You're driving along, minding your own business, when suddenly, wham! Out of nowhere a car pulls out into your path, and causes your shiny, new convertible to become yet another crash statistic. Now the hood is bashed, the front bumper cover is split and caved, and you're in need of some serious repair work to get your steed back in cruising trim.
Suddenly, you get an idea. You're going to have to replace some significant parts-namely the hood, fenders, door, and the aforementioned bumper cover-so why not dress up the little convertible? You know, take the car from average to above average with a styling kit.
When we look around at all the kits available, the Saleen kit has to be one of the more hairy-chested ones out there. It's simply loaded with testosterone.
If you are in this position, it is a simple matter to get the insurance to pay for what the Ford parts would have cost, and cover the rest yourself, thus cutting your investment in the parts by a good sum. The kit we used here was ordered directly from Saleen and typically comes complete, though some of our parts were on back-order, causing us to have to wait.
Shown here is everything you'll...
Shown here is everything you'll need to make a convertible look menacing-the '99 front bumper cover, the carbon-fiber hood, the rear bumper cover, the vent covers, the rear spoiler, and the side ground effects. These will all require sanding and painting to match your Mustang.
Our good friend Jeff Thompson...
Our good friend Jeff Thompson started off by removing the grille clips using a clip removal tool. You can use a flat-blade screwdriver, though the tool is less likely to damage the part. These clips hold the grille and cover to the support. The grille will be reused in the Saleen kit.
Next up are the headlight...
Next up are the headlight buckets. Unless yours are damaged as these are, you'll also be reusing them with the kit. Note that Thompson used the clip tool again. You'll want to completely remove the buckets to get to the next part of the grille.
Still more clips are used...
Still more clips are used under the front apron. Note the slip fit that the cover has at the headlight bucket (arrow). This is mimicked on the Saleen cover as well.
The grille support on this...
The grille support on this car was damaged enough that a new Ford piece was ordered. Thompson also had to pull the front end back out a couple inches due to impact damage in the unibody. Surprisingly, the airbags did not deploy. Note the Styrofoam inner bumper. It will also be reused on the Saleen nose.
The inner fender has nuts...
The inner fender has nuts that attach the cover to the sides. You'll need to loosen the inner fender, and pull it out of the way to access these on both sides. Accident damage caused us some problems with the Saleen kit on the other side, though Thompson fixed them.
The side skirts on the '99...
The side skirts on the '99 will be removed and discarded. Once again, Ford used the push clips to set the skirts on the car. Saleen uses the same location holes.
Though it is not part of the...
Though it is not part of the kit, Thompson had to remove and then pitch the fenders on the front of the car. The damage was such that the cost of repair would have outweighed the cost of replacement.
So that is what the inner...
So that is what the inner fender of a '99 Mustang looks like. Note the kink at the factory flex point (arrow). These kinks are placed so that the car can collapse and absorb the crash instead of the passengers.