Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Suspension pick up points on the chassis or structure may be re-
located. If such points are relocated, there shall be a metal panel,
covering, or bulkhead separating the driver from the suspension
components.

The chassis, frame, or subframe may be notched or cut and brackets
may be added for the purpose of attaching alternate suspension or
drivetrain components, except that the firewall may not be modifi ed
for engine block or cylinder head clearance. Holes may be cut to
provide clearance for authorized suspension and drivetrain compo-
nents, through their entire range of travel. Additional structure may
be added in order to attach allowed components to the chassis.

Replacement of any chassis component (e.g. subframe) in its en-
tirety by one of alternate construction, unless specifi cally permitted,
shall result in the vehicle being “in excess” of these rules and weight
penalties and/or competitive adjustments may apply.

"Thanks gumby for finding this thread since apparently I didnt search for it hard enough, lol"

thats a whole lota weldin seams and holes :punchballs:

There is still room above the torque arm crossmember to be able to get a 3" pipe though there though.

This is a SICK build!  I really like how you are building your own suspension mods.  I curious as to the front torque arm connection.  I thought the front connection needed to allow for axle rotation up or down from side to side?  I guess you are not expecting any body lean in the corners, huh?

Keep up the great work.

The MM arm is attached with a bolt in single shear.  I didnt like that, and I didn't like the way the griggs arm attached either.  So, I tried something different.  It works for leaf springs, so why is this any different?  Its got the two bushings so that each one only has to take up half the movement.

This is an install I found of the MM torque arm that clearly shows the bolt in single shear
http://www.alanchavis.com/oldsite/mmtapb/mmtapb.htm

Griggs setup(scroll down a little - just a diagram)
http://www.griggsracing.com/installation/gr40.html

I just want a car that doesnt do this anymore!



This gives you an idea of what stock springs, strange shocks/struts, poly bushings, bigger front swaybar, no rear swaybar, and 295/35/17 Hoosier A6's do.

I can only get one of the 4 rod ends back in, and I managed to get another STUCK in the insert and CAN't get the  thin back out

(http://www.nworscca.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=34024&g2_serialNumber=1)

3) any idea how much the lid reinforcements weigh?

maybe I shoulda bought the evtm instead of the wiring schematics.  At this point I'm seriously comtemplating starting the hell over

I have an 87 evtm i could scan stuff from if that helps.

Wiring connections to engine (yes they are computer connectors, but they have a high enough amp rating to be able to handle it.)  This should make it easy to change head gaskets quick because I can just unplug it off the firewall and not have to deal with the other connectors

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/Fordguy545/autox%20tbird%20project/DSC00046.jpg)

nice progress, when is your first event?

You might want to consider a set of mil circular connectors.  I deal with them at work all the time.  Very rugged and vibration resistant (we use them in A-10s).  Plus they look awesome.  If you decide to go that route let me know and i can help you pick out a nice clamp cable end and matching bulkhead.

Search d38999 in Google to see what I'm talking about.

and polished the valve cover(currently masking it off for paint-all those letters SUCK)
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/Fordguy545/autox%20tbird%20project/DSC00057.jpg)
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/Fordguy545/autox%20tbird%20project/DSC00058.jpg)

Finally got all the high build primer sanded.  Cars gonna be straight as an arrow!  Sealed all the spots I sanded through the primer tonight, and got the silver on for the pinstripe.  Painting the rest tomorrow!

looking forward to the next pics. You've been busy lately!

Did you actually put a Four-eyes front end on an 88?

Btw,  that whole painting thing is a ton of work, so, kudos to you!

I'm just going to go ahead and use the E6 manifold instead of the ATR header. I don't have time to keep screwing with that ATR.

PITA to get any bolts in!  And with my track record of blowing head gaskets, I don't want to deal with it.

stock w/bo 1.5 and ported e6.  thats about it at this point

at this point its a stock .48 T3.  It might get a holset next winter, but at this point there just isnt enough done to the head to support the holset.  I thought about a ebay turbo with a rebuild right off the bat, but thats something that can happen later also.  I should be able to get plenty of boost right off the bat to get out of corners where my other car always struggled.  I havent been able to make heads or tails out of compressor maps so that makes figuring out turbos a little difficult.

