week 7-8 November Wheel Well Flare!

The new wheels & tires are big... 18x10 American Racing Special Edition Wheels & Falken Azenis 295/40r18..  Making one tough looking muscle car... to accommodate the fat tires... I flared out the wheel wells about 3"... first I cut the lip free & sectioned about 1 1/2 then I welded the lip back to the bottom & bent it out. In the first picture you will see a 3" spacer welded in place.
Then I just kept working my way around till I got the whole thing welded into place...

*note I did this with the new qtr panel screwed in place - with the new black panel "flexed" just a bit so the whole fender sticks out about 4" farther than stock...

qtr screwd in place with about 1 or so of flex & tape line marking the lip

using grinder- cut the entire lip loose

I sectioned about 1 1/2"  out of the lip & re welded it at the bottom- & welded a 3" x 2" piece spacing it out so it cleared the new fat tire. 

more pieces welded in

mostly welded in you ca really see the flare here...

week 5&6 fender mock up & rear valance repair

Minor updates this period... got new rear qtr panels mocked up to show the rear wheel location. And the damaged rear valance removed- drilled out all the spot welds- removed the old panel & screwed the new panel in place.  lower valance mocked up and it looks pretty good. It comes down to within about an inch of the bottom of the spare tire well...  Should be able to change out the mufflers & make the exhaust tips match up with the new valance.

week 4&5- Final trimming- Getting close

With TJ off to Idaho... I'm on my own...
The '69 is back from sandblasting & primer.
Additional trimming- I decided the whole car had to move forward to work with the B-pillar.
finally got the car to sit down where it needs to & the width at the bottom is close to 56".
A bit more trimming at the fenders & rear deck & alot of trimming of the rear bumper mounts & into the spare tire area. & the rear valance works.
Exhaust is a bit low but will be easy enough to re-work.

*The big issue is the wheel wells- the openings are about 2" too far forward. I've ordered new rear lower qtr's and will relocate them similar to the front fender mock up shown in the pictures.

Doors, fenders, hood all mocked up- (these are the old pieces, just for mock up- new doors, fenders & hood on the way) - no issues with engine. and sliding the car forward may make the defroster/dash work out.

week 2&3 More tear down & test fitting

Week 2 & 3... More Tear Down & test fitting... *remember we are working on this at night after work &  I'm lucky to get 2 or 3 nights a week in.  TJ is leaving Weds Oct 2nd for a 2 year mission and then it will just be me & whatever help I can get now and then... Thanks to my friend Paul Neilson for his help.

After a dozen or so trial fits & trimming just a bit more here & there we have it to within about an inch of it's final resting place.

Here is what we have learned so far...
1- the new mustang sits lots lower than the '69 and the a pillar is about 3" taller.
2- the rear wheel lines up great and will accommodate big fat tires.
3- fuel filler neck will come up on the rear qtr. like on the earlier year shelby
4- the windshield on the '69 is about 2" farther back * requiring modification of defrost duct.
5- the rear exhaust & spare tire area will have to be brought up about 4 inches to fit like it should under the bumper.

*lots more issues & hopefully solutions to each as they come up to follow...
here are a bunch more pics.