Just for shits and giggles I decided to bring down the components that make up the rear seat on the Truckstang. I wanted to try and see if things would fit in some way since the side panels have groves made to hold the outer portion of the seat body. There was a rear most panel that went behind the seat assembly and goes partially under the speaker panel. That panel fit just fine. I found that the seat body was indeed able to fit just fine between the side panels. Of course, I had to see just to satisfy my curiosity, if the seat bottom would fit. It wouldn't. The floor's new position would not allow for it. But it's fine, With the seat body in the closed position, the interior at least looks a lot better and can at least serve some kind of purpose in providing a solid surface to store items. Without knowing, you'd think that the interior is the same as a regular Mustang, until further inspection would reveal the truth of the matter. Now for the other stuff. After analyzing a number of things around the homestead, I started making some plans for some serious changes. On the lighter side, I did take a moment to move the four drums I used in the Truckstang project over to the 51 Chevy, since that would be the next truck frame swap that'll be done. I will end up working on the 46 Ford before this one, but that car body is already on a truck frame and won't need any propping up. After Truckstang is done, I plan on starting work on the 46 Ford, since I have most of everything I need to really make some progress on that build. I had another project in store for the Dodge I plan on starting in the very near future, plus I had to finish things up with the DOB and the FMT. Once those vehicles are done, then I can start work on the 51 Chevy, which as of right now, the current plan is to use the S10 as a donor for the truck frame and powertrain. Another thought that had been bouncing around through my mind is the idea of building more truck frame swap vehicles, but of course cool vehicles. I would have to find a donor vehicle I could use that lends itself to a direct install on a truck frame. Since short bed Ranger/S10 frames tend to fit Mustangs, it only seemed logical in my mind to do this type of build again. Of course I plan on doing this with the Rustang, which has the same wheelbase as the Truckstang and other vintage Mustangs up to 1973. Because of this, this means that I started looking at the Mustang Chicken Coop. Even though the car had been mortally damaged when two trees fell on it, I was able to do a crude straightening of the roof to allow me to build out the chicken coop to look like a more or less viable car again. I had the wild idea of using this car body as the donor for Truckstang 3, shitty roof and all. The whole idea would be to make something that you would definitely see in a post apocalyptic movie. I even thought about cutting out the back section, including the window, and making the whole area into a truck bed, which is like the character cars in the game Mad Max. The next thing I would also do with regard to the build is use all the running gear from the donor truck. If its a Ranger, I'd want to use the 2.3L 4 cyl and hopefully a 5spd manual transmission. If its an S10, I'd be rocking the good ole 4.3L V6, again hopefully with a 5 spd manual. Reason behind this choice in the build is to produce a car that mechanically from top to bottom, is the donor truck. This type of restomod would give one the pleasure of driving a classic car or something they build that's unique, while having the convenience of a modern enough vehicle that has ready access to parts. Of course I'd have to replace a lot of the parts that I still have for the Mustang if I do plan to build this car back out. I still have the dash frame and some trim pieces from the dash. I'd still need the gauge cluster, seats, and a shifter. Since the roof is still pretty crinkled up, I'd end up using lexan or plexiglass for a windshield if it doesn't look like I can get the window frame straightened enough to accept a new glass. Of course other things like the doors, fenders and other panels would need repair or replacement. I'd end up doing the body work on this vehicle in the same way I did Truckstang, welding crude patches in places. We'll see, we still have plenty other cars to build. On the other end of the spectrum, I thought about the remaining area of the compound that I have on the south end of the area. This wide open area is home to the fuel shed, the future storage building, some parts/scrap metal racks (some of which are falling in on themselves), a large batch of scrap and car parts, and some trailers. I had a new plan to basically close this area down. First I'll work on scrapping a lot of the car parts and scrap in the area, the stuff I can't really use. I'll be constantly trying to build with the other raw materials to try and use up that stuff as well. As I clear these racks, I can dismantle the ones that are almost clear and relocate the remaining materials to a new location where my storage would be more streamlined. The two kayaks we had on a rack along the south fence with the scrap parts would be staged vertically, most likely along the northwest fence line, behind the 51 Chevy. This area would be the planned area for where I want to build out the new storage garage as well. I plan on dismantling the frame of the storage garage and rebuilding it, in a smaller size, in the northwest corner of the compound. The contents of the garage will be planned out so we can capitalize on the space and not just have a humongous structure. I may very well get rid of some stuff and take advantage of vertical storage for certain things. Point is, the garage will be smaller and as a result, easier to build, with a lesser use of resources. Once the storage rack and garage frame are cleared from the west fence, and most of the crap along the south fence is removed/relocated, my plan then will be to dismantle the fencing along the south and the southwest section of fencing, using the fencing to finish up the fence along the eastern fence line and to close in the opening between the back of the garden fence and the back of the storage trailer. As for the fuel shed, I had two plans for that. One would be the simple act of partially dismantling the structure and relocating it to the firewood staging area. I plan on moving the firewood from the outer row and stacking it all on the inside row, along the chicken yard fence and setting up the fuel shed in the northeast corner of the compound fence. The other option would be to build a shorter structure, around 4-5ft tall, and stage the fuel drums next to each other, with four drums being side by side and a small locker or cubby set up on the outside to store the fuel cans, propane tanks, and other miscellaneous fuels. Whichever option I chose, it will be set up in the firewood staging area and the fuel shed as it stands will be removed from the southwest corner of the current fence. By closing in the section of fence line between the garden fence and storage trailer, the construction of a garage in this side path would not obstruct anything. With the removal of the fencing around the old areas I'll be able to move vehicles and rolling stock from the main driveway around to the "back" area, along the eastern fence line. The trailers noted earlier, along with the car trailer, which is parked along the main driveway, would all be parked along the eastern fence line with security locks on the hitches and tires to prevent theft. The area will be plenty wide enough to make the necessary turns to move trailers in and out. Depending on circumstances, I may still be compelled to lay gravel down over this area so vehicular traffic can be conducted without getting bogged down in mud. A shot from the back area looking at what will soon be the new southern fence line. A small section of fence will be set up to close in this area between the garden fence to the right and the western fence, just behind the storage trailer. I will have to pull the storage trailer forward a couple feet so it will clear what will be the fence line. The biggest part of making this decision is the idea that it would allow me to finish the compound fences way ahead of schedule, since most of the salvaged fence will cover the eastern fence line and the gap between the garden fence and storage trailer. Other than having to maybe buy one or two whole panels and pickets for the eastern gate, we should be able to get the perimeter fence done. I'll still have to do the rest of the fencing for the garden itself on the inside, and of course the main gate, but I have plans surrounding that just as well. Everything in the area will be relocated and staged in a way where I take advantage of all space within the compound fences and also get rid of more stuff deemed useless or otherwise unnecessary.
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