Every school needs creative teachers like Ross Faldet. With budgets tight for his Advanced Industrial Technology classes, Ross figured out a way to raise money for shop equipment and other needs while providing a hands-on teaching experience at the same time. Two years ago, Faldet convinced his school, Clearbrook-Gonvick High School in Clearbrook, Minnesota, to purchase a '69 Mustang hardtop for a class project. Working during their 45-minute classes, the students restored the hardtop, tackling everything from bodywork and paint to the engine and transmission builds. Last September, the completed car was raffled, with proceeds going toward shop needs and funds to purchase the next project.
Even better, the project provided students with the opportunity to get involved with a classic car.
"The students love older Mustangs," Ross told us. "One kid got so fired up that he went out and bought a '68 Mustang so he and his dad could restore it."
For Ross, the '69 Mustang was his sixth "teacher's aide" over the past 15 years that involved a vintage car restoration. It's the second Mustang, and he's also employed a Cougar, realizing that popular cars help when it comes to selling raffle tickets. Ross explains, "I tell the students that we won't be successful unless we can sell tickets to other students, as well as to their parents and grandparents. The Mustang is an American classic with popularity among all age groups. It's also a great car for students to learn from because it's easy to work on and parts are readily available."
When purchased in October...
When purchased in October 2008, the class project was a well-worn Mustang painted in "smear yellow." Here, from left to right, students Calvin Reichert, James Lussier, Jackson Porter, Josh Vorderbruggen, Brennan Bakke, Nick Spray, and Mike Johnson look over the work to be done.
Purchased in October 2008, the '69 Mustang came from a Fargo, North Dakota, police officer whose restoration intentions fell by the wayside. According to Ross, the sheetmetal was surprisingly good but the car needed a total make-over. Originally green, the hardtop had been repainted in what Ross describes as "smear yellow."
During the first year, the Advanced Industrial Technology students disassembled the Mustang and stripped it to bare metal before welding in a few needed replacement sheetmetal panels. They also planned the project, selected the paint color and stripe scheme, and ordered parts needed to complete the restoration. They decided to replace the original six-cylinder with a 351 Windsor, so they took a field trip to Northwest Technical College to learn how to bore cylinders and machine the block.
Originally a six-cylinder...
Originally a six-cylinder car, the students quickly decided to replace the original engine with a mildly modified 351 Windsor.
Josh Vorderbruggen was involved...
Josh Vorderbruggen was involved with the Mustang tear-down and bodywork during his senior year of high school. He's now pursuing an engineering degree at the University of North Dakota.
Students worked on the Mustang...
Students worked on the Mustang during their Advanced Industrial Technology classes. Here, Jackson Porter, Mike Johnson, and Taylor Pletchett (bottom) strip the trunk in preparation for sheetmetal replacement.
Although a few students were lost to graduation, the second year class handled the majority of the rebuild. They assembled the 351, rebuilt the C4 transmission, put together a locking rearend, reupholstered the seats, installed a new headliner and carpet, rebuilt the dash with digital instruments, reassembled the body before priming and painting, rebuilt the steering and suspension, and installed a disc brake conversion and stainless steel exhaust.
Student Josh Vorderbruggen was a senior during the first year. Now an engineering student at the University of North Dakota, Josh says the Mustang helped prepare him for his college classes. "It was a great experience taking the Mustang apart and learning how everything goes together," he says.
Students in Faldet's Advanced Industrial Technology classes worked on the car on a daily basis, with additional "part-time" students helping out during study hall and evenings. Nearly 60 students participated in the Mustang's restoration, either as part of Faldet's class or part-time.