Ford man's 1976 Gran Torino Brougham Project

[rick99601]

we need a video!

[mcninetyone]

I think if I had one of those cars again, I would look around for the full intrumentation dash they had as an option. I've seen a few of those lately, and they still look great to me.

Is that going to be a Starsky & Hutch clone?, the new wheels look perfect for that.

When I did the cat delete on my CV I looked under every CV,GM and TC I could find in the JY, figuring somebody had already done that. And sure enough in about two weeks I found a CV with the cats gone. It took me about 15 minutes to get the exhaust pipes off and that was that, no more cats unless I wanted them back on.

[ford man]

How's it sound? What mufflers?

Sounds tough but mellow. Smooth rumble in town but quiet on the freeway.

It's got brand new dynomax hemi mufflers. I think once they break in, it will get a little louder than it is now.

[ford man]

we need a video!

I'd like to make a video but the car isn't roadworthy at this point. All the lights, trim and bumpers are off of it right now. Maybe when I need to move it I can get a warm up video...

[Lincolnmania]

looks sweet!
i used to just hollow those converters out

[ford man]

I think if I had one of those cars again, I would look around for the full intrumentation dash they had as an option. I've seen a few of those lately, and they still look great to me.

Is that going to be a Starsky & Hutch clone?, the new wheels look perfect for that.

When I did the cat delete on my CV I looked under every CV,GM and TC I could find in the JY, figuring somebody had already done that. And sure enough in about two weeks I found a CV with the cats gone. It took me about 15 minutes to get the exhaust pipes off and that was that, no more cats unless I wanted them back on.

I like the sport dash alot. I see them in the junkyard in mostly beat condition. My gauges are really clear though and I like the idea of replacing my clock with a tach. I already have a mechanical oil pressure and water temp gauge.

Yes! STARSKY AND HUTCH!!! ... was wondering when somebody was going to ask that...


*****Not my car. I hope I can get it to look as nice as this one ... *****

[ford man]

looks sweet!
i used to just hollow those converters out

Thanks! True, I hear that on the hollowing out. These converters are cherry though. You can see through them like new and I need them probably, for my CA smog check.

[ford man]

Hey now... Torino update for ya. I'm on hiatus from work right now so I've been going full speed ahead on the body work. This car is my first experience doing my own filler work on one of my cars.

I'm using evercoat everglass for filling over the welds and deep areas. Evercoat rage gold for general filler work and evercoat glaze for creamy finish work and minor dings.

I have taken off the bumpers, grille, trim etc to prepare it for the paint job. I want to paint inside the trunk, under the hood and the door jambs, the works...

I made a little warm- up video by the way, but it's not that great. I'll post it up soon. I should probably make another one...

In this picture- you can see I have already filled the roof section where the opera window was welded over. There's work being done to the panel by the trunk where this ugly fuck bump was... I hammer and dolly'd, heat shrunk with a torch and wet rag then when it was as good as I could get it, filler...















Picture of the opera window welded and all the vinyl top trim holes welded, before any filler.



Here's a couple pics of friends cars at my house. They decided to get into the act of doing there own body work too haha. That's a '79 spitfire and a very ricey honda prelude. My friend with the spitfire is really going for it, as you can see... There is lots of sanding dust going on... hope the neighbors don't complain...


Everybody's getting to work and nice progress is being made to the Torinos c pillar. There is the '85 LTD in the background!

[1987cp]

Where do you live that there's no snow and you can do Bondo outside in the middle of February? You suck!

[ford man]

Where do you live that there's no snow and you can do Bondo outside in the middle of February? You suck!

Los Angeles. It was a nice 80 degrees today lol. It was raining for 10 days straight in december... I was hating it then. Before it was a little cool... around 60-65 so I was using a little hairdryer action to help out the bondo.

[87gtVIC]

Nice work man. I like the look of the car a lot.

[johnunit]

Los Angeles. It was a nice 80 degrees today lol. It was raining for 10 days straight in december... I was hating it then. Before it was a little cool... around 60-65 so I was using a little hairdryer action to help out the bondo.

I envy you.


Don't get too aggressive with that hair dryer though, if you cause the outside of the bondo to cure too fast in relation to the stuff way down in there touching metal, things can shift and it can cause outgassing and adhesion issues down the road.

[ford man]

Thanks guys.

Thanks johnunit for some sage advice. I think I should be ok... I was mostly using the hairdryer for warming up the panel before the bondo apply then I would kind of wave it around afterwards but not too close to the bondo or in one spot for any length of time. Hopefully the body work will be long lived.

[79lincolnlover]

I hope the neighbors won't bother you.

[ford man]

I hope the neighbors won't bother you.

So far so good man! I get a little something done on it every day... more pictures soon.