Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => Lounge => Topic started by: ~AC on January 20, 2008, 03:06:12 AM

Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: ~AC on January 20, 2008, 03:06:12 AM
Well I wanted to start a thread to let people post the little things they're doing to their cars they otherwise wouldnt dedicate a whole thread to.  also hopefully it could get kinda off topic without post whoring.

For instance, i would like to ask "do you guys noticed your cars performing better in 20* = -20* temps vs. say, 70* = 90*?"  but i didnt want to make a thread or have another thread go off topic.  but i guess i just did hah.

but still, if your doin miner stuff, say like installing new trim pieces, or before and afters of clay bar results or other polishing.  weather, and other off topic stuff.  new tires? show them off! you know boring off topic stuff.

the way i look at it, some stuff doesnt need a whole thread, but things like major modifications can have their own thread.  im going to freshen up the front end of my car with fog lights and maybe some shims if i dont need the front pulled (Deer).  i plan on taking the whole front down and inspecting it for damage.  ( SNOW), gotta do it during the week one my 2 days off when i dont get overtime! GAH.  I'll try to get pics.  i guess thats what this thread will really document.  im just anxious to get this going so im posting a day or 2 ahead of time.

mods delete or close this thread if you dont approve!
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: jcassity on January 20, 2008, 04:39:20 AM
i noticed my car gets better gas mileage when i wax it.  IT also handles better when i leave all the ice sickles and snow on cause it pulls the body down and stiffens the suspension.  :D
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: vinnietbird on January 20, 2008, 06:54:49 AM
The Sport LOVES the cold weather.....a lot.It would take a page to cover what I'm doing.I'll try to sum it up a little shorter........Here's what I myself am doing with the Sport...............

-bodywork for new paint
-working on gathering parts for a 5 speed upgrade
-getting ready to install new heads and E303 cam
getting ready to install sound deadener throught the car
-install electric fan
-install new Hella foglights
-install restored taillight lenses and sequential light kit
-looking to install lowering springs (just a little lower)
-acquiring parts to re-install a/c
-waiting for my new exhaust tips so I can install them
-and a few other tiny things

That's it for now.
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: blu84302 on January 20, 2008, 07:19:11 AM
The car may love the cold, but I don't.  I can't wait til it's 80 degrees and I'm runnin down the road with the wind blowing by me.
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: HAVI on January 20, 2008, 08:59:57 AM
It was -20 last winter when my tbird decided to blow a head gasket or something.  still runs, when parked, lol.
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: ~AC on January 20, 2008, 12:35:06 PM
hey vinnie are you installing the TC style hella foglights?  i got some foglights from walart over the holidays that fits perfectly in the non TC bumper holes.  im thinking about gutting my power antenna and fixing it extended and using the stock switch for the fog lights.  it might not work, so if i cant swing it without destroying the switch im ganna just wire it in with the running lights.  (i dont wanna install that goofy non matching lit up red switch that cmae with them.)
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: bhazard on January 20, 2008, 12:58:26 PM
Mine hogs gas when I start it this cold. Seriously, like a gallon every 5 minutes. Its awful.
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: stuntmannick on January 20, 2008, 01:08:04 PM
-14* this morning.  Truck wouldn't turn over.  Jumped it.  On the way back from the store it popped the heater core.
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: ~AC on January 20, 2008, 01:14:31 PM
I havnt been able to drive my car in too cold of weather b/c of the tires on it.  but usually when its cold my car does feel a bit quicker from the seatdyno data.  My heater core and blowers are going bad so the heater barely works, so i never run with it even with it in the 30's and 40's.  just layer up.  im a cold person anyway.  also the A/C doesnt work so im screwed unless its a cool summer night in the mid 70's.  im either ganna fix all that or gut all that.
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: ~AC on January 20, 2008, 01:18:47 PM
Quote from: stuntmannick;198923
-14* this morning.  Truck wouldn't turn over.  Jumped it.  On the way back from the store it popped the heater core.


gah, sorry to hear about that, sure you didnt have enough antifreeze in there (doubt you'd neglect that.) is it bad enough that its dumping fluid on floorboard?  mine hasnt done that, that i've noticed yet.  it steams up my windshield when i stomp on it tho so i got tape over the defroster holes and dash vents so i dont breathe it in too mcuh.  (looks like a  fire in my car sometimes, dont wanna get pulled over for it :flame:)
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: vinnietbird on January 20, 2008, 01:50:08 PM
Yes,factroy style Hella lights.I found a set on Ebay (they sell one set at a time),that are identical to the originals,except the harness and switch come with the lights.They have a different plug on them.I don't care because my car didn't come with fog lights anyway,so,I have all I need to hook them up.They were cheaper than used lights as well,and these look identical to the old ones,made by Hella as well.
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: Clayton on January 20, 2008, 01:58:08 PM
Quote from: vinnietbird;198880

-working on gathering parts for a 5 speed upgrade



I got him to do that.

