One Year Later....

It's hard to believe, but I started this blog one year ago yesterday.  I had no idea what I was expecting or how this whole blogging thing would work out.   There was the hope that it would give me some motivation to get working on the fastback.  Well, I can say one year later that the fastback has made more progress in this past year than in the previous 5 years.  So I guess that answers that question, especially considering I started with this a year ago...

The only metal work I'd done was the passenger floor.  I'd pulled the engine and transmission in August of 2009, but after that, the project stalled for countless reasons, motivation being one of them.  Now the 'Stang is actually on the rotisserie and ready for the next step of metal finishing on the floor and firewall.  I am amazed at the progress, which leads me to the second part of how the blogging thing has worked out.

I never expected to garner the support and encouragement of fellow Mustang enthusiasts.   A handful of you, such as Sven, RJ, James B, LeLu, Alex, Mike and others have helped and inspired me more than you know.  If I keep up this pace, I may actually have this beast together by the 50th anniversary celebration of the Mustang.  I'm looking forward to more work on the fastback and sharing it with you all.  Thanks much!

Work on the car has taken somewhat of a pause.  However, on Friday, my friend Glenn and I made a trip to Dependable Sandblasting on the south side of Indy.  I picked up two 100 pound bags of extra-fine "black beauty" media for the ridiculously low price of $13.26 a BAG!!!   I could get 2 or 3 more bags if needed and still be under $75 total.   This should work well for the underside and tight places.   Here's a couple of pictures of some of the media in the bag and 5 gallon storage bucket...

In the picture below, you can see how fine this is.  I'm going to have to do the blasting on a day when there isn't much wind as it blows around easily.  This extra-fine media will not build up heat and cover a little more surface area in the "blast zone" than a more coarse media.   I'm anxious to give it a try.

On the way home, we swung by Harbor Freight and I picked up a deadman's valve for the pressure blaster to make it easier and safer to operate. 

On Saturday, I did some major garage cleaning and parts boxing and labeling.   I've had a bunch of stuff I'd taken off the car and had it sitting in piles.  I got those safely put away.  Then I had some parts I needed to get on Craigslist and eBay (from my truck and Fusion) which I will do the week after Easter since this week is the busiest week of the year for me due to my "occupation" as a pastor.

With a cleaner and more organized garage, I put together my Harbor Freight pressure blaster with the deadman's valve.    I also got a package of ceramic tips.

I filled it with about 10 pounds of media hoping to give it a try, but by this time, it was close to tip-off of UK / UL final four basket ball game.  It was a bittersweet game to see my alma mater UL fight and scrap their way to keep up with those monster UK forwards of Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist.   Kansas will have their hands full tonight.   Anyway....

I'm not sure if I will get to work on the Mustang this week with church, spring yard duties, and getting ready to go to the Omaha area the week after Easter to help my daughter and son-in-law with "nesting" work on their home including finishing out their basement and ceramic tile in 2 bathrooms.  They're expecting their first child the end of May and want the house in order as much as possible.  This will be the number #3 grandchild...and this one is a boy.   I'm hoping I can introduce him at an early age to Mustangs.   I'm looking forward to the day when little Judah is sitting next to me and says, "Floor it, Grandpa!"   You can be sure I will too.