I'm replacing my Explorer "Cobra" upper intake with another polished (well,...I'm working on the polishing now) upper.I am going to do a little different look to it. Details when it's done.,pics of the progress tomorrow (along with the trip minder pic I still haven't posted). I got a lot done today,but have a ways to go as well.I put about an hour or so in to it and smoothed about 3/4 of it.Now I have to start all the little crevices and hard to work areas. I'm going to be selling my current upper if anyone is interested.I'll post it for sale in the classifieds for a few days then off to Ebay if it doesn't sell.With the new engine,I felt a different intake was needed. Progress shots tomorrow. I thought I'd share since I haven't been up to much lately due to other "home" things I'm catching up on.
Here's the current one......
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/Vinnietbird/000_0509.jpg)
Fess up Vinnie, did you go tubular?
pshaw, you know he's totally tubular already.
But, I don't know what a wok ring has to do with an intake.
I fixed the "wokring".LOL. That came from my childhood....when I was born a poor Chinese boy.As far as a tubular intake...No way. I had one and sold it.They just don't impress me.Not to say they aren't nice,just not for me.I want mine to be totally mine,no other like it. I killed my Dremmel today,so,on Monday I'll have them send me another one.I'll need it for the inlay that I'm going to add to the intake. It'll be tedious for a little bit,but in the end,if it turns out like I picture it in my mind's eye,it should be pretty awesome (to me).We'll see hopefully within a week.My time is wicked limited right now to do this project.I was covered in aluminum dust today, I left a nice metallic coating in the tub.LOL.
Ill trade you my tubular for ur pretty current :)
Yes i use the term pretty. lol
Well,it is pretty.I've had a LOT of compliments on it,and it really stands out when you open the hood.I've even had tuner guys ask if it's a supercharger.I have to laugh about that....idiots.LOL.
Say, sure wanna buy it? I'll give you a great deal! lol :D
I've already had 5 PM's for it.It'll find a home pretty quick I think.I'll add you to the list and we'll see if it goes or not.
I'm going to Lowe's early in the morning to pick up some stuff to finish stripping the replacement that's going on.I can't wait til the emblem gets here for it.
No, no, no. I don't want to buy it, seriously it's for a 5.0 hehe. What would I do with it...
I was refering to giving those tuner guys a "great deal" on your "supercharger". :D
I'm giving up the comedy business, lol.
Oh,I mis-read. It's late and I've been up since 5:00 this morning (yesterday morning?). I see what you're saying now. The upper intake would cover their whole engine.LOL.
Trade you a set of Hooker supercomp shorties for your tubular upper?:poke:
Vinnie, I can't wait to see the new intake. I don't know how you're going to top the current one though.
I hope the replacement turns out how I want it to.It may not be better,but just as cool and different,though.
lol Then i'd be out an intake, except for the SO and HO i already have.... ill buy the shorties how bout that? lol PM me if interested
Whiteboy, let me dig them out and gets some pics to you.
Vinnie, why are you leaving us in suspense? We want PICS.
Ok sounds great lol.
Yeah vinnie is it like a SUPER rare item or something whats up?
I apologize for the lack of pics.I didn't get to work on it today.I ended up spending a lot of time doing yard work.I'll probably be back to the intake tomorrow,and,my emblem should be here this week........it's not from around here.LOL.
lol paint a big motorcraft emblem on it.
Better than that. It's a genuine Ford emblem,and there will only be paint in the recessed areas of the intakes "fins".All off the rest of the visible areas will just be polished. Like I said,in my mind,it looks awesome,like Ford could've done it that way, but in reality,I may be setting myself up for disappointment......Nah,failure is NOT an opyion.I will make it happen.
Jerry !!! Delete your post and be quiet.LOL.LOL.LOL..............I mean..."nooooo" I would NEEEEVER use Aussie parts.LOL.LOL.
lol...ooops... I meant, chinese parts?.... lol
Yeeeessssss, I am definitely using Chinese parts. They are cheaper,and look so.....Chinese.....which I like on the Sport......a LOT.
Hahaha! You guys are too much!! I'm sure whatever you're doing it'll look great!
I've made mine look a little different as well. I have the regular H.O. upper but I polished it and got a plain stainless steel cover on it, but before I put it on I mounted a sailpanel emblem on it. It looks like it should be there.
Sounds nice,post up a new pic..I had thought about placing a Bird emblem on my intake plate,but decided to leave it alone and let it "blend".
lol the bird would be sweet.... I could custom make an aluminum plate for mine pretty easily i just have to bend it right and cut it perfect.... may take a couple trims but with aluminum itll be easy, then put a emblem on it unlike any other.
Here's a pic from a couple of years ago. When I detail it I'll get some new pics to post. You might have to zoom in on it to it. I'll get better pics soon.
nice lol but hey off topic i know, do those bars help?
It helped my Sport stiffen up.I got my strut tower brace for nearly free.I repainted it right after I installed the engine a month or so ago.I can still swap heads and the intake without moving it.
what is the main purpose? keep the car in line when ur romping on it?
Not a bit, they're only used to help hold the engine in if you roll the car... :flip:;)
Yes, they help. Triangulates the strut towers for less deflection on hard cornering. Romping the gas doesn't affect the front so much as the rear...sfc's and che's are a good solution for that.
stb (strut tower brace) will help to keep the car from "rolling over" too far in the suspension during extra hard cornering.
