I’m considering pulling the entire front section of the car apart this winter and cleaning/repainting but I’d like to hear some thoughts on how hard it is and any advice you have. I’m not going to repaint anything that’s body color, but the rest I’d like to freshen up. Here’s what I’m thinking…
Removing Hood
Removing Front fenders
Removing Front spoiler and valance
All the headlight assembly and vacuum tank
Possibly go ahead and rebuild the entire front suspension
strip everything off the block best I can and cover, then clean and paint the engine bay
If you remove the wiring harness you can clean it with a toothbrush and full strength Simple Green or a like product that is mild so as to not remove any colors on the wiring. Important to hang that harness straight as rolling it up might do damage to those 50 year old wires. And of course tag every thing i.e. 1 to 1, A to B, or whatever suits you. Of course pictures help too.
I did that over my first (or was it second?) winter with my car too. It’s not too bad. I also replaced the door hinge pins while I was at it. Good times, hanging doors by yourself! Fenders were a good time too ~ trying to get some semblance of even gaps on a car that’s crooked as a politician, LOL!
The first thing you will need to do is to line up a helper. I generally do it myself but I am taking a parts car apart with no intention of putting it back together so I am not concerned if I end up put a scratch in the paint, if there is any of that even left on the car. For you though a scratch would not be a good thing.
So I would start by removing the hood. Then you will want to start at the front down low.
Remove front spoiler
Remove front valance
Remove front bumper with the brackets still attached.
Remove stone panel
Remove complete front grille in one piece including the hood latch support brackets and vacuum motor.
Remove front fenders.
Now you will have good access to the front suspension and any engine work you would like to do.
What your planning will most likely give you a very nice detail job, a decent job can also be done leaving fenders in place and masking the fender flange well. Removing the grill is a must for a good refinishing and detailing. If you have help with the hood and do a good job of marking or pining the hinges is a bid help. I like the engine out if possible, but a decent job can be done by stripping the accessories from it. Good luck and post lots of pictures.
Easy peasy. I found it harder to reinstall ~ as far as making sure I got the belt tight enough without denting or bending something along the way.
I removed the pulley from the pump as well, using a puller loaned from the auto parts store. Clean it up real good. Mask off the pump shaft and hose threads, hang it and shoot it.
With no body color painting planned and no gap or hood fitment issues, I would leave hood and fenders on. IMO easier to mask off those exterior pieces. On my 68 I’ve done what you are looking to do with hood and fenders on including suspension. Once inner panels are off quite a lot of room inside fenders. I’ve worked in stages on my car the last couple years and that way I’ve had it to drive each season. Sometimes putting things back together are more of a problem than taking them apart.
Done that 2014… you may want to look at what I posted at the time: https://cccforum.discoursehosting.net/t/engine-compartment-refresh/3378/1
Hood is not easy to remove and put back/adjust, but it gives a lot of space to work in the bay. Long nose facilitate hanging up while removing but I needed help to re-install.
I was able to detail with engine still in. Lot of patience will be needed to mask and hide the surrounding parts.
Power stearing pump is not easy to remove from the reservoir, I got it done with help of a friend who had the proper puller and experience.
Nice project, enjoy!
Taking the hood off scares me a little cause I know that’s hard to get back in place and get aligned. My alignment is really bad on it now, so I think I need to tackle it. It’s very high in the back and probably has a full 1 inch gap at the back.
Are the fenders as easy as unbolting and then bolting them back on???
Do they go back in the exact same place easily or is that an alignment issue too??
I’ve never removed a power steering assembly before. Does the house just unscrew and then unbolt the brackets?
I’ll definitely be leaving the engine in the car but I do have to replace the valve covers and breather with the factory ones. I was considering stripping all the accessories off the engine and then masking everything off and cleaning and painting the engine bay. Then reverse masking and trying to clean the block while in the car and repaint it. The valve covers and breather are painted and ready to install. I’m also considering pulling the intake and sand blasting it cause I’ll never get in all those nooks while installed in the car.
What about the radiator??? Should I take it out all the way? I’m not having cooling issues or leaks but it needs a fresh paint job. Do I need to use any special paint on it?
I glad my work inspires yours. However do not forget my car is just a driver that I try to keep close to stock but is by no mean meant to be compared to a show car. Read this for the hood as this is very informative:
I understand, mine is also pretty good at 30… even 20 feet
I took pictures while disassembling, more than less, at every step AND kept small pieces in bags with proper identification. What is obvious today may look odd in 3 - 4 weeks not to say months!
I kept fenders on, too difficult to re-align. I covered them with thick cloth when needed.
I removed rad, shrould and fan… much easier to clean and prep surfaces to be painted.
If I was to redo, I would paint the PS reservoir teal blue rather than Ford blue as teal was the original colour.
Can everything on the front end be removed without removing the fenders and front valance? I want to take out all of the headlight assembly and whatever you call the flat long piece under the headlights and behind the bumper.
The flat long piece under the headlights is called a stone panel or gravel shield. Leaving the fenders on would not be a problem. Leaving the front valance on can be done BUT it makes things a lot easier if you do remove the valance. My recommendation would be to remove the valance.
