Our Progress

    Well, so far we have changed the leaf springs in the rear, replaced the front suspension, and have put in the new passenger side door.  We restored the hubcaps, and we hope to have the drivers side door replaced after Christmas, and hopefully have her ready to enter the body shop in January.  Keep checking back for updates. 

    It seems that a small delay has occurred as far as getting the car into the body shop.  We have decided to cover her up with a tarp until we get the call that there is room at the "inn" (a.k.a. Independence Auto Body).  So, we will keep you posted.  Believe me, no one is more disappointed than I am. 

    Well it seems that our chosen body shop *Independence Auto Body* has been putting us off because they really don't want to do the work.  So we are in search of a new shop.  One shop on W. 140th St. called Auto Evolutions comes highly recommended to us and I will be contacting them to see if they are interested in the work.  Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available.

    The guy from Auto Evolutions did call us and say he would stop by to take a look at it, but we have yet to see him appear at our doorstep.  We made 3 appointments with him, and a no show every time.  In contacting one of our suppliers, *North Coast Mustang*, we inquired if they could recommend anyone, and he gave us the name of a guy he knew named Vince.  Vince works at Nottingham Auto Body off of E. 200th St. in Cleveland.  It is quite a haul from here, but I hear well worth it.   We have started disassembling the car, *see photo page* so that it is ready for the trip.  We also bought a engine stand, and have been purchasing parts on eBay on a daily basis.   Have made some real good contacts with other mustang lovers in our area and around the country.  More to come soon..........

       We pulled the motor and hauled it off to a guy named Ray who will be rebuilding it for us.  It was a disgusting site when we opened up the heads.  The oil was NEVER changed in this car.  They just kept adding.  So needless to say, it was almost like chocolate pudding.  (YUM..... NOT!)  Ray said he will have to power wash the motor at least 4 times to get it clean before the rebuild starts.  Check out the photo page in a few days to see the lovely pictures.

       The car went to Auto Evolutions today for its transformation.  We followed it down and hauled some parts to the shop since the tow truck couldn't handle it.   He is going to have her about 2 months so we are looking at the middle of April before she is back home.  We took pictures of the trip and we will post those shortly.

       We were supposed to have the Stang back today.  Unfortunately, the people who work at the body shop we hired really don't have a clue as to how or what to do on my car.  After telling us originally, the cost would be $7,000 total, I called on April 10, 2002 and talked to the owner, Bob Greene, and he tried to get more money out of us.  He said that it would be around $7,800.  Well, my husband was ticked and decided to pay him a little visit today.  When he confronted Mr. Greene, the story changed and low and behold, the price in still $7,000.  We decided to pay him in full (so we wouldn't spend the money) and he told us he would have it to us in 3 weeks.  My husband said, "So we are talking June here, right?"  Mr. Greene said "Yeah".   I will be very surprised if June gets here and the car isn't.  Stay tuned.............

        Well, like I said before, June has come and gone and my car is still in the body shop.  The engine is complete though and those pictures are posted.  Ray did a wonderful job on the motor and I am really impressed with how it looks.  Bob Greene's assistant Patty told my husband that they want the car done by August 1st.  But after closely inspecting the work in progress, the joker doing the body work screwed up the rear end and so my husband told Patty that it has to be redone so that the gas tank will fit.  It seems that the owner himself does excellent work, when he decides to show up.  Stay far away from Auto Evolutions.  I am getting hopeful we will meet our new completion date of October, 2002.   Till next time.........

        Gee, by my calendar, It's August 1st.  We have no Stang.  I don't know what to expect, so oh well.  I will keep ya posted.

        Well, as you can see, the body shop is still pulling our chain.  He has done some slow work on it, but not the kind of progress I would like.  Check back soon, and I will try to be faithful and update.

        I am starting to think that a Thanksgiving arrival is out of the question.  Auto Evolutions has now had the car for almost 9 months.  Needless to say, we are not thrilled.  The motor came back about a week ago.  I have everything ready to go and am hoping to have a cleaned space in the front room to put my Christmas tree up as that is where all the parts are sitting.  Hopefully our next entry will be the one saying that she's come home for good.

