Very very cool! Love the interior!
Hell Freezes Over...Paxtonshelby buys GM
- Thread starter PaxtonShelby
- Start date
From 10/31/15...
Wow - October was a blur - and none of it was in the garage. But today I finally scored some quality time with the big gal.
The taillight panel had a big gash and a dent where it looked like someone backed into the car. So I borrowed a dolly from a buddy down the street, grabbed a regular hammer, and started straightening some metal. It still needs welded, but I thought it came out pretty good all things considered. The repair will be completely hidden behind a huge panel that covers the entire rear and surrounds the tail lights.
Last edited:
Next on the list was removing the exhaust. Each resonator had a LOT of rust inside. See the last pic - that pile is from ONE resonator. The whole exhaust system is toast. Hopefully I can find a Borla muffler that will fit. Right now I'm not sure if I will replace the resonators or eliminate them altogether. I found a set of used 4" Borla tips that might just be perfect.
From 11/3/15...
The weather was so nice today that I slacked on the house chores ( who needs clean clothes anyway?!?! ) and after dinner, while my wife and Hannah went to pamper the horse, Lilly and I headed down to the garage to work on El Toro. I didn't feel like working underneath, so I figured we would work on the interior. The rear seat is out, so we took out all the nasty underlayment from back there. Lilly used the wire brush to scrub lots of crud off the floor, and then we vacuumed out the goodies.
The package tray had some really horrible looking speakers on it, so they had to go. Once the package tray was clean I pulled both rear ashtrays and Lilly polished them. Next came the interior door chrome. It looks 50 years old but now it shines a little. After cleaning the interior quarters, door panels, and front seat with Aerospace 303 we called it a night. Hopefully tomorrow we will have time to clean the rear seat and install it ( and get it out of my way in the garage ).
Baby steps...
The weather was so nice today that I slacked on the house chores ( who needs clean clothes anyway?!?! ) and after dinner, while my wife and Hannah went to pamper the horse, Lilly and I headed down to the garage to work on El Toro. I didn't feel like working underneath, so I figured we would work on the interior. The rear seat is out, so we took out all the nasty underlayment from back there. Lilly used the wire brush to scrub lots of crud off the floor, and then we vacuumed out the goodies.
The package tray had some really horrible looking speakers on it, so they had to go. Once the package tray was clean I pulled both rear ashtrays and Lilly polished them. Next came the interior door chrome. It looks 50 years old but now it shines a little. After cleaning the interior quarters, door panels, and front seat with Aerospace 303 we called it a night. Hopefully tomorrow we will have time to clean the rear seat and install it ( and get it out of my way in the garage ).
Baby steps...
I finally got the front seat and carpet removed today. Found some rust lurking underneath. UGH!!! The PO told me the car was in his garage during a flood, and that the water level got to the very bottom of the doors. My guess is the carpet was probably under an inch or two of water and never properly dried.
Nothing too bad - but once I clean things up there will be some repairs needed.
Attachments
I picked up 5 decent chrome wheels. They were optional in 1966 and they dress up the car nicely.
Here is where the story slows down a bunch. For the next 15-18 months the Toronado was back-burnered as we did a bunch of home improvement projects. We gutted and remodeled both full bathrooms, installed hardwood floors throughout, replaced all interior doors, and replaced all baseboard and trim. I needed the garage for painting the new doors and trim, so the Toronado was moved to a building owned by my Dad.
When I finally get serious about finishing this car, the plan is to rebuild the 425 with some performance upgrades and go with a rear mount turbo - maybe twins - with a Holley Sniper EFI. The goal won’t be stupid power...just a great highway cruiser that will surprise some folks.
To be continued...
To be continued...
It's different and I like it. Cool that you can work on it with your kids too. Makes it that much more special.
Keep chugging! Sweet car!
I am a die hard Ford guy but those Toronados are definitely in my top 10 of all time coolest cars.
Cool project.
But damn, that car is just something I feel only a mother could love.
She’s a biiiig girl!
But damn, that car is just something I feel only a mother could love.
She’s a biiiig girl!
Great project. Good deal rescuing her from a dire fate. Will look terrific when done.
Thanks DSG. Being FWD it is amazing how much room there is in front without having a tranny tunnel. I’m looking forward to learning to weld as I repair the rusted areas of the floor pans.
My older daughter helped some but cars aren’t really her thing. My younger daughter, however, loves cars, so we will spend a lot of time working on it. She turns 13 next week so I guess I can’t wait too long to get busy on this car with her.
I went to a few big shows this year and didn’t see one. At one show we saw THREE AMC Scramblers...but not a single early Toronado. These Toros aren’t crazy rare but not many have stayed on the road. Jay’s car is one reason I developed a thing for big cars and Toronados in particular. His car is a monster - twin turbo small block - converted to RWD - and wow it is flawless. I would LOVE to get my hands on a set of the 17” original style wheels that are on Jay’s car.
Thanks buddy - not sure we are at chugging speed but sometimes life and other projects are higher on the priority list. At least it is on the list!
Same here buddy. These cars are pretty innovative. Heck - I can DD it in snow if I want to as the weight and FWD will do great in bad weather. Not that I will do that, but I could if I wanted to.
Yes she is large. No denying that. But I have always liked big cars. Dad had a ‘68 LTD 2-door he bought new and kept through my sophomore year of college. Loved that car and drove it a lot. 390 C6 2 bbl with dual stainless exhaust. Dark blue with a black vinyl roof and dark blue interior, and the mag style hubcaps similar to the 7-litre Galaxies. Damn that car ran well. I miss it, and I will have a full size 65-70 Ford in my garage someday.
I could get behind a Galaxie I suppose.
Never been a big fan of old Lincolns and Thunderbirds. Good luck on the rest of the project.
Never been a big fan of old Lincolns and Thunderbirds. Good luck on the rest of the project.
Thanks. My #1 bucket list car is a Continental Mk II. If I ever found a solid one at the right price I would have to sell whatever was necessary to make it happen.
A Galaxie wagon on bags with big brakes and an A10 behind a TT Coyote is on the list too.
Just dropped my daughter off at work and wife & younger daughter are shopping with Grandma, so I might as well head down to the garage for some quality time with El Toro.
Jay's '66 Toronado is sweet! Gives you a vision for what your own Toro is going to look like.
Users who are viewing this thread
