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General => User Rides => Topic started by: Mikelonis on March 10, 2010, 11:11:50 PM

Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: Mikelonis on March 10, 2010, 11:11:50 PM
Been a while since I posted. Thought I'd share some appearance stuff I've been doing to my 86 TC. It was once done in a monochromatic silver with 87/88 snowflakes. It was cool but I preferred the original belt molding and original wheels. So, I did some research here and used the SEM Med Smoke and SEM Dark Smoke treatment to the paint. I also found the belt molding at a wrecking yard and started putting it on. I changed the red pin stripe to blue. Picked up the right wheels too, easy find. Anyway, thought I'd share with people who care. Nobody else does. :)
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: T-BirdX3 on March 10, 2010, 11:16:59 PM
We care, we love pictures!!  The blue stripe looks good. That is a clean ride!
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: hypostang on March 10, 2010, 11:19:48 PM
Gorgeous !!  I'm a huge fan of the four eyes
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 10, 2010, 11:30:32 PM
I like it better with the molding :D
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: Watchdevil on March 10, 2010, 11:58:40 PM
Nice Bird!
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: Mikelonis on March 11, 2010, 01:05:24 AM
Thanks guys, I knew you'd care.
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: TheEskimo on March 11, 2010, 04:50:09 AM
Very nice
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: ProTouring442 on March 11, 2010, 06:11:27 AM
Great job on a good lookin' car!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: vinnietbird on March 11, 2010, 06:46:54 AM
Very nice.Much better with the molding.The Bird is looking great.If I could ever find nice side molding,I'd re-install it on the Sport.I haven't found any yet.
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: mcb82gt on March 11, 2010, 07:47:44 AM
I agree. it looks so much better with the moulding painted and headlight buckets.  Very nice work, and...yes..... we care. (nobody else does)  That cracked me up this morning.
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: 50tbrd88 on March 11, 2010, 08:21:58 AM
Looks sweet!!
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: 1Bad88tbird on March 11, 2010, 08:42:28 AM
I agree with the masses, it looks better with the molding. Great job with it, it looks sweet!
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: Watchdevil on March 11, 2010, 09:39:42 AM
Quote from: vinnietbird;313640
Very nice.Much better with the molding.The Bird is looking great.If I could ever find nice side molding,I'd re-install it on the Sport.I haven't found any yet.


It's a shame it's so hard to find good moldings because I prefer to have a new set on mine the day the exterior refinishing is complete.
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: ZondaC12 on March 11, 2010, 09:41:21 AM
Definitely looks like it's back home in the time it came from. Very nice.
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: jkirchman on March 11, 2010, 12:07:59 PM
That's one of the worst things about these cars is lack of model-specific parts such as molding and interior pieces.

I really like the clean look of your car, Mikelonis.  What procedure did you follow to remove the molding from the old car and install it on yours and how did you change the color of the stripe?  It looks really nice.
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: Mikelonis on March 11, 2010, 01:44:23 PM
Thanks all. Sometimes I wonder WTF I'm doing out there with masking tape and a rattle can.

It wasn't easy, but it wasn't tough to yank that molding off the donor car. Just pried underneath each piece until I could get two hands on it and used my whole body to peel it slowly off.

I used the SEM procedure to clean the moldings. SEM Soap, SEM Vinyl Prep, and some good scrubbing with a nylon brush. I opted to change to blue when the red pin stripe on one of the long moldings "de-vulcanized" from the molding. I used some SEM Color Coat in "Pacific Blue" to paint on the stripe. We'll see how it lasts, but that paint is pretty good stuff.

As far as the rockers go... The silver repaint that was done before I got the car was kind of cheap, so I just hit the rockers and bumpers with some 400 wet sand paper followed by acetone, masked, and rattle canned.

Again, appreciate the thumbs up. I love driving this car.
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: BlackCardinal on March 11, 2010, 02:44:51 PM
Looks great! Hey, what's that badge on the fender? Is that the old-school "2.3 Efi Turbo" badge?
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: Mikelonis on March 11, 2010, 03:07:51 PM
Thanks. No, it's my fordmuscle.com badge. I did design it though. I'm a site-owner over there.
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: BlackCardinal on March 11, 2010, 08:15:04 PM
Okay...I jumped over and checked it out, very nice. I know the site, I had thought about trying to be a contributor on that site at one time a few years ago! lol...small world...Heck, I might have emailed you about it! lol...
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: Silver5oh on March 11, 2010, 09:31:35 PM
VERY nice!! Looking good, keep up the good work on it and keep us posted on the progress!! I have to agree that the "retro" look is better than the full monochromatic look you had (just my opinion!!).