I actually ran across a rebuilt real garrett to4e on ebay for not too much.  Still got a day left on it so we'll see.

Dude that is a Boss T-Bird man probly the coolest one ive ever seen (no offence to anyone else) but yea nice work man! yea i bought some tires of of that evo dave guy... he kina is a douche... lol

I would kill to have your workspace.  I'ts running a MS2?  I've been thinking of putting one together to run my girlfriends 84 rabbit. Its got mechanical FI now thats a beast to get running perfect.

Would it have killed you to goose it just once?

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/Fordguy545/autox%20tbird%20project/DSC00178.jpg)

it actually doesn't ride bad for how stiff the springs are. 

Thanks guys.  I just wish the car had run better.  Its hard to judge how a cars going to behave with full power when its only making about 90hp,

What is it acting like down on power?

wastegate actuator broke off.

wastegate actuator broke off.

So you found the problem, or that's what it is acting like?

Looking good. Should do the job I'd think.

What pads did you have on it?

"I also put on hawk dtc-60 brake pads all the way around and MAN what a difference!! Thing stops on a dime(probably less than 75' from 60mph)"
LOL

Right. What did he change FROM?

This. Is. AWESOME.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3026/5827657670_fcdc74f4e8_o.jpg)

Well, I think I just mislabled it. 

and you need to get a k&n pre-filter so your filter doesn't get so dirty

This car makes me want to cut my own face off. I'm such a failure at being a car enthusiast...

But you should widen the whole side of the car imo. Would look killer!

I'm loving this car more and more. Wish there was a way to see it in person

LOL.  I will warn you, the last first timer I gave a ride to got out of the car visibly shaking and trying to catch his breath, lol.

Very Awesome. Which Turbo you runnin' now?

Can't wait to get my Bird back out to the Skid Pad later this year.

(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/Fordguy545/autox%20tbird%20project/919318_10151636892536410_1479739401_o_zps03794a95.jpg) (http://"http://s26.photobucket.com/user/Fordguy545/media/autox%20tbird%20project/919318_10151636892536410_1479739401_o_zps03794a95.jpg.html")

fordguy545, awesome runs at the Dome last weekend. I love your car (of course). I hope my fellow DET Region Folks were good hosts for you. (I haven't run AutoCross with them, but many of the same people do Ice Runs, RallyCross, and PAX Track Events....Those I have done.)

Regards,
Cooter

Well, I guess its been a while since I updated this.  I got the engine back together about a month after I blew it up.  Its been running strong and actually had it tuned in early Sept.  On 20 psi, it made 333whp, 354 tq.  Feels a lot stronger than that.  I had to switch to race gas after that tune because it blew a head gasket the next week(nice huh), but its not a big deal.  This years upgrades are going along pretty steadily, and have already lost a ton of weight.  I'm pretty sure the car weighed 2820 last year, and have already gotten it down to 2667 with a passenger seat or 2637 without it.  I haven't even gotten to making any of the carbon fiber parts yet!  I thought I was going to have a hard time getting it to a low 2600 range, and 2500's are going to be easy actually!  On to photos.


Trunk floor was breaking from the weight of the 15 gal cell.

Waiting for the Pic of it out of the paint booth!

lol.  As long as mine still hold air, I'm not too worried.  I figure they would crack around the welds.

Do have a few more pics

Still have to sand and polish the roof, but that clear is so rock hard it kills my sandpaper right away.  Same way with the doors.  BTW I hate how the touch up paints come as a base clear now instead of just gloss black.  Makes it really hard to find where I touched up lol.

Regards from Phil....he is a pal of mine from Torino Cobra Forum, he thinks you are a pretty amazing guy, i tend to agree.......

I want carbon fiber with bracing in it.  The only one available in carbon fiber is only the top skin, no bracing.  Also I hear horror stories of gigantic gaps and horrible fitment with the fiberglass hoods.  I figure its possible I could sell them once I'm done too.  I know I could corner the market on carbon or fiberglass trunk lids for 87/88 cars.  I take pride in knowing that I've done almost all the work on the car myself.  The only things I didn't do were the porting on the head and intake, and the tune on the engine.  Every other thing I either did or made.

I've always wondered what a 'Bird would look like, painted 2 tone, with that little "bend" on the body being the dividing line. And it looks freakin' awesome.