Reviving 4139R (74 TCS) after 40 years

[Bryan Boyle]

Wow! She looks and sounds great. Just wait until you take her around a corner with aggression. Cornering better than the majority of cars of its era.  I personally find the height if the Fed. spec  cars off putting. Ready for take off. I also like the Stang under its protection.

front height easily rectified to get around the stupid headlight height regs some drone in an office came up with.  Do it on all the cars I have had, and will get a Round Tuit on 3291R after going through the clutch replacement.  Have the springs, pick up some new Spax for the front (along with a handful of bushings, etc) and it will sit properly.

[69merc]

Yeah….can’t wait to actually drive it and see how it handles ( need to get some tires that weren’t made in 1974    )  I also find the front end height off putting and plan on lowering it some.  Here are a couple of pics of the Mustang that some of you commented on…..I finished the bodywork and paint on that last spring.  ( you can see the Europa waiting its turn in the pics 

[BDA]

You do very nice work!

[TurboFource]

Nice looking ‘67!

Where’s the ‘69 Mercury?

[69merc]

Thanks….bodywork and paint just take a lot of time and patience.
The Europa is nice change of pace….no bodywork or paint, just mechanical rejuvenation.
Here’s the 69 Merc ….. and my truck….

[TurboFource]

  and

[69merc]

Progress……new tires, restored the cosmics, new gas struts for the “rear” hood, and best of all I’ve been making laps around the neighborhood 
Took a few laps to get comfortable with the tight foot box and shifting pattern ( very wide H ), but once you understand how it wants to be shifted , it’s very normal.
And surprisingly no oil leaks….yet…..its only been a few miles
Next up is installing the new windshield and bringing the nose down.
Its been a fun journey so far….
 

[BDA]

Congratulations on your laps and no oil leaks! Wheels look great too!

[69merc]

Thanks BDA!  I could have spent a lot more time on the wheels, but the cars body is not being restored so I didn’t feel the need to make them “perfect “….
But they are a definite improvement from the as found condition….

[Bainford]

Congrats on a successful shake-down run. Your Europa is looking good. Cheers 

[69merc]

Cracked windshield out…..

[BDA]

Are you going to install your new windshield yourself?

[dakazman]

 69 Merc,  I Like your CRUCK and excellent job on the paint👍👍

   Looking forward to your progress.

Dakazman

[69merc]

BDA - yep, came out easy.  Didn’t ruin the trim.  Butyl coming Tuesday.  Bought some glass suction cup holders from harbor freight ( I was a bit leary of them holding  my EXPENSIVE windshield, but I tested them on the old windshield and they worked very well).  Seems like a straight forward install and I’m going to put the trim on first and install it as one piece. 

Dakazman - thanks for the compliments!  My cruck is kinda like the Europa ( don’t see many of them and they are unique!).
My opinion on garage bodywork and paint jobs is that it takes a LOT of patience and a lot of work after the paint is sprayed to make them look nice.

[BDA]

Asking purely as someone who one day in the future might need to know how easy it is, could you do a write up with pictures of how your windshield install goes? It was done here (http://www.lotuseuropa.org/LotusForum/index.php?topic=1704.msg32438#msg32438) but this post is from the perspective of someone watching it being done. It would be nice to have a write up from someone who did it. If you put it in the "Technical Articles" section, it might be easier to find for the next guy.