This 1970 BOSS 302 Sat For 30 Years - Is It Restorable?

My dad's 1970 Boss 302 from a farm in Wyoming is now getting the attention it deserves. How does it look after sitting in a field since the '80's? Let's find out.
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[@markrenton1093]

My brother bought his '70 Boss 302 in 1971 , it has 40k on the clock , he wanted buy a '73 Corvette in '75 . He and I went to look at the car and we got into an argument in front of the owner of the Corvette , he wanted to sell his Boss to buy the Corvette , I said " youcan buy Corvettes all day but you will never be able to replace your Boss, he still has it to this day.

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Corvettes are a dime a dozen. What is your brother doing with the car now?

[@splender88]

Many people that don't know about cars and these cars in particular would say thats way to much work to fix but to me its a no brainer its an excellent car to restore. Just the fact the body is that solid most of them are completely rusted out on the bottom of the fenders, rocker panels, and the quarters are usually gone. Have fun I look forward to seeing the progress on this one.

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Yeah this car is not bad at all. Definitely considering it sat in a field for so long

[@jamesharris2615]

Is a 1970 Mustang Boss 302 restorable??? HELL YEAH IT'S RESTORABLE!!! You can find plenty of NOS and/or aftermarket parts produced for this car. If you just found a frame, you could basically build one from the ground up, just sourcing parts from different places. Now it won't be a numbers matching unit if you did it that way but what you have is a project that's going to be extremely rare once completed. Hell, its rare now... Ive been a Ford man for most of my 53 years, and i say go for it. Good luck on your project and please keep that content coming, I'll be watching.💯👍🏿

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

I appreciate the support James

[@KiwiStag74]

I tell ya what, I don't see anything about that vehicle that scares me - and I'm easily scared. I picked the passenger's door as well as you. The passenger's front fender has had some minor work, the scuff marks on the rear quarters are definitely caused by rubbing (and more likely from a rope around a canvas cover from the point they are almost exactly in the same place on each side) but they aren't an issue, the driver's rear quarter has had bodywork in the section between the top of the arch and the driver's door, the driver's door is sagging a touch and she needs floors. Nothing major for a 54 year old beast, for sure! A great find and well worthy of a return to the road. The fact the car is complete, nothing was missing from the engine bay / interior / trim, it's not beat up and it hasn't rotted away to nothing over the time spent sunbathing in the outdoors, just makes it all the better. Her floors are probably largely the result of the mouse-fest that took place in there, because having the solid door bottoms, solid lower fender attachment points and solid rockers is a huge thing! As long as she's not moth-eaten around the front or rear window, the body panel work will be a piece of cake. Sad that the engine doesn't turn, but some juices down the bores might help her to free up before attempting to dismantle it and assess what needs done. The diff being covered in sludge is typical of a leak on the front pinion seal and / or a leak on the rear gearbox seal being left for a while and driven on dusty roads. It will solidify to a semi-solid coating when left for a longer period, but will scrape off without a lot of effort - a grotty job, but easy enough done. Those wheels and / or tyres have an issue. Nothing needs a 60-120 grams of balance weights on one side (and one wheel had about 120 on the inside and 60 on the outer) unless it is severely out of round or out of true. I'd be getting them looked at before putting them back on the car if you are wanting to keep them. The front seats look good in the car even if they don't match the rear and aren't original, but it depends if you are just wanting to get it on the road and drive it as is, while restoring or are going the whole hog from the get-go. Speaking from experience, being able to drive the car gives me the motivation to keep improving it, as I can see / feel every change I make as time progresses. All the best!

[@playawards5881]

Nice, I remember seeing the pair on the market months back. I’m glad they went to a good home. Best of luck on the restoration

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Thanks

[@bobroediger6121]

What an amazing find and opportunity to restore a classic! Totally worth a full clean up, floor repair, and TLC to all its components. Going to clean up nicely.

[@olikat8]

Got a 1969, 383-powered Dart out of a yard in west Texas last summer. It had been parked since '81 or '82- the only damage was the wiper pivot seals went bad & let water in & under the rubber floor mat. Rotted the front footwells, but other than that it was solid. We just cut out the entire floor & replaced it. Nice starting point with that '70!

[@drh-ov7eq]

Man I love the 68 and 69 Darts .my buddy had one with a 340 4speed. Love that body style!

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Awesome

[@olikat8]

@@drh-ov7eq originally was a 340,AC, auto car with a 3.23 SG in the "Swinger" package. About '77-'78, the powertrain from a '68 RR got installed. About '81-'82, the car got unceremoniously parked. For over 4 decades

[@mattwhaley9917]

Nice project! This Boss has a lot going for it. I Love how original it is, save for the seats and a few other replacement parts. Looking forward to seeing more of this one. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Thanks for the comment. It is really a great car considering it sat outside for so long

[@robertharding4166]

Not a ford person pacific but do love the 70 boss 302 mustangs and cougar cars. Love to see this pearler get restored. Great score.👍

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Thanks! It’s in the works

[@josephwatson2711]

I am for life chevys breakdown to

[@TravisRummer]

Awesome bro, can't wait to hear it running.

