On May 17th 2004, I drove the car into the garage. The goal for the next 3 days was to repaint the car a nice white color. It had two visible spots of rust on it which I wanted to fix before it got worse. If anybody has any idea how far I’ve taken this car as of the year 2013, a “repaint” deserves some laughter.
As you may have guessed, a “repaint” turned into the following stages… well, while I’m painting it, I might as well:
- Fix the dent in the rear bumper
- Fix the spot of rust over the passenger side rear tire
- Fix the rust spot on the front drivers side fender
- Remove the trim to ensure it’s painted properly and not “hardlined” with tape
- Remove the door handles
- Remove ALL the trim and rubber moulding, around the windows and doors
- Shave the door handles and locks
- Install door poppers
- Mould the rear wing to the body (they chronically fall off)
- Remove the body line in the side of the car
- Remove the engine, trans and all wiring harnesses to paint the engine bay
- Remove every part of the interior
- Remove every bolt and nut on the car as well as every body panel.
- Relocate the fuel filler to behind the license plate
- Shave the fuel door
- Match the front fenders slight flare with a matching rear flare
- Shave every unused hole in the door sills, engine bay and hatch area
- Install a more powerful engine and transaxle
- Install a custom turbocharger
- Install a custom exhaust
- Install Megasquirt for fuel management
- Install a new OEM Ford windshield
- Mould in rear bumper to rear quarters
- Shave “GT” off of rear bumper
- Cut outlets for dual exhaust in rear bumper
- Remove spare tire well
- Create custom front bumper out of 1989 PGT and 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege
- Remove and modify stock 90-92 GT ground effects and mould them into the rockers
- Repaint Aston Martin Silver color
- Refinish every bolt, nut, and screw on the car
- Fill motor mounts
- Install a new engine
- Install a new transmission
- Install one of 8 Guru Torsen Limited Slit Differentials from a bulk buy in the early 2000’s
- Sandblast, refinish and repaint every single part on the car
- Zinc or Chorme every nut or bolt that went back on the car
- Build a custom turbocharger header and downpipe
