Replacing the Hatch of the 1979 Ford Mustang

This was a whole new set of issues found. Before I bought this car many years ago, the previous owner had neglected the car and left it sitting under a tree. Rather than putting moth balls to keep mice out the idiot put poison in the car.

"What happens when you put poison in the car?" you ask. Well, I will tell you. That mouse will eat it and crawl into the worst places in the car and die. Now I have had this apart quite a few times thinking I had vacuumed all the carcasses and nests up. Apparently I missed one.

 

Test fitting Fiberglass hatch I picked up second hand

I would like to point out that not all parts are created equal as advertised. Sheet metal modifications will be required for this hatch to work. Latching mechanisms were altered over the year and a lot of part manufacturers will advertise 1979 through 1993, which is a complete load of crap.

Example the Hatch Latch mechanism is completely different in the later year foxes than what is on the ORIGINAL FOX of 1979.

Case in point. To the left you have newer generation Latch hole on Hatch and to the Right is the original 1979 Multiple piece latch.

Even inside the car the connection point has changed. To the Left the original latch connection point and to the right newer generation angled connection point. Newer Generation internal sheet metal will need to be transferred and spot welded into the 79 for the fiberglass hatch to work, but well worth the trouble for never having to worry about the hatch rusting out again.