[@danonoveh8114]

I bought a 70boss roller and the left front floor pan was rotted just like yours, I looked up in the left cowl box it was rotted through that is how I think water was getting in the car and it also was getting water on the fuse box it was totally rotted but other wise the car was solid,also when I pulled the right rear inner panel off someone on the assembly line took a caulking gun and wrote Boss inside the quarter panel I thought that was interesting🤗your boss is gonna be a nice one when your done, Thanks for these videos👍🏻

[@jeepersdawgs4105]

Please restore this incredible example of a 60’s/70’s muscle car. I would love to have the chance to restore it myself. You are a lucky guy. I look forward to following along with your progress. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Thanks for the support!

[@muddymo7641]

Beautiful car. Kind of rare color combination. Very nice!

[@jayexley8161]

Nice find worth lots of cash when done right 👍

[@fraserobrien3828]

nice mustang i love it man . love to see more ,thanks sir

[@dynomax7497]

I have been enjoying your channel, but to be honest, this car is the reason I subscribed! I was a mechanic in a Ford dealership in the 1970's and my best friend had a Bright Gold metallic Boss 302. I worked on and drove it for 3 very memorable years. That grease build-up on your rear end is your best friend when it comes to restoration, what's underneath will be perfectly preserved. Have you got a Marti report for it yet and what are your, long-term plans for the car?

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

I appreciate the support. It’s actually the second bright gold boss we’ve had. You’re probably right - my dad is pulling the rear end out soon. We do have a Marti report for the car. My dad said his plan is to get it to driver-survivor status similar to my ‘67 Cougar.

[@dynomax7497]

@@thecougareliminatorden1622 awesome plan. I’d preserve the body as much as possible leaving the paint as is, good quality patch repair of the floor pan and address any running gear/brake/suspension issues. I’ll be looking forward to future updates and all the best to you and your Dad for it.

[@sounnder]

Man you just have to many fun cars to play with! 😃

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

It’s a labor of love haha

[@dannyyarbrough5938]

Love the color combo!

[@69xr7ragtop9]

Very nice find! That thing is in better shape than my vert was in when I started on it. You will have an awesome car when you are done.

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Thanks!

[@rickallen6378]

Of all the cars you guys have, this is the one ai would want to have.

[@bradzimmerman3171]

This character calls black steelies-hubcap wheels lol that’s horrible considering hubcaps are useless,as useless as engine covers and bumper stickers

[@Blu_Grit_Garage]

Looks like you have a good starting point. I live in the Midwest & when a car is called a project it usually means it is powder.

[@motownXJdad9565]

my dad had a gold boss302 like that in the late 70's it was his daily driver. gold is one of the more rare colors for those cars if i remember right. it had a bad shock tower in it. he had a new one from ford when the car was stolen. it was recovered but it was basically ruined, they ground the stripes off and repainted it black. he ended up selling it.

[@buzzwaldron6195]

Original Boss 302 engine is most important part of these...

[@blucheer8743]

Those engines properly prepared are really something they are basically big bore short stroke small block engines with canted valve big block Chevy heads… the ‘69’s intake valves were almost 2 and a quarter inches!

[@czechappy]

And it has a tach, There where alot of high performance fords back in my era. That didn't have a tack in them. There where 3 things I would look for back in my days The engine, 4 speed, and a tack,,,,

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Yep tach was an option on Boss’s so it’s cool it came with one

[@jackhudgins871]

Nice find

[@byroncoffelt7023]

Definitely worth restoration

[@johnrussell3869]

Wow torque box squares are good,pretty intact

[@weeman782]

That looks like where cows were licking the wax off the paint, my friend had a beautiful 69 el camina 396, we fish this private lake and came back 2 different times and those dam cows licked all the way to the metal

[@pauldarderi3560]

Mate that will restore up a treat a Boss in that original condition some rust in the floor but on the whole a sound car I live in Australia had a few Mustang's Mach 1 70 Cobra Jet and 69 Mach1 351 67 coupe at the moment good luck with your restoration.

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Yes it’s not too bad! Thanks for the support

[@caddyguy5503]

In my opinion the condition is absolutely perfect. I would keep it the way it is.

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

I agree

[@Dave_Boyer]

Looks like a good car for a complete mechanical restoration, fix the floors, and redo the interior but leave the exterior as it is.

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

That’s exactly our thought. Essentially the same as my Cougar GT. Mechanically sound with original cosmetics

[@norryone]

Have you ever looked at Kiwi Customs and Classics channel, he does heaps of work on Mustangs and Cougars, he would think this is in pretty good condition compared to half the stuff he works on which are already restored ! This is solid compared to a lot of cars he sees, totally restorable and not too bad seeing as it sat so long, the torque boxes look solid !

