2006 was a bad year! I was stationed in Hawaii and had just shipped my racing T-Bird all the way there from the mainland and was going to have a blast showing off. Things went well for a couple of months, then the track closed..... without a racetrack, I decided to take to the streets and drive it around for a few years and bring it back, it just took a little work at the Auto Hobby Shop located two blocks from my house. The US Navy Morale Welfare and Recreation committee decided to axe the auto hobby shop, with my beloved T-Bird locked inside, along with a few other choice rides. It took me 2 Years to get it back to the mainland.
While being held hostage inside, a few fine mongoose decided to utilize the A/C drain tube and rubber insulation as an access point and move inside the bird, chewing the wiring harness for the engine and car to shreds while using it as a toilet and breeding ground.
I took this as an opportunity to just make the car into a full fledged racer, sine nothing was salvageable from the interior.
After a two year tour in Australia, I finally broke my T-Bird out of storage hell jail and towed it all the way to my new duty station in Jacksonville FL. Things went slow, with an immediate deployment and subsequent ships decommissioning, I was feeling a little behind and had no time to work on anything. I did have anew motor built though...A 427 Clevor variant using 4V heads from a small company in Australia called Air Flow Dynamics. It turned out to be a real animal to the tune of 653HP and 597 ft/lbs of torque @ 6200 and 3700 rpm respectively.
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/0144279D-F6C6-4C6B-A53D-04BB128456A1-1151-0000034D62734DFB.jpg)
Last week I finally took some leave and started the project to breath new life into the old girl.
Things started with the installation of a UPR K-member, a manual rack, coil over conversion, manual brakes and serious weight reduction in mind. I am shooting straight for the 9's this time and see if I can get it done on a reasonable blue collar budget, since I now have a wife and kids. The goal is for it to run for 15 years in the 9's with basic maintenance and routine repairs. I am still on sea duty so this may sporadically take leaps and then seem to drag for a little while. Let me know what you think. I'Ll stick a few pictures up along the way, so you all can check it out. Btw...it's still going to be EFI, using an EEC-IV computer. Hope to have it finished enough in the spring to make a few passes.
God to know tat she hasn't become one of the many sacrifices that active duty personnel are constantly challenged with. From one old sea dog to another, thank you for your service.
Fair Winds and Following Seas.
Wow! A blast from the past! Sounds like you have assembled a real animal of an engine in your time away. Looking forwad to your progress.
Wow Mongoose made a home in your car?! That's crazy! Keep us posted on the progress and if you get time to share pics that would be great as well.
Thanks for all the well wishes and the fair winds. I'll take a few shots of the front end installed. I put it all together and mocked it up, still need to take it apart and, grease it all up, paint a few spots, grind a few and line it all up the best. The tubular K member is ridiculous light compared to the stocker. It must be close to 100 lbs difference in the front end with everything I have done to it. I bought a book on setting up stock and super stock suspensions and will try a few springs to get things ironed out, with less wheel stand and more go.
Got the k member, a arms, coil overs, manual rack and brakes installed. Upr makes some nice stuff and it almost fit correctly. I had to add almost 1/2 inch of steel plate to level it all out with the frame rails. I need to clean the wiring up a little better because it is looking bad besides being close to the headers.
I cannot figure out where to post the pics to link them. My Flickr account is no longer working.
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/D31A52CD-11E1-4EBD-8BE9-760D8FD909F9-1151-0000034DAA2839CE.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/4873FAE7-34AF-4B46-91E8-BD21BC0BFE61-1151-0000034D9FD4090F.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/382F3643-0613-414A-AFC6-A99F960B0F2E-1151-0000034D96134400.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/D9438700-13E3-423C-976C-9CAA3BABC7D7-1151-0000034D8C1F2C71.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/0E813933-8EB5-4A97-8D6A-DE76DABA53E4-1151-0000034D7201F8C4.jpg)
got some pics added finally and a couple of videos. My friend decided to only video tape the back of my head for some reason during the dyno pull. The rest are of the engine warming up for the pull.
[video]http://s752.beta.photobucket.com/user/WickedChicken/media/MOV06169.mp4.html[/video]
[video]http://s752.beta.photobucket.com/user/WickedChicken/media/MOV06171.mp4.html[/video]
Your front end set up is very close to mine. What springs are you using on the front? I bought a used coilover setup that came off a fox mustang and they are 150's. Still in the building stages, so I haven't tried them out yet.
150 should be good if you want to pull the wheels use 130 lol
I am using 150's X 14 coils.
Looks good
Got some work done this weekend. Rear end Rebuilt, Brakes Installed/Operable and Control Arms Mounted. Clevor and the tranny have been stabbed and it sits a bit high. Please let me know what you are thinking.
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/photo-6.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/photo-7.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/photo-8.jpg)
MotorBreath!!
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/photo-10.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/photo-9.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/photo-11.jpg)
Spherical Solid Aluminum Bushings and 1" longer (8.8" T-Bird or 9" in a Mustang) Adjustable Uppers from UPR
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/photo-5.jpg)
Sweet!!!!!!
