Of Old Farts and dinosaurs...

I'm 52 years old. I bought my last new car when I was 39.

In 1993, at the same time I bought TFrog, my wife picked up a brand-new
Escort GT. That car became my son's first car, when Jean picked up a new
Mercury Mystique. After her second new Mystique (now my daughter's car),
Jean moved on to the Ford Escape, and is now driving her second, a new 2007
model.

My daughter, who was 11 in 1993, learned to drive with the Princessmobile*,
moved on to a '99 Escort, and now drives my wife's '99 Mystique.

In 1993, George Bush 41 watched as William Jefferson Clinton was sworn in
for his first term in office as President of the United States. Today, Mrs.
Clinton is running for the office.

In 1993, Jerry Orbach was introduced as Detective Lenny Briscoe. He's dead
now.

In 1993, my computer was running with Windows 3.1, which incorporated the
new DOS 6.0. I remember the day I installed an extra 4MB of RAM, doubling my
capacity, and then swapping my 2400 baud modem for an amazing 14,400.
Somewhere in there, I began my life as an AOLer (already with 3,000,000
users), after having toyed with CompuServe and Prodigy, and I've been
"TFrog93" ever since. Today, I'm using a computer and peripherals that would
have only been dreamed of in "Star Trek."

In 1993, the Philadelphia Eagles were in their second season under the great
Rich Kotite, who, thankfully, would later parlay a 7-9 season into a head
coach position with the New York Jets. The Eagles would then begin their
four-year flirtation with an equally fine head coach, Ray Rhodes.

In 1993 (don't hold me to it), we were using a Pentax K1000 that Jean picked
up for a college filler course in black & white photography. The K1000 was
the camera that every student had to have, fully manual with no bells or
whistles. I later picked up the Pentax ZX-M, then my first digital
(1.3megapixel), my second digital (3megapixel), and now a D-SLR with a
growing list of lenses.

In 1993, it was all about the Wu-Tang Clan.

In 1993, there were still fewer than 150 sites on the new World Wide Web.
Also in 1993, Mark Andreesen came out with "Mosaic X", which allowed far
greater use of graphics over the internet (does anyone remember the all-text
AOL?), which, in turn, gave rise to Netscape Navigator and Windows Internet
Explorer. The race was on.

In 1993, we had one television in the house - a 19" Zenith with a clunky
channel knob and UHF. We had to get up and walk over to the TV to change the
channel. Today, we have HDTV, surround sound, 5-disc DVD changer, and cable
hookups in all of the bedrooms.

In all areas of my life but one, I have seen amazing changes, undreamt of in
my philosophy. And every day I go out and start up my 1993 Ford Mustang, now
with 204,000+ miles, which I still love and still plan on keeping.

dwight

* Princessmobile - see http://www.tfrog93.com, click on CFrog.

"dwight" > wrote in
:

> I'm 52 years old. I bought my last new car when I was 39.
>
> In 1993, at the same time I bought TFrog, my wife picked up a
> brand-new Escort GT. That car became my son's first car, when Jean
> picked up a new Mercury Mystique. After her second new Mystique (now
> my daughter's car), Jean moved on to the Ford Escape, and is now
> driving her second, a new 2007 model.
>
> My daughter, who was 11 in 1993, learned to drive with the
> Princessmobile*, moved on to a '99 Escort, and now drives my wife's
> '99 Mystique.
>
> In 1993, George Bush 41 watched as William Jefferson Clinton was sworn
> in for his first term in office as President of the United States.
> Today, Mrs. Clinton is running for the office.
>
> In 1993, Jerry Orbach was introduced as Detective Lenny Briscoe. He's
> dead now.
>
> In 1993, my computer was running with Windows 3.1, which incorporated
> the new DOS 6.0. I remember the day I installed an extra 4MB of RAM,
> doubling my capacity, and then swapping my 2400 baud modem for an
> amazing 14,400. Somewhere in there, I began my life as an AOLer
> (already with 3,000,000 users), after having toyed with CompuServe and
> Prodigy, and I've been "TFrog93" ever since. Today, I'm using a
> computer and peripherals that would have only been dreamed of in "Star
> Trek."
>
> In 1993, the Philadelphia Eagles were in their second season under the
> great Rich Kotite, who, thankfully, would later parlay a 7-9 season
> into a head coach position with the New York Jets. The Eagles would
> then begin their four-year flirtation with an equally fine head coach,
> Ray Rhodes.
>
> In 1993 (don't hold me to it), we were using a Pentax K1000 that Jean
> picked up for a college filler course in black & white photography.
> The K1000 was the camera that every student had to have, fully manual
> with no bells or whistles. I later picked up the Pentax ZX-M, then my
> first digital (1.3megapixel), my second digital (3megapixel), and now
> a D-SLR with a growing list of lenses.
>
> In 1993, it was all about the Wu-Tang Clan.
>
> In 1993, there were still fewer than 150 sites on the new World Wide
> Web. Also in 1993, Mark Andreesen came out with "Mosaic X", which
> allowed far greater use of graphics over the internet (does anyone
> remember the all-text AOL?), which, in turn, gave rise to Netscape
> Navigator and Windows Internet Explorer. The race was on.
>
> In 1993, we had one television in the house - a 19" Zenith with a
> clunky channel knob and UHF. We had to get up and walk over to the TV
> to change the channel. Today, we have HDTV, surround sound, 5-disc DVD
> changer, and cable hookups in all of the bedrooms.
>
> In all areas of my life but one, I have seen amazing changes, undreamt
> of in my philosophy. And every day I go out and start up my 1993 Ford
> Mustang, now with 204,000+ miles, which I still love and still plan on
> keeping.
>
> dwight
>
> * Princessmobile - see http://www.tfrog93.com, click on CFrog.

