Wow I can't believe I haven't posted in over 2 months. It doesn't really look like the car will be fully driveable before the snow falls. But that will give me plenty of time in the winter to get my frame fully reinforced and the suspension redone. I picked up a bunch more parts and almost have my engine done. I would post some pics but the free webhosting that I have with my isp is running low, next month I should have some more webspace.....then i'll post pics like mad!

u guys are lucky we have to pay $5 to $8k for a car like that in australia

Nice...this was an interesting read and exactly what I plan on doing as soon as I start getting some money coming in(building up an early 90s Fox Stang I even already have every last part picked out priced and saved in a word document). Although I don't think I'll be doing all the stuff merker is doing...that must take some skills.

Man I wish I had a garage to hang around just so I can learn how to do some of this stuff.

Eh you Aussies have all the good stuff from American and Japan. Plus a bunch of stuff we can't even sniff. I'd love to get my hands on a Falcon.

Well Lockjaw if you ever want to make yours like mine...or pretty close...I can tell you how to save money and how to do alot of the stuff yourself...my car will turn out nice without breaking the bank to much...I figure when finished I will have about 10k total and have a good fast nice handling/looking custom car... I should have some pics up soon...i'm reorganizing a bunch and resizing them...and plus I will fix all the dead links....

About the only thing I would be anywhere near feeling comfortable doing would be interior work or maybe prepping the car for paint. Engine work while I've READ a ton about engine assembly and what not I don't think I'd be up for. I mean the most mechanical thing I've ever done was change my own oil and help my bud change the spark plugs on his car. I would like to try it but I don't want to spend the cash to experiment. Then again I suppose I could always find a junkyard block and do a dry run on that.

New pics...not 56k friendly!!!
 

OK here are some new pics I'll briefly described them. I did get a new alternator and a carb spacer but I didn't have my camera with.

Here is the engine with the powersteering bracket and intake temporarily on. I sent the power steering bracket (the black bracket) to get powercoated wrinkle black to match everything else.
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/DSC02211.jpg

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/DSC02212.jpg

Ok these three pics are with the headers temporarily on. The intake is on. But the distributor will have to get pulled out again so I can prime the oil system. The spark plug wires are taylor spiro pro wires. The pulleys are steel ford motorsports. I got those for a steal at $50 the set and I picked them up from the guys house. The covering over the hoses is a plastic sleeving and the ends of the hose are covered with heat shrink tubing. The tensioner I got at a local junkyard for $7 The pulley needs to be replaced though but that costs $15 then I polished it on a polisher with took about 10 minutes...not bad for have $23 into a tensioner that costs over $100 new. The dipstick is a lokar brand. Which fits and looks nice :)
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...ly/engine2.jpg

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...ly/engine5.JPG

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...ly/engine7.JPG

This is a pic of the intake studs. So easy to install the intake :)
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...takestuds2.JPG

Looking great!

Yep real sharp looking.

awesome progress... cant wait to see more...

really makes me want to get a project car like that...

I forgot to talk a little bit more about those valve covers. Like i mentioned before sadly I can't use those valve covers that I have in the pictures, they are way way way to short. (I crank the engine over and the valve covers lift up about 1/2 inch.) Well my solution to my valve cover problem i just to make some new ones. I like the fabricated look. But I didn't want to spend $300 on a set of freaking valve covers, so I bought a set of stock 87-93 mustang cast aluminum valve covers, cut off the flange and will make valve covers out of those, they should turn out nice :) I do have a starter on order it's a powermaster 200ftlb starter its made for engines up to 18:1 compression ratio the lower model starters where just on the border of being able to crank my engine over. My temporary aftermarket round air filter assembly barely fits...it rubs against my distributor. Hopefully this weekend I can pick up my power steering stuff and get that hung. Then i can get a new serpentine belt. This winter i'll be working on getting it ready to drag race, then i get to show the cocky kids with imports (those little fucks that thinks if i throw a spoiler on and fill the car with premium it'll be fast) how its done.

dont forget about those stickers and graphics. each one adds 20 horsepower. :D

So you going to put a nice fan on that motor, or just use a electrical one?

