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Topic: A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage! (Read 47391 times) previous topic - next topic

A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #195
Quote from: STANG8U;414108
that looks clean

 
Thanks.  Hopefully it'll age well.  Disappointing the wording on the insulation is upside down, but it was the only way to get the three pieces out of the mat.

A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #196
Quote
The basics to set it, involve: First setting the toe to zero and then remove the springs & sway bar links. This allows the suspension to have a full range of motion without tension. From there it's setting up the tool and doing a base line measurement. The baseline will indicate where to start with either adding or subtracting shims.

It was a tedious process (it took us a full day...), but it was surprising how much toe deflection was minimized as the suspension moved (almost zero in first inch up and down) by proper adjustment


Sounds like some good progress.  Few questions about the bumpsteer process.
Was all this done on an alignment rack? Did the full day include the removal and reinstalling of the sway bar and springs? Did you do both sides or just one and use those results for the other side? I will need to be going thru this process sometime and just wondering what I need to plan for. Also going to be purchasing the MM bumpersteer guages, I assume they come with some good instructions.

Dynamat looks good, if you wanted to cover it up maybe these hood liners would work, might even help with some more sound damping.   
http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?16895-1987-to-1997-Thunderbird-and-Cougar-custom-made-hood-liners

A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #197
Quote from: bodyman;414112
Sounds like some good progress.  Few questions about the bumpsteer process.
Was all this done on an alignment rack? Did the full day include the removal and reinstalling of the sway bar and springs? Did you do both sides or just one and use those results for the other side? I will need to be going thru this process sometime and just wondering what I need to plan for. Also going to be purchasing the MM bumpersteer guages, I assume they come with some good instructions.

 
The full day included removal and re-installation of springs & sway bar.  Both sides were checked and adjusted (the amount of shims from one side may be used as a base line for the other side, but each side was different.  This was not done on an alignment rack.  Setting zero toe can be done with a tape measure.

MM provides instructions with the kit (both in the tie rod kit & the tool) as well as on their website. 

The biggest challenge I was getting consistent measurements.  Each needed to be measured at least three times in both compression & extension to ensure they were accurate.  There was a good number of times when the numbers were whacked and it was necessary to start over. 

It seems checking bump-steer is one of those items which is often mentioned, but seldom followed up on.  After witnessing the dramatic difference, I'm glad I took the leap (both financially and time) to take care of it.

A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #198
Thanks for the info. Will definitely be taking the time to do this.

A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #199
Lots of small stuff taken care of and the list is getting smaller.  Here's shot of how I made use of where the ashtray went: The rotary switch is for the Quarterhorse for up to three different tunes.  The port on the right is to hook up the computer to the Quarterhorse.  The rocker switch if for the future...

How about an '89 Super Coupe steering wheel?  Simple bolt on.  The wheel is 1/2" larger in diameter.  Seems to fit the interior better than the TC unit.

A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #200
I'm not really convinced on the bumpsteer stuff.  I've never checked any of it, even with my really oddball setup, and if it has bumpsteer, I'd have to say I'm using it to my advantage.  My car turns into a corner instantly and sticks the whole way through.  Could also be a byproduct of my really high rate coilovers though too.

Loving the switch tray!  Something I may do when I upgrade the megasquirt in my burgundy car.

88 t-bird tc - 14.97 @ 90  IHI 18 psi + k+n filter...so far - NOW HX-35 @25psi - 12.75@112    348rwhp/395rwtq
78 F-150 - 11.61@120 on 175shot N20 - 12.55@110 on motor - 5200# race weight:hick:

 

A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #201
Looking good Mark, I like the steering wheel mod :)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]


A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #202
I have more suspension travel, which influences bumpsteer pretty heavily!  I suspect those high rate coilovers keep things pretty flat.

Thank on the switch tray!  One of the few items which didn't take too long...

A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #203
Quote from: Bob;415660
Looking good Mark, I like the steering wheel mod :)

Thanks Bob.  I know I saw in some site a few years back and just happend to do a quick search a couple weeks ago and found one on eBay.  It needs a good cleaning and the toe needs to be reset to center the wheel, but it finally feels right!

A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #204
It does move under it's own power!  The new 3" exhaust past the test of my driveway approach, no sing!  First time ever the car hasn't dragged getting in and out of the drive way.

There are more things to work on.  The tune needs some work, the fuel gauge just quit, the a/c has to be recharged, an alignment, as well as a few cosmetic things, but here's how it looks out of the garage!

It's about a year later than expected, but it really was taking the elephant all in one bite.  There have hundreds of man hours just since December.


A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #206
Looks great, awesome even.

A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #207
Those rear tires are awesome!! Love the car :D


86' T/C 4.6L DOHC
16' Chebby Cruze 1.4L Turbo
17’ Peterbilt 389 600hp 1850ftlb Trq 18spd

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

“Heavy Metal Mistress”
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A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #208
WOW!

Cannot wait to see this again in July!
gumby - beauty may fade, but stupid is forever!

A few upgrades: 5/20/13 Pics outside the garage!

Reply #209
Dang Mark

That bird looks awesome...I really like the SC steering wheel...does the cruise work?

Did u get that tune worked out?

Travis