Joe Ruggirello, Gapp and Roush Mustang II
- Thread starter SuddenDeath
- Start date
SuddenDeath
Forum Member
Thanks guys!
The way I see it, Detroit is SD's birthplace, the streets it ran on were there...so I want to share the story, the restoration with everyone until I can get it back up there for a visit in person.
The way I see it, Detroit is SD's birthplace, the streets it ran on were there...so I want to share the story, the restoration with everyone until I can get it back up there for a visit in person.
SuddenDeath
Forum Member
Yesterday, true to my word, finished welding the cowl to apron brackets on, cleaned up all welds, ready for final work/primer. Now taking a mandatory break (per wife) until next week. I have to work a couple of days, but then off until Jan 10th, so I plan on getting another 50-60 hours in on it before the holidays are over
Next week we're moving to the rear quarter wheel openings and I've got to remove the front suspension for restoration. That will also allow blasting the bottom side/tunnel of the front half of the underside of the car. Things are coming along pretty well!
BTW, I've made progress on former owners as well. Turns out, its highly unlikely that Mark Martin ever owned the car. The guy I spoke with was mistaken. However, in the past 2 weeks, I've spoken to 2 former owners which did own the car in the mid to late 90's. Both were out of New Jersey where I found the car. One of them bought the car out of Florida, took it Fort Wayne, IN (that explains the decal on the door) where he owned a company, then to NJ. After that, it was never far from Atlantic City. In fact, it was taken to auction about 1997/98, but didn't sell. I'm currently working on relations with the gentleman who owned the car for "many years", and may have bought the car from Joe Ruggirello, so more to come! I've made more progress this month, than in the last 2 years! All of this would not have been possible, if not for someone on another forum who gave me a lead on where he actually saw the car for sale in NJ. I contacted that location and hit paydirt.
Merry Christmas everyone!! Hope Santa is good to you all!!
Next week we're moving to the rear quarter wheel openings and I've got to remove the front suspension for restoration. That will also allow blasting the bottom side/tunnel of the front half of the underside of the car. Things are coming along pretty well! BTW, I've made progress on former owners as well. Turns out, its highly unlikely that Mark Martin ever owned the car. The guy I spoke with was mistaken. However, in the past 2 weeks, I've spoken to 2 former owners which did own the car in the mid to late 90's. Both were out of New Jersey where I found the car. One of them bought the car out of Florida, took it Fort Wayne, IN (that explains the decal on the door) where he owned a company, then to NJ. After that, it was never far from Atlantic City. In fact, it was taken to auction about 1997/98, but didn't sell. I'm currently working on relations with the gentleman who owned the car for "many years", and may have bought the car from Joe Ruggirello, so more to come! I've made more progress this month, than in the last 2 years! All of this would not have been possible, if not for someone on another forum who gave me a lead on where he actually saw the car for sale in NJ. I contacted that location and hit paydirt.
Merry Christmas everyone!! Hope Santa is good to you all!!
SuddenDeath
Forum Member
Hope everyone had a great Christmas!
I've been back to work on SD this week. We spent yesterday working on the rear quarters. Re-split those areas that were a problem, worked the panels back into place, and welded everything up in its proper place. This will permit only a skim coat of filler, rather than the 3/4" deep stuff that was on the car in those areas. Finished the last small rust repair on the lower rear quarter. No more rust holes or previous damage exists on the car now.
Transmission is at a shop for disassembly, inspection, testing, flushing. Also bead blasting the main case and tailhousing for clear powder coating.
Gas tank internal epoxy coating is done. I need to pick that up next week.
Took one of the rear slicks to replace the tube, but the guy doing it scratched the wheel. Not happy about that. Now it has to go back to Tampa for restoration...again.
Next Friday we're taking the engine and necessary pieces over to Powered By Ford in Orlando to sort everything out. Need to resolve the deck O ring issue, new heads, port match the intake, etc.
Also got the Holley 9380 Comp carb back from Pro Systems. Had it completely reworked and flow increased, while keeping the external appearance 100% original.
Tomorrow we're going to continue to work the rear quarters. I've also been able to make contact with one of the original owners of SD after Joe Ruggirello and he wants to come see the car and meet me tomorrow, so hopefully, he'll get the logistics worked out! He owned the car for many years, so I'm hoping I'll have some history to share this coming week.