        Bob Greene is finally getting off his butt and looks like we should have her home for Christmas.  He is moving his shop in January and doesn't want to take my car with him.  She is all ready to be painted.  We fitted the gas tank today and that should be close to the final step.  We also took him the emblems so he could pre-drill the holes.  I will let you know what her status is. 

        She is painted!!!!!!!!  Finally there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  I was so pleased with the color, but I forgot to take my camera to the shop with me, probably because I have been disappointed so many times.  We hope to have her home within 2 weeks.  Only 11 months, not bad!!!! 

        Well, the day is finally here.  At 2:00 PM this afternoon, my car finally came home from the body shop.  We also installed the first piece of trim.   I will be posting new photos soon, as we put her back together.  Our target date for completion is now May 3, 2003. (Our 37th birthday)  Stay tuned!!!

            Today we uploaded some new photos of what has been done so far.  We hope to do that every Friday until the car is complete.  I am getting so excited about driving this beautiful car around, and can't wait until it is done, but I guess I have to.  Please take a moment to view the latest pictures.

           We have be diligently working, or should I say, Dwayne has been diligently working on everything he can install and we are now at a standstill as some of the pieces that we know we purchased are missing.  I know they are somewhere in this house, but who knows.  We will be putting pictures up this weekend so check back soon.

                This week has been very productive.  We were able to get some little things done, but overall, we are on our way to the larger parts of the car being completed.  We got the gas tank installed properly, and also the headliner.  He also installed a servo which lets me pop the trunk from the inside.  I have put a call into Triumph Auto Glass so they can come out soon to install the front and back wind shields.  Watch for the newest pictures to appear this weekend.  This week,  THE MOTOR!!!!!

                        We were successful in getting the dash pad and some more of the interior installed.  We had hoped to get the interior complete this weekend, but the weather has turned very cold for this early April weekend.  Dwayne hooked up the speakers and then attempted to hook up the radio to it, and the radio wouldn't work.  So he has spent 3 days taking apart the radio so that he can try and fix it.  We will keep a good thought because this is an original AM Radio with and 8 track player.  Can you believe it.  My kids think we are nuts.  Check back for updated photos.

                       The interior is almost complete.  The carpeting, seats, shifter, and seat belts were put in this week.  He also hooked up the radiator, the air conditioning and put the front grill and headlights in.  I am counting the days until she is on the road.  Check out the new photos for this week.  Still trying to get the 8-track and radio to work. 

                       We have successfully installed the interior, and also trim on the wheel wells.  We also fired up the motor for the first time and it sounded great.  Target date of completion, Saturday, May 3rd.   Wow, coincidently that is the same day as our (the car and mine) birthday.  Our next biggest challenge is to come up with a name for my baby.  Any suggestions, email me at harleygirl@daslas.com .  Pictures to be posted soon. 8 more days!!!!!!!

                           The car was back in the shop for the final paint job and touch ups.  Let me just say, I will never take another restoration job to Auto Evolutions on W. 140th St. again.  This has definitely been an experience to say the least.  If you want more insight, contact us personally.   We are enjoying some nice weather finally and have had a great time going around to shows sharing fellowship with our friends who also have our passion.   I would like to say a special hello to my friend Julie Herbert and her husband Barry.  Journey over to the west side some time and show me that Camaro.   Still trying to come up with a name for my baby!

                                 Today we spent at the North Ridgeville Corn Festival.  It was pretty neat.  About 100 cars were in attendance for this annual festival.  I didn't win any trophies, but it was neat to see all the classic cars and the neat things that people have done with them.   Check out our photo page under the Cruisin Pics and you will see some of the gems which showed up today.  Oh also.  HAPPY 100th Birthday Meem!  We Miss You!!!

                     Well, the cruisin season is over for this year, and we have put my baby to rest for the winter.  She is all locked up tight and out of the wonderful elements which Cleveland, OH is famous for each year.  Here's wishing everyone a Safe and Happy Holiday Season.  Please pray for our men and women fighting on foreign soil and for their families.  See ya in the Spring, 2004!!!!