoDrama43]

the big picture.....

[NoDrama43]

This car is going back black and white within the next two weeks. I am using single stage paint (like Ford did in 1986) that will be wet sanded and buffed.

Once I get her back to the barn I will being doing the heater core and complete AC overhaul.

Looking forward to getting this one back to in service condition.

[ChrisL]

Excellent Jim! Glad to see this one getting some much deserved attention, I love the Idaho SSP cars :)

[FHP813]

Looking good there Jimbo!

[Andy]

looks Great Jim.:yes:

[NoDrama43]

thanks fellas. no more d%$#ing around. I am planning on hitting some shows next year. with or without you guys..... so get wrenching. : )

[copper]

Looking great Jim. I will be looking forward to seeing it at a show.

[NoDrama43]

George sent you a PM

[GSPI]

Fantastic Jim, now you are a bit ahead of me since I ran my Idaho car at a show which brought up some more mechanical issues that I have to work on.

[28HopUp]

Nice work, Jim! :)

[mac88chp]

thanks fellas. no more d%$#ing around. I am planning on hitting some shows next year. with or without you guys..... so get wrenching. : )I like that 'tude...go Jim go! :)

[kapracing]

looking good :)

[sspanthony]

Looking really good Jim ! "Go Jim Go" :)

[NoDrama43]

it's actually in the booth....

my painter lost his mind and decided the inside of the trunk needed a complete makeover also, plus all the body panels came off and on and on and on... lol

should be black and white by May 1st. Almost out of body shop jail. Planning on taking it to Vegas next year for the 50th if it happens. That way I can stop over in Nampa (where it was stationed) and get some pictures taken.

[sspanthony]

Any updates or pics ???


it's actually in the booth....

my painter lost his mind and decided the inside of the trunk needed a complete makeover also, plus all the body panels came off and on and on and on... lol

should be black and white by May 1st. Almost out of body shop jail. Planning on taking it to Vegas next year for the 50th if it happens. That way I can stop over in Nampa (where it was stationed) and get some pictures taken.

[nighthawk756]

Any updates or pics ???

Inquiring minds want to know! :D

[NoDrama43]

this is why we call it body shop jail. It is sitting in his shop ready to paint as he does the final finish sanding on a 58 corvette. He "says" he wants to paint them both in the same week, so he is not sanding on one, while he is painting the other.

painfull waiting process. I am using single stage paint on this one and I know when he gets it finished it will be beautifull but with this guy you just have to be patient. <sigh>

[GSPI]

Yeah it's killer at times. I just lost one shop and now it's on to another for me and my projects. Had one of my cars in the body shop getting ready to do the work and the guy backed out. Hopefully you get your Idaho car done soon! I know that I'll be behind you all the way! :thumbsup:

[John10608]

LOL Mine's D O N E !!! and I'm showing.

Great job on the car !

[GSPI]

LOL Mine's D O N E !!! and I'm showing.

Great job on the car !

You have an Idaho car????

[NoDrama43]

I think John is pointing out to me that he has a car that is done......(yes I know I should have never sold it).......and he gets to take it to shows now.....while I sit and watch the primer dry on the Idaho car. :)

[GSPI]

I think John is pointing out to me that he has a car that is done......(yes I know I should have never sold it).......and he gets to take it to shows now.....while I sit and watch the primer dry on the Idaho car. :)

And here I thought that there were other Idaho cars coming out of the woodwork!? :D

http://images50.fotki.com/v1524/photos/4/42477/2505011/DSC_6380-vi.jpg
http://images108.fotki.com/v613/photos/4/42477/2505011/DSC_6385-vi.jpg

I've got other cars right now that I use for things around here but that's not stopping me from working on the Mustang.... got the new wheels and tires and need to get the new body guy to fix the battery well area and then paint the car and I should be on my way!

[John10608]

Nice car !!!
I remember seeing those old radar guns on police cars growing up.
Where did you find that ? Awesome !

Yes, giving you a hard time on your project, but I appreciate what you are doing. You are doing a great job on it.

I am happy mine is done. It is a blast taking it to shows.
I am even more happy for the fact that I had NO body work to do on mine.
Very lucky ! A previous owner was a car restoration, body fender guy and took care of any imperfections on the car.

