1966 GT350 Convertible

Can't help you on a '66, but I gotta say those 'BTK' license plates are a tad sinister.

 

Look forward to helping you out on this great car! I recognize it as a piece of the Legacy!

 

What exactly are you trying to do to this car ? Since it is a continuation car, are you looking for advice on how to return the car back to "Continuation Specs" or are you asking for advice on how to restore the car to vintage 1966 GT-350 specs? What is the desired level of detail ? Concourse or daily driver. As you can see, the answers to your questions can lead you down multiple paths so the more insight you can share with the forum members the better advice/feedback you will recieve. There only a few 66 GT-350 convertibles in existance so the details you are looking to obtain are probably only availabe from a small cadre of people.

Doc

 

Got it !! The most important thing is getting the car to driveability. As I recall, these cars were produced from a lot of K code convertibles. There is really nothing unique about them from a repair perpsective. All the parts can be obtained from Mustang suppliers at a reasonable costs. As far as body panels lining up correctly, I would suspect you have aftermarket fenders and panel pieces. No insult here but the shop that did these cars probably churn and burn re-pops all day. Not a lot of attention to quality and detail based on the condition of the car as you described. The Steering box is the source of your steering problems and chances are it was never replaced or re-built during the conversion. The cosmetic things are no big deal and can be dealt with in time. Sounds like the typical cheap mustang restoration that so often have to be re-done to get done correctly. I think you can get most of the mechanical things under control quite easily and cheaply because it is a small block car and parts are a heck of a lot cheaper. Tune the suspension and replace/rebuild the steering box and you will have a sweet running car. Replace the spark plugs and wires (Tony Branda) and maybe add a Pertronix under the distributor cap and you are there. I think you can be on the road shortly

Doc

 

Randall, you want the 16:1 steering. look into the Flaming River unit. Personally I feel the car should be kept like it was done at time of Conversion. other than items like a Steering Box, Oil and Filters, Maintenance items. If they put Suare Mirrors, leave them on. if You do take them off, Save them in a Box. also take a lot of pictures to have a "How it was" idea. was This Car originally your Father's car?

 

Randall

I remember that convertible project from back around 1981. They were "built" here in SoCal by a company called Beverly Hills Motoring or maybe it was Beverly Hills Mustang.

Anyway Mustang/Shelby reproduction & restoration parts weren't as available then as they are now so that would explain some of the worn parts even with only 700 miles.

This Beverly Hills shop was........ well since I can't say anything nice I wont say anything at all. Too bad these cars weren't "built" by McClusky as the finished product would have been even nicer.

They are a unique part of Shelby Mustang history and your grandfather gave his blessing so get that thing on the road and put some miles on it.

I agree with others and think any restoration should be kept period correct for 1981.

Steve

 

Ford's Power assist unit is self contained in the sense that it does not run fluid from the Pump into the steering box like GM cars of that era. So you would not have to take off the power steering. I had a steering Box on my GT500 rebuilt. actually the entire system. ran me about $600 we did the labor to remove and replace. I have heard a lot of good things about the Flaming river unit. Let me know what you decide!

 

Randall,

A short time ago I was reading an article regarding the recreation GT350 convertibles. The article stated that Carroll took 4 for himself and his family. Is this one of the 4?
How many still are "in the family"?

 

Hello Randall, just happened to pop in here. I took from your info this is the 6S2386 from Sharon Shelby. You might want to check out my http://www.ponysite.de/shelbyconvertible.htm webpage for infos on at least some of the others. I had once been in contact with Michael Shelby and hoped for some updates on the 4 family cars. I'm glad to see one is back on the road.
If you'd like to get in touch with one of the other owners, just send me a mail via my above mentioned site. I would also appreciate, if I can update the 6S2386 page with some history info.
Wolf

 

Thanks Randall, I'll be patient as usual

Regarding your ignition coil question:
1. Original 66 coils were filled with tar, basically from the early 70ies on oil-filled ignition coils were used (not sure about Ford, but should be)
2. Oilf filled coils dissipate the heat much better than tar - of course, but I have no data on Epoxy
3. Best place for an ignition coil in a Mustang is neither on the engine nor on the intake, as you might guess. I've mounted mine (Pertronix black oil filled) at the inner drivers side fender. (Make sure the cable is long enough)
4. Original Ford coils do not work with 12V, might even explode under certain conditions, the famous resistor wire belongs to Ford ignition coil applicatons of those days.
I think Pertronix works with full 12V, but I left the resistor wire in. Doesn't matter in standard street applications.
5. 40.000 Volts better bridge the gap in high-rpm or bad spark-plugs set-up conditions than the original 10-30.000 60ies/70ies stuff.
6. Make sure the cables are also in good condition, electrical interference between too closely routed ignition wires is common. Start your engine by night, spray with a flower spray gun over the wires and see them sparkling to recognize they are real bad and aged. Of course you can also measure the resistance of the wires, which is more professional.
(I'm open to even more professional responses)

 

I just caught this forum. If this is Carroll's continuation car that sat in the Gardena Goodyear shop entrance showroom in the 1980's, I may have a photo of it when I visited (around 1984-85). I remember the convertible needed a little cosmetic work on the carpets and seats. I am the fourth owner of 6s2187 The second owner of my 1966 GT350 was one of the helpers working on the assemblies of these cars for Beverly Hills Mustang. His father has moved back here, here in Hawaii, and I can contact him if you like to see if his son can give you any history.

Great to see you working on the restoration. I remember the ignition system of the time was an after market (Accel or MSD?) pulse type that caused problems (stalling the car) and may have been removed.