Electric one. A normal one sucks horsepower. I'm trying to free up alot of horsepower by doing lots of little things (electric fuel pump, no smog pump, etc.)

Nice! Almost ready to drop in? What hp are you aiming for, im just guessing.......... upper 400-550?

Well for horsepower i'm not sure yet...with the stock heads i'm estimating at only 300-340, but with a respectable amount of torque, next year i'm going to sell out the $1k and get a nice set of heads and a different intake and a bigger cfm carb. That should put me in the 400+ range. And if I ever win the lottery I'll make an all aluminum 302 :)

Today I fabricated some more pieces for my valve covers, I'll take some pics later tonight. I made the stand off's tonight, tomorrow I have to take them to a machine shop and get holes drilled in the center of them. Then I get to have them welded, hopefully they should look nice :)

Here are the flanges and some of the aluminum I have to make my valve covers....
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...alvecover1.jpg http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...alvecover2.jpg

Dumb question. But how much $ have you invested into this project car? Chassis, motor building. And do you plan on investing in suspension and wheels?

Total I figure when I'm done with it all...from body to drivetrain I'll have about $12k into it...but it'll be worth it. And yes this winter I'm redoing the entire suspension, rims will come later as those cost alot of $$$$

Damn I didn't know you where making your own valve covers, talk about custom! :thumbsup:

Today I did a bunch of work on my valve covers.

I almost have the stand offs finished. I did the following to them.

Center drilled them

Faced both sides so they look nice plus they are of equal lengths

All I have left to do on the standoffs is turn them down and then drill the hole through them.

I also milled the top of my flanges down so it will weld nice and easy. I have to make a welding jig out of an old head so they will be easy to weld.

Here is a pic of what I have, I should have the standoffs tack welded on friday
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...alvecover3.jpg

New pic!! Got my alternator, carb, carb spacer and a temporary air filter on!
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...ly/engine8.jpg

I want to make sweet sweet love to that engine.

Seriously tho man, I can not wait to see that finished

Wow, those pics are sexy! Keep up the good work.

Well I have my valve covers almost made, one problem was that I ran out of sheet metal for it. Hopefully I should have some more lined up soon. Hopefully I should have some more pics of them soon. Also my power steering brackets are done being powercoated. Then this week i'll probably bring the body into the shop and start cutting and welding on it to reinforce it (no sense putting a strong engine and twisting the body out of whack right away). I'm gonna call around to some salvage yards and try to find a 8.8 rear end and then rebuild that and put in my proper gear combo I want, plus then I get rear disc brakes. Should have some more pics soon.

Even more pics..with air filter that I will be using and power steering pump
 

Ok here is the air filter I will be using, It is painted wrinkle black and all of the emission holes are plugged off.

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...ly/engine9.JPG http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine10.JPG http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine12.JPG http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine13.JPG

That pic just looks mean

Next up for things I have to do are the following.

Get a new tensioner pulley, it was a used tensioner and the pulley that is on it grinds pretty badly when you spin it.

Take the factory belt and chop it to fit so I can get the proper size one from the auto parts store.

See if the place i've been getting my parts from can finally get my starter that I want so bad. I want a powermaster 200ft/lb starter (that way if I ever build a badder ass 5.0 I can just use it for that)

Get bolts for my airfilter so I can put the snorkels back on.

Get a power steering cap.

Well I finally got my belt tensioner...pain in the ass to find the pulley since ford changed the style of pulley on it...it's metal without the flanges instead of the typical plastic with flanges. Also I put my airfilter together...just had to get some foam to seal the snorkels. Hopefully next week I will have my valve covers on. That belt cost about $28 also..but it's a dayco polycog belt so it should last me awhile...only took me 2 tries to find the correct size belt...oh well on to the pics..it's alot of them!

