Texas DPS SSP M7-400
 

Check out the picture progress on my cardomain site.

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knocking some of these things out! RED = ITEMS COMPLETE BOLD = ITEMS WORK IN PROGRESS!

Completed some more items this weekend... The car should be ready to drive this weekend. I hope all goes well. I will be installing the equipment this weekend for pictures as well. Hopefully some one here might want to take this car on as a further project to complete the restoration when I am complete with it. It will only need a few small things when I am done with it. A good black paint job on the fenders doors and 1/4's for the Texas DPS look or just fresh white paint.

1. Get car home (1100 mile round trip)
2. Get red interior parts to replace what is missing or wrong (still working on that).
3. replace the rear end existing one was damaged as previous owner swapped it to a freind who messed the current one up.
4. Install antennas to fill holes in body.
5. Install spotlight
6. Replace the gauge cluster with correct one (mileage within 2K of original).
7. Get red seats that match original interior (swapped gray for red out of a 87 coupe)
8. CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN
9. Replace the front bumper cover.
10. Replace A/C equipment and charge (all missing including damaged the evaporator core).
11. New tires with black wheels.
12. New engine as current one not correct and really dirty. Don't want to chance it not working when completed.
13. Title, registration and inspection.
14. New catalytic convertors
15. Rebuild transmission
16. Refurbish side moldings as they were missing and install
17. Install trunk pieces.
18. Spare tire and tools.
19. Tailpipes welded to catback.
20. Install interior DPS items (easier for next person to restore and show the car).
21. Install new water pump and timing chain.
22. Intall new belt and hoses.
23. Replace all fluids.
24. Install radio.


More to come. I am also going through the under dash wiring and re-looming everything so there will be no issues what so ever when completed.

Matt

Wiring just about done I just need to go through and loom the wiring. I have run a loose round of E-tape around the wires to group them back up but will have them wrapped in loom soon to protect them from any damage outside of there being a wire fire or some sort of catastrophic clutch cable failure.

Oh I found the dash pad that I had in storage for this car as the original was cracking and broken. This car will be nice for the next owner. I will also have most of the equipment to go with the car if the decide to show it and put it back to an "IN-SERVICE" look.

The door handle on the passenger side came in on Saturday and is now installed. All the trim is on the doors, quarters and fenders. The rest is just final setup, re-installation of belt, hoses, waterpump, timing chain, fluids and a good cleaning... Then I will take it to the inspection station have it inspected and then to DMV for Title and registration.

The A/C items are all in and now just waiting to have the system re-charged and then the new tires to be installed... I guess I will have some nice new powder coated ten holes for this car as I will be sending a set off to be done once I get this car sold.

I will need another set for my "FINAL" 1987 Texas DPS SSP. This car will be finished and taken to shows by my Wife.


Matt

Sounds like you are making some good progress. Maybe we can do a Texas resto section next?:thumbsup:

Thanks, Mike.

Progress is coming, slowly sometimes but there is progress. I hope to have this car on the ground and running this weekend. Like most weekends though that is all up in the air right now and we'll see...

I hope so... Between the info that resides on Tony's fotki site, in his head as well as Roman and Tom there should be a good source for this document.

Matt

More progress... The dash is back in along with new connectors at several points. The clean up behind the dash to get wires away from sharp edges was successful as well as getting the new speedometer cable installed.

The car stll needs to be cleaned and the exhaust and driveshaft installed. Then the last thing to do is get the new tires/wheels installed, engine wiring completed along with having the entire car buffed out and every last nut and bolt checked for proper torque that didn't already have that completed.

These SSP's sure look good in the white body with black trim around them and black wheels. Just SHARP if you ask me.

I am also installing all the extra equipment I got for this car just in case the new owner would like to have all the equipment with the car. That way there will be pictures of it in with the equipment that can be purchased with the car at additional cost.

Pictures coming SOON!

Thanks,
Matt

More progress on the car this weekend. I am nearing the cleanup phase. I still have a little bit of engine work to do as the waterpump and hoses that need to be changed. I will do that Monday evening as well as the timing chain. That will be a small chore but the satisfaction of the car having a new waterpump, timing chain and thermostat will go along way. Hopefully I can get it all cleaned up as I go. I will need to spend some quality cleaning time under the hood as well.

The A/C needs to get charged, tailpipes welded to the mufflers as well as the tires installed on the powder coated wheels. This car will be a head turner before restoration and then a real head turner once completed.