Thanks for posting them!!

Later, RAY
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: CougarGal on March 22, 2010, 12:45:28 AM
Love the blue on the moldings!!  It REALLY stands out and makes the car distinctive!  Great job!!  Wish I could have found some decent moldings to put back on my Cat when it was painted.  I miss the way they looked ;-(
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: Ether947 on March 27, 2010, 04:30:00 PM
Side moldings FTW! The blue strip is a really nice touch.
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: 1 BADBIRD on March 27, 2010, 10:46:11 PM
Car looks awesome !
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: QUICKSHIFT on March 27, 2010, 11:09:20 PM
Very nice transition Mike. I did my stripe on the indentation above the molding, but after seeing what you did, I like that too. By the way, thanks for the reminder of you @  Ford Muscle, when I saw your name here , I thought I had a brain fart or hit the wrong "bookmark"  :D
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: Dave D on March 28, 2010, 08:39:16 AM
nice improvements, I like those wheels! Did you paint the blue in the moulding?
Dave
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: jkirchman on March 29, 2010, 11:37:19 AM
Quote from: Dave D;316191
nice improvements, I like those wheels! Did you paint the blue in the moulding?
Dave


Quote from: mikelonis
I used the SEM procedure to clean the moldings. SEM Soap, SEM Vinyl Prep, and some good scrubbing with a nylon brush. I opted to change to blue when the red pin stripe on one of the long moldings "de-vulcanized" from the molding. I used some SEM Color Coat in "Pacific Blue" to paint on the stripe. We'll see how it lasts, but that paint is pretty good stuff.


Yes.  Yes he did.
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: thunderjet302 on March 29, 2010, 06:47:25 PM
Quote from: jkirchman;313679
That's one of the worst things about these cars is lack of model-specific parts such as molding and interior pieces.



+1
 I need to buy a parts car and strip the  thing for extra parts.
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: mcford on March 30, 2010, 07:59:18 PM
Looks Phenominal!
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: Mikelonis on March 31, 2010, 10:09:59 PM
Thanks again everyone. McFord.... thought you should know I had a printout of your bird on my workbench while I was making the changes to the car. I think you sold it, but that's what I used as a model. I would have done raised whites out if I had matching tires. Gonna park the bird for a while and focus on my Torino.
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: Silver5oh on April 04, 2010, 11:25:20 PM
Um.....did someone say TORINO?? Kinda new to the site here....lets share some pics of it no matter its current state....LOVE Fairlanes/Torino's!!!

Later, RAY
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: MY83T on April 05, 2010, 12:04:55 AM
Quote from: Silver5oh;317065
Um.....did someone say TORINO?? Kinda new to the site here....lets share some pics of it no matter its current state....LOVE Fairlanes/Torino's!!!

Later, RAY

Seems to be a quite a bit of Thunderbird/Torino crossover here.....i have both myself...... plenty of pics on this thread http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?t=24916

Your 86 looks amazing by the way....i hope to get my 83 Heritage to look as nice again one day.....
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: Silver5oh on April 17, 2010, 09:37:03 PM
Wow....thats a beautiful Torino you have there! Always loved the Torino's (from '68 on) and also love the silver color on it! Thanks for the compliment on my 86....it's honestly a 10 footer with it's little road scars here and there, but its nice enough to get looks at local shows. Feel free to post up any more pics of either the Torino or your Bird!!!

Later, RAY
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: V8Demon on April 18, 2010, 08:04:55 AM
Quote from: thunderjet302;313606
I like it better with the molding :D


Yes.  The blue goes well.  Nice job!
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: 1WLD BRD on April 18, 2010, 09:11:43 AM
Quote from: thunderjet302;313606
I like it better with the molding :D


I agree, looks alot better now then it did.  Good job!
Title: Retro Updates to my '86
Post by: joefriday on April 20, 2010, 10:15:47 PM
Great job.  Will we be seeing any more articles staring your ride on Ford Muscle?
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