The Strip Down

The two most important pieces of advice I can give here is one.........take lots of photos of EVERYTHING before, during & after you strip & two..........bag/box & label every item you remove. I would box everything in sub assembly & give it a detailed label. For example - "Left Door Handle & Lock" which would include the door lever/lock/latch mechanisms, as well as all the nuts, bolts, screws, clips, pins etc. required to fasten that sub assembly to the door & to each other. You could also make a simple parts list of everything taken off to include in this sub assembly and store it in the box with the parts. It all depends on how meticulous you want to be. Try & keep the sub assemblies as small as possible. I found it easier to remember how to refit a small sub assembly. Imagine opening a box & seeing only the door lock, latch & handle mechanism to refit as apposed to opening a box containing everything that attaches to a door IE. door lock, latch, handle & mechanism, door glass & scissor mechanism, tracks for door glass, window winder handle, side mirror & remote mechanism, window rubbers, door courtesy light & wiring, door interior pull handle, door interior panel with beading's, bezels & emblems, etc.etc. plus all the fasteners & hard ware required to install all this. It's easier to find an hour or two to fit a small sub assembly & you will leave the garage feeling like you have accomplished something instead of walking out not remembering what you've accomplished but what is still left in the box to do. Remember STRIP IT, BAG IT, TAG IT & take photos at every stage.

This is also the best time to evaluate a part to decide whether you want to replace it, refurbish it or simply refitted it. While I was bagging & tagging I had a note book that I would write down what parts I would like to replace & what parts I had to replace. There is a difference........part that had to be replaced were simply that, parts that I would like to replace were parts that were showing sign's of their age but could be refurbished with some elbow grease. The items that made the "would like to replace" list were only purchased if my budget allowed. And often I would have to choose between items that made this list. When the stripping was finished I used this "shopping" list to work out how much I would need to spend on replacement parts. A very expensive buy for me as I would have to import everything from the States & deal with a 12 South African Rand to 1 USA Dollar exchange rate at the time! But nothing takes away the money blues like shiny new chrome.

A special note with regard to the wiring loom/harness. The wiring loom/harness was one of the last items I removed from the car. As I would unplug different assemblies I would tag with a number & describe on both the loom plug & the corresponding plug on the part being removed. For example - #1 Left Outer head light or #8 Interior roof light. As a result my wiring plugged back in with every plug finding its same numbered partner without hassle.

Prepare yourself with good reference material

I read all I could on the 69, not to become an expert, but out of interest. For all I've read on the 69 I can only recall what was interesting to me or relevant to my stang. My two best investments into mustang information was a subscription to Mustang Monthly Magazine & Tom Carcoran & Earl Davis almost 500 paged 1964-1973 Mustang Restoration Guide. Both are readily available. My subscription was through Magazine Agent & Tom & Earl's guide was purchased via Amazon. These are not "the best" out there. There are many excellent publications covering the early mustang. These two sources worked for me and were relevant to what I was trying to accomplish. I can not count the amount of times I referred back to these. It is comforting to know that experienced, expert advise is as close as your book shelf. When all else fails get onto the mustang internet forums. You will get a wide range of responses to questions you raise in these forums. Remember every one who partakes in these forums are there for their love of Mustangs and the enjoyment of passing on knowledge or opinions. Everyone there remembers that there was a time when they knew nothing on Mustangs. Meaning no matter how trivial or stupid your question may seem, trust me you are not the first person to ask it. Draw from the knowledge these forums present and be yourself in your correspondence. People will pick up very quickly if you are talking out of your depth and this can stiffer the free flow of information as men by our very nature will draw conclusion on the type of person you are and whether they want to assist you or not by the manner in which you conduct or present yourself. Be yourself.
A note to all restorers in South Africa almost anything that you are looking for at Amazon can be found on our local Kalahari.net and there is no ugly surprises when it comes to the Rand/Dollar exchange rate.