I've been back to work on SD this week. We spent yesterday working on the rear quarters. Re-split those areas that were a problem, worked the panels back into place, and welded everything up in its proper place. This will permit only a skim coat of filler, rather than the 3/4" deep stuff that was on the car in those areas. Finished the last small rust repair on the lower rear quarter. No more rust holes or previous damage exists on the car now.
Transmission is at a shop for disassembly, inspection, testing, flushing. Also bead blasting the main case and tailhousing for clear powder coating.
Gas tank internal epoxy coating is done. I need to pick that up next week.
Took one of the rear slicks to replace the tube, but the guy doing it scratched the wheel. Not happy about that. Now it has to go back to Tampa for restoration...again.
Next Friday we're taking the engine and necessary pieces over to Powered By Ford in Orlando to sort everything out. Need to resolve the deck O ring issue, new heads, port match the intake, etc.
Also got the Holley 9380 Comp carb back from Pro Systems. Had it completely reworked and flow increased, while keeping the external appearance 100% original.
Tomorrow we're going to continue to work the rear quarters. I've also been able to make contact with one of the original owners of SD after Joe Ruggirello and he wants to come see the car and meet me tomorrow, so hopefully, he'll get the logistics worked out! He owned the car for many years, so I'm hoping I'll have some history to share this coming week.
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SuddenDeath
Forum Member
Happy New Year!!
My first New Year's Resolution...FINISH SD!
My first New Year's Resolution...FINISH SD!
SuddenDeath
Forum Member
Got the entire front suspension removed today for rebuild and restoration. We also finished the metal work on the rear quarters/wheel openings. Next project is media blasting the underside and doing some minor work under the car to prep for painting the entire underside. Its starting to come together.
SuddenDeath
Forum Member
I'll definitely post up more pics, just nothing really to take pics of right now. I'll get some taken when we get to the underside blasting/primer this month. Picked up the gas tank yesterday from internal epoxy coating. It turned out great! Going to Tampa tomorrow to pick up the wheel/slick after having the scratch repaired. Next will be the engine to Orlando this coming Friday!
SuddenDeath
Forum Member
We found no evidence of cracking or buckling in those areas even when ground down to bare metal. We believe the cage in this car was added when Jack did the turbo setup in 1981.
SuddenDeath
Forum Member
Sending out a Happy 80th Birthday to Joe "Mustang Joe" Ruggirello today!!
SuddenDeath
Forum Member
Spent 9 hours on SD today. Finished removing bushings/ball joints from upper/lower control arms. Completed final welds under the rear of the car to complete the rear lower floor repairs. Cleaned up all the welds under the car, then media blasted all those areas, and Dan applied a skim coat of filler to smooth them out. Dan and I re-worked an area on the front floor where the fuel line crosses the frame connector. Now enough room for the AN fitting and no hammer marks. It had been beaten, pried on, covered with dents. Now smooth! Next weekend, I'll finish the media blasting of the underside of the car, so we can put the entire underside in primer.
The engine is at the machine shop to resolve the deck o ring issue and inspect everything. I'm hoping to pick up the trans this coming week. Had the case blasted/powder coated clear. Had the trans torn down, inspected, re-sealed. It didn't feel right to just put it back in after having sat for so long. They're also flushing the converter.
I'll get some pics posted up next weekend. Should have some good progress to show by then!
The engine is at the machine shop to resolve the deck o ring issue and inspect everything. I'm hoping to pick up the trans this coming week. Had the case blasted/powder coated clear. Had the trans torn down, inspected, re-sealed. It didn't feel right to just put it back in after having sat for so long. They're also flushing the converter.
I'll get some pics posted up next weekend. Should have some good progress to show by then!
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black88coupe
Club Member
Awesome progress!
black88coupe
Club Member
Agreed.
SuddenDeath
Forum Member
This past week I finished media blasting the underside of the car. Today Dan and I completed prepping and primering the underside and engine compartment. Still some minor work on the firewall before primer, but at least its looking good now. Those who know or have followed the restoration, know how bad these areas looked before.
