[Lanson]

So this thread is the precursor to the Build Log I will create when the time is right.

The car is a 1977 Capri. Its rough, rusty, and banged up pretty bad, but it was dirt-cheap, and it has potential. I'll post up my shutterfly albums on it a bit later, but for now I wanted to ask a few big questions about the interior, and what I should do to this thing considering I'm working from bare metal up. Before we cover that, I want to cover some basics. First thing to know is that even though this vehicle has a budget, I care very little about the cost of a particular solution if it has excellent performance, since the total cost of the project doesn't matter and I can simply save a little more and get the right product. Because 99% of this project will be completed in my garage and mine alone, I'd say the only thing that could be a pitfall is anything that requires a professional to install, or anything that requires air tools since I don't have one.

Some of the interior I'm dealing with is a bit rusty, and some of the rust has peppered little holes open to the ground. The car was left to rot for years in Oregon, but now that it is in Las Vegas, rust should be a non-factor for now on. I'm thinking about using metal-filler to cover these small areas, as none of them are structural and only mildly affected. This type of car doesn't have a huge following of restorers, so there are no replacement pans or parts like, say, a 69 Camaro or something like that. So I figured with a strong metal-based filler, I can create a decent base to work with.

Once the rust has been dealt with, I need to work on the bare floor, trunk sides, interior firewall, and doors. This car will be getting the full sound deadening treatment, so what product would you suggest as a first layer to coat the entire car? I'll let the experts guide me on this process, since all the other vehicles I've ever done simply got the RAAMmat layer. This vehicle deserves the finest, however. What are the additional layers you'd recommend I put on this thing? Keep in mind of course that I don't have a professional paint booth or spray system handy, so please suggest things that are roll-on, stick-on, etc.

Now, here's a link to those pics:

http://1977caprirestoration.shutterfly.com/

Now before you judge the visual rust, these pics were before I took a wire wheel to the paint, and I can tell you that 99% of that junk came right off with clean bare metal under it. The only few parts that didn't were the peppered rust-through parts previously mentioned.

Just so you have a general idea, this car will be the ultimate expression of sound quality. That is its goal. A car like this CAN handle well, have good straightline performance, etc..and it will. But when it comes to the interior, I have no qualms about ripping the entire dash out (already done as you can see) and building a completely original fiberglass one, nor do I care about the door cards or anything O.E. The reason for this is that a Capri was not a car like a Challenger or 'Cuda. It was a great vehicle for its time but it doesn't deserve to be restored to factory-new shape...that shape just wasn't so great, you know? Besides, I'd rather have a daily driver with some serious performance acoustically anyway.

Later we can talk custom dash, doors, etc., but for now let's hear your ideas for the base layers of this car.

Go!

 

[Lanson]

Really hoping to hear from the Gurus of the board on this one, since we've got what I'd consider to be a blank canvas to make something special here.

 

[Aaron'z 2.5RS/WRX]

Well, for starters, the rust, think POR-15 or Eastwood rust converter, that will get you where you need to be, without having to re-do it in a year..

2nd'ly, you say

This vehicle deserves the finest

But what you are dealing with is already Swiss Cheese..

Best in sound deadener is SS IMHO.. but that's just MY opinion, they do offer a complete line of coverage though..

 

[mjgonegm]

I would use a Spray on Sound Deadner, your stripping the car any way, just coat the whole inside of it. Check "Stock interiors" for carpet, Are you going to do a new wiring harness ?? Go with painless wiring if you do.

Get a cheap air Compressor i have seen some around 100-150$,Aldi's(Grocery store) had one for 99$ It was 5 gallons and 2Hp.

I gotta ask some questions

Was this car painted ?
Was that a rats nest ?
Does It Run ?
How much was it ?
Can we a get a whole body shot ?
Is this a Ford ?, There was a Mercury Capri from like 79/80 and up,I think, I'm not old enough to really know.
Am i the only who wants to take a pressure washer too it ?? on they same note, Greased lighting, Mean Green, Works good for this type of cleanup.

 

[SublimeZ]

+1 for a compresser. if you're gonna doeverything yourself, you gotta have it. Get one big enough to spray paint.
for rust, check with Ant. SS has/will have a new product. Maybe you can beta test... good luck!

 

[Lanson]

My main request is for Ant or a Second Skin guru to suggest the proper path to deaden, coat, etc. the vehicle. They have some awesome products designed for this, but I wanted more than just one opinion to help glue together my ordering path.

The POR is a great idea, as a lot of Lotus 7 replica owners use it on their whole frame to rust-proof it. I might make that the first step after I get the holes filled.