You've long since surpassed me with the mileage (we were neck and neck
there for a while), but I'm with you 100%. Our Mustangs are part of the
family.

It's just about time for the LX to be "born again" as a restomod, so I
am starting with my plans. Suggestions are most welcome.

Joe
Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies
Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC

"Joe" > wrote in message
...
>
> You've long since surpassed me with the mileage (we were neck and neck
> there for a while), but I'm with you 100%. Our Mustangs are part of the
> family.
>
> It's just about time for the LX to be "born again" as a restomod, so I
> am starting with my plans. Suggestions are most welcome.
>
> Joe
> Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies
> Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC

Engine. Body. Interior.

Make your lists. I start as "if money were no object" and then pare it down
to "things I really should do."

Engine: new crate engine all the way down to new serpentine belts.

Body: new black paint job down to just replacing that cracked windshield
grille.

Interior: (this may be where my focus is this year) I'd love to have new
seats and harnesses, but there's the mundane: Trim pieces have come loose,
there's a shock tower plastic cover missing in the hatch area, and (I drive
with the left window down a lot) do I try to clean the headliner or replace
it?

I suppose, all in all, TFrog is in pretty good shape, so if I just stuck to
the cosmetic, it would look great. But, as an investment in its future, I
need to prepare to spend some serious money.

dwight

"dwight" > wrote in
:

> "Joe" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> You've long since surpassed me with the mileage (we were neck and
>> neck there for a while), but I'm with you 100%. Our Mustangs are
>> part of the family.
>>
>> It's just about time for the LX to be "born again" as a restomod, so
>> I am starting with my plans. Suggestions are most welcome.
>>
>> Joe
>> Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies
>> Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC
>
> Engine. Body. Interior.

My list reads drivetrain, suspension, body, interior (if I get that
far).

> Make your lists. I start as "if money were no object" and then pare it
> down to "things I really should do."
>
> Engine: new crate engine all the way down to new serpentine belts.

I'm going with drivetrain, which includes a crate engine coupled to
something like a LenTech. My Auburn is sill fine, so the rear end
should be ok as is.

> Body: new black paint job down to just replacing that cracked
> windshield grille.

I want to have the unibody straightened out and trued, and I need to
have some front end issues resolved. The last idiot that put the car on
a flatbed chained the front end incorrectly and the chains distorted the
front support underneath the radiator. That all needs to be sorted out.

There are also a few other odds 'n' ends like trim pieces (and yes, the
windshield grille) and a few dings here and there, but the color will
remain the same - Calypso Green.

> Interior: (this may be where my focus is this year) I'd love to have
> new seats and harnesses, but there's the mundane: Trim pieces have
> come loose, there's a shock tower plastic cover missing in the hatch
> area, and (I drive with the left window down a lot) do I try to clean
> the headliner or replace it?

The interior of the LX is still pretty good except for the headliner,
the sun shades, and the ashtray cover. Seats need a good cleaning, but
they are still fine. I even have the original netting for the hatch
area.

> I suppose, all in all, TFrog is in pretty good shape, so if I just
> stuck to the cosmetic, it would look great. But, as an investment in
> its future, I need to prepare to spend some serious money.
>
> dwight

I'm thinking 10 grand should take care of the drivetrain and stuff with
the suspension like bushings, control arms, etc. The springs are Steeda
and I'll need shocks/struts, but the basics are there. Subframes are
there, and I have the caster/camber plates too. 10 grand should get me
to the point where all that's left will be cosmetics.

