1985 GT build thread.

suicidekings

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Just a little update. Work has been pretty hectic so I haven't had much time to work on the car however I have just been ordering the little things. First off, when I put the pan hard bar on it presented a problem with tail pipes. I wanted to do something custom however that wouldn't work with the pan hard bar. I had to go with dumps for the time being and I really like the sound however the smell and the dust it kicks up is annoying as hell. Not to mention I have always thought this body style looked best with tailpipes.

So I pruchased tail pipes, the catch is I wanted 3". So I went with the flowmaster tails.

IMG_3234_zpsism8dbby by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3235_zpsn983wpru by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Here they are just sitting in there.

IMG_3236_zps3jeyfqod by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

I will need to take these to a muffler shop to have some more bending and manipulating done to them in order to completely clear the panhard bar. But its progress!

Also I took Scotts recommendation and purchased the solid steering shaft after some text conversations we had regarding what it did to his car.

IMG_3239_zpszqbiecrn by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Finally the only thing I really did to the car is removed the front brake lines and I am in the process of cleaning up the factory mounts and they will need to be modified to fit the new lines. Im glad I decided to do this when I did, this is one of the stock lines.... After 30 years these things are brittle.

IMG_3238_zpsmpqsvfxh by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Right now I just need to get the new wheel studs pressed in, waiting on lower control arms from Maximum Motorsports (back order) then I will have everything I need to start going back together.

I also need to figure out an adapter to get the rear hose from the body to convert into a banjo bolt style fitting. The new line has a banjo bolt but the line on the car is a double flare fitting. Im sure its just a quick trip to the hardware store for a fitting.

Today I will be securing the engine, and if I am motivated enough remove the rack, then lower the stock K member.
 
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TxFireman1972

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Which control arms are you waiting on? These are the ones I got. They were on backorder 2 months ago. I checked with LateModelRestoration and they had plenty of them in stock. Had them the next day.

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com...otorsports-Adjustable-Rear-Lower-Control-Arms

c9b33f7e-27a6-4448-8de7-11ae3c8ee1e3_zpsla3enxpw.png
 
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suicidekings

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Which control arms are you waiting on? These are the ones I got. They were on backorder 2 months ago. I checked with LateModelRestoration and they had plenty of them in stock. Had them the next day.

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com...otorsports-Adjustable-Rear-Lower-Control-Arms

c9b33f7e-27a6-4448-8de7-11ae3c8ee1e3_zpsla3enxpw.png

I am waiting on the extreme duty lowers, with sway bar mounts and spring perch delete. Since I am going with rear coilovers the adjustable spring perch on these wouldn't do me much good and I will be running too much power for these in the future.

Either way good looking out man.
 

scottL

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Glad you got the solid steering shaft & I really like those Flowmaster tailpipes. If I had the space I would have also gone 3" all the way back.
My car has a Griggs panhard bar which takes up more space than MM's & with my coilovers mounted so close to the tire there isn't enough space to run tailpipes which kind of sucks. Dumps were not an option for me so I'm running trans am style for now.

Did you get those studs pressed in yet? This wheel stud installer kit comes with free shipping http://www.amazon.com/Kastar-755-Piece-Wheel-Installer/dp/B0002SRG6Q
 

suicidekings

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Glad you got the solid steering shaft & I really like those Flowmaster tailpipes. If I had the space I would have also gone 3" all the way back.
My car has a Griggs panhard bar which takes up more space than MM's & with my coilovers mounted so close to the tire there isn't enough space to run tailpipes which kind of sucks. Dumps were not an option for me so I'm running trans am style for now.

Did you get those studs pressed in yet? This wheel stud installer kit comes with free shipping http://www.amazon.com/Kastar-755-Piece-Wheel-Installer/dp/B0002SRG6Q

The flowmaster tail pipes actually droop down and under the tank so it won't interfere with the shocks and tire. I like how it looks from the back side.

Also I took the axles to a shop, I pick them up tomorrow. I put the axle in my vice and ended up bending the vice handle... oops. (its a smaller vice btw).
 

suicidekings

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Lower control arms backordered even further :(.

I decided to just take the entire rear end out so I could install the brakes and axles.

Naked rear end
IMG_3261_zps1vvvuhi8 by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Dirty too

IMG_3262_zpstkvtf0nk by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

I did have to drill some extra holes in order to mount the brake brackets.

IMG_3265_zpscj9mkeen by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

All buttoned up!

IMG_3267_zpstfgwmhfv by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3268_zpshlkbqnst by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3269_zpsgwy2di7f by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Next step is to run new hard lines on the axle, I will need to get a new fitting on the body side to go from the hard line double flare into the banjo fitting. Not sure why its not direct fit like the rest of the system however I think it may be because the 85 had the 7.5 rear from the factory and in 86 they probably changed the fittings.

I should be able to get the fittings and hard lines done tomorrow and then be ready to put the rear end back into the car. I will be picking up an aluminum driveshaft on Sunday.
 
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suicidekings

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This weekend consisted of cleaning up the rear end a bit and bending some new rear brake lines.

