1983 Mustang Convertible - Built-up Re-build

[Igor]

With 75 days left until the NNLEast, I've decided to build something for the "The '80's" theme.

I found a 1983 Mustang Convertible that I had built about, oh I guess... 1983 or so, and have decided to re-build it. Luckily, I had bagged it a while back, so I'm pretty sure that everything is there.

Here's what I have to start with:

I'm starting with the engine:

... more posts to follow as progress progresses.

Edited April 14, 2010 by Igor

[Airfilter]

I love the rebuilding.

[whale392]

I love the Fox Bodies, and would love to see this one shine again!

[Eric Stone]

I love the Fox Bodies, and would love to see this one shine again!

Ditto. This one's on my 'want' list. I'll be keeping an eye on the rebuilding.

[Igor]

Progress so far: re-painted and re-assembled the engine. Added plug wires (yeah, they're a little big) and a parts-box carb.

Moving on to the interior, which was pretty clean to start with, I've started by painting some brown to represent wood on the dash and console. Still need to clean up the edges a little.

Plan on flocking the carpeting and adding additional details.

More to follow...

Edited February 8, 2010 by Igor

[Igor]

Latest update:

Discovered the back of one of the seats was missing, made a new one out of sheet plastic:

Darkened the wood with a felt-tip marker, straightened the hand brake lever, made a new shift-lever from a straight pin, and flocked the carpeting:

I also painted the undercarriage black, started detailing the wheels and tires, and primered the body. But I don't have pictures yet.

[whale392]

Good to see you putting in some good effort on the save. The only thing I can see goofy is your already mentioned sewer pipes for plug wires. However, as I am not too competent of a builder, my opinions and comments should be taken with a bucket (forget a grain) of salt! It is looking good, and as stated, I love FoxChassis.........thank you again for saving this one (<that comment requires no salt, as I own 4 real Fox 'Stangs).

[James Flowers]

I always like it when people save and rebuild old models. Looks like you are off to a good start.

[Igor]

The only thing I can see goofy is your already mentioned sewer pipes for plug wires.

An experiment that did not go quite as expected.

The more I look at it, the more I am considering doing it over. I do have more in-scale wire that would look better...

[nails3825]

I'm liking it so far... I don't think I have an '83 mustang in my collection Are they still available?

[Eric Stone]

I'm liking it so far... I don't think I have an '83 mustang in my collection Are they still available?

eBay or swap meets... They've been going for around $15-$20 + shipping on eBay lately. I've been watching a few. There are usually only one or two on there at a time.

[Eric Stone]

The kit was modified to make the 1987+ Mustang convertibles that Monogram, and later Revell, offered. The first modification to the '83/4 car was the "New Monkees" kit which had a 1987 Mustang GT body and wheels on the 1983 chassis and interior. The real 1987 Mustang GT had fuel injection, but the kit kept the carb intake and single exhaust. The interior which also changed dramatically on the real car in 1987, was in as-issued 1983/4 form as well. If you need an interior or chassis for the 1983/4 convertible you can find it in that kit. In 1989 Monogram got around to updating the engine, the exhaust, and the interior. The first issues had a non-stock Saleen rear wing, but this was later corrected into the rear trunk rack.

What that all means is that it's unlikely that the pre-1987 body will be seen again from Monogram.

I guess that means I should stay away from the New Monkees kit... Thanks for that run-down, Mark, I didn't know all that.

[Igor]

Rare mid-week update:

I just grabbed the body-in-primer from the basement... it looks a lot better than I expected it to. I expected to have to sand some of it down, glue spots and such, but it looks pretty good at this point... I guess I lucked out leaving it molded-in-red 20+ years ago... paint jobs have always been my weak link...

The original windshield is going to be unsalvageable, so I'm going to have to try Mr. Obsessive's method of creating a new one.

I plan on re-wiring the engine with better, more in-scale, wires.

Since this is a convertible, I also plan on going a little nuts on detailing the interior, since it will be more visible than the interiors on most other models I build.

That having been said...

Mark: I didn't realize this was a rare model. I only decided to re-build it because I've had it lying around for 20+ years. Now I feel I'm under pressure to do a good job of it... also, I was thinking of trying to scratch-build a luggage rack, but do you think it would be better to leave it smooth? Considering the rarity of the smooth trunk?

[Nick W.]

So your name, is it pronounced EEgor?

[Igor]

So your name, is it pronounced EEgor?

EYE-gore... like in "Young Frankenstein"

[Igor]

The windshield can be replaced by any of the Monogram/Revell 1/24 Mustang convertible windshields. That part never changed between the '83/4 body and the '87+ body...that would be a lot less work unless you want to try making the glass.

Thank you! I forgot... I have another Mustang sitting on "the shelf" that I was really only going to use as a parts-donor for a "Cougar II" model I am going to "upgrade" with a more modern engine/interior... I could grab the windshield out of that one.

"Rare" is a relative term. I wouldn't call this kit particularly rare or valuable...only that they aren't going to make any more. $15-20 is the going rate...which is the same or less as any new-issue kit at the hobby shop.

Well, that is the definition of rare, when you come right down to it, "they aren't making any more". As for this particular model, I'm not emotionally attached to it, I'd really rather have a '79 myself (the only Mustang I've owned, so far)... But it *IS* one of the few models I didn't throw out 20-some-odd years ago when I thought I "outgrew" building model cars.

[Igor]

As for the luggage rack, like anything else I'd say do what you want...it's your kit. In case it matters, the majority of Fox Mustang convertibles didn't have the trunk rack until 1986 when the 3rd brake light became mandatory, and Ford placed it on the trunk attached to the now-standard rack.

I'm going to have to think this one over... I like the idea of the smooth trunk, but there is something about the convertible that just looks "right" with the luggage rack.

[whale392]

Any of the windshields from the Momogram 1/24th Mustangs will work. If you need parts, I might be able to scare some up.......I have a few extra 'dead' 87-93s laying around.

[Nick W.]

I knew that Igor! lol! I love that movie!

[Igor]

Since I've been snowed in, I've been working on the Mustang:

I have removed the hydraulic spark plugs and replaced the hoses with wires, in addition to adding an ignition coil as well...

Re-assembled the interior, adding an aftermarket stereo (photo-etched, with CD sticking out), scattered some magazines (reduced size and printed from the computer on photo paper), home-made CD cases, and a CD on the seats...

I also painted the body, but, unfortunately, it came out horrible... so, I'm in the process of stripping it for a second attempt.

More on this as it develops...

[Eric Stone]

The plug wires look much better! Interior looks good too.

Still watchin this one progress....

[whale392]

Very nice retouches on the engine, and the interior looks pretty close to most 'Stangs I know of! Keep this up and my real cars will be jealous of your build.

[Igor]

OK, final update... sorry I haven't updated in a couple of weeks, I've just been focusing on trying to get it finished!

Took 2 attempts but I finally got a paint job I could live with. Even as late as this morning it was questionable, but a last minute coat of Future has made it acceptable. Of course this made all the flat black shiny where they touched, so I had to re-paint all the black. And, of course, the black messed up the white stripe, so I had to re-do that (white gel-pen)...

(Added: forgot to mention I replaced the windshield with clear sheet plastic)

Anyway, here it is...

I'd like to thank everyone who has been following along and giving me encouragement and advice.

Next stop... NNLEast, Hope to see you there!

Edited April 12, 2010 by Igor

[Eric Stone]

Looks good!

[nails3825]

That turned out great! Wish I had it in my collection