This post was created using Kreskin's Post Generator located on the web here


http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine14.jpg
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine15.jpg
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine16.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine17.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine18.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine19.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine20.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine21.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine22.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine23.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine24.JPG

Excuse me while I go change my pants. WOW. That engine looks great.

Wow I don't think I would ever pay 28 dollars for a belt, my power streering belt cost me like 13$ but thats getting it from the shop that started my van(they get costly when ypou don't do it yourself)

Yeah, but Napa wanted about $40 and you probably have v belts which are a hell of a price difference.

I don't understand the technicalities and types of parts you are referring to at all, but I can appreciate the amount of work going into this, and it looks really nice.

It must be an incredibly rewarding feeling to take a step back and look at where the engine and car is now compared to where it was when you first started the project.

Very nice job, keep it up! It's great to see it grow. :)

I like the colour coordination of the engine, hah. But seriously, it's looking very schmick, keep up the good work.
Hopefully my project rx7 will eventually be completed.

Nice job Merker. I'd like to see what your new valve covers look like.
The factory 91 and newer 5.0 mini starter works as well as any, cheaper too. I use one on a big block and swear by it.

Ok per request and I finally got one made, this is what my valve covers will closely resemble. Today my friend welded the tops on fully and I grinded the welds I didn't want to see. I sandblasted them just to get an even look. I'm not sure what i'll do for a finish yet.....
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...alvecover4.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...alvecover5.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...alvecover6.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...alvecover7.JPG

Looking nice merk.

That is one sexy engine. I can't wait to see it all done!

same here
keep us posted with pics and comments

Good job

That is one hell of a job you've done with that thing... just looking at that engine pushes my fun buttons, and I'm not even a ford man. Wow.

How bout some pics of the body? you've gotta have a passenger take pics of your first annihilation of RiceBurner04912... that'll be a sight ;)

.... come to think of it, a project RX-7 sounds like a hell of a lot of fun.... o_O

Thanks for keepin us posted!

The body pics are in this thread http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=80562

Many Fox body 5 liter Mustangs have "the driver's seat problem" It is caused from the torque of the motor versus the not so rigid chassis design. It breaks the weld , usually in the right front corner of the seat. It is very common to Mustangs that have been abused. It is easily fixed, but a good indicator of what kind of life the car has led. nice project. :thumbsup:

dude, that is sweet. i admire your work and thank you for sharing.

Man that is coming along very nice indeed, great job! I'm sure the end results will be awsome!!

MORE UPDATES DAMN YOU!!!

Ok here is why I haven't had any updates in awhile. Well right now all my money is being put towards getting my nissan running, why you must ask? Well with gas prices getting higher and how my current daily driver is leaking oil like hell I need something reliable that I can trust and get good gas mileage (15mpg versus 30mpg+). I could of had my mustang running by now if I didn't have to work on my nissan but the mustang will be very spendy to drive. I have been getting the body ready to handle the power of my engine. And hopefully soon I can start fixing the wiring, that stuff will cost me little money to do.

Great looking project....

I like what you have done mg, just keep the updates comin'

Any progress merkerguitars?

Also, I have a bunch of questions about my 1995 Mustang GT Convertable that I would like to ask people. I am a computer nerd with no real skills with automobiles, but still would like to fix a couple things. For example, the car is parked outside all the time and the headlights are clouded over. The plastic itself has oxidized, but it is all the plastic not just the outside (so it won't buff out with compound). I was wondering what I need to buy, where I can buy it and how I would install new headlights. I thought that I would install some bright white / xenon type bulbs while I was at it. Nothing riced out (the car is totally stock with not one change) but just functionally nice bright bulbs.

If you wouldn't mind PMing me a forumn for Mustang people that is active and non-spammy if you know of any, I would appreciate it along with any advice.

