1967 Ford Mustang Coupe Restoration Planning and Organizing

Planning and Organizing

A wise friend pointed out that car restorations are massive projects, so take it one step at a time.

Switchback Project is an adaptation of the They Might Be Racing Frame-Off Project Planning Guide. There are several books, web posts, and YouTube videos related to restoring a classic Mustang, but generally, they described a piece of the project, not a grand overview. This is my first restoration project, They Might Be Racing provides a complete framework, for the whole project.

Restoration Method

The Mustang is in pretty good shape but has been sitting for 25+ years, so this with be a Frame-Off Restoration.

In-Situ Restoration (or Rolling Restoration) assumes a working driveable vehicle.1

Frame-Off Restoration assumes nothing. The vehicle may be in any condition from running to complete basket case. In doing a frame-off restoration you have the time to take the vehicle off the road for an indefinite amount of time.2

Project Outcome

Switchback Project is an 80/20 restoration, 80% Stock Restoration, and 20% Resto-Mod.

Planned Mods

Rear Lights - Tail Light 3-Bulb Conversion
Front Brakes - Front Disc Brake Conversion Kit V8 Mustang
Hood - Replacement
Premium-Quality Hood Hinge
LizardSkin Ceramic Insulation and Sound Control (Floor Pan and Roof)
Headrest Kit Standard
3-Point Retractable Seat Belts
Radio & Speaker System

Stock Restoration - From a planning perspective, this is the easiest. You already know, down to each and every nut, exactly what the vehicle will look like. If you can find the original shop manual for the car and pair that with the technical services bulletin then it will not only be stock, but you'll be able to incorporate all the fixes and repairs that would have been done at the factory.3

Resto-Mod - Resto-Mods are highly varied. What differentiates them is the number of items on the vehicle that wouldn't have been present in a stock vehicle. Some of these are minor items, which won't be noticed by anyone other than a competitive judge. Others may be very obvious, like putting a completely different motor in the car. Many of my restorations straddle the stock/resto-mod line. They have basic safety upgrades that drastically improve the vehicle, but still, remain true to the original car. Some good examples of this are Brake system upgrades (converting drum to disk brakes, installing a dual master cylinder instead of a single), Basic safety upgrades (adding or improving seat belts, adding an extra or brighter set of brake lights) and simple power/performance/efficiency upgrades (better spark coils, bigger carburetors, MSD ignitions, 6 to 12-volt conversions).4

Project Breakdown

Externals and Accessories
- Manuals and Guides
- License Plates and Frames
- Hub Caps
- Spare Wheel, Jack and Related Parts
Surface Electrics
- Front Lighting, Wiring, and Attaching Hardware
- Taillights and Related Hardware
- Misc
Fuel System
- Gas Tank
- Fuel Lines
- Fuel Sender
- Fuel Pump
Exhaust System
- Exhaust Pipes
Interior Soft Components
- Seats
- Hardboard Interior Parts
- Glued interior parts
- Trunk
Brightwork
- Chrome, Stainless, Aluminum
Interior Hard Components
- Metal panels and shields
- Dashboard
- Under-dash Items
- Floor Pan
Front-End Accessories
- Horn(s)
- Radiator and Cooling System
- Oil and Transmission cooler
- Wipers and Windshield Washer
- Heater
- Other local components
- Air Cleaner assembly and Carburetor
- Alternator / Generator
- Fan and Water Pump assembly
- Exhaust Manifold
- Distributor
- Starter
- Emissions Controls
Glass
- Door Windows
- Windshield and Rear Window
- Headliner5
Outer Body Shell
- Hood and Trunk
- Frontend
- Rearend
Engine and Transmission
Suspension and Brakes
- Front Suspension and Brakes
- Rear Suspension and Brakes

Cleaning and Inventory

Cleaning and Inventory, assess what you have and what you will/might need.