Joe
Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies
Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC

"Joe" > wrote in message
...
> "dwight" > wrote in
> :
>
>> "Joe" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> You've long since surpassed me with the mileage (we were neck and
>>> neck there for a while), but I'm with you 100%. Our Mustangs are
>>> part of the family.
>>>
>>> It's just about time for the LX to be "born again" as a restomod, so
>>> I am starting with my plans. Suggestions are most welcome.
>>>
>>> Joe
>>> Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies
>>> Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC
>>
>> Engine. Body. Interior.
>
> My list reads drivetrain, suspension, body, interior (if I get that
> far).

I lump the suspension in with the body, otherwise body would be entirely
cosmetic. On my list, body includes the underpinnings. (Oh, yeah... one of
my Koni quad shocks is leaking, too - add that to the list.)

>> Make your lists. I start as "if money were no object" and then pare it
>> down to "things I really should do."
>>
>> Engine: new crate engine all the way down to new serpentine belts.
>
> I'm going with drivetrain, which includes a crate engine coupled to
> something like a LenTech. My Auburn is sill fine, so the rear end
> should be ok as is.

Five years ago, my list included the crate engine, matched to a new manual
trans and complete exhaust makeover. Well, since then I've had the tranny
overhauled and now added the H-pipe to my cat-back, so I've got the exhaust
covered. Everything but the new engine.

>> Body: new black paint job down to just replacing that cracked
>> windshield grille.
>
> I want to have the unibody straightened out and trued, and I need to
> have some front end issues resolved. The last idiot that put the car on
> a flatbed chained the front end incorrectly and the chains distorted the
> front support underneath the radiator. That all needs to be sorted out.
>
> There are also a few other odds 'n' ends like trim pieces (and yes, the
> windshield grille) and a few dings here and there, but the color will
> remain the same - Calypso Green.

(I was talking about TFrog, natcherly. I know you like that Calypso. As you
know, I almost bought your car - a Calypso Green hatchback, but decided to
go with the black at the last moment.)

>> Interior: (this may be where my focus is this year) I'd love to have
>> new seats and harnesses, but there's the mundane: Trim pieces have
>> come loose, there's a shock tower plastic cover missing in the hatch
>> area, and (I drive with the left window down a lot) do I try to clean
>> the headliner or replace it?
>
> The interior of the LX is still pretty good except for the headliner,
> the sun shades, and the ashtray cover. Seats need a good cleaning, but
> they are still fine. I even have the original netting for the hatch
> area.

Somehow, I ended up with two of those rollup hatch covers. Maybe one was
left over from the '84 after I sold it. But it hasn't been in the car since
I brought it home from the dealership.

>> I suppose, all in all, TFrog is in pretty good shape, so if I just
>> stuck to the cosmetic, it would look great. But, as an investment in
>> its future, I need to prepare to spend some serious money.
>>
>> dwight
>
> I'm thinking 10 grand should take care of the drivetrain and stuff with
> the suspension like bushings, control arms, etc. The springs are Steeda
> and I'll need shocks/struts, but the basics are there. Subframes are
> there, and I have the caster/camber plates too. 10 grand should get me
> to the point where all that's left will be cosmetics.
>
> Joe
> Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies
> Black '03 Dakota 5.9 R/T CC

Wow... When I priced this out, I figured $10-$12K would give me everything,
including the killer black paint job...

Now, as we contemplate restoration... RESTORATION!...I'm going to have to go
back and figure out what all of this means in 2007 dollars.

)

My great grandmother was born in the Oklahoma Territory in the
proverbial sod hut. Married at 14, she arrievd in California in a
covered wagon. She lived long enough to see the rise of telephones,
cars, aircraft, radio, television, and computers, and watched man walk
on the moon.... She raised 15 kids, and never owned a car. She'd still
walk to the grocery to buy her groceries. Then she took a fall, broke
her hip and went down hill from there.

In 5000 years, someone will probably dig up her bones and marvel at
the type of creatures which existed and wonder about their social
existances. And nobody will care that her greatgrandson drove a 65
Mustang Fastback that ran on dino fuel.

