At the paint shop here is the trunk after being striped to bare metal. Notice the original color of the car. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151989458.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151989515.jpg
Another trunk shot. You can see the battery tray in the smugglers box. There’s no rust in that suspension pan.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151989566.jpg

Car is almost ready for paint.

Purple…what the…I bet that you didn’t see that one coming. Here’s the first pic of the car after paint and the first stage of assembly.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151989690.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151989799.jpg
Car is back at home and ready for final assembly.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151989897.jpg
Here’s the trunk after returning home from the paint shop…..I like it.

Is that the original color? I can't tell from the other shots. Looks nice.

OK, I give up. Why did you paint the car's interior red? Last minute change of heart?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151990014.jpg
Body panels are on loosely to let the paint harden.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151990114.jpg
If you deleted the jack stands with photo shop, this would be a cool picture
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151990737.jpg
Car was up and down on jack stands and parts were on and off so many times, I bet that I took apart and assembled the car 30 times. Its getting close to being drivable.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151990914.jpg
Decided to install carpet, first step was Dynamat.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151990994.jpg
Carpet jute goes on top of Dyna Mat
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151991195.jpg
RS Carpet kit is almost installed.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151991323.jpg
Roll Bar was powder coated and here it is ready to be bolted in

Interior is almost done. I went with the Nurburgring seatshttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151991741.jpg

Here is one of my set backs. After I put fuel in the gas tank, I noticed a wet spot in the center of my floor pan. What could have caused this?
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151992067.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151992163.jpg
Here is the source of my fuel leak. This is the steel tube that runs from the gas tank through the tunnel to the back of the interior compartment. In the early cars this tube is housed in a smaller tunnel inside of the large tunnel. It runs right underneath of the drivers seat mounting bolts. I ran a tap through the seat mounting holes to clean up the threads and the tap ran into the fuel line. These are very small holes but the fuel comes out fast, especially when I turned on the fuel pump. This was supposed to be one of those happy days when I put fuel in and started the car. Instead it turned into a large disassembly that included draining and removing the gas tank, and of course buying more parts.

Harness’s are installed and head light trim rings area also finally on the car. There’s actually room in the garage for another car…haha.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151992613.jpg
Here is how the trunk ended up.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151992718.jpg
Here’s an engine shot. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with the engine so I just cleaned it up and will drive the car while I decide what I would like to do.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151992839.jpg

Beautiful photo essay. Love the new 'red' - a great color. A great project.

Car finally makes it out onto the road. This is at the Hot Summer Nights in Fallbrook, CA
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151993063.jpg
I took a few pictures and then it was off to the beer garden.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151993127.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151993187.jpg
Thats it for now. There are still projects left to do, but at least I can drive the car. Have a safe and Happy 4th O july! :-)

Red was the color of the car when I bought it. Originally I wasnt going to strip the car to metal, just scuff the paint and give it a new coat of red. Then when it came time to paint the car, after seeing the original purple color color in the trunk area, I liked it alot so I went with it. Having the red in the interior drove me crazy for a while, but I was convinced to leave it since I was going to be putting down carpet. I think that the purple really makes it a early 70s car.

Amazing documentary and project. I dream one day of having the proper space (and learning) how to do such a project. Hats off to you.....

VERY nice Love the color!

That's outstanding.

Thank you for posting, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. What size wheels/tires are you running? Looks like that car would be a blast to drive.

Wonderful!!! My 72 was originally Royal Purple, and I was tempted, but it was silver when I bought it and I really wanted silver. I was hoping someone would paint their car this color, and now you have! Thank you, man it just looks wonderful. My car has the flares and the S bumper (and the ducktail), so yours is just what mine would have looked like in that color. Great!

Really great post on a really neat car. You have been through the mill on this one but came out on top; great job!

What did you end up doing with the red interior? Just leave it the way it was and cover it with the carpet?

What engine does the car have in it now? Any thoughts about where you're going in that direction?

Beautiful car,

ianc

Thanks for the kind words, :-). The board has so many really really nice cars, it can be kind of intimidating to post pictures.
Mike O and gearbox, you cars are amazing!

What did you end up doing with the red interior? Just leave it the way it was and cover it with the carpet?
- I ended up just covering it with the carpet. I was convinced/coerced to go ahead and get the car back together...haha.

What size wheels/tires are you running?
- 16x7 Fuchs, 205-40-16 Front
- 16x8 Fuchs, 225-40-16 Rear
- 16x6 Fuch, 205-40-16 Spare

What engine does the car have in it now? Any thoughts about where you're going in that direction?
- Car has a 2.2 L engine in it now. I would like to go with a 2.4L, preferably from another 72, with MFI. I am not sure what it would take to get the HP up to around 200, but that would be enough for me.

What pistons and heads are you running? CR? What cam? This will go a long way in answering the 200HP question...

You know just when I convince myself that tearing apart the front trunk is a bad idea. Too many wires, hoses, heating components, ect, ect. You go an post a picture like this. THANKS, thanks a lot.

What a great thread, congratulations now go out and enjoy the purple people eater.

Rich

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1151992718.jpg