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Topics - flylear45

2
Suspension/Steering / Ball joint replacement tips
When you rent the tool from Autozone you will run into a few issues on the ball joint job. Here's a couple work-arounds to get you through it.

First, when you try to assemble the tool to press the old one out, you will see that our ball joint is too tall for it. The tool won't fit over the stacked components no matter how you assemble them.

SOLUTION: Take out the plunger part from the threaded driving side. The tool I got just had an o-ring holding the plunger in, so it popped out with a tug after grabbing it with pliers.

This will leave a hole large enough to go over the ball joint upper stud. Next, thread your old castleated nut back down onto the stud until the cotter pin can go back in and hold it from turning. Now the tool will fit over the stud and the tool will use the nut to push on and stay centered nicely.

Next, when you go to press in the new ball joint, you will find that none of the collars fit our ball joint size.

SOLUTION: If you are replacing wheel bearings or have some old ones around........ use the inner bearing race from a Set 5 Timken as the collar!  It is a perfect fit on the tool with the thin side, and the large flat side fits  the outside of the ball joint nicely.

Neither of mine wanted to push in straight, so I had to smack the collar a few times on the side that was hanging up during the press. Otherwise, it's pretty straight forward.
3
Suspension/Steering / Sway bar bushing replacement
Helpful tip for the day. When you go after sway bar bushings,

1. Put front of car up on jackstands 

2. Loosen sway bar bushing mount bolts on one side

3. Put jack on opposite lower A-arm and jack up a couple inches

This will put slack in the side you are replacing and you can just slide the old one off and the new one on.
5
Engine Tech / Name plate on EFI problem
The bolt holes are hogged out where my name plate should bolt onto the intake.

I was thinking that I'd just JB weld them shut then make new holes.

Anyone have a better idea?
7
Body/Appearance/Interior / New wheels for the 88 TC... chrome or polished?
Now that the car is looking like something I've been thinking about a set of 'summer' rims.

I like the early Cobra-R 4 lug wheel the best.

Would it be better to get chrome or polished aluminum?  I never really have had any experience with chrome wