More OEM Details

In a continual quest to use as many OEM parts as practical here is our latest. The instructions from Factory Five have you use toggle switches on the dash for turn signals, high beams, wipers etc. Since we were already using the OEM harness and relay controls it made sense to try and incorporate the stalk controls from the donor mustang. Mounting the multifunction switch required welding a 5" length of angle iron to the dash framework. For those wondering yes we test fit this with the body and door in place to ensure it cleared first.

Drivers Side Footbox and Fuse Panel

Normally FFR has you mount the fuse panel in a typical OEM fashion under the dash. With the easy access to the outside of the foootbox on the coupe we decided to try something different. I think it turned out pretty well.

Go Cart

We finally got all those details complete that make it a car....everything else at this point is cosmetic. First impressions....it's blindingly fast and driving my GT mustang is now sort of a letdown ;)

Here we are terrorizing the neighborhood with open headers :)

Incremental Progress


We have been trying to spend an hour or so as a family in the garage each evening. We have been making slow incremental progress on the wiring harness and power steering hydraulics. A few pics of where we are at:

Passenger side harness trimmed retaining factory disconnects and relay modules installed

Hydroboost lines

Drivers side harness still to be shortened and loomed

Power steering cooling loop

Dashboard

I have always liked the look of an engine turned panel but not the price needed to purchase one. I found a vinyl product that is a thin later of engine turned aluminum sandwiched between two layers of vinyl so you apply it like any vinyl sign material. Not too shabby.

First move under it's own power and body fitment

Today was garage cleaning day so I pushed the car out but didn't feel like pushing it back in ;)

Next we decided to try fit the body on for the first time

Vacation build

I discovered at the years half way point that I still had 25 vacation days left so it seemed like a good opportunity to take some time and play with the kids, do some sailing and put in some concentrated time on the coupe. First on the agenda was to have the drive shaft shortened from a little over 4 feet to 10 5/8 inches.

Next came a concentrated day of finishing the cockpit aluminum along with tidying up the rear harness and beginning the aluminum paneling of the hatch area. This gave the kids an opportunity to do their favorite task...riveting.

First Start

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so here you go

Taming the harness

Just a small update. A couple weeks ago I installed the radiator and the laid the wiring harness in the general location it will be installed in. My intent is to get it started in this configuration then slowly remove circuits that aren't needed testing the overall system each time I remove something. A few things discovered when I powered it up for the first time. The ABS system will not finish it's self check and i suspect the pump was damaged  in the wreck so i will need to pick up a new one or find a good used one at a salvage yard. Before first start we will need to have the computer reflashed to remove the PATS functions (antitheft that disables the fuel pump if the OEM key is not detected) and a couple emissions related items namely EGR and EVAP functions along with the rear O2 sensors.

A major milestone

Today was one of those days when you finish up a significant step in the process and it starts to look like a car. Everyone in the family was excited because today was the day we were going to install the engine and transmission. As you can see the 4.6 really fills up the engine bay and I think with the color scheme it looks pretty vintage for a modern V-8. With this complete we can now move on to wiring the car and then first start!!

Daddy's little helpers

Surveying progress

Engine and transmission mated together

Slide it in place

Touch down the eagle has landed

Transmission tunnel and emergency brake

Right at home

It may not go yet but it will stop

In addition to conducting a lesson on hydraulics and the incompressibility of a fluids we passed a major milestone today completing the entire braking system including ABS pump. We bled and pressure tested the system with no leaks on our first try.

The next item on our agenda is to fabricate a mount to relocate the handbrake to the top of the tunnel from the passenger floor where Factory Five would have you place it. We temporarily clamped the handle in place and ran the cables just to get an idea of where it will need to be. Next we need to reinstall the engine and transmission to make sure there will be no interference with the mount I am designing before I weld it up.