My Sport

Topic: My Sport (Read 27328 times) previous topic - next topic

Reply #60 – July 14, 2011, 12:05:42 PM

After a little confusion on the small wire on my (new to the engine) starter, the HO roared to life once again. Determination still pays off.

Before work I'm going to put the radiator in, finish topping off the T5 as I didn't have enough trans fluid, and for some reason, the engine has too much oil in it, so i need to take care of that too. Not sure but I think i added too much last night...was dark and hard to see the dipstick.

Anyway, I'd like to thank Vinnie for keepin on me to work on it...just because it runs now doesn't mean I'll stop working on it though, there's still a lot to do.

My Sport

Reply #61 – September 06, 2011, 08:19:44 PM

What I've been doing today:

I still have these seats in the car...third car they've been in.

After I eat, there will be more work done, and I'm waiting on funds to transfer so I can get another dash harness and get that squared away too.

My Sport

Reply #62 – September 06, 2011, 08:32:31 PM

I like the bird -less header panel

My Sport

Reply #63 – September 06, 2011, 08:36:01 PM

it's an Asian no-name part, kind of like certa-fit or whatever...I almost grabbed the one from the TC at the Pick N Pull that I got the hood from.
Still breaks my heart to see that car going to s...wasn't wrecked at all.

My Sport

Reply #64 – September 06, 2011, 08:59:51 PM

I have that header panel on the Sport right now as well. Mine is looking for a new home soon. I have a factory panel going on when body work starts. I like the Bird in there. You're doing good, keep up the work Beau....winter is right around the corner.

My Sport

Reply #65 – September 06, 2011, 11:12:27 PM

Yeah...I moved it back into the shop a little bit ago since the Stang is all holed up in it's own little stable...still have no idea what I'm going to do with it....probably crush it for a few bucks. If I do decide to work it over, It'll get a carb 351w and an AOD..I'll have a little fun with it, then sell it.

Thunderbirds are my true love...oh, and I've got an HO short block sitting on my stand...needs a rebuild...it's the winter work. Going to have it bored .030 over, a TFS cam and if I can find a set of iron GT40's, I'll be happy. Obviously I've been scanning for an explorer being parted out...

That will go in the Tbird in the spring...then I intend to do as much body work as I can learn and hopefully have it fit to take in public and not scare women, children, and cattle...lol

Amazing how much better the interior looks after a little (ok a LOT) of cleaning and some assembly. I'm going to call or stop by the small upholstery shop that's in the little town I live just outside of, and see what they'd charge to me revamp my headliner...if they do that stuff. Might also have them do a little work on my driver's seat bolster, as it's got a little wear from getting in and out.
The reason I went ahead with the panels is that when I do get the headliner situation sorted, I can just pop off the a pillar pieces, and the back upper pieces and slip the 'liner in...not too much backtracking in that.

Not much more I can do to the interior until I get the dash harness paid for, and get it installed, and then the dash put in....

Oh and Vinnie...if you come across an '88 5.0 Bird/Cat headlight harness, with good alternator wiring...think you could snag it up for me? I'd really appreciate it :)

My Sport

Reply #66 – September 07, 2011, 09:21:06 AM

IF I can find an '88 car I'm grabbing everything. Those were everywhere around here, then literally after one summer....all dried up. I've seen one single Fox Bird at the yard. It had the 3.8 CFI in it. I did get the dash,fuse box, and some small harnesses for the Sport. When I went back to get more, it was gone. Crushed and piled on a flatbed headed for the recycling place. I keep my eyes WIDE open all the time.

My Sport

Reply #67 – September 23, 2011, 03:59:23 PM

Well, after some slow precise wire placement work last night and today, I'm happy to report that my dash is sitting in the car, snugly, in place, all the wires are where they need to be, and everything is bolted down tightly. I even put my shifter boot on, and got squared away. Tomorrow if I can find time, I'll clean the console up and get it in, and try to locate my power driver seat base.

I do have a manual track, but with it, and my seat, my head is about .5" from the ceiling (moonroof car). I don't like that, sam-i-am.

It's so close to being done I can taste it....too bad it's too late in the year to get it inspected, licensed and drive it before the white falls.
I still need some gray door panels...the basic style, NOT the TC panels...I have a set of those....they were a PITA to keep from falling apart. I don't want the fancy stuff, just stuff that works and holds up.

I have an idea for some different valve covers...pics if i can find what I need tonight for them to work.

My Sport

Reply #68 – September 23, 2011, 04:58:06 PM

Beau. Do you have pictures of the dash install? Remember the dash harness was from a car with electronic cluster (not full electronic). I'm also interested to see your wiring job. :)

My Sport

Reply #69 – September 24, 2011, 02:34:18 AM

I'll snag some pics tomorrow when I finish up the connector pin swap for the digi to buttstuffog cluster. I've done it once before on a previous Thunderbird, so it doesn't faze me lol.

I greatly appreciate the harness....a cleaner, easier install than I'd have had with my stock harness

...it was a veritable spaghetti noodle mess.

My Sport

Reply #70 – September 24, 2011, 08:16:58 AM

Awesome, might have some door panels for ya let me check. :D

My Sport

Reply #71 – September 24, 2011, 12:24:59 PM

:shakeass:Hell yeah!

Here's the dash installed:

The '90 Stang LX:

'86 GT that is being parted by a friend:

And last, my daily/offroad warrior/parts hauler/farm truck:

I didn't get any pics of the wiring installed..and I do need to snag up a heater cable for it...Ive got the control set in the top location where the EQ was before, not sure what I'll put in the stock location...maybe have my buddy fab me up a plate from aluminum and put 2 or 3 gauges in it....the radio and the sentry are just sitting there to fill the spaces, but the radio is actually hooked up.

I'll post up some pics of my next idea later on if I get a chance to work on them a bit..you can see a bit of it in the first pic. And no, it's not finding a way to make the baby formula cans a functional part

My Sport

Reply #72 – October 01, 2011, 04:14:47 AM

Explorer intake, et cetera:

It'll look a little different when I bolt it on to the engine. It'll be sanded, painted, and prettier than the prom queen.

I've got a little repair work to do....one of the studs is broke off in the upper, and I'll need to get a phenolic spacers.
Looks like the Stang might just inherit the HO setup once I swap the Bird to the Exploder/Gt40 stuff....I've even got a spare '88 Bird engine harness...might convert the Yuckstang to an efi 5.0 with that and then flip it...I want something substantial to put under the hood power-wise by warm weather next year...and it (rather, they..as in plural) also requires a fmic....

My Sport

Reply #73 – October 01, 2011, 04:32:19 AM

Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;368314

I'll post up some pics of my next idea later on if I get a chance to work on them a bit..you can see a bit of it in the first pic. And no, it's not finding a way to make the baby formula cans a functional part

must be the screw driver than!!!

My Sport

Reply #74 – October 01, 2011, 08:22:21 AM

Congrats!!