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

I think I’ve seen him thru uncle Tony’s garage channel. I can imagine, there are a lot of shady people in this hobby. I’ve had to become an expert in order to not be taken

[@user-tn1hk6zm2f]

No build sheet? Normally are found under the front carpet. Might be on the bottom of the drivers seat?

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Driver seat had been replaced and didn’t find under carpet as it was too deteriorated

[@dynomax7497]

​@thecougareliminatorden1622 also check the wiring harness next to the upper steering column area. Some times a build sheet can be found rolled up and taped to the harness in that area.

[@debbietaylor4424]

❤

[@sm70911]

This would make a great survivor - do not repaint, the faded gold and sun baked graphics look great

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Thanks I agree!

[@daniellebcooper7160]

Nice find. What color is it originally?

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Code K bright gold metallic on ginger standard interior

[@michaelstrafello7346]

Why someone would abuse such an iconic car is beyond me

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

People used them for what they were meant to do, drive hard

[@timthornburg7052]

I wondered what you did with the mustang

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Still have it !

[@royburns651]

THE PAN HOLDS MORE OIL THAN ANORMAL 302.

[@TravisRummer]

I just got a barn find 1965 comet that was parked in 1984 and it's not in as good of shape as that....

[@gregallen4272]

Had a friend who passed this year his son has a 70 eliminator it was a 4.speed 351 4 v Cleveland long gone motor trans he has several 69 70 and one 71 351 4 speed convertible all for sale the convertible is complete nonruning green green leather bucket set ac pw pdl ps pb all for sale as set in WNC

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

We might be interested. How do I get a hold of him? You can email me at [e-mail] @gregallen4272

[@johnrussell3869]

Hmmm I'm old and old school...we always put diesel in engine turn over not run ,cleans all ,also gas and or diesel in tank jump up and down syphon tank clean gas in tank crank disconnect gas line let pour into drain pan....that's after aft we had no marvel mys . Just atf down cylinders...

[@briananderson3801]

Thank you it works great and I allways put oil and filter run it for about 1 hr ,then change oil again great find

[@johnrussell3869]

Yes I didn't know apparently new oil has no zinc or something,have to be careful,Barry the Mazda mechanic said synthetic oil will make clearances twice as bad in old engine,I don't even know where to get conventional oil,maybe that is what the high mile oil is?

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

We use ZDDP enhanced oil which I buy online good brands are valvoline vr1, Brad penn and I used comp cams break in oil in my 390

[@GeraldWood-ig9rw]

Good year polyesters original Good shape 😊

[@99SVT]

I’m guessing you didn’t find the build sheet?

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

No sheet to be found :(

[@DragPakMerc]

@@thecougareliminatorden1622 No build sheet in either of my Eliminators. Both had original seats and carpet, so I was very hopeful. Just how it goes sometimes.

[@robertsnowden4729]

A Automatic behind a Boss 302?

[@VOdenbrett]

When pulling or aggitating the interior after a rodent investation, gloves and a face mask if you want to stick around for a few more good years.

[@damianbrennan2258]

Where is your two post lift

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

In my future

[@johnrussell3869]

Shouldn't you pressure wash underneath?

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

I don’t know if that would do much beyond knocking off loose dirt

[@johnrussell3869]

I mean before even considering taking off oil pan,or do we not want to mess up factory markings? Just saying I don't know,not expert on Ford restorations

[@jamesogden7457]

Why didn't you pull the plugs look down each cylinder with a camera or even put in transfluid to help with breaking engine free.?

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

Yes could have done that. I think our thinking was that the 390 out of my Cougar GT was also stuck and we soaked the cylinders but the rear two ended up being totally rusted and stuck. So we just figured we would pull the engine to have it gone thru rather than waste time trying to break it free

[@GeraldWood-ig9rw]

Must of been parked early inlife

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

The previous owner used it as his daily driver in the ‘80’s then parked it

[@andreylagno2372]

hi. subscribed to you. 1:39 -I see in the interior of the car there is a license plate number. If you don’t need it, you can send it to me as a souvenir of your channel and the USA? My name is Andrey, I live in Ukraine where there is a war going on right now.

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

I will look into the logistics of that

[@ericdolby1622]

4.9 litre like the 80s fox bodies?

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

302 ci engine same size as the 5.0 in the 80’s mustangs. Very different engine otherwise

[@Nicholas-ok9no]

Terrible hayfever, or is it a cold?.... get medicine!!!

[@bobbaker9545]

UNLESS...u are willing to do a body-off in your driveway. And they rusty Load needs it all. I would SELL it and move to something else. Doing a 1/2 A$$ restoration if for rookies. That Load needs it all.

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

My dad has mentioned wanting to take it to our restoration guy in Phoenix. If not, then we will do the floors ourselves

[@francoisbedard7394]

3:38 to 3:45 why oil is WHITE ??

[@thecougareliminatorden1622]

It had water in it

[@dougcobb8114]

Hmm...don't look right....looks like cougars interior...

[@dougcobb8114]

Stop....send auto restorer

[@cdeprima1209]

I want one man, I am in love! ;)