Overkill with stock bushings, springs, shocks...but if you have poly bushings, lowering springs, and higher quality shocks...well, you'll feel the difference. :bowdown:
BTW, I've got one on mine, so I'm not just talking out my ass.
Other than that I need better tires, and the correct-length shocks on the back, mine handles pretty frickin awesomely.
[\end thread hijack]
The cars (most any car) will have some flex to it in the chassis as a whole.The strut tower brace,and sub frame connectors (which I'll get to after my current list of cs with the Sport are done) help stiffen the car which leads to better handling over all.
Where are the pics !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D
I haven't had much time,sorry.I also am waiting on my new Dremel tool to get her.I sent mine in for repairs or replacement. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some pics to post. I'm trying.
dang vinnie, yet again you work your magic and do something else cool to your car. to be honest, your bird is the coolest bird ive seen in my opinion. cant wait to see the new intake manifold!
hey why not put a turbo or supercharger on it? Better yet twin turbo 5.0! :evilgrin:
I've seen most of the cars here in pics,and mine is towards the bottom of the cool list.I like it though. I wouldn't call it "working my magic",just cleaning up and mildly modifying some factory Ford pieces.I appreciate the positive feedback a lot.Most everyone here has been really great since I got here some years ago.Best forum of all in my opinion,and not just because of the Birds and Cougars,but the people.Way more sociable and helpful than anywhere else I've seen.Good people.
The supercharger idea is being thought of for 2011 very seriously.
There you go upstaging me again. lol
You need to tighten some things up before that!! you need ic's tank plans!!
I agree. Its the most friendly forum ive been on out of afew. good people indeed sir. now... back to business... pictures? :beatyoass:
No upstaging,it'll be some time.I have a lot of other things to tend to first,and yes,the Sport will be stiffened up first.
Woah!! Your giving the sport a stiffy? lol I knew your car was a guy and gay! lol
I've looked underneath......not a guy at all.
you...or your car? lol j/k ;)
Since you're in the "Show Me" State,you come look and let me know what you think.LOL.
I'll come visit ya, drink some tea and hang out and all, but man, I ain't lookin' for no willies lmao
THAT sounds like a plan !!! No willies.LOL.
I'm still waiting for my Dremel to get here.I talked to the service boss and she said it was going to cost me $30.00 for repairs. I told her that they (Dremel) gave me a 5 year warranty due to the trouble I've had.She said I had to pay. Fast forward an hour.I called backed and asked for her supervisor and explained the story,gave her the name of the lady who gave the 5 year warranty,and she (the REAL boss) said she still had contact with the woman who gave me the extended warranty (that woman has retired) and would honor that. SO,My Dremel is on the way home for no charge. Not a big deal really.It all worked out well,and I'll just have to postpone my intake progress until it gets here.Mine is still fine as it is. Updates as they happen.
Well.....I finally had a little time,and the stuff I needed to get my intake mostly done.I still need to replace the freeze plug on the side (probably tomorrow) and do some final polishing..I'm still trying to decide which top plate I'm going to use.Maybe the polished one I'm using now that I fabbed a couple of years back....I'll think about it. The emblem is an Australian "FPV" badge (Ford Performance Vehicles) from Ford of Australia. Here's what the replacement looks like so far....and a pic of the tripminder I installed some time ago........
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/Vinnietbird/DSCF8228.jpg)
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/Vinnietbird/DSCF8227.jpg)
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/Vinnietbird/DSCF8226.jpg)
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/Vinnietbird/DSCF8229.jpg)
The current intake,polished Explorer intake with a Cobra badge on it,is now officially for sale. I still like it a lot,but it's time for something a little different......
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc205/Vinnietbird/DSCF7971.jpg)
You forgot the pic, lol.
Got 'em......
Um....back on page 5.I posted them about 15 minutes or so ago.
Looks awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks.I hope to do some more polishing tomorrow when I get home...or I may take it to work and do a little on my break.I don't smoke,so that can be one my "smoke breaks".I see people take a lot of "smoke breaks" all day,so,I don't see why I can't take just as many "polishing" breaks. Seems fair to me.It'll probably piss off the smokers at work,but they can get bent if they don't like it.Time is time,regardless of what you're doing.At least when I get done I'll have something to show for it.
It looks great:D
You still need to take off the vac port on the driver's side front of the intake. I plugged the hole with a pipe plug on mine.
I plan on it.It'll probably come off today.The vacuum port on the back corner is also being changed.
you sir have too much time on your hands.. want to share alittle? :D
Too much time? Me? No way. I wish I did.I'm always busy.I did this intake over a total of 3 1/2 days in about about 2 1/2 weeks or so (maybe 3).I worked for a few hours one day,waited a few days,did some more,waited a few days and here we are.Tedious work,but it's starting to pay off.
Looks real good!!! You're going to have to get used to explaining what the letters stand for though.
Thanks a lot.You're right.I knew that no-one would understand what they meant most anywhere I go,but,I did it for me,so, I'll take the time when asked.LOL.Part of the car game I suppose. Heck,owning one of these cars,I should be used to explaining everything already.LOL.
love the new intake man.