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Topic: inner fender mod (Read 4560 times) previous topic - next topic

inner fender mod

Reply #15
Quote from: DakotaEpic
This guy did something similar.

Bay Covers

Hmmm... I like it. Or rather the basic concept. At least he's doing something... though it would look better on a 4.6L. :)
2005 Subaru WRX STi|daily driver

inner fender mod

Reply #16
Quote from: 87tbirdmanjwg
Has anyone ever thought of just hiding all the engine compartment wiring in the dash(almost done) and putting the battery in the trunk(i've already done that) smoothing and boxing in the engine compartment frame rails(working on it) and filling in the swisscheese holes? I got inspired my a few cars I've seen in my mustangs and fast fords magazines. I'll have pics of my progress sooner or later..

The Big E did it to his car.
One 88

inner fender mod

Reply #17
Sheeyah...and I'd probably not do it again. ;)

OK, first things first: wiring. We have a ton of it. In some instances it can be moved to the inner fender areas (underneath the plastic, above the wheels) with perhaps some minor lengthening needed on a few little things. That's what I did in the convertible. Don't forget, with a power top mechanism, my wiring bundle got even thicker, so it was a big challenge to do. For a stock setup, no problemo. It did take me a few nights to figure out though. It's easier if the battery is on the driver's side since you can put the wiring harness through the hole next to the wiper motor.

Also...one can consider hiding the engine harness inside the car, up behind the dash. Requires cutting some new holes, plugging up the main harness hole...shouldn't need much lengthening of wires, if at all. This should only be considered if you have the dash out or are planning to remove it from the car. It's very labor intensive.

Filling in the holes...I had a friend come over and weld them, while the motor was out. He had a hell of a time. I even gave it a shot too. We both agreed that we'd never do it again. ;) If you have the time and patience, it's the best way to clean things up. Also, I don't know if they will work for our cars but there still should be a company or two that makes fiberglass slip-over covers for the inner fenders of Fox Mustangs. They slip around the strut towers and are paint-to-match. Pretty slick...although there still is a seam showing, that can probably be minimized or smoothed out somehow. Plus your engine bay will smell like fiberglass after you've driven the car, and that is a heavenly scent like no other.

Moving the battery to the trunk is cool if you don't use the trunk as originally intended (to haul stuff). Otherwise it's a pain. But it does work fine and saves you ~50 lbs. of unsprung weight from the front of the car, plus puts a little more weight near the axle for better launches. Not on the street, of course. ;)

In the end I opted to bend up some aluminum cover panels since I have access to an aluminum bender. I used No-Mar crinkle finish Alcoa aluminum, .024 gauge. Hides dirt very well. Am I happy with the panels? Meh, yes and no. I can do better...but there are also limitations to what I can do with the material and bender. For now they are covering stuff up and that's all that counts. I have a game plan for the engine bay that, should I ever stumble across that rarity known as 'free time', I shall implement.

inner fender mod

Reply #18
Quote from: EricCoolCats
Also, I don't know if they will work for our cars but there still should be a company or two that makes fiberglass slip-over covers for the inner fenders of Fox Mustangs. They slip around the strut towers and are paint-to-match.

I think this may be what I was thinking of. Do you recall if it covered the radiator core support?
Temporarily Foxless? Ride the Bull...

inner fender mod

Reply #19
I don't think so...I just remember seeing them in the New Products section of MM&FF about, oh, 8 years ago and it showed them covering the inner fenders only. I would imagine fiberglass hood manufacturers may have them listed.

The radiator core covers for a Fox Mustang work on our cars...we share the same core support.

inner fender mod

Reply #20
Labor intensive is an understatment! I've had no dash In the tbird for 4 months now, and I'm geting close to being able to put a dash back in and finish my interior.
~1988 thunderbird~
In hibernation, waiting for spring.

inner fender mod

Reply #21
Speaking of which, I never have seen an underhood pic of your car, Eric. ;)

inner fender mod

Reply #22
Oh reh-heh-heallllyyy? ;)





If you look to the left in the picture, under the CAI tube, you can see some. There is a full-width cover over the radiator core also. I'll see if I can dig up better pix for everyone.

inner fender mod

Reply #23
****! I'M BLIND!!!!!!!!!


That's beautiful, man.

inner fender mod

Reply #24
Thanks...it's alright, I could do better. For this engine I accept things because it's gone about as far as it can go.

The next engine...yeah...you've seen what Chip Foose does, right? With engine bay presentation and all? Or some of the newer cars at the auto shows? Think along those lines... ;)

inner fender mod

Reply #25
Know what they say  "If it dont go, Chrome it" :giggle:


Na I really like it, can tell alot of work went into that.  And I have to ask where did you get the chrome radiator hose?

inner fender mod

Reply #26
looks nice eric, you taking it to carlisle this year? Id rather just weld/fill up the holes myself but the hard way usually looks better lol

t-bird85, ive always gone with the saying, chrome wont get ya home :p:

inner fender mod

Reply #27
Chrome radiator hoses were a Christmas gift from an ex-girlfriend. She was good at something after all. ;) I believe they are made by MAC.

The Carlisle thing will now be a 'wait and see' event for me. I won't know if I'm going until 2 or 3 days beforehand. This is due to the weather...I'm getting pretty annoyed at getting rained on year after year. But of course, the years I keep the car home, it's nice and sunny. Glad I can make some people happy, at least.

The chrome was going to be different...I had radical plans for the engine bay a few years ago. Things didn't work out how I'd liked so I kept everything chromed. I guess looking back it was for the better.

That doesn't mean the car doesn't go, however. ;)

inner fender mod

Reply #28
thats a clean bay you got there eric. Like the Radiator hoses but im biased....

I bet the chrome cover i have on my stang would work on the Tbirds too. I'll have to take it off and try it on the TC

here's some pics of my turd stang



RIP 1986 Turbocoupe
1988 Mustang GT Show car/weekend racer
1986 Mustang T-top coupe The 2.3T project
1977 F250 400 4wd Fun in the mud
1997 Honda CBR F3 For when i want to make everything else feel slow

inner fender mod

Reply #29
Sometimes just detailing the bay works wonders (yeah this was a pain in the ass but worth it :D )
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.