Any plans for torque box reinforcements ....
I'm kinda Himing and Hawing on that. Car is stripped and will weigh <3000lbs. I hope that I can get it together and down the track a few times before requiring Torque Box Replacements.
It's a major week link at least weld them up once they rip the car is done or a lot of work needs to be done
It's just 2 plates drawn in
(http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m550/pooppoop13/P4270363.jpg)
I finally had the torque boxes reinforced, cage welded in, some tin work completed and a rear torsion bar sway bar installed. I will try and get some pictures up soon.
sweet
Lots of progress for sure...
Travis
Ok, finally got rid of all the unimportant stuff. Gutted the doors including the crash guards and window regulators. Took 22 lbs out of each door. Pulled the front bumper assembly out and reinforced the front bumper cover with fiberglass. That was 37lbs off the nose and have started stripping the front and rear wiring harnesses.
The car is now so light and easy to push, I can use 1 hand while pushing on the bumper cover. I can't wait to weigh the finished product.
Sweet ... weight lost is free ET
Finally saved up enough money to buy a bulk of stuff to finish the engine minus the fuel system. It happened just in time for me to deploy right around the corner. Just Murphy's law having a swing at me.
I had to pull the motor back out last week to get the headers out and modified. Found that the headman Cleveland 4v headershiznit a canton oil pan. Need to move a tube outboard 3/4" to clear.
I'm slowly getting there. Should have enough cash when I get back from deployment to completely finish her up. This is going to be my last round of parts until I get back in august.
I will try and get some pics up of all the changes and items finished, motor in and bolted up with headers and efi wiring harness. It's starting to come together.
Finally got back from deployment..... Last one! Moved the car to a different building. I spent the first night home ordering parts since I will be on leave for the next couple of days. I got the front wheels mounted and balanced, a rear wheel and tire mounted for mock up with the slicks I wanted to run. They are 30" tall by 9" wide. It's the same sized slicks used in stock eliminator. I decided to use a Holley HP EFI system so I ordered the EFI kit while I had the cash. I need to see if the slicks will fit correctly and then order a second wheel, drill the wheel for screws and re mount the wheel. I decided to go with an 80's flavor wheel since they fit my budget and it's period correct. I am shooting for a "If Ford made a Super Stock Thunderbird" in '88 what it would have been like. I will post some pics and I need to measure for a driveshaft, so I can have one fabricated by Strange Engineering.
I think I will take the time to shoot a few pics, so I can catch anyone up who might be following this thread. I am shooting to have the car finished by the season opener for NMRA racing in Bradenton, Fl. My young sailors figured out that I can make the entire NMRA season in 2015 since I will be retiring from the US Navy in May.
Let me know what y'all think.
Wow your car is CLEAN underneath!
Love it!
What's the front end setup with K-member and A-arms?
Where are the pics man??? You have quite a few of us on the hook there sailor so get to clicking and posting!! Just yanking our chain, I'm pretty sure you have had quite a bit to do just getting back and all so welcome home and thanks for serving.
Darren
Pics coming today! I finally got off my lazy a$$ and shot a few instead of working on the car.
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/Tbird/image-12.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/Tbird/image-10.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/Tbird/image-11.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/Tbird/image.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/Tbird/image-9.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/Tbird/image-4.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/Tbird/image-6.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/Tbird/image-5.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/Tbird/image-1.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/Tbird/image-3.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/Tbird/image-8.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/Tbird/image-2.jpg)
Love the dash. I've wanted to gut the dash re enforcement and make my own for a while now
Love the dash too! I want to do something custom one day in the shape of a "T" like the 83-86 dash looks..
You need a larger radiator fan ;).
Looks awesome :)
I'll be underway for a couple of weeks. Hope you enjoyed the pics, I will be thrashing to finish it up by December once I return and be ready for the first NMRA event in March. Still have a huge list of things to do, wiring, fuel system, certify the roll cage NHRA legal and get the transmission completely hooked up as well as weld a few holes up in the cowl, paint a few bare metal items. I still need to get the entire EFI system wired, tuned and dialed in on the dyno. I'll get some dyno film and numbers up since I feel that my dyno sessions when the motor was built left quite a bit on the table when looking at the plugs. We will see.......
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/Mobile%20Uploads/image.jpg)
Well Christmas leave period was finally upon me and I had time to get a lot of stuff done. I'm now down to the last few things to do and off for some more chassis work, fire suppression system and the NHRA Chassis Cert. I will post a couple of pictures. I only have about 20 more wires to connect or run and to make some plug wires, load the computer, add fluids, double check everything and fire it up! I cannot wait! Maybe get some Dyno Time soon!! Added some decals too. It's starting to look good again!
Added the decal pic today, what's your thoughts? A little plagerizing from the Thunderbolt and add it to my T-Bird.
I like it!