:0) LOL

On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 09:40:50 -0500, "dwight" >
wrote:

>I'm 52 years old. I bought my last new car when I was 39.
>
>In 1993, at the same time I bought TFrog, my wife picked up a brand-new
>Escort GT. That car became my son's first car, when Jean picked up a new
>Mercury Mystique. After her second new Mystique (now my daughter's car),
>Jean moved on to the Ford Escape, and is now driving her second, a new 2007
>model.
>
>My daughter, who was 11 in 1993, learned to drive with the Princessmobile*,
>moved on to a '99 Escort, and now drives my wife's '99 Mystique.
>
>In 1993, George Bush 41 watched as William Jefferson Clinton was sworn in
>for his first term in office as President of the United States. Today, Mrs.
>Clinton is running for the office.
>
>In 1993, Jerry Orbach was introduced as Detective Lenny Briscoe. He's dead
>now.
>
>In 1993, my computer was running with Windows 3.1, which incorporated the
>new DOS 6.0. I remember the day I installed an extra 4MB of RAM, doubling my
>capacity, and then swapping my 2400 baud modem for an amazing 14,400.
>Somewhere in there, I began my life as an AOLer (already with 3,000,000
>users), after having toyed with CompuServe and Prodigy, and I've been
>"TFrog93" ever since. Today, I'm using a computer and peripherals that would
>have only been dreamed of in "Star Trek."
>
>In 1993, the Philadelphia Eagles were in their second season under the great
>Rich Kotite, who, thankfully, would later parlay a 7-9 season into a head
>coach position with the New York Jets. The Eagles would then begin their
>four-year flirtation with an equally fine head coach, Ray Rhodes.
>
>In 1993 (don't hold me to it), we were using a Pentax K1000 that Jean picked
>up for a college filler course in black & white photography. The K1000 was
>the camera that every student had to have, fully manual with no bells or
>whistles. I later picked up the Pentax ZX-M, then my first digital
>(1.3megapixel), my second digital (3megapixel), and now a D-SLR with a
>growing list of lenses.
>
>In 1993, it was all about the Wu-Tang Clan.
>
>In 1993, there were still fewer than 150 sites on the new World Wide Web.
>Also in 1993, Mark Andreesen came out with "Mosaic X", which allowed far
>greater use of graphics over the internet (does anyone remember the all-text
>AOL?), which, in turn, gave rise to Netscape Navigator and Windows Internet
>Explorer. The race was on.
>
>In 1993, we had one television in the house - a 19" Zenith with a clunky
>channel knob and UHF. We had to get up and walk over to the TV to change the
>channel. Today, we have HDTV, surround sound, 5-disc DVD changer, and cable
>hookups in all of the bedrooms.
>
>In all areas of my life but one, I have seen amazing changes, undreamt of in
>my philosophy. And every day I go out and start up my 1993 Ford Mustang, now
>with 204,000+ miles, which I still love and still plan on keeping.
>
>dwight
>
>* Princessmobile - see http://www.tfrog93.com, click on CFrog.
>

Joe wrote:
> "dwight" > wrote in
> :
>
>><snip>
>
> You've long since surpassed me with the mileage (we were neck and neck
> there for a while), but I'm with you 100%. Our Mustangs are part of the
> family.
>
> It's just about time for the LX to be "born again" as a restomod, so I
> am starting with my plans. Suggestions are most welcome.

I'm a big fan of the sleeper look. Maybe lower it a tad and keep the
exterior and interior looking bone stock. No one will know the car's
potential unless they crawl under it, open the hood or witness the
throttle getting hammered.

How much horsepower do you want to make? That will determine a lot of
other things.

"Spike" > wrote in message
...
> My great grandmother was born in the Oklahoma Territory in the
> proverbial sod hut. Married at 14, she arrievd in California in a
> covered wagon. She lived long enough to see the rise of telephones,
> cars, aircraft, radio, television, and computers, and watched man walk
> on the moon.... She raised 15 kids, and never owned a car. She'd still
> walk to the grocery to buy her groceries. Then she took a fall, broke
> her hip and went down hill from there.
>
> In 5000 years, someone will probably dig up her bones and marvel at
> the type of creatures which existed and wonder about their social
> existances. And nobody will care that her greatgrandson drove a 65
> Mustang Fastback that ran on dino fuel.
>
> :0) LOL

Boy, you take the long view... I don't think that, in 5000 years, anyone is
going to be around to dig up her bones. If they did, they wouldn't be able
to tell any more from hers than from yours.

