I find myself contemplating going on Power Tour again this year for a few legs and want to try and fix a few issues that popped up last time. What upgrades/fixes/changes do you guys have planned for 2012?
Here are mine. My goals are to keep the car looking nearly the same but to make the driving experience better and to make it more reliable.
Edited 2/18/12
Must do's:
1.) change from adjustable CHE LCA's and Steeda springs to CHE non-adjustable LCA's and Moog 8599 springs. Hopefully the car will ride a little better. DONE
2.) Police fan clutch, new fan. The bird was overheating last summer in stop and go traffic during the power tour. DONE
3.) I still have a vibration around 70 mph. Been fighting this since 2004. The driveshaft is about the only thing left that could be causing it. I took it to a local driveshaft/drivetrain guy and he checked it for balance. Its balanced perfectly. He gave me a few ideas on what it could be. I have some hubcentric rings on order, hopefully they cure my issue. NEW DRIVESHAFT, CURED IT! DONE
4.) We will see what the ride height looks like and how the mismatch of spings will ride/handle after swapping in the Moog rear springs. I may install a set of Moog 8598 front springs if it looks goofy (too low in front compared to the rear). EDIT: Looks a tad goofy. I'm planning on cutting my springs down a little to get it where I want it.
5.) Weld in the subframe connectors that have been collecting dust in the corner of my garage...maybe I need to move this up to the "must do" list. DONE
6.) Tune her up before Power Tour in June: new plugs, ford racing plug wires, MSD coil, MSD cap/rotor, add some sort of nice wire separators to spruce up the engine bay a tad.
Dream list:
1.) change from Cobra R's to Chrome 93 Cobra replicas. Doubt my budget will allow this, but I've been really thinking that would make a nice change to the car that would be somewhat different and look TOUGH. DONE (lol, dream list and it was the 1st thing I did)
I had a drive line vibration that went away when i had a new driveshaft made.
As far as my to do list, I have 2003 mustang conrol arms, and 93 Mustang spindles and brakes that just arrived in the mail. Also need to install my TC hood that i already painted.
If you don't mind me asking, where did you get your aluminum ds made?
Swap master cylinder, current one appears to have failed internally
Swap wheels to something nicer
Start looking at cleaning up engine bay
I did it in steel, at a place in Hartford Ct. I think the place was called The Drive Shaft Center. Spent about $200 and got a nice neat job. Haven't any vibration since.
:evilgrin: I've got a door ding and a section of paint flaking on the front edge of the hood. I've got a real good body guy plus I still have some paint left over when he painted it 20+ years ago...he says he can blend it in...we'll see.
My list.
1. Do the mod work to the replacement hood
2. Do the mod work to the trunk lid
3. A little bodywork
4. Paint the Sport
5. Recover the seats
6. Hide some wires under the hood and do some super cleaning
7. Replace the broken hood latch cable
8.Swap on my new 1.7 roller rockers
9. A really good tune up
10. Dyno the ol' girl.
11. Tint the windows.
12. New lers
13.Do some fiberglass modifications to the spare TC header panel ( a "maybe" project if I like the results)
14.New shift (tired of the current pistol grip Hurst piece)
15.Swap the tailshaft bushing in the T-5
16. Install a new master cylinder
17. New struts
18. New shocks
19. Subframe connectors
20. maybe swap my Cobra intake for a polished Cobra intake.....
Not necessarily in that order.
And probably more as I put some thought into it.
Vinnie, you do realize you have an addiction.....don't you? LOL
I would move the subframe connectors to the "Must Do" list. It will make a hell of an improvement.
I have something to do to mine in the early spring when it gets warm out, so late March/early April. All I'll say is that in involves some aluminum components ;).
OK cool...I think I will probably go alum. but thanks for the info regardless.
Hopefully that will give you an excuse to post pics of your car! Its one of my (many) favorites on here.
I knew you would come through with a nice list Vinnie! lol. Going to the same color again w/the repaint or something new?
After reading your thread I am in 100% agreement with that statement. I have a buddy who runs his own shop and has a lift. If I do the front springs I will probably take it down some evening and have him help me install the springs and do an alignment. We can weld in the subframes at that point.
