• Welcome to the CaliforniaSpecial.com forums! - You are currently viewing the forums as a GUEST. To take advantage of all our site features, please take a moment to join our community! It's fast, simple and absolutely free.

    If you have problems registering or can't log into your account, please contact Admin.

    Please Note: If you are an existing member and your password no longer works, click here to reset it.

1968 Introductions - And bringing one back from the dead

Jester

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Messages
108
Location
Southern Sweden
This was my impression as well, same block, different heads, but then again I have never checked the casting of my heads.
 
OP
OP
Cool Manchu

Cool Manchu

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 5, 2014
Messages
145
Location
San Jose, CA
Got the block back today. The rebuilding process has begun.

Looks like it will be rebuilt .30 over.

10446306_10152079393606408_2525412318852396715_o.jpg


I have tried to figure out "numbers matching" but haven't quite grasped it yet. How can I tell if this is the original engine?

10357676_10152079393591408_7703035586834216753_o.jpg
 

Mosesatm

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 18, 2005
Messages
9,009
Look on top of the block on the rear, just behind where the back edge of the intake manifold will be. If you have the intake set it on the block and look at the flat spot behind it. There will be some faint numbers stamped into the block.

A pictutre is worth a thousand words.
Zoom in on the flat spot on the right side of the photo, the rear of the block, and you may be able to see some faint numbers.
 

Attachments

  • C6AE-6015-C_01.jpg
    C6AE-6015-C_01.jpg
    78 KB · Views: 49

RU_SPCL2

Well-known member
Joined
May 1, 2011
Messages
50
Cool -- you'll need to flip it over or get a shot from underneath to grab the VIN. Only the last six digits of the VIN will be stamped. The casting date in the photo (8C7) indicates the block was made on March 7, '68. The engines were typically made a few weeks prior to the vehicle build date, so this should be a good indicator, but the VIN is the final authority.
 

SD GTCS

Active member
Joined
Jun 2, 2014
Messages
43
Cool,
That is a great GTCS! bringing it back from the dead and saving it is the most rewarding thing you can do with a car.
 
OP
OP
Cool Manchu

Cool Manchu

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 5, 2014
Messages
145
Location
San Jose, CA
@Mosesatm....while that would be great, my car didn't come with the deluxe interior package. Just the steering wheel and seat belts.
 
OP
OP
Cool Manchu

Cool Manchu

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 5, 2014
Messages
145
Location
San Jose, CA
Hi everyone,

Just providing a quick update. The car is running! The engine has been completely rebuilt and upgraded to a 4BBL. I went with the 500CFM Edelbrock. The front springs and sway bar have been replaced with heavy duty ones. The rear end has been rebuilt as well as the tranny.

It has a new water pump, new electronic distributor, new alternator, new heater, and much, much more. Essentially all of the mechanical stuff is now completed.

Right now all that is left to be done is getting the alignment done and then bringing it down to the DMV to get it registered and it will be back on the road

After that is all the cosmetic work. I have already begun cleaning the interior and it's really come along really nicely. I will need to get the car fully stripped and painted, I found a guy who used to work at the San Jose plant that takes one car at a time that is very interested in helping me out as he doesn't get to work on GT/CS's every day. I will also need to replace the headliner as it's splitting at the seams and replace the black vinyl top with the original parchment.

I am very happy and very excited!
 

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,032
There is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment when you look at a thing of beauty and know all you had to over come to get there.
Enjoy!
Marty
 

azbeneman

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2011
Messages
127
Location
Chandler, AZ
Cool,

Not wasting anytime. Great job. Keep the pictures coming.

A couple of questions for the group: I really like the deluxe steering wheel on this car and noticed it was on the Marti report. Was this option available from the dealer as well? I am thinking about upgrading my standard black wheel to this during my restoration.

Other than the center pad, is the rim identical to the wheel on the deluxe interior cars?

Any suggestions on where I can get one? The ones I have seen on EBay all have the deluxe center pad and are priced pretty high.
 

robert campbell

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
4,321
My favorite thing is breathing life into an internal combustion engine!!!! All of those pieces working in unison to destroy the rubber on rear tires!!!!! To belch smoke and fire with a sound that is second to none!!!!! YAAAAAAA BAAAAAABBBBEEEEE!!!!


Rob
 
OP
OP
Cool Manchu

Cool Manchu

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 5, 2014
Messages
145
Location
San Jose, CA
It's truly amazing how you think you know a car. But you realize how much you don't know when you start restoring one. LOL

Not that I know much now, I know much more about GT/CS's and Mustangs now than I did a year ago.
 
OP
OP
Cool Manchu

Cool Manchu

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 5, 2014
Messages
145
Location
San Jose, CA
Well, she is home! I drove her straight from the shop to the DMV. I didn't know you had to put in a request for the original plates...it's always something with the DMV isn't it?

Well beyond that, the car ran great. Smooth ride, no issues, no heating up...she's road worthy...now onto the next part...

Here's a picture my wife took of it before it left Mustang Fever.

1503229_10205219846006541_8854304136588952933_n.jpg


Doesn't look too shabby with the hood up like that. It's amazing that the original paint is as good as it is (where its not been rubbed off completely that is)
 
OP
OP
Cool Manchu

Cool Manchu

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 5, 2014
Messages
145
Location
San Jose, CA
Here are some more recent pictures. As you can see, I really need paint. :) But considering the car is almost 47 years old, I think that it has held up well.

1965626_10152476621026408_1650978353798867079_o.jpg


10872808_10152476622691408_4790623840928067851_o.jpg


10862554_10152476623646408_8955354122415263042_o.jpg


10903905_10152476623901408_1490406820931308803_o.jpg


10869430_10152476624676408_7300998828510351996_o.jpg


10862661_10152476625101408_5412773804717510853_o.jpg


10887520_10152476625891408_5212410206868711763_o.jpg
 

p51

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 2, 2005
Messages
1,025
Location
NorCal
I didn't know you had to put in a request for the original plates...it's always something with the DMV isn't it?


I noticed that there are new plates in the later photos. Are you going to re-register with the black plates later? Were those black plates the original plates the car had when it was originally registered? If so, if you have the old paperwork it should be straightforward to re-register the car with the old plates.
 
Top