M

Well i'll start getting more progress done soon now that I don't really need to bust ass on my nissan as much, plus getting a part time job will make it so I can actually buy more parts :) yay! Ok on your thing about your headlights, you could cut them apart and try cleaning them and all that garbage but in the long run it probably would be easier just to by new headlights, 5.0 resto is a great site that i've ordered parts from they have a set for only $160 and thats both headlights with the corner lights http://secure.50resto.com/category.c...Category_ID=90 otherwise you'll probably spend hours into trying to fix your stock lights. If you have anymore question most likely I can answer them.

Sweet my high torque mini starter came in. And hopefully i'll get some stuff done this week...feels good to get back in the game!

It feels good to have you back in the game. Seriously, I feel like I'm actually helping on this car... without actually having to do any work. So make with the updates!

Seriously, I'm really looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Keep up the good work, man!

Well next week i'm gonna get ready for dropping the engine in.

I'll strip the dash down to nothing to replace my heater core and then probably paint the lower part of my dash black.
Then I have to punch a whole in the firewall for routing all my wires for my gauges.
I'll rip out all the rest of the interior, everything from door panels to the interior carpet. Then i'll get run my cables for my battery.
I'll mount the battery in the hatch.

Well, got a little more done today, started to gut the interior again.

Heres my racing starter I bought.

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...s/starter1.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...s/starter2.JPG

And heres what I did today.
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...e/prepare1.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...e/prepare2.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...e/prepare3.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...e/prepare4.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...e/prepare5.JPG

The carpet is so shot I decided just to throw it away. I need to patch some more holes in the floor, but that should be pretty easy to do. Hopefull I'll get it rolled into my dads shop on sat and start cutting out the frame to weld in subframe connectors

Wow that floor needs some TLC. But its a good thing your good at welding.

Well did a little on saturday, gutted most of the interior out, would of had it all out but couldn't due I can only get the hatch open when there is a battery in the car and I need a special wrench to get out my dash to replace my heater core.


This is my absolute worse rust hole in the floor, thankfully I can fix it easily.
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...e/prepare6.JPG

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...e/prepare7.JPG

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...e/prepare8.JPG

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...e/prepare9.JPG

Here is my wiring that I am cleaning up. Then it will be covered in new blue wire loom, once it is sorted out.
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me.../prepare10.JPG

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me.../prepare11.JPG

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me.../prepare12.JPG

you can't use your key to open the rear hatch?

Bought some temporary valve cover off of ebay. But here's my most recent engine pic.
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...c/mustang2.JPG

How much did your racing starter cost...I think I need one!

They run about $150ish for the highest output ones.

Here are some more misc pics I took today.

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...c/mustang3.JPG

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...c/mustang4.JPG

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...c/mustang5.JPG

Lookin' good! I can't wait to see the final finished product. Mine is close, too. I'm just needing to do the PCM, and then register the car. Aren't car projects just so much fun? I love 'em...they give me something to do. How much longer is yours gonna be before it's ready to hit the road?

The only thing I hate about this project is its taking me forever just to get running :)

I just put my breathers in, just got those today. The only other things I really have to do is order my fan for my radiator $45, get a master disconnect switch for my battery $100, go to an army surplus store to get an old ammo box to use as a battery box and get my subframes welded together (my dads project that he wants to do).

More pics! So close to done. I did finally pick up a proper fuel pump today also :)

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine27.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine28.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...y/engine29.JPG

I love that air intake!

Well today I finally got the dash ripped out of my car, lots of wiring to disconnect and lots of little screws and clips, and after fully getting my dash ripped out I reliezed something, my dash is a hunk of shit. Its' cracked and alot of brackets are missing and its an ugly color and it would be hell to restore, also my wiring is a nightmare and the way its set up is just plain dumb. So i'm gonna do what my dad told me to do in the first place, make a custom dash and wire it up from scratch! This way it should be wired proper, less troubleshooting. Anyways here are some pics of my dash and the wiring nightmare and the naked car.
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...dash/dash1.JPG http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...dash/dash2.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...dash/dash3.JPG http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...dash/dash4.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me...dash/dash5.JPG

mmmmmmmm, mission creep. :)

damn you have ambition

Well got the heater box removed, you wouldn't believe the mice nests i found in that.