1 http://www.theymightberacing.com/Restoration/RestorationMethods.aspx

2 http://www.theymightberacing.com/Restoration/RestorationMethods.aspx

3 http://www.theymightberacing.com/Restoration/projectPlanning.aspx

4 http://www.theymightberacing.com/Restoration/projectPlanning.aspx

5 To remove/replace the headliner the windshield and rear window must be removed.

YouTube Channels

Autorestomod Manic Mechanic Gasoline Media - Autorestomod is about helping you save money on restoring or modifying your classic car or muscle car.

Patreon memberships help support Gasoline Media and the great content they provide.

Classic Nation - The official channel for everything about classic cars, hot rods, and any vintage autos. From pro-touring to rat, lowrider to concours-restored, Classic Nation is the premier community for classic auto enthusiasts.

Budget Build Garage - Building cars on a budget. Watch how we restore, fix, update, and sometimes break any car we can get our hands on. Subscribe to our channel to get updated when we post new videos, every 2 weeks and eventually weekly.

Mustang Restoration Parts

National Parts Depot 1965-1973 Mustang - Restore or modify your classic Ford Mustang with the right parts from National Parts Depot. From correct emblems and decals to seat upholstery and sheet metal, NPD has everything you need. Whether it’s a base model coupe, convertible, fastback or sportsroof, or a GT, GTA, GT 350, GT 500, GT 500 KR, Mach 1, Boss 302, Boss 351, Boss 429, Grande or Shelby version of Ford’s Pony car.

Summit Racing Equipment - Restoration - Knock your restoration project out of the park with the parts, tools, and supplies you need to turn that barn find into the next show stopper. Summit Racing is your go-to source for all your automotive restoration needs, including interior and exterior components; engine, chassis, and drivetrain parts; paint and body equipment; wheels and tires, and much more!

EATON Detroit Spring - We Help Maintain American Icons by Manufacturing Leaf and Coil Springs Right Here in America.

Edelbrock - Edelbrock is the most respected name in performance! Since 1938, Edelbrock has manufactured its core products in the USA for quality and performance.

Street or Track - We have just the products to improve your classic Mustangs suspension and braking performance! Founded in 2003 our product line up has grown over the years to improve many areas of your classic Mustang. Ideal for the street or race track, these high performance products will greatly improve the driving experience you get from your classic Mustang.

TMI Automotive Products. - TMI manufactures high-quality complete automotive interior components that are easy to install and are a reflection of our customer’s specific needs.

Assembly Manuals

1967 Ford, Lincoln, & Mercury Engine Assembly Manual Reprint

This is a reprint of Ford's original factory exploded diagrams and illustrations. This guide will covers items like air cleaners, fuel pumps and lines, heater hoses, pulleys, alternators, emissions, fans and fan shrouds.

1967 Ford Mustang Interior Assembly Manual Reprint

This reprinted manual shows you exploded views of the interior of your car and includes original part numbers. Use this manual to help you disassemble or reassemble the interior, and/or to help identify parts that may be missing or incorrect.

1967 Ford Mustang Electrical Assembly Manual Reprint

This reprinted manual shows you detailed illustrations of your car's electrical system and power accessories. In addition to conventional linear wiring diagrams, this book gives you dimensional diagrams of the wire routing plus pictures of the looms so that you can see exactly where the wires are situated in the car, where clips & connectors go, and what they look like. Includes color codes for wires.

1967 Ford Mustang Chassis Assembly Manual Reprint

This reprinted manual gives you exploded views of mechanical parts, and includes original part numbers. Use this manual to help you disassemble or reassemble the chassis, and/or to help identify parts that may be missing or incorrect.

1967 Mustang Sheet Metal Weld & Sealant Reprint Assembly Manual

This reprinted manual gives you exploded views of the body of your car, which you can use to help you repair body damage. You will find out how to attach sheet metal parts to the frame; you will see assembly diagrams for fenders, quarter panels, wheelhouse, door hinges & doors, trunk hinges, trunk lid, roof rails, roof moldings, and roof panels.

Structures