1966 Mustang Restoration Pt 2 Cowl & Spot Weld Removal

Learn how to assess your mustang's cowl and how to remove the spot welds so you can replace it.

[@Hawkerdude67]

Your explanations are great. I know my way around the garage for basic stuff but am diving into a project just like yours. Getting such detailed descriptions with visual aids is worth its weight in gold! Thank you. Keep up the great work! Can't wait for episode 88 in 2025 with the Lake Michigan beach cruise!

[@3rdstallgarage]

THanks so much. I haven't worked on the mustang much lately because I'm helping Dale with the 66 beetle project and my daughter with a Subaru project. But I'll get back to it.

[@jamevh95]

Very thorough. I have been trying to figure out cowls and spot welds for years. The video was helpful to hear what worked and didn't work for you. I learned a lot. thanks

[@3rdstallgarage]

lol! I'm sure you have been, my friend.

[@68mustangrestoration34]

lots of work but at least you know it will be done right. Only advise is clean and paint the back of the dash panel while it is exposed

[@3rdstallgarage]

I wondered about that. It has a nice layer of surface rust. I sprayed it with rust reformer to stop it. What do you advise? Did it come bare metal from the factory?

[@68mustangrestoration34]

@@3rdstallgarage mine too is / was rusted, I can only assume either it was not painted or poorly slapped together. have no idea if they dipped these bodies or not. does not look like it

[@joebob344]

@@3rdstallgarage I just hand sanded mine and used wax & grease remover then shot it with Eastwoods Rust Encapsulator aerosol. It wasn't primered from the factory. After 50+ years all they get it some surface rust. Doing what I did it should be good for life.

[@3rdstallgarage]

@@joebob344 Those of us primering and painting and sealing and treating are (hopefully) making the cars so they will last virtually forever...especially because we probably aren't going to drive them in the rain and winter.

[@adamkwasnaza]

I’ve been dealing with spot welds all week while removing my trunk pans and they are definitely challenging. Tried an Eastwood spot weld cutter but that was a slow process and sometimes difficult. I have the cheaper harbor freight belt sander but that did not have enough torque to get through the welds. What I’m having luck with is the large drill bit to start drilling out the top of the weld and then a hammer and a sharpened piece of heavy steel like your file. I may have to try that Baxter belt sander.

[@3rdstallgarage]

I bought mine from Harbor Freight after watching Jo Daddy's review of his. They are a pretty solid tool.

[@brianarrington4569]

@@3rdstallgarage question..not trollin How do i know..you know..what your talkin about???...i dont know who to listen to....& can you show what you did along with explaining it..

[@brianarrington4569]

@@3rdstallgarage ok..watched more of ur vids...you seem to be detailed orientated...with no rambling or unfunny skits....u get right to the point..i watch at 2x speed...well lit garage..all good... You should make your captions slightly larger with a black bar background to be easily read...GREAT SOLID WORK...

[@3rdstallgarage]

@@brianarrington4569 thanks for the suggestions and feedback. I’ll try that with the comments. Thanks for watching too.

[@greifill]

Oh, the fights I've had with spot welds. They don't look like much initially but once you try to get them apart, good Lord! I haven't properly assessed the state of the cowl in my '67. Honestly, I'm afraid to look.

[@3rdstallgarage]

Rip the bandaid off, get it over with, look up under the dash and see how it looks. At least then you'll know if you need to tackle the cowl or not.

[@greifill]

@@3rdstallgarage I agree. No sense in delaying the inevitable.

[@david-kotter3195]

get your self a spot weld drill bit.. so easy..

[@3rdstallgarage]

Sounds like you’ve had good luck with yours. What brand or where did you get yours? I haven’t tried them yet because I had the sander and drill bits and I heard they didn’t work well. But it sounds like you’ve had a good experience with them. Thanks for sharing.

[@ripburroughs]

Definitely like the mini belt sander. Using the spot weld bit I first had to punch,drill 1/8” pilot hole then being a novice over drilled creating a hole that needs a weld repair. My cowl is now off wish I’d used the HF sander. Like most of my one time projects I’ve learned from mistakes by the end. Thanks for the great videos Doug.

[@brandonrisinger777]

Good video. I’m not looking forward to my cowl removal.

[@3rdstallgarage]

It's not too difficult, it's just a lot of steps. You can do it. I'm excited to see mine go back together sometime.

[@gnlegend1873]

I should've researched better before I removed my cowl, I drilled through the windshield frame. 🤦🏼

[@3rdstallgarage]

Oh sorry! Everything is a lesson. Keep learning!

[@benvanderwell7700]

Unfortunate that so many repairs were poorly done. You had your work cut out for ya!

[@benvanderwell7700]

Thanks!

[@3rdstallgarage]

Thanks.