To answer the other questions:

The car was painted black, by someone w/ a "Latina" flavor (pinstriping, "tears", etc.) They painted right over the beautiful blue when the car had its fender flares installed..
The fender flares you see on this car are actually a rare package offered by the dealer, called an "X Pack". I'll need replacements as mine are destroyed.
It wasn't a rats nest, but other critters have been spotted. There were eggs of some kind (little tiny rock-like things w/ tiny holes in them on one end), and I vacuumed about 2 lbs of that out of the car.
It ran from the cargo carrier to my driveway, and then from my driveway to the garage, but the engine and trans will be pulled for modern items later anyway. These 2.3L "Lima" 4 bangers are nothing special, unless you want to turbocharge them of course (might I remind you of the SVO or Turbocoupe?!)
It was $500 to buy, $500 to ship across a few states.
If you look through the pages, you'll get about a good a shot as I have on the whole body. It is broken into pieces now.
This is a Ford by European names, but in America it was imported by Mercury. It does not have a Mercury badge on it anywhere and is known only as a Capri. BTW it is made in Germany. They are truly unique and loved vehicles in Europe and other parts of the world, but in America they are rare as hen's teeth.

 

[Lanson]

You can't get carpet for this vehicle through any aftermarket maker. Basically it is a seriously rare car.

I'm not going to do a harness other than to make new connections myself. Why? Because, just like the carpet, Painless doesn't make a kit for this car.

A 5 gal air compressor does precisely dick for air tools that you would use on a car. That barely works for an airbrush or an air-brad nailer, but it won't power up a HVLP spray gun. I can't install a 240V outlet in the house because it is a rental (and believe me, I've already asked.) Same goes for a 240V welder. Luckily, a 140V welder gets most car sheetmetal done pretty well if its all you have.

I would use a Spray on Sound Deadner, your stripping the car any way, just coat the whole inside of it. Check "Stock interiors" for carpet, Are you going to do a new wiring harness ?? Go with painless wiring if you do.

Get a cheap air Compressor i have seen some around 100-150$,Aldi's(Grocery store) had one for 99$ It was 5 gallons and 2Hp.

I gotta ask some questions

Was this car painted ?
Was that a rats nest ?
Does It Run ?
How much was it ?
Can we a get a whole body shot ?
Is this a Ford ?, There was a Mercury Capri from like 79/80 and up,I think, I'm not old enough to really know.
Am i the only who wants to take a pressure washer too it ?? on they same note, Greased lighting, Mean Green, Works good for this type of cleanup.

 

[emrliquidlife]

You have what looks like a fantastic project. But realize that I'm a Fiat guy and am prone to rust.

That header looks sharp. That couldn't have been stock. If you change engines, that one part looks like it could pay for the whole car.

The interior materials looked solid. Seats and steering wheel.

There are people on here who have forgotten more about audio than I know, but here is what I would do. Glass the spare tire well for your sub. build a custom amp rack, but be mindful of distributing the weight evenly. Put your midbass in the door and get some kickpanels mids and highs going.

Again, great find.

Ed

 

[Lanson]

Here's what some properly restored Capris look like.


This is an X Pack setup, similar to mine.

This is a rectangular headlight setup for British Capris of certain years.

Here's one in progress, with a 2.3 Lima 4cyl Turbo

Here's one in race-prep

Here's one without the X pack, just a clean basic Capri

So whatcha think?

 

[bretti_kivi]

parts should be available in Scandinavia for an LHD version of that. The UK is full of RHD ones.

Bret

 

[mjgonegm]

You can't get carpet for this vehicle through any aftermarket maker. Basically it is a seriously rare car.

I'm not going to do a harness other than to make new connections myself. Why? Because, just like the carpet, Painless doesn't make a kit for this car.

A 5 gal air compressor does precisely dick for air tools that you would use on a car. That barely works for an airbrush or an air-brad nailer, but it won't power up a HVLP spray gun. I can't install a 240V outlet in the house because it is a rental (and believe me, I've already asked.) Same goes for a 240V welder. Luckily, a 140V welder gets most car sheetmetal done pretty well if its all you have.

Not as bad as you think, Some air tools work, Phneumatic ratchet,and Impact wrench, now an airginder or a HVLP gun NOt.

Stock interiors Sells carpet by the yard,and they have carpet for 79' Mercury Capri and up, It may fit...... And painless has unervisal kits.

Your landlord is a dick, Come on a 240v outlet in a Garage and your paying for it ??? I can't see a problem with it. It's a plus.

What type of drive train are you going to use ?

You think you could a LS1 in there ?? Cause that would be freaking sweet!!!

 

[bretti_kivi]

did you see what rbsarve managed with one of those?

 

[Lanson]

A '79 Capri is a Mustang w/ a different set of body parts.

A '77 Capri is a German sports coupe that has more in common with a Cortina or an Escort of the same vintage. They aren't in the same continent. Capris basically fell of the face of the American map in '77. This car is rare as I said. I've been unable to get a solid confirmation of how many were imported from Germany, but I've asked some Capri enthusiasts and they said it was around 2000 or so into the States. Most of them have already been crushed in a compactor due to high rust and lack of parts, as well as a lack of love for the car in the 80's, 90's, and 2000's. But it is a SWEET car with a low curb weight, excellent handling when set up correctly (odd struts in front, leafs in back, RWD), neat looking front end, and a kickass seating arrangement with top-o-the-line snug bucket seats in an era when benches were more common.

Scandinavia eh? Well my brother, you might be my contact for useful websites and what not, or people to reach. I'm after black or dark gray carpet and accessories, if you're looking around. MKIII Capris (the one the US never got) have the same floorpan, so the carpet should match.

