68 Cyclone GT - Ford Muscle Forums : Ford Muscle Cars Tech Forum

44WJS · 12-05-2009, 07:59 PM

My current project started Christmas of 2004.
My son was serving in Afghanistan with the Indiana National Guard. He knew my only new car was a car I special ordered in 1968, a Mercury Cyclone GT. I have kept several cars since then but the 68 was sold while living in Kansas.
Since he worked in Army Intelligence he was able to do things others can’t. He was on line and saw a “good solid builder 68 Cyclone” for sale in Virginia. He goes ahead and buys it and has it delivered to my house via roll back truck 8:00 AM Christmas morning. Merry Christmas DAD!

44WJS · 12-05-2009, 08:13 PM

I proceeded to strip it down; it soon became evident that this car was not as solid as portrayed. I completely gutted it and then took it to be acid dipped. When Redi-Strip called to say it was out of the tank, I ask how it looked. “It’s one of the worst we’ve seen” was the reply! I installed new floors, new aft frame rails and etc. hoping that as I worked my skills would improve and I could figure out how to fix the bigger problems. I bought another Cyclone out of PA that looked like it had parts I needed. The guy that last worked this car was an artist with bondo! It had a fairly good cowl, interior parts and that was about it.

44WJS · 12-05-2009, 09:19 PM

Time to bail on the Virginia car. I next purchased a 68 Cyclone from a Mustang shop outside Atlanta. The purchase did not go smoothly but the car looked solid. Upon disassembly this car also had a bad cowl and fire wall corrosion. I had this car sand blasted because there were aspects of the acid dip I didn’t like. By now I have 5 hoods, so I take the car, my best two hoods, and trunk lid to the blaster. Cars rust so fast after being blasted here in Indiana that I took a gallon of self etching primer and ask if they would prime the car after blasting. They said they would. Well after blasting and a very poor prime job they left the car outside upside down on the rotisserie and trailer. Well you guessed it, a big thunderstorm that night. When I got there the next evening the car had 3” of water in the upside down roof. I have been fighting rust ever since. PLUS they warped the roof, my two best hoods and the trunk lid! I still paid their full price.
You have to put this behind you and move forward. The next step, was to splice Penney’s (PA car) good cowl into Georgia as Virginia is now a parts car.

44WJS · 12-05-2009, 09:40 PM

“Crites” used Virginia to prototype their sub frame connectors. So they are now installed on Georgia along with a custom made cross member for an e4od.
My plan for this car was to make it a restomod of my original 68. It will be Mercury’s version of (Augusta) Bullitt green with parchment interior (modified with Mark VIII seats) and reflective gold stripes. The drive train was to be a 427 inch Windsor with TKO 5 speed. Well that darn Jon Kaase has to come out with a redo of the Boss 9. So now I’m working for a Boss 521 w/e4od.
A Rod & Custom front suspension is now installed and smooth fire wall is going in. The other mods I have planned are a triangulated rear 4 link also hood and brake booster mods that I have never seen on this car.
This is a long slow project with time (I’m 66) and money not on my side.

dacofa · 12-06-2009, 10:43 AM

It's amazing what some shops will do to your pride and joy and think they're doing you a BIG FAVOR.
Take your time and just don't get discouraged by people that make it their purpose in life to just take your money and not do the job they were CONTRACTED to do.
Document every move you make, as I have. Pictures and use a current Newspaper frontpage to date the pictures. Make notes of conversations and take a witness, that's is always good too. Verify the VIN number on your car before and after you take it to ANY shop to be worked on.
Good Luck on your project and keep us posted.
All comes to he who waits.

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44WJS · 02-09-2010, 11:30 AM

Well I got the smooth firewall installed before it got too cold. Also raised the tunnel to clear the large 460 bell housing. If it warms up a bit I hope to get back to work on more rust issues and the triangulated rear. The undercarriage will then be seam sealed and painted with POR-15.

G00S3N3CKB0BB3 · 02-10-2010, 11:15 AM

Hey Warren,
Cool project and awesome son you have there. You don't see these Cyclone GT's everyday. Keep up the great work!

44WJS · 07-13-2010, 10:56 PM

Man, you gotta love living in Indiana! It’s too cold to work in the pole barn in the winter and then it’s too HOT. Not much in-between.
Progress has been slow. But here is an update.
The trans tunnel is complete. I have always hated the pinch-weld seam on the firewall. So I am taking a rectangular tube and making a “C” channel out of it. This will be placed over the flange with the tube level and the seam at an angle. Justin my welder has now made some nice smooth inner fender aprons, these will really clean up the engine compartment.
I have also purchased a Chris Alston Chassisworks Total Control G-bar triangulated coil over 4 link kit for the rear. This kit is for a Cougar and will require some modifying of the cradle and car trunk floor pan.
I have taken Ricks (Fat-n-fast) advice and started a photobucket account.
Please take some time and look at the posted pictures.

Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

65fordfalcon · 07-14-2010, 05:11 AM

Hey man,

Just remember through all of the BS it will be worth it! We have all been through the drama when it comes to rebuilding so we share your pain....You have a great plan on this car and with a little patience you will be ok.....coming along real nice....my car has been in the bodyshop for over 18+ months with barely anything done to it and that is a situation I don't like bringing up....of course I am being told one day it will be done...gl

FEandGoingBroke · 07-14-2010, 06:23 AM

I'm glad that it's all coming along progressively! Nice work too!

old gator · 07-31-2010, 07:25 PM

I'm really impressed with your will to go on and do the things you have done...Well thought out also..
If I can ever get my wife to help me up-load some pictures, I'll show you my '69..
I'm like a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest when it comes to computers..

GOOD LUCK...

old gator · 08-01-2010, 04:19 PM

Let me try...

44WJS · 08-28-2010, 01:57 AM

Nice car.
Sorry to be so slow in responding. I work nights and used to post while at work. That has stopped, so I am slower posting now.

Jetfixr320 · 09-12-2010, 07:21 PM

I see you did the Rod & Custom kit.
Looking good Warren.

Nothing new with my Fairlane. Dad is up from Florida and has been driving the wheels off of it though. Trying to talk him into taking it back with him for awhile. If it wasn't for him getting me started with my 1st Fairlane, I wouldn't have it.

Jet