IMG_3271_zpsb8cddqep by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3272_zpss9jm1ste by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3273_zpsq1ed30pj by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3275_zpsmxmwr0l7 by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

I also picked up an aluminum driveshaft this weekend as well, I am debating polishing it however we will see how ambitious I feel.

I found that the 79-85 rear brake line where it goes from the hard line to the soft line the union is different. On my MM kit I have a banjo fitting and on the body I just have a 3/16 double flare fitting. I had to search for this bracket and union from a 87-93 which I found, but it did run me $90. I thought it was steep but had to get it. I also picked up 87-93 front brake line brackets as they were different on mine as well.

I had my stock K member listed for sale on Craigslist and had a guy contact me saying he wanted to pick it up tomorrow. Keep in mind its 9pm. I say challenge accepted and get to work at 915pm.

I secured the engine

IMG_3283_zpsslzubohj by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Start moving things out of the way and finally, drop the K member.

IMG_3281_zpsu6vrg4fk by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3282_zpsrdthlcjv by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

At 1030pm I finished up.

IMG_3284_zpskhbxymy1 by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Thats it for tonight. This weekend is going to be a busy one with installing the K member. Im getting close and I'm getting excited!
 
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suicidekings

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Any reason you're not using a torque arm? Seems like that may be the only catalog item omitted from MM's "book O fun".


You are correct, that is the only item missing from the package.

I do not have a welder yet, however when I get one I will need to practice as it has been many years since I have welded anything. The torque arm requires me to weld the front cross member piece between the subframe connectors. Next reason is the exhaust needs to fit between the humps and I have a 3" custom exhaust which would need to be completely torn out and I would need to have another one made or would need to buy one. Last reason is I am not 100% certain I have the room on the axle housing since I have the slapper bars, I know I could remove them because the torque arm does the same thing however it was just another thing to think about when planning out the build.

When all is said and done it will be leaps and bounds better than where it was at, I may go with the torque arm down the road after its all back together and I get the itch to have a project.
 

scottL

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Torque arm is also on my to do list. Forgot to ask you last Saturday, where did you pick up your engine brace?
IMG_3283_zpsslzubohj.jpg
 

suicidekings

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I made some good ground tonight. I did not however take many pics during the process. So here is what I did tonight. The control arms finally came in as well as the sway bar. I found that my slapper bars hit the control arms so I took those off, I keep thinking I nee dot go with a torque arm..... who knows, maybe it will happen sooner than later.

IMG_3302_zpsiqzji3hx by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3303_zpsomr4ej9i by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3304_zpsn1lerabz by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3305_zpsnvzameof by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3306_zpswg6qi4bz by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3308_zpsgwycae9a by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3309_zpsy7jibyyc by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3310_zpsh6cm1dtr by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3311_zps2ihtkdcq by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3312_zpsvz6zck6p by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3313_zpsukzifv5n by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3314_zpsykcviwzm by |SK Photography|, on Flickr
IMG_3315_zps9tnyq5nq by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Here I mounted wheels I just picked up. I needed wheels to take the car into the exhaust shop after I'm done as well as the alignment shop. They are somewhat ugly and they have some road race tires that are almost ready for replacing however they will get me around town for a month or so. I will most likely work on refinishing these after I get my new wheels and will use them for tracking the car.

IMG_3300_zpsamcmtdsq by |SK Photography|, on Flickr

Thats about it for today, I am dead tired but pleased with the progress I have been making.
 
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MFE

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Check to be sure there are no clearance problems between the swaybar and diff cover when the suspension is compressed.
 

suicidekings

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Looking great man. Love those control arms!

Thanks Scott. The control arms were worth the wait. Cant wait to get it on the ground.

There looks to be some dirt on your axle housing!

LOL, yeah I know!!! Its all clean now though, that is where the slapper bars were mounted. Best believe I cleaned that off right away and was sure to spray wax on it as well.

Check to be sure there are no clearance problems between the swaybar and diff cover when the suspension is compressed.

I ran the rear end as far up as I could and even put the coilovers at a pretty low setting, it appears we will have no issues at all. One place I did see clearance issues was the snubbers that were mounted toward the end of the axle housings, those would have hit the newly bent brake lines so I did away with them since the coilovers have build in bump stops anyhow. I had to bend the metal up as well which Im not happy with so I will take a grinder to them to clean it up a bit.

Next up is new power steering lines as 30 years of age has made these factory lines a bit brittle. I also ordered new dust boots for my rack and pinion. I will be removing this week and cleaning and painting those pieces.

After the front end goes in I will switch to focus on the interior... I just ordered some goodies for that which you will all have to wait and see... getting excited to start to see a faint light at the far end of the tunnel... still more work to do but it appears that there is minimal customization I will need to do on the suspension from here on out. The last piece I will need to custom make is a bracket to hold the parking brake line away from the wheel. I didnt want to pay 25 a piece for the factory ford piece, will be making custom aluminum pieces.
 

Lemmiwinks

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Beautiful build thread!
Love what you're doing to your car. Will turn out great in corners!
 

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