1965 Mustang GT Coupe Restoration Complete – San Diego, California

After a year long restoration, the 1965 Ford Mustang GT Restomod is now complete. The customer was all smiles when he said “it’s fast.”  The freshly restored A -code coupe was entered in it’s first car show, and received 2nd place in the 1965 Modified Class at San Diego Mustangs by the Bay. I believe it was due to the finger print I forgot to wipe off of the door handle. It was still a great show, and all the hard work from JBA Performance Center, Custom Autobody & Paint, and Ar-Jays Upholstery paid off.

Project Highlights

• Complete Rotisserie Restoration
• JBA built & Tuned 302 Block Stroked to a 331
• 438 HP @ 6300 RMP 400 FTLB @ 4400 RPM at crank
• Tremec TKO 600 five-speed
• Modern Driveline hydraulic clutch kit
• Currie Enterprises 9-inch posi rear end with 3.83 gears
• JBA ceramic-coated headers and Exhaust
• Global West Sub-frame connectors
• Borgeson integral power steering system
• SSBC dual aluminum master cylinder with brake booster
• 4 Wheel Willwood 13″ brakes
• Polished Torque Thrust II 20×8-inch wheels
• Pony Interior Conversion
• Stock appearing AM/FM radio with Focal sound system

The Crew
JBA Restoration Specialist – David Toth
JBA Engine Builder – John Elderhorst
JBA Lead Mechanic – Tim Naylor
JBA Mechanic – Steve Fenn
JBA Exhaust Fabricator – Scott Case

Special Thanks To
Ar-Jay’s Upholstery
Custom Autobody and Paint
Al & Ed’s Stereo

Follow the progress of the restoration:

Restoration Part 1

Restoration Part 2

Restoration Part 3

Custom Instrument Gauges and restoration

Air Conditioning Box Restoration

1965 Mustang GT Coupe Restoration – Part 2

Since the arrival of all the interior parts, the restoration has progressed a lot. The engine, suspension, steering, brakes, and rear end have been installed. The TKO 600 transmission is left for the drive train. The engine is a Ford 302, and has been stroked to a 331 CID built by JBA Performance Center. The engine has been dyno’d at over 400 foot pounds of torque at the flywheel.  The suspension is a 1 inch drop Grab a Trak kit, and steering is a new power steering kit from Borgeson. The brakes are Wilwood 4 Piston Calipers, and a Stainless Steel Dual Master Cylinder with Booster. The rear end is a Currie 9 inch with 3.83 gears. The wheels are 20 inch Torque Thrust II’s. I also finished assembly of the front and rear exterior section of the Mustang. I’m currently converting the interior a 2 tone red and white Pony Interior. I pulled the doors off to make it easier to convert the doors to Pony Interior with factory doors speakers.  For those of you planning to install Pony Door Courtesy Lights, Ford was nice enough to leave dimples on the door and door jamb to drill for the harness.  I also applied POR15 Rust Treatment to the inside bottom of the doors. Mustangs were notorious for rusting out in the corners. The floor pans and under dash were completely treated with POR15 as well, and then were re- seemed sealed.  The customer wanted the interior to be as quite as possible, so I laid down Hush Mat which is similar to Dynamat. I will post part 3 when the dash is together. Stay Tuned!

1965 Mustang GT Coupe Restoration – Part 1

My latest restoration project at JBA Performance Center is a 1965 Mustang GT Coupe.  The customer wanted a Restomod, but wanted to keep the GT characteristics as well. Although, the Mustang looked like a decent daily driver, it had many hidden issues of a typical 45 year old car. Hidden underneath all that paint were several bad patch panels, and a lot bondo and rust. The worst of the  damage were the cowls panels, and had to be completely replaced. The customer wanted a rotisserie restoration. He wanted everything replaced with new reproduction parts, but I restored as many original parts as possible.  Most of exterior trim, engine compartment, trunk area, front suspension, and brakes are finished. The project should be completed in 2 more months.  Just in time to enjoy driving in the Spring. Here are some of the highlights.

• BODY AND PAINT -  Custom Auto Body (Kearny Mesa, California)
• RESTORATION – JBA Performance Center by David Toth and the crew (Kearny Mesa, Ca)
• ENGINE – 331 Stroker by JBA (Eagle Rotating Assembly, Ross Pistons, Comp Cams, Manley Rods and AFR Heads,Edlebrock Performer RPM Intake, Holley 650 cfm carburetor)
• TRANSMISSION – Tremec TKO 500
• REAR END – Currie 9 inch, gear ratio TBD
• SUSPENSION – Mustangs Plus Grab A Trak, Bilstein shocks
• STEERING – Borgeson’s  Integral Power Steering
• BRAKES – Wilwood 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, SSBC Power Booster/Master Cylinder
• WHEELS – 20 inch American Racing Torque Thrust
• CHROME – Pacific Plating (San Diego, Ca)
• INTERIOR – Red/White Pony Interior restoration by David Toth, and Seats and Headliner work by Ar-Jays Upholstery in Kearny Mesa, Ca (Materials from Distinctive Industries & ACC Carpets)
• OTHER RESTORATION PARTS – Scott Drake

This slideshow requires JavaScript.