So you have some alum heads in your future, eh?
Install shift kit
Install rebuilt posi and 3.45s
Headers & 2.5" exhaust
Maybe, Carb swap with torker intake and 650 holley
Or Mass air swap
redo headliner
Port P heads, install big valves, screw in studs, install on car with trickflow cam.
suspension
In this order
Swap parts out to make HO.
Weld in some subframe connectors.
Paint my pony wheels darker grey and get a Cougar head in the center cap.
Get my exhaust done, its dumps right now.
Silverfox valvebody.
Better tranny cooler.
Well see how it goes....
Same color for the Sport, but gotta get rid of the hail damage. Oh, and subframe connectors.that has to be added to the list. I'll edit above.. Gotta do that as well...after I teach myself to weld.
Hmmmm... Back it out of the garage
I cant wait, your Cougar is beautiful.
1) Acquire funds.
2) Purchase Tbird.
3) Make new list.
1. finish wheel swap
2. remove wheel swap, engine, and interior
3. take shell to body main for paint
4. reverse steps
Hmmmm, more of what I hope to get done than a to do list:
1. Swap in a T3 turbo instead of the IHI
2.FMIC
3.Get the moonroof fixed and replace the seal
4.Atleast start the body work and if I get it finished atleast a temp coat of paint
5.Get the leather seats recovered and possibly install heaters in them
6.Get the speedo reading right, weather that be a speedo gear change or putting the proper gears on the rear(it was an auto, so it has 3.73 gears
7. If I get all that done Ill need a new list!!
to do list for 2012? well....
...definitely-must-do list:
- Tag
- Tires
- Struts/shocks
- Brakes
- clean headlights again
- get that GD torx bolt out of my back seat floor pan
...hopefully-will-get-to-do list:
- split-port heads and MAF ECU
- TC rear
- seats and door panels
- dash cap
- dash speakers
- guage set
...of course there's LOTS more to be done, but that's all I hope to be done with this year. And if I can get all that accomplished this year I will be VERY happy:) Although I doubt I will accomplish half of it... oh well we'll see:cool:
Ditto. Except I'm thinking tax time and a cougar.
Already started in December of 2011:
1. Remove sub box, amp tray, all trunk trim and carpeting to store in the house.
2. Remove previous head unit, amp power wiring and rca cables.
3. Remove rear bottom seat cushion, front sill plates and under dash trim.
4. Remove dash bezels, speaker grills, vents, etc from dashboard.
5. Unbolt tachometer from dash
To do in 2012:
1. Run 4 gauge power cable from engine compartment to trunk
2. Make new positive/battery to solenoid cable to install Tsunami battery terminal
3. Big 3 upgrade
4. Figure out negative cable and install negative Tsunami terminal
5. Find a nice ground in trunk for amp ground cable
6. Headlamp relay upgrade
7. Bypass system sentry for "headlamp out" indicators or somehow find a way for it to work with relay upgrade
8. Install new headunit
9. Wire in 12volt charging unit somewhere in drivers vicinity
10. Spray undercoating/sound deadener on backside of trunk trim pieces to sturdy them up
11. Install unbroken fuel door release with cord
12. Redesign amp tray
13. Reinstall trunk carpet after vacuuming
14. Setup remaining stereo system
15. Fix/fabricate rusted out ler hangers
16. Change oil, new drain plug gaskets
17. Turbocoupe spindles,backing plates,bearings,calipers,rotors, Moog balljoints, new outer tie rods (check inners)
18. New chrome Gorilla lug nuts with locks for the basketweaves
19. Paint calipers red before installing
20. Flush brakelines and install braided stainless steel brake lines on front
21. Valve cover gaskets and ARP stud set
PLANS FOR FUTURE
1. 3.73 or 3.55 gear change
2. Battery relocation to trunk
3. Tint windows
4. Explorer or Cobra upper and lower intake
5. 5 speed swap
6. Subframe connectors
7. Fuel pump door in trunk floor
8. Larger fuel pump
9. Body work and repaint Oxford White
10. Get basketweaves refinished
11. Reupholster seats
12. New 245/50/16 tires
Of course, winning the lottery would help!!
