Ivan Stewart`s '78 Fillmore Ford Restoration

[SpareChangeRacng]

And as for the headlights, the rectangular headlights were available on the higher trim levels (Ranger, Ranger XLT) in '78 so I'm sure they're correct.

Yup. I was going to say this but saw Todd covered it.

Subscribing to see the build Mark. I can't wait to see how the thing turns out. Thanks for the head's up that you started this thread and thanks for the glass.

Steve

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[Mark Stahl]

This truck is a Ranger Lariat so that would explain the rectangular headlights. Here is a pic of Ivan checking out the truck and some others of what I have taken off so far. After we removed the windows, Ivan even tasted some of the dirt under the rubber seal and said "Oh, Laguna Chapala." He could tell where it had been in Baja!!!!
This thing has lots of cracks and holes in it that will take alot of repairing and it also has a lot of extra brackets that I've been removing.
Stay tuned...

[Rory]

Mark,

It's looking good. Jeff and I will see you at NORRA in 2012 with our drivers suits, I'll take the San Felipe section in it

[Mark Newhan]

Mark,

It's looking good. Jeff and I will see you at NORRA in 2012 with our drivers suits, I'll take the San Felipe section in it

You'll look even better in a Chevy ; )

[Rory]

You'll look even better in a Chevy ; )

I gave you an offer at the SNORE race, the ball is in your court mister!!!!! You'd look good in a Ramcharger too! Sorry, back to the Mark Stahl Ivan Stewart thingy.....

[AZ45]

Mark,

It's looking good. Jeff and I will see you at NORRA in 2012 with our drivers suits, I'll take the San Felipe section in it

Cool, having a ride will take the stress off my other project that hasn't exactly started!

When are we testing?

[Mark Stahl]

Cool, having a ride will take the stress off my other project that hasn't exactly started!

When are we testing?

Sorry guys, you have to have won at least 3 Ironmans to qualify for this ride.

[randy s]

Sorry guys, you have to have won at least 3 Ironmans to qualify for this ride.

that would narrow it down a tad.

[Mark Stahl]

I finally got the truck stripped down far enough, and stuff that doesn`t belong cut off, so I can start welding up holes and cracks. Someone had taken out the rear crossmember and just had a tube across the frame rails. It looked kinda weak so I put a piece of 2" x 6" x .120" rect. tubing with some bumper mounts out of 3-1/2" x 1/2" all the way through it. The fuel cell was mounted up so high and far back there was no spare tire mount like everyone used back in the day. I`ve got it mounted now, so I can get a spare tire above it and have it where it used to be on this truck. The truck has Ureathane bushing mounts for the entire roll cage, shock loops, bracing, engine mounts, etc. and I`m going to stick with that set up. I have been making the mounts I need for the down bars from the cab to the back of the frame, and to tie the roll cage to the front fenders, radiator mounts and everything else that will go up there. You`ll see as I make all these parts, pieces and mounts, I am going to keep it as easy as possible to maintain and work on. I will be doing all this work in the garage at my house with some very simple tools. A MIG welder, drill press, a Mitler rachett type tubing bender, a chop saw that I use to fish mouth tubing as well as misc. hand drills and grinders, etc. You can do quite alot of fabrication without a lot of fancy and expensive equipment and still get nice results.

[Mark Stahl]

More progress and pics. Here is a pic of the front window frame after welding and grinding. Both front corners had to be repaired this way. A couple of shots of all the cracks and holes that have been repaired in the firewall. This truck has been a prerunner or raced since 1979 so thats 32 years of abuse. I think a lot of the cracking in the firewall was caused because the roll cage was not tied to the A and B pillers. Also, the heater and AC were removed from the firewall and a piece of sheet metal was just bolted over the opening. That opening is right over the RF cab mount and the whole firewall had collapsed at that spot. After jacking and hammering the firewall back into shape, I welded the sheet metal up and I will tie the cab to the roll cage. Alot of the holes can be welded up and ground smooth, but some are so big they had to have sheet metal patches welded over them. You're probably saying all this is really boring stuff, which it is, but it all has to be done before I get a bunch of stuff in the way. If you think it is boring watching it, you should be doing it. Stay tuned for more.