-demon-

I just converted to 5speed
waiting on axles for my 8.8 3.55
hurst shifter
flowtech full length headers
(need a new radio [taxtime]
needs a set of motor mounts [taxtime]
and i need to put my new tires on it.

-angel-

A new plug wire. and an oil change and one hellofa bath.

she just got a new upper door hinge pin. ones for dodge durango's work perfect but you have to drill the hole out a tidbit. after you grind and pound the old one out.
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: slicksport88 on January 20, 2008, 02:04:53 PM
Here's what I'm currently up to:
Swapping out my 94gt master cylinder for a 93 cobra unit for better pedal feel.
Installing new booster.
Pulled a set of fox mustang control arms from the salvage yard to install in the tbird.
New ball joints and poly bushings in the arms, steering rack, sway bar, and end links.
New shoes once the tax refund comes in (Nitto 555's all the way around).
New clutch pack in the rear end along with 3.73's to replace the
3.27's.

That's about it for now.....yeah right :hick:
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: 5.0 tbird on January 20, 2008, 02:32:28 PM
Getting ready to get this fixed...:raspberry

(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/cb400f75/Mark%20vii/damage.jpg)
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: daminc on January 20, 2008, 02:36:55 PM
Thats gonna take some pullin and hammerin
Looks like it got rubber buffed by a 18 wheeler
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: ~AC on January 20, 2008, 02:46:46 PM
deng matt, i can see the same face in the reflection as the smiley in your post! lol, howd that happen?  someone couldnt park or get side swiped?  i got side swiped by some hick with a trailor, only the trailor caught me and it pulled back my door trim and i lost my dirverside mirror.

hey guys, im about to start selling some hotwheels and other lil cars on fleabay, im ganna group them together in batches by either era, year, make, model etc.  im not 100% sure of what all i have to sell,  but if i find some with factory defects thats ganna go by itself.  how do you calculate shipping and whats the rate for posting an auction.  i heard it was 3.50 or so per item(s).  i plan on using paypal for money transfers and the ebay shipping.  the thing is i might sell more cars than could fit in a flat rate box at a time, and i plan on selling at least 2 things that weigh about 15lbs.

http://news.windingroad.com/etc/the-auto-mounting-tire/  check this video out found it on another forum.  they were being dumb thinking like ricers so i had to set them straight, i dont think i'd be this condescending here.  i have more respect for you guys.

Quote
err uhh... the reason the car didnt fall down on the rearend housing or possibly the brake assembly is b/c he didnt lose the wheel, he lost his right rear axle. its a straight axle rearend (mostly by rules, IRS and mcphearson struts are not allowed in any class) so what REALLY happened was when he hit the rear of the other car with the axle, he most likely broke a C-clip inside the chunk and then it started to wobble itself out, miraculously it didnt come all the way out and since he steered to the right and its also up the banking the axle wiggled itself back inside the housing. its a miracle that the axle/wheel didnt come completely off b/c thats a spear with a blunt object on the end of it that likes to tumble for quite a while. i've seen this before, not like that, but i've seen guys come in and get mad and pull the whole thing out and throw it in the back of a truck only to put it back on to load it on the trailor after a beer or 2.

def a priceless moment caught on film though. i would have gotten a copy of that video if that was me.
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: 5.0 tbird on January 20, 2008, 03:17:13 PM
My dumbass friend was backing out of the garage at 6:00 in the morning to go to work and he side swiped my car with his Durango. I got a text and he's like "My bad I thought I missed it." Dumbass. :slap: So I spent half my Christmas vacation getting estimates and settling with his insurance. I got 1480 for it, but I wanna paint the whole car so i'm waiting till my pell gets in.
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: daminc on January 20, 2008, 04:06:07 PM
That mark looks in great shape. are you fixing it or having it fixed?
Title: progress?
Post by: t3skidoo on January 20, 2008, 04:28:07 PM
I just got a new FMS shift .  It's a little bigger than the OEM piece, covered in a nice leatherish something, and for better or worse, it's got that big button on top so I don't forget the shift pattern.  Same size threads but but different count, so you might have do something to make it seat in the proper position.  I'm leaning towards getting another for the other car, because bare plastic s blow and the price is nice.