I hope I can get it most of the way done this week in the evenings as I would like to have Saturday and Sunday as shakedown days. We'll see.

Check the pictures on the site in my signature! Page 9 or just click on the car in the signature. Updated pictures at the bottom.

Matt

Well nothing really changed this weekend as relatives came in unexpectedly. I did get the wheels and tires done so there are fresh tires and brand new powder coated ten holes on it. I have to remove a spring compressor the previous owner left in the drivers side front spring and then the suspension is done. I have to bleed the brakes and the braking system is done for now. I may have to do some brake work once it is running and driving. The bottom end will get some work done to it this evening to get that all buttoned up so that it can hit the ground and be ready for a trial run this weekend and for the inspection.

Matt

Noticed something while under the car yesterday and may need to pull the transmission and see why the clutch fork has no slack with the cable not on it. I just got the exhaust on and was going to button up the bottom of the car and saw that and now I said I will finish up the engine compartment and then get back under it tomorrow and Friday. I need to get this thing finished up and to a new owner...

Here are a few shots of its GUTS hanging out!

The front of the engine goes back together tomorrow with all the new stuff. As you can see the new timing chain set is in and waiting to be covered back up by the cover and water pump.

Matt

Hey Matt, that is what we call an "Experienced" engine compartment with "Character" right?:D It's been ages since I attacked the timing chain and gears on a 5.0. I need to do it on my '89 SCHP. Couple of questions please - If you wrestle it correctly do you have to drop the front end of the oil pan or not? What brand/type chain and gears did you get? Thanks

You just have to un-do the 4 bolts that are holding the cover to the pan but you don't have to drop the pan at all. The timing set is a Cloyes double roller chain. I didn't want to put a Ford Motorsport multi index timing set on it as that would have been a waste. I have used this set on engines for a long time and never had an issue.

Matt

Thanks for the info Matt.

No problem...


More updates today. I finished installing the timing chain cover, water pump, thermostat as well as cleaned brackets and new alternator.

Matt

Couple of more photos today.

There was a little bit of progress today but mostly it was getting the front bumper installed with all the headlights installed and the bracket with the strobes. I did get some more little stuff completed under the hood.

Still need to get the rest of the interior completely buttoned up. I need to make sure I have all the A/C comtrols squared away and the radio wiring too. I wish I could come up with factory mustang pigtails that were cut off as to match the wires up.

I will take some more photos of the car outside as soon as it gets there. Once outside there are still a few small things left to do and this car should be ready to GO...

Matt

A few more pictures from tonight...

Some more progress today... It's out of the garage. Not running but it is out. I needed to get it out so I can have a little more room to move around and actually get the driver door all the way open. I have some wires to hook upm fluids to change, the interior to finish buttoning up and the exhaust and all should be GRAND!

Here are all the photos for today.

Matt

More!

The last one is showing a bumper sticker that I acquired from a DPS employee...

Matt

I have SPARK! no fire though... might be because the gas tank is empty! Ha ha ha... I am running to get gas now.

We'll see what happens when I get back.

Matt

Good luck with it....you are more than welcome to point it north and stop by (or you can just call, instead). :)

I would come by but I need to make sure that the small trips are good for now before I commit to making on that far. Once I have made a drive to your place I know the car has had a good shake down and should be good for any distance. So far there is one little water leak. No big deal I will block that off tomorrow. I also have to install the radio (once I have plug ends with wires) , bleed the brakes and then a full wash, wax and thurough inside cleaning.

The turn signals are not working at the moment but I am sure that is the multiswitch. Good thing I have like 5-6 of hose.

It does run by the way!

Here is a picture I took of the fan turning... The damn SSP 3 core radiator is minus the petcock (sp) to keep the coolant in. The smaller radiator ones don't fit so I had to use a newer stock V8 one.

Matt

Incredible amount of work in a short period of time.

Must live in a warm climate :( i woke up to below 10 degrees last few days we've been enjoying mild winter but oldman winter is kickin ass now.but i agree lot's of work keep up up the good work..

Thanks guys... Tomorrow it will hit the streets. Exhaust shop, inspection and then tax office for title and registration.

The 6 months it has taken to get it where it is is a short period of time but it should have been completed a few months ago. I have been dragging my feet with this. I really wanted to send it to paint before I sell it but I am not sure I would get that $$$ back out of it. I might but cannot afford to see as that is a gamble I cannot afford.

It will look good all together and restored though.

Matt