Landlord isn't a dick, but he also doesn't understand the value of a 240V outlet in the garage. The way Las Vegas houses are wired, with teensy little breakout boxes and whatnot...well I'm not surprised. I've decided 120V gear will have to do. I might weld w/ car batteries since there is a brand out there that lets you do that, MIG style.

There is a guy that installed what I feel to be the best engine in the world...the 1UZ-FE. This is the 4.0L V8 from Lexus. He had to sacrifice tons of space in places I won't be able to, so I decided against the engine. The LS1? Yeah, its a great engine, but hot-rodders have decided this as well...supply & demand means that because so many people are snatching them up, they cost a LOT more than they should. As a result I've decided on one of three different engines: 2.3L 4cyl, turbocharged; 4.2L Ford V6, out of F-150's...this engine has the same heritage as the V6 Capri 2.6-2.8's, but more stout obviously. The 4.2 is the stroked version of the 3.8L out of Mustang...nice durable engine; the 5.0 Mustang V8, which needs no introduction I imagine. Of these three, there are many different pros and cons, but I'll cross that bridge once I got the interior and exterior done. The stock motor will get me running so I can decide later.

 

[Electrodynamic]

Cool car! I honestly have never seen one of those, and I'm a pretty big car guy. But to be honest I'm not a Ford fan so I haven't looked into any classic Ford's. Too bad you can't use the 1UZ because that I have (Lexus SC400) and I love it.

But on to the deadening work. I agree that if you're stripping the car down that far to see if you can spray on a layer of deadener. Or you could apply the Sludge that Ant makes too. I think Ant said that you can spray it on, but you can also "brush" it on using a spatula-type applicator.

 

[mjgonegm]

There is a guy that installed what I feel to be the best engine in the world...the 1UZ-FE. This is the 4.0L V8 from Lexus. He had to sacrifice tons of space in places I won't be able to, so I decided against the engine. The LS1? Yeah, its a great engine, but hot-rodders have decided this as well...supply & demand means that because so many people are snatching them up, they cost a LOT more than they should. As a result I've decided on one of three different engines: 2.3L 4cyl, turbocharged; 4.2L Ford V6, out of F-150's...this engine has the same heritage as the V6 Capri 2.6-2.8's, but more stout obviously. The 4.2 is the stroked version of the 3.8L out of Mustang...nice durable engine; the 5.0 Mustang V8, which needs no introduction I imagine. Of these three, there are many different pros and cons, but I'll cross that bridge once I got the interior and exterior done. The stock motor will get me running so I can decide later.

True, My uncle wanted to do an ls3, but did a 572 instead because of the huge demand of them at the time, but here are a cople examples

2005 6.0L LS1 42k----2500

 

[bretti_kivi]

haha... OTOH, I do speak German, so...

Ford Capri - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ford Capri ? Wikipedia

no clubs mentioned, which is wierd.

Carsten´s Ford Capri Homepage -> go look at the pics.

questions? ask.

Bret

 

[bretti_kivi]

haha... OTOH, I do speak German, so...

Ford Capri - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ford Capri ? Wikipedia

no clubs mentioned, which is wierd.

Carsten´s Ford Capri Homepage -> go look at the pics.

questions? ask.

Bret

 

[Infinity]

If you go with a 5.0, you'll get good, lightweight performance, and CHEAP! hat would be my choice, unless you know someone who will part with the turboed SVO motor, or perhaps a more modern 3.8SC. Actually, check over at TCCoA as they get a lot of the non-Mustang Ford enthusiasts.

 

[Lanson]

Well cheapest is the 4.2L, since it is a "throwaway" engine to many rodders. It can still make ~240RWHP and get excellent economy, and it is durable as hell...but most still opt for the 5.0. That said, there's about 1000 things to do before I even worry about the engine compartment.


First thing's first, the interior and perfecting it. The stock engine works, the trans works, the suspension is decent, etc. Only the steering was bad when I drove it up to the driveway, so I'll definitely have to tidy that up before I get this thing safety-inspected and road legal. It does have to pass a general SMOG as well even though it is old, so I have to pay attention to that too.

Now, I checked w/ Ant and got the low-down on how he'd do it...

He said I should put Damplifier PRO on the interior surfaces, covering as much area as possible up to 100%, but at least in the upper 60% range. Then, I should hit the undercarriage and panel skin interiors with Spectrum. Then, use Luxury liner under the carpeted areas.

IMO, that's a good solution. I've posted more questions about Heatwave and Firewall, since heat is an issue in Vegas and less is better.

 

[Lanson]

Also, I want to try and figure out something on the front stage of this car-to-be.

I don't know if you can see it by the pics or not, but the way this car is shaped there is quite literally at least 6" of space on the outside of the clutch pedal before the kick panel. There is a TON of space there. Here's a pic from the album:

So with that in mind, I'm visualizing some MASSIVE mid-bass woofers up here, possibly with horns, and maybe my little ribbon tweeters I found at Wal-Mart.


And look at this dash:

I'm really thinking of redoing the whole damn thing in fiberglass, and making my very own custom dash. I'm not against it!