I thought I had a big to do list.
Five lug and cobra brake swap
Drive shaft loop
255 lph pump
CHE control arms
finish moulding on drivers side
front and back window trim
headlight relay kit from RJM
Positive stop shifter
change intake to something better and still close hood
Too much to list...
Try not to cry when I see her around town, rusting away :( I want her back.
Hmmm..
Put it back together after it gets painted next week - FINALLY ( you have NO idea the odyssey I've been through with this car).
Blow up motor with a very low12/high 11 second pass
Replace with single turbo 408.
hmm.. to do lists..
blue TC - install SFCs, new stainless DP, coilovers for the front and a dynotune.. then 6pt cage and make some passes at the track.. i predict low 10's with it's current setup
black TC - pull all drivetrain, rip out all suspension, gut EVERYTHING, cut the front end off(everything from the firewall, forward) and front subframe, build full tubular frame with integrated cage, spooled/narrowed 9" with 3.54's, 4 link, mustang 2 tubular control arms with cobra spindles, cobra brakes all around, rebuild my recent 408 score, aftermarket clevland heads, big garrett or precision, MS2.. hopeing to see 8's with this 1.. pure race car, trailer queen!
white TC - make it roadworthy, repair front clip rust using pieces cut off the black car, T3/T4, Tial wastegate, Greddy bov, custom header, custom intake, boport 1.9 cam, port and rebuild or replace head with bigger valves, build custom stainless exhaust(building everything myself, from the downpipe to the tailpipes), get it tuned and drive the piss out of it
capri - drive to the track, run low 9's, drive home from the track
Still not painted yet? Seems like forever ago when you had started a thread about your car getting painted.
I also have a mildly new plan of attack for the engine and maybe some external front end mods. That is all I'm saying.
Well to start Im pulling it out of storage and getting it tagged.
Now if i can keep my automotive-ADD under control here is my current plans.
- 351- GT40 (Non P) heads, Cam & Intake (TBD)
- MAF conversion
- Equal Length Shorties
- Possible C-4 swap. Trying to figure out if I can make an AOD hold for as cheap as I can swap a decent C-4 in.
- New lers, HATE Flowmasters, Possible side exit out 1/4 panel
- 5 lug swap
- 17" wheels- Stock Mustang is some form
- 8.8" swap when the 7.5" goes BOOM
- SFC, possibly jack rails
- Put interior back together
- Replace bumper skin with TC skin
- Swap hoods
- New shocks, Possibly struts
- New springs
- 13" Cobras - If things go right
Im ready to throw some money at this car. Id like to get it moving under some decent power, then start dealing with body issues. Im shooting for 350/350 but all i want is 300s.
Paint went down on the body last night and on the bumpers, moulding, and mirrors today. Body is all wet sanded and polished. Went with an OEM color from another manufacturer........ Night Hawk Black. It's a Honda color.
Cool man. Post up some pics when finished.
1. Order a SHLOAD of parts
2. Install and plumb fuel cell
3. Run and install battery reloaction
4. Install TC springs and shocks
5. Install tranny xmember
6. Install driveshaft and new pinion seal.
7 Install a bunch of other stuff I cant remember.
Being as my car is a rolling shell, mine is more a novel than a list, but a few things that come to mind
1. Finish body work and get everything at least in primer (may stay that way for a while, I love the primer look)
2. SFC's (wasn't high up on my list til I joined this forum)
3. rebuild/upgrade front and rear suspension
4. Battery to trunk
5. 5 lug swap so I can put some decent brakes on it (stock are barely adequate for a bicycle)
6. add a couple hundred horsies to the wheezing 130hp 302 (maybe 351 in future, still not sure yet)
7. full gauges
8. maybe a t5
9. trak-lok and something lower than 2.73's
10. stumble upon large amount of money to make the above list happen (I do accept donations :D )
Looks like there are lots of ambitious plans for 2012! Hope the car gods are with you guys.
I've located an A4 block and forged rotating assembly. A set of ported 192 Canfields (finally got them back after two years...), Kooks headers, RPM II intake and a 1 inch bigger crank pulley on the blower, plus some supporting equipment.
