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Messages - fordguy545

1
User Rides / The CP autox bird
Yeah, But I may need to change or rework it.  I don't think the factory style latch will work correctly
2
User Rides / The CP autox bird
Still working on remaking the top of the hood.  Hopefully the carbon fiber will show up tomorrow.  Also trying to figure out how to keep a factory type hood latch.  Thinking I will have to go to the pin latch style like on a later model ford ranger.  Something so It only has to grab a pin, because with the factory tbird latch, it hits against the bottom of the hood before it latches and I think that will eventually break the carbon in that area.  On the blemished hood, I have filled everything with some more epoxy resin and have most of it sanded flat, and it will look good except for the dark stripes on either side of the infusion lines.  Make me an offer on that piece if you are interested.  It weighs 6 lbs.



















3
User Rides / The CP autox bird
Well its been a while again.  Time for a bit of an update.  I am getting the carbon hood near completion finally.  I've had ALOT of help from Brett(Wildcard) on THEFABFORUMS.com and he has shown me the way.  I have both the the top and bottom made, but need to make another top.  There were a few blemishes from the infusion lines that I didn't like, and the bracing underneath was a complete pain in the butt to get vacuum bagged.  My finished hood should be around 12# compared to the stock 60+#. 

I also picked up some afco double adjustable coilovers with remote reservoirs that I am going to have revalved, and go to SLA front suspension.  I already got Howe racing upper arms and screw in mustang 2 ball joints, and a pair of hybrid ball joints to go from the mustang/tbird arm to the mustang 2 pinto spindle I will be using.  I'll grab a pair of 5 lug brake rotors and cut the rotor part off and machine it down to a hub so I can pretty much keep my current brake setup.  Just need new brackets for the calipers.

And of course photobucket is down for maintenance.... so I guess follow my facebook link for pics.  I do have the blemished top that I may consider selling, but for liftoff use only.  The trunk lid is coming either later this year or next winter.  Next winter may be when I make a lot more exterior parts.

https://www.facebook.com/ethan.bradbury.3/media_set?set=a.726160387404086.1073741835.100000303936308&type=3
4
Suspension/Steering / Front Wheel and Tire Fitment - Dimensions and Setups
1988 Ford Thunderbird (started out as a 5.0 so that K member)

Stock or Aftermarket K-Member - Stock 88 with spring perches and whatever else is sticking out at the top cut off.
 Stock or Aftermarket Lower Control Arms - MM Fox 3/4" forward tubular arms delrin bushings
 Four or Five Lug - Five lug conversion using the 04 mustang spindles.  Crash Bolts in Both Holes in strut.  Limited adjustment for caster and camber with MM Caster camber plates.
Steering Rack Limiters - None but should probably have a couple put it.  Occasionally hits stuff in a spin on track.
 Rims - 18x10 Mesh XXR 521, +25 offset with a 6.48"backspacing
 Tires - 315/35/18 Hoosier A6 Required rolling the fenders quite a bit(always remember to unbend the second bend on the fender lip before attempting the rolling)
7
User Rides / The CP autox bird
I'm at the point where I need to spend a decent bit of money in certain places.  I've truthfully gone a lot farther on cheaper stuff than I should have been able to.
8
User Rides / The CP autox bird
I know I haven't kept up with this thread for the past year, but after all of last years upgrades, specifically the brakes, I broke a lot of stuff.  3 transmissions in all due to brake hop.  I have it sort of sorted out at this point, but I think at this point I need to get shocks built specifically for this car.  I've been using off the shelf shocks for years.  Never had any custom valved ones before.  Looking at either JRI or Penske's for the rear.  The front is behaving so I will leave that alone for now.  Anyways, this year at nationals I ended up in 3rd place out of 41 in class.  Apparently I'm the first 4 cylinder car to ever podium!  I do still have 2 seconds to make up to get to Mike Maier. 

So far this years progress has been slow because I completely redid the turbo setup in my other car.  So far all I've gotten done is going to aluminum exhaust that I ran all the way to the bumper this time.  Made it a lot quieter in the car.  Even though its about 5' longer, its 10 pounds lighter.
11
Events & Shows / Autocross?
Sept 28 there's an event at Toledo Express Airport in the Northwestern Ohio Region(NWOR) SCCA too.  Great smooth concrete and a nice large site too.  However it is a long drive for both of you guys.  Can't say that in the 8 years of autoxing i've done, I've never run with another tbird!