It's very possible that the single biggest element of our society to live
down through the ages is the fact that WE killed Mother Earth with all of
our racing around on dino fuel, forcing mankind to either flee its home
planet or adapt to living on a global-warmed-out rock. Ergo, you - as an
active participant in the destruction - would hold more significance to
future earthspawn than your great grandmother.

dwight



>
> On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 09:40:50 -0500, "dwight" >
> wrote:
>
>>I'm 52 years old. I bought my last new car when I was 39.
>>
>>In 1993, at the same time I bought TFrog, my wife picked up a brand-new
>>Escort GT. That car became my son's first car, when Jean picked up a new
>>Mercury Mystique. After her second new Mystique (now my daughter's car),
>>Jean moved on to the Ford Escape, and is now driving her second, a new
>>2007
>>model.
>>
>>My daughter, who was 11 in 1993, learned to drive with the
>>Princessmobile*,
>>moved on to a '99 Escort, and now drives my wife's '99 Mystique.
>>
>>In 1993, George Bush 41 watched as William Jefferson Clinton was sworn in
>>for his first term in office as President of the United States. Today,
>>Mrs.
>>Clinton is running for the office.
>>
>>In 1993, Jerry Orbach was introduced as Detective Lenny Briscoe. He's dead
>>now.
>>
>>In 1993, my computer was running with Windows 3.1, which incorporated the
>>new DOS 6.0. I remember the day I installed an extra 4MB of RAM, doubling
>>my
>>capacity, and then swapping my 2400 baud modem for an amazing 14,400.
>>Somewhere in there, I began my life as an AOLer (already with 3,000,000
>>users), after having toyed with CompuServe and Prodigy, and I've been
>>"TFrog93" ever since. Today, I'm using a computer and peripherals that
>>would
>>have only been dreamed of in "Star Trek."
>>
>>In 1993, the Philadelphia Eagles were in their second season under the
>>great
>>Rich Kotite, who, thankfully, would later parlay a 7-9 season into a head
>>coach position with the New York Jets. The Eagles would then begin their
>>four-year flirtation with an equally fine head coach, Ray Rhodes.
>>
>>In 1993 (don't hold me to it), we were using a Pentax K1000 that Jean
>>picked
>>up for a college filler course in black & white photography. The K1000 was
>>the camera that every student had to have, fully manual with no bells or
>>whistles. I later picked up the Pentax ZX-M, then my first digital
>>(1.3megapixel), my second digital (3megapixel), and now a D-SLR with a
>>growing list of lenses.
>>
>>In 1993, it was all about the Wu-Tang Clan.
>>
>>In 1993, there were still fewer than 150 sites on the new World Wide Web.
>>Also in 1993, Mark Andreesen came out with "Mosaic X", which allowed far
>>greater use of graphics over the internet (does anyone remember the
>>all-text
>>AOL?), which, in turn, gave rise to Netscape Navigator and Windows
>>Internet
>>Explorer. The race was on.
>>
>>In 1993, we had one television in the house - a 19" Zenith with a clunky
>>channel knob and UHF. We had to get up and walk over to the TV to change
>>the
>>channel. Today, we have HDTV, surround sound, 5-disc DVD changer, and
>>cable
>>hookups in all of the bedrooms.
>>
>>In all areas of my life but one, I have seen amazing changes, undreamt of
>>in
>>my philosophy. And every day I go out and start up my 1993 Ford Mustang,
>>now
>>with 204,000+ miles, which I still love and still plan on keeping.
>>
>>dwight
>>
>>* Princessmobile - see http://www.tfrog93.com, click on CFrog.
>>

On Feb 24, 11:24 pm, Michael Johnson > wrote:

> > You've long since surpassed me with the mileage (we were neck and neck
> > there for a while), but I'm with you 100%. Our Mustangs are part of the
> > family.

> > It's just about time for the LX to be "born again" as a restomod, so I
> > am starting with my plans. Suggestions are most welcome.

> I'm a big fan of the sleeper look. Maybe lower it a tad and keep the
> exterior and interior looking bone stock. No one will know the car's
> potential unless they crawl under it, open the hood or witness the
> throttle getting hammered.

And you know Joe, I'm with Mike on this. I vote keep it a plain Jane
on the outside & interior, but have King Kong power under the hood. A
super clean car will always get noticed, and if you want more
attention simply dropping the hammer on the strong running car will
get you plenty.

> How much horsepower do you want to make? That will determine a lot of
> other things.

300 RW would be plenty fun/and very streetable.

Patrick

> wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> And you know Joe, I'm with Mike on this. I vote keep it a plain Jane
> on the outside & interior, but have King Kong power under the hood. A
> super clean car will always get noticed, and if you want more
> attention simply dropping the hammer on the strong running car will
> get you plenty.

I keep seeing the reverse. Big bulging hoods on 4-cylinder Foxes.

>> How much horsepower do you want to make? That will determine a lot of
>> other things.
>
> 300 RW would be plenty fun/and very streetable.
>
> Patrick

The "mild" crate engine is supposed to produce 340hp. Unless I'm wrong
(usually the case), it's a straight drop-in replacement.

http://www.fordracingparts.com/crate...smallblock.asp

(I see it's also gone from about $3200 five years ago to $4300 today.)

dwight