Got to be done, tuned and sorted by June 1st for the HRPT.
VERY NICE! Gonna do any dyno runs? lol.
I'm gonna finish my 5 speed swap. I bought a T5 along with the pedal assembly and the bell housing, but I never got around to getting the rest.
On the Tour? If its sorted out, sure!
I've drag raced and auto crossed at other HRPT's. Just depends on the events at the venues I've attended (and if I got there in time!). They're usually a riot to watch and partite in.
You were running a "XXX" roller block before?
Oh yeah. The old line: "never enough money or time to do it right the first time, but always money and time to do it again" rings pretty true when pushing an xxx block...
Honestly if I can get the suspension semi sorted out (wheel/brakes included) it will be a more successful year than the last 2 or 3
Get car tuned correctly (Mass-flo isn't a plug and play solution and tech support and me haven't seen eye to eye)
Move ratchet shifter back from stock location, remove arm rest and fab seat + mirror switches into cover for ratchet shifter
Fix c4 leak, not sure where it is coming from but if it sets any at all it needs a couple quarts to motivate it. May switch to AOD and put some DD miles on it
Drive car
Dillion, it's time for the resurection?
Ya its been sitting for couple months after Fuel Injection upgrade, I'm too far from it and no time off.
- CHE rear control arms
- 8.8 rear end with disc brakes (if i can find one)
- 11" front brake upgrade with continental calipers and stainless steel brake hoses
- Repair trunk panels
- Install an amp for the cabin speakers
- Paint/POR the entire inside of the trunk (provided somebody helps me to patch the holes rotted in the trunk)
- Eibach sway bars
- 5.0 HO with 347 stroker upgrade (if i have the cash to finish the build)
- Aluminum driveshaft (if I can figure out where to get one made/modified)
- clean the headlights, take those reflector things of the taillights to make them clearer/nicer
1. Finish the interior....center console gauges and starter switches, speedo/tach gauge pod, stereo, and blue led interior lighting, 2x power window motors and finish drivers door panel.
2. Finish 5 lug swap. Rear is nearly done.
3. Get motor finished including holset prepped, big injectors, header, 65mm throttle body, PIMP computer, and intercooler
4. buy wheels/tires
5. convert 5 speed to a v-8 t-5. gotta get rid of that hydro mess and a bigger clutch.
1. Finish stripping engine bay of excess I no longer need.
2. Strip interior,partially strip dash for now.
3.Remove stock k member and suspension
4. Clean and paint [prime] engine bay.
5. Install new tube k member,a arms, sn 95 spindles and Strange coilovers.
6. Remove stock diff.
7. Weld up trq boxes and install strengthen plates.
8. Stand back and go hmmm,"what next?"
Now that I finally have all the parts for it, I'd like to upgrade the passenger seat to my Frankenstein Jaguar/Town Car/Explorer heated seats setup once the weather warms up a bit. The driver's side has been a real backside-saver this winter.
I'm Putting an 89 super coupe engine in my 88 Bird
New quad shocks. (Done)
BODY WORK, BODY WORK, BODY WORK!!!
Get the NOS trunk lid out of the basp00get and on the car.
Get the T3/T4 hybrid " ".
Three inch downpipe split to 2 1/2 with magna flows.
Paint!!!
New carpet.
93 Cobra wheels.
And by the looks of this tread I better weld in some frame connectors.
Scour the local bone yards for a 3.7 eco boost, computer and wiring harness.
Find someone to modify the truck tranny for car use.
Find a programmer to do their magic on the combo.
2013-2014
Install said engine...funds pending
Build early 80s IMSA style body work and install 4 eye front clip.
2015
Finish body work and interior
The salt is off the roads (for now). I really need to get the car to my buddies shop so we can install some parts I bought.....
:finish painting my car
:pull engine
:paint engine bay
:replace brake lines
:install 5 speed
:buy aluminum driveshaft
:aerospace front brakes
Work on the interior and repair what the last owner hacked up (Uh !)
Install a new vacuum booster/master cylinder assembly
Put in a new rack & pinion
Drive it and work on the tune some more.
Maybe get to work on installing the new rear susp stuff.
