Chuck's '83 TBird

Topic: Chuck's '83 TBird (Read 166603 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #480 – August 16, 2024, 09:38:06 PM

New pump is installed, but the car runs like doodoo.

It appears to be super rich. When I pulled the fuel pressure regulator reference hose off of the intake, the idle smoothed out a bit.

I didn't get a chance to check the fuel pressure yet, but should be able to tomorrow. Hoping that I didn't somehow pinch the return line between the tank and the body (would be hard to collapse it though.)

I'll need to toss the laptop on it, to see what the WBO2 is showing.

It's possible that if the fuel pressure is correct. the car was tuned under a weak fuel supply and now that it's getting a healthy dose, the tune is off. This thing doesn't "learn" like the stock EEC4 stuff.

We'll see I guess. I don't think anything else broke/failed when the pump went.

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #481 – August 17, 2024, 03:28:11 PM

OK. Got it sorted out.

Tested the fuel pressure and it was good. No need to drop the tank to find a pinched return.

I hooked up the laptop and started to look at things. Almost immediately I saw the MAP gauge stuck at "100 KPa" or ambient. It wasn't reacting at all. SO I grabbed a length of vacuum tube and bypassed the in-situ feed to the ECU and sure enough it was reading properly.
The MAP signal hose to the ECU had gotten pinched when I reinstalled the seat after chasing the power issue.

Found the problem and put it all back together and the car is much happier.

Now, back to my other project and hopefully I can get the roof wrap sorted out soon.

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #482 – October 09, 2024, 08:50:02 PM

Finally got the roof wrap sorted today.

Some folks may hate it, but I think it's fun.

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #483 – October 10, 2024, 10:34:42 AM

Is it weird for me to say that I like the look from the side more than from the top?
I think that is cool and something different!

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #484 – October 14, 2024, 11:52:40 AM

Chuck, do you have a matching kilt for that roof?

That is totally unexpected. I'm kinda digging it...certainly not as boring as flat black or any solid color for that matter. Great job man!

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #485 – October 14, 2024, 12:24:03 PM

Quote from: EricCoolCats – on October 14, 2024, 11:52:40 AM

Chuck, do you have a matching kilt for that roof?

Lol!

No matching kilt, but I do have a couple others. I need to put some padding on some of the cage bars in the rear, and I was thinking of getting some matching material and seeing if my wife would whip up a few covers that match.

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #486 – October 24, 2024, 07:37:24 PM

Man I think it fits the car perfectly! I also think the shot from the side does it more justice than from directly above.

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #487 – October 24, 2024, 09:15:22 PM

Thanks!

The side view is obviously a bit more subtle, and tartan isn't some glaring contrasting color.

The GLI Recaros in it have little hints of red in the inserts, so it kind of ties together a bit.

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #488 – May 04, 2025, 12:03:31 AM

So, I mentioned in the LTD thread that I was going to do up a new set of CC plates for this thing.

My SCS order showed up today.

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #489 – August 10, 2025, 06:16:50 PM

Well, since I'm sure people are tired of all of the other non-TBIrd posts, I was hoping to be able to make an update involving this.

However it came out of the box looking like this

Getting in touch with them about getting it swapped out.

I've been needing to replace the old radiator (and hoses) for a long while now.

It's not the original one, but it's at least 20-25 years old. So are the hoses. It's had a couple small seep spots in it for a couple of years, so it was time.

Thwarted in my plans, I at least sprayed down the engine bay a bit to clean things up.

Here you can get a glimpse of the silly intercooler that's in this thing.

Hopefully I'll hear back from them tomorrow and get another on the way.

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #490 – August 10, 2025, 06:28:33 PM

Chuck,
I am curious about the "silly" intercooler, is that the one from Gnari? I have one as a future project for my '85 turbo coupe but I was confused by the instruction placing it between the AC condenser and radiator. Did you have to mod or make any new brackets?

Thanks
Harry

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #491 – August 10, 2025, 06:56:24 PM

The intercooler is something I picked up off of ebay . You can follow the install and such starting back on PAGE 8. I think most of the pics are still working.

No cutting to mount this one. I had a old Volvo front mount IC installed before this one, and I had to do a little cutting for that one.

This car has never had (working) AC in the almost 30 years that I've had it. I'm sure I could make a condenser work in here if I needed to, but for now this car will live without. I'm going to consider reinstalling it (It is a factory AC car) if/when I do something with the drivetrain.

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #492 – August 10, 2025, 07:06:23 PM

OK,
Thanks

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #493 – August 13, 2025, 04:07:27 AM

The ebay three core aluminum radiator i bought(not a mishimoto but still $$$ because i wanted one that didnt look like a welders project) was warped like that too.
It was so bad i couldnt get the factory bracket to even sit on it, i gave it to a mustang guy who parked his car in the same garage i keep mine in because he said it wouldnt matter to him since he was doing custom upper bracket with overflow tank. He wound up buying another one lol.

Re: Chuck's '83 TBird

Reply #494 – August 13, 2025, 08:48:36 AM

Well, they're sending me another one, as they say that this was the result of shipping damage. We'll see what the new one looks like.

I asked what they wanted done to the old one, and they said dispose of it.

Sooooooo, since I have another Fox project that doesn't have a radiator, I'm going to see if I can straighten it out a bit and pressure test it to see if it'll work.

Also, this is just a 2-core. I saw no need for anything more.