For the first few years, I did a lot of reading in the Green Bible and did enough tinkering to keep her running. I also discovered that the engine was a non-standard Ford V6, although I did not identify what type it was until October 2002...roughly 6 years after I bought her.

Here she is, a Ford Essex V6 3.0L out of a 1972-1979 Capri MK III

After a few years of modest tinkering, I started to get more ambitious after I moved to Florida in 1998, and lived in a house with a 2-car garage. This is the phase where I officially became addicted to tools. In the span of 4 years, I have gone from a few sockets and a hammer to owning stock in Craftsman, with a MIG welder, air compressor, engine hoist...you get the idea.

Just a glimpse of my tool lair

Until May 2002, I remained committed to the idea of a rolling rebuild, and tried to never get more than "3 days of work" away from a running vehicle. But after moving to Maryland and winning the battle to get a 2-car garage, I decided to have at it. There was so much to be done!