Darren
Finially finished the wiring, loaded the computer with the initial tune and pulled the emergency shutoff last night. It all came to life! I even tried to turn the motor over....the funny thing is the chinese Ford style solenoid puked on the first attempt and was stuck cranking the motor. I hit the shut off, pulled the solenoid and installed the trusty 1988 Ford original. Still works just fine! Now I have all electronics / electrical items up and operational with exception of the alternator, which I am still trying to figure out how to wire (emergency shutdown) so it will not create a feedback loop and keep the car running.
Just needs some fuel, tranny filled with fluid, plug wires fabricated and some turndowns installed before firing..... I'm close! I'm shooting for this weekend to at least having it running. Dyno this weekend would be ideal!
Nice work, did you get to the dyno this weekend?
Negative, I did get it fired up but not only did the solenoid die, the starter died as well. Powermaster did not do well on this one, but I have replaced it now.....just have to reinstall the header and clock the starter to clear the headers. I decided that since I had to pull the header (which includes pulling the motor since it was so tight) that I would modify the header to have a removable tube, making it easier for maintenance, starter replacement and ease of disassembly.
I will not make it to the Dyno until after I get back from a month at sea. It does not look like I will make it to the NMRA Bradenton Season Opener due to this set back.
Alright, it has been a while and I was at sea for a month so this does not make this build go any faster....
I pulled the starter and pass side header. Made the header a 3 piece for easy removal, and combined 2 powermaster starters to make 1 functional one that works with my configuration. What a pain.... I then fired the car up with a new base tune I worked on while underway for a month, adjusted the throttle, tps and timing. It was running and not too badly. I then booked a day at the dyno to get it fully tuned and running in the correct AFR all the way through the power band. It did throw down 584 at the wheel and 565 ft/lbs once tuned.
I took some pictures and a few videos for everyone here that was by my side in spirit rooting my old "Bird Poop" T-Bird on. The track is just a few more weeks away. I have a few more items to take care of.
(http://[URL=http://s752.photobucket.com/user/WickedChicken/media/IMG_0149.jpg.html][IMG]http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/IMG_0149.jpg)[/URL][/IMG]
(http://[URL=http://s752.photobucket.com/user/WickedChicken/media/IMG_0148.jpg.html][IMG]http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/IMG_0148.jpg)[/URL][/IMG]
(http://[URL=http://s752.photobucket.com/user/WickedChicken/media/IMG_0147.jpg.html][IMG]http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/IMG_0147.jpg)[/URL][/IMG]
(http://[URL=http://s752.photobucket.com/user/WickedChicken/media/IMG_0146.jpg.html][IMG]http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/IMG_0146.jpg)[/URL][/IMG]
[video]http://vid752.photobucket.com/albums/xx167/WickedChicken/IMG_0144.mp4[/video]
it man!!! That motor is a beast! Glad you stuck with it because that thing sounds wicked.
Darren
Looking awesome!
VFN hood?
Yes, VFN Hood
Dang that thing sounds NASTY. I like the old school T-bolt style lettering too!!
Thanks! I left it EFI, so it has that nasty Hot Rod EFI sound. Thanks for noticing the lettering, I did not know if anyone would catch that.
I guess that I forgot to mention that after all the weight reduction I was curious what it weighed in at. Now before I let on to an amazing outcome, I would like to recap what all I have done for weight reduction. Chromoly K member, A Arms, Drive Shaft, Roll Cage, Seat Brackets. Aluminum Seat, completely stripped interior and aluminum dash as well as carbon fiber dash panel. Fiberglass pin on hood and both front and rear bumpers have been removed and bumper covers reinforced with fiber glass boat repair kits from walmart. Any thing that was not functional for a drag car was removed. The front brakes are Strange engineering drag race only brakes that must weigh in at 10lbs /side or less, manual steering rack and manual brakes. I gutted the doors including the 30lb crash guard in each door and the window regulators chopped and pinned to hold the windows in place. The seam sealer and internal brakets behind the rear seat and the rear passanger arm rests have been removed and cut out to structural intregity only. Trunk gutted and only the hinge mechanism is in place, spare tire bracket is gone as well as all brackets and hold downs from the exhaust pitched.
I originally thought 3000 lbs or really close, but I guess that being a weight mizer worked on my favor because it only weighs in at 2640 lbs. I do not think it could get any lighter without really cutting and drilling as well as replacing the windows with lexan or optic armor poly windows. I guess that the original curb weight was 3460 for the Sport. That sure is alot of weight.
Wow! You put that car on Weight Watchers!! Do you have plans to scale it and try to get as much weight to shift to the rear as possible?
Darren
I need to find someone with the 4 individual wheel scales to determine weight bias and center of gravity. That would be awesome!
That thing sounds nasty. I can't wait to see how fast it goes.
2640 without driver? that's light. Mine is 3560 with no driver (3710 with me).
Wow, that's amazing. Did you gut and re-do wiring as well?
Completely gutted and rewired