(http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14706&stc=1&d=1200863764)

Subframe connectors, powdercoated and primed.  Just need to arrange getting the welding done, torque boxes, spuds (or whatever you call them) for the rear IRS mounts, and the SFCs.  That should be it.

(http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14707&stc=1&d=1200863764)

Then, of course, this is almost ready ...

(http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14709&stc=1&d=1200864284)
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: gumby on January 20, 2008, 05:11:32 PM
Quote from: t3skidoo;198956

Then, of course, this is almost ready ...

(http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14709&stc=1&d=1200864284)


ah, takin the Haulsee approach i see. i was wondering if we would see any updates on this project over here.

oh, and i wouldnt waste money powder coating SFCs before welding. you will hafta sand the immediate area of the weld, and then welding will burn off most of the rest of your PC anyhow....
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: 5.0 tbird on January 20, 2008, 06:44:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by daminc:
That mark looks in great shape. are you fixing it or having it fixed?


Thanks, naw I'm gonna have the work done. I can do just about anything, but not bodywork. :hick:
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on January 20, 2008, 06:47:47 PM
working on passing emmisions
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: t3skidoo on January 20, 2008, 07:42:13 PM
Ya, I figured the welding would botch the finish on the SFCs a bit, but the PCing was cheap and (I hope) better than nothing.

I managed to get a 2nd head for a decent price, figured that now would be a good time to try it.
(http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14711&stc=1&d=1200875618)

Here's what I did today.  It's just a first draft since I'm not much of an electrician.  This definitely is a small thing in keeping with the theme of the thread.
(http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14712&stc=1&d=1200875618)
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: cougrrr302 on January 21, 2008, 02:19:29 AM
Working on exhaust and a custom cowl induction hood on my truck lol. Gonna relocate the tailgate handle, paint the bed, tailgate and rollpan soon.

Car is getting full exhaust soon, and soon painting my TC Hood. Hopefully I am selling my 55 Willys Sedan soon, so some Cobra R's or 5 lug is on the way. Then a nice rebuild, or suspension work.
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: Quietleaf on January 21, 2008, 10:37:22 PM
Climbing the walls because I've been without my 'Bird for three-and-a-half months now. I stopped in last week and the body work was done and they were primering it. I didn't ask for it, but they said they would primer it twice, sanding the entire car after each coat. Then it would be on to paint+clearcoat, trim painting, and I presume putting it back together (they took the entire nose and rear bumper off, plus all the window trim, door handles, emblems, and trunk lock -- basically everything except the door belt moulding). Hopefully it won't be much longer now, but I'm in deep withdrawal.

The first thing I have to do when I get it back is to get it inspected. Then I have to order four tires for the snowflakes I had refinished, and then it will finally be done...

(yeah, right. Our cars are never truly done :D )
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: daboss351 on January 21, 2008, 11:13:38 PM
glad those snowflakes turned out good for you!
my car is at a stand still
its sitting outside on jackstands with the rear wheels under it waiting for a brake line, lers and tailpipes. Might just be parting it soon if i can get 1500 for a new one.... The rot is to much on my car
Title: General progress and misc convo (no post whoring!)
Post by: Red_LX on January 22, 2008, 09:27:35 AM
When I did my subframe connectors, I painted them black, then ground down the weld areas, and after I was done I liberally coated the entire area with undercoating. Seems to be holding up pretty well now, over a year later.

Anyway I'm not doing much of anything on my car right now, obviously, since it's covered and sitting on jackstands at my dad's house.

When spring rolls around, I am (at the moment) planning to go through the entire suspension because all the squeaking and rattling it does drives me insane.

I have a set of low-mileage front control arms I'm swapping on, along with probably some Fox Mustang shocks & struts (still trying to figure out what brand)...also need to fix a screwed up tie rod that I only just found when I was putting the car away back in November. Still debating whether I want to buy some CHE rear arms (maybe just lowers only for time being, I dunno). Car will also need new tires soon.

And, I also need to do the valve stem seals which will be lots of fun...and I'm thinking about going to standalone.

The body really needs some attention, clearcoat is peeling, and there is some body damage that needs fixed (quarter panel needs pulled out and needs a new door). I'm afraid of what it'd cost to have that done + new paint. I might see about getting the body damage fixed, though, because it's driving me nuts anymore. Thinking about trying a temporary fix on the clearcoat too. We'll see I guess.

That's about it. :dunno: