1975 Gran Torino
Restoration Project
From Start to Finish
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1975 Gran Torino Restoration Project From Start to Finish
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The very first thing we did was to install a new set of Hi-Jackers which you can see in one of the pictures below where we removed the gas tank. Next we disassembled the dash to polish the instrumentation lenses and remove the tac that was in the vent hole. We relocated it below the dash with the temp and oil pressure gauges.
The next task we attacked was to install a rear window defroster from a salvage yard. When we removed the rear window we discovered some rust on the frame. We completely removed all of the rust and paint down to bare metal. We then used navel jelly to chemically remove any residual rust then treated it with POR-15 Metal Prep followed by a generous coat of primer and POR-15.
The next step was to drop the gas tank and remove all the surface of rust from the undercarriage using a wire wheel on a die grinder. All the parts were treated it with POR-15 Metal Prep followed by a generous coat of primer and POR-15. You can see what we had to do in order to install a power trunk release from a 76 Torino. It was quite a chore. I must have cut the hole 4 to 5 times starting with a small cutout and enlarging it a little at a time to make sure it would not be too large and look trashy.
Below you can see the rust through on the rear wheel lips that is so very common in Torinos. What made it worse on this one was the wheel lip moldings which held all the salt and water against the body. You can see below that the entire rust area was completely cut out. We later bought new American Steel rear quarters that our body man welded in place.
Below is the floor pan work. The work started before the exterior paint but was completed after it was painted. I wire wheeled all of the rust off then primered the entire bottom with Dupli-Color primer that chemically turns rust into primer. I repaired the few holes with POR-15 Epoxy Putty and caulked all metal joints then completely coated both the inside and the underside with rubberized undercoating.
The inner fenders are another notorious rust magnet for the Torinos. For reasons completely unfathomable to me, Ford made the lip area double layered with many open holes and seams for water and salt to get in and accumulate. It is rare to find a Torino with unblemished inner fenders. Below you can see the gaping hole from the rust. After removing all the rust with a wire wheel. I primered the entire bottom with Dupli-Color primer that chemically turns rust into primer. I taped the hole from the underside and generously applied fiberglass reinforced bondo. After filing and sanding it down I applied a coat of normal bondo, sanded and filed it down and applied a second thin coat of bondo. After final sanding the bondo it was primed and final painted. The other side I’m afraid will be more of a challenge. The previous owner had made a very crude repair that will be interesting to fix.
More to come Soon . . . Please be patient!! |