Not even a door ding. My paint guy just had to sand and paint.
I was lucky. At first I thought I had paid a little too much for the car, but then realized what it had saved me.

Nothing like watching these cars being saved, and saved the right way.

I can appreciate all of the work everyone is doing on their cars.
I am just happy I didn't have to do that much work on my mine.
I'd love to have another one or two, but just no time for more projects.

Keep up the great work !!!

[NoDrama43]

so the painter had the car two years......

it turned out pretty slick. I am taking it to ISP headquarters in about a year. It will be done before that.

[NoDrama43]

1 more

[NoDrama43]

another with some neighbors...

[28HopUp]

That's real purdy! In the last photo, which car is on the right?

[NoDrama43]

That's real purdy! In the last photo, which car is on the right?

1992 North Carolina HP

[28HopUp]

I forgot about that one. The shiny wheel threw me off...

[NoDrama43]

I forgot about that one. The shiny wheel threw me off...

mint chrome pony wheels.....

[kapracing]

Car looks great! Thanks for the update!

[ImEvil1]

Nice...he does good work.

[NoDrama43]

Nice...he does good work.

yes it is just a crying shame it takes him two years to do it....

[GSPI]

Looks great Jim!

[NoDrama43]

thanks Greg. Save me a spot at Cleveland 2016.

[NoDrama43]

I had several conversations with some Idahoans today. I called the BMV and the kind lady in Idaho said she will look the car VIN to see what history they have on it. I gave her the oldest title number on record from the carfax and she said they will probably be able to provide a title showing the state as the owner because the title number I gave her will show the previous owner MSO or title info.

I also called ISP headquarters and talked with another really nice lady who said she will try to pull the in-service crash report from 1992 for me tomorrow. She said that if it involved an ISP vehicle they "should" have it archived. If so I will know the unit number and trooper assigned AND maybe get some in-service pictures as well. That request was put in writing and mailed to them today.

Lastly I talked to the fleet manager Captain Sheldon Kelly at headquarters and he was very interested in my plans for the car. He advised that the white striping they use to mark the cars is the same now as it was in 1986 and he is going to put me in touch with the fleet supervisor that marks the current fleet so I can get the striping. He is looking forward to seeing the car at ISP headquarters next year.

I have a few things to get accomplished in the barn before I start reassembling the car but I am hoping to get started around the end of the month.

[Andy]

Did you ever color in Milton
I sent it to you back in 07
Well?

http://i13.tinypic.com/4xndhte.jpg

[NoDrama43]

Did you ever color in Milton
I sent it to you back in 07
Well?

http://i13.tinypic.com/4xndhte.jpg

not yet but I still have that one. I will most likely frame it and put it on the wall in the shop.

[NoDrama43]

Another good day in the SSP world.......

I spoke with the Idaho Fleet manager today and he gave me permission to contact their decal vendor and order what I need for the car. Super nice guy who wants me to bring the car out for a meeting with the Colonel next year. He also said they have a back room with old boxes containing some of the equipment they used "back in the day". I am hoping they have some original license plates??? He also said he will get me some names and email addresses of the task force guys that drove the mustangs.

AND.....they still have one mustang (1989) put away that they kept for historical purposes. I will be sure to get the information for the VIN report when I am there.

AND.....the Idaho Transportation Bureau has information on the three owners it had in Idaho after being sold at auction in 1990. They are sending me the info .

[xxtrpr]

Sounds like good info and crossing my fingers for you Jim.

[28HopUp]

NICE! :thumbsup:

[ImEvil1]

Cool....hope you can get some pics of the Mustang when you're there as well.

[NoDrama43]

I believe I will be able to get pictures, including equipment placement etc.

Super nice people to talk to and they are all excited about the car.

[sspanthony]

Making some good progress Jim ! Congrats.....

[NoDrama43]

Recieved the complete title history on this car today from the state of Idaho. It was sold to the first civilian owner on March 3, 1990 with 87k.

[NoDrama43]

well another year has passed.....I got sidetracked building/painting two jeeps so no progress on the Idaho car yet....hoping to get to it soon.