Drive it.
I need to
locate Mark VII rear axles, brakes, calipers and hardware, finish my 5 lug.
New shocks, struts, wheel bearings/seals.
'99 Stang dual piston calipers, new hoses, etc etc
Pull the T5 to have it checked out...it has a few issues.
Finish tearing open the other HO shortblock and take it and the 40P's to the machine shop to get tanked.
Eventually assemble the HO block, P heads, and the as-yet un-purchased TFS cam and assemble them in a relative fashion to last at least one or two summers.
Probably take me another 5 years lmao
1. Engine swap. 96-97 int EGR Explorer 5.0. When I picked her up, somebody had already swapped in an 87 LSC motor and H-pipe, BUT, the bottom is burned up and I think I have a cylinder sealing problem. To top it off, a lifter just started ticking.
2. Some fill rate mods. I had a burnt trans when I picked up the car. My friend and I went through and swapped the AOD stack for a 4R70W stack and added clutches. She shifts nice, but I get a little slipping on a hard 1-2.
3. 5-lugs from a 96-2004 Mustang. I've got a good source for Knuckles, brakes, brake master, springs and a 3.27 8.8 LSD rear. And, I've got some 17" steel P71 wheels that I'm working on putting some 245/45R17's around.
The motor is going to be first. I'm looking for an install date around the first of June. I've considered stuffing a cam while it's in the wind. I was debating over a B303 or an E303. If anyone want's to weigh in on that, I'd appreciate the advice.
I can pretty much tackle the valve body thing any time, but I'll probably get after it when I do the motor.
My suspension project is a little harder to nail down, I have the wheels, and I have some lightly used tires, but the rest is probably going to happen at the end of summer, maybe the early fall. For 2013, I'm hoping to get the exhaust re-plumbed from port to plastic. After that, Some nice clean southern sourced salvage steel and local paint. Satin black. Smooth. Stealthy.
Check of the exhaust system from my 2 do list. Installed the stinger perfomance 3" dual system with flowmaster super 44 lers. It sounds flippin' awesome.
I banged out my list. 03 control arms, 93 mustang brakes and tc hood are all done. Just driving and enjoying now.
I can drive mine but I still haven't got my new parts on. I can't do it at home because my garage is getting torn down and rebuilt in about a week. The whole garage thing is going to take about about a month. I'm hoping to get the T-bird over to my buddies shop by April 1st to start working on it there. I really want to get the parts I bought over the winter on the car especially since it's been in the 70's this week.
Hoping to get all this done.
1. Paint engine bay (will do shortly)
2. Raptorize underside (done)
3. Sound deaden inside (done)
4. Re-install front and rear suspension.
5. Aquire/Install stang dash
6. Finish subtle little body mods
7. Get body shell and other panels into color
8. ??????
After this roadtrip it needs
Exhaust
Oil pan resealed (might replace the motor while I'm at it)
Replace window motors
Replace heater core
Are those flat or matte black hood scoops I see? I was thinking of doing the same with mine. The whole car looks fantastic. I really like what you've done.
Rebuild the 3.8 V6 in my cougar because it needs new rod bearings.
1. Finish/ fab a new forward center console with drink holders around the 4R70W mustang shifter
2. Pull and paint the side moldings in body color
3. Yank valve covers to install new breather setup
4. Install headlight relays
5. Dyno!
6. Finish A/C (make new hoses and charge)
for future:
Buy MS2 daughtercard and fab in a GM stepper for idle control
Updated above list 4/30 :D
Updated list today :D
I'm gonna add one to my list too: install new coil, plugs, wires, cap/rotor before power tour.
for this summer i only finish what i've started
-wait for my che control arm and bolt it on
-order diff bushing
-put my tc rear
-fix the floor,seat rails,make sfc
-reinstall bucket seats
-plug my prop valve
-get e-brake cables
-make space on e-bay
-remove egr and clim
-e-fan with thermo switch,relay....
-remove dust of my shorties with dual who was in the attic and swap it in with lock bolts
-go to alignement
-clutch job on diff
-draw on the road with my old rear tires
-install my potenza
-pray for the summer not ending after all those mod
-