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me.../prepare13.JPG

You have some admirable dedication. Good luck, man.

Well yesterday I got a bunch of friends to help me with the car. I ended up taking the front bumper and fenders off, after taking the fenders off I found a bunch more emissions equipment and I was able to fully remove the cruise control. Also I removed a bunch of unesscary brackets for ac equipment, etc. Plus I ripped out the backseat and the rest of the interior trim and sound deadner.

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me.../prepare14.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me.../prepare15.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me.../prepare16.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me.../prepare17.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me.../prepare18.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me.../prepare19.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me.../prepare20.JPG

Almost time for paint I guess:)





P.S. I bought a proformance starter just like yours (just for a 350 chevy, but same company) and had it instaled today, they are awesome!

oh cool! i havent been to this thread in 2 years! when do we get to see an update? :)

Yeah, saw this, and realized I hadn't been in here in a while. Need to ditch the Fram oil filter, though. Get a proper Motorcraft filter. Wal-Mart has 'em, fer cryin' out loud. Also, you gonna change that steering wheel out for a newer style one?

Updates, dude!

Yeah my local ford mechanic said ditch it too. I have a bunch of motorcraft ones laying around that'll i'll use, the fram make nice filters for painting and engine block though :) The steering wheel will get upgraded to either a grant 3 spoke or an older style 82ish mustang one. All that i'm really been doing lately is hoarding parts I need, electric fan, odds and ends. I can't really do any body work/subframe reinforcement until my dad clears out his shop and makes the rotisserie. Oh and I will be converting it to 5 lug and putting 95ish style mustang brakes on it. If anyone knows where I can get some 5 lug crown victoria 16" steel rims I would appreciate it.

A quick check on www.car-part.com yielded a number of results for that wheel. Found some in Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh, & Milwaukee in the $40-60 range.

Well didn't do much today but at least it was a little. I was bored so I mounted my fan to my radiator.

http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me.../radiator1.JPG
http://www.oldweakandpathetic.com/me.../radiator2.JPG

Whats wrong with Fram???

Read this http://minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilterstudy.html

Funny I have been using Fram for years and still no problems, but I think I got a Guaker State filter on my Malibu right now....can't remember.

i'm still curious to see how it looks completed. :) when will you finish it you think?

Bumped this thread up, because this is fantastic and wanted to find out how the project is going :thumbsup: :suave:

Yup...I saw the thread and thought...UPDATES! Only to be let down.

Well, I commend your dedication. This thread has been up for 2.5 or so years now. If I wasn't finished within a couple of months, I'd get too bored with it and abandon the project.

Any updates though?

Not much has happened in awhile with the project. Hopefully soon me and my dad will start building the rotiserrie for it. Then it will get assembled and body work will happen. Now i'm finally getting some money saved up so I can buy a few more parts. The only crappy thing is the parts I will need soon will cost big $$$$.

Bumped this up once more, was re-reading this thread and was curious how things are going. Hope all is well MG.

W000000 HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO some progress!

On the rotisserie finally!

http://dubstars.net/merkcrap/fes/rotisserie.JPG

Nice. I wish I had room in my garage for a rotisserie. So far every project has involved much lying on the ground while something is as far up in the air on jackstands as I can get it. An unfortunate byproduct of that is sometimes I fall asleep under the project.

Been a long time since I last posted...the bottom of the car is almost ready for new pans/subframe connectors, being spending the whole summer prepping the bottom

Damn, about time we got an update. :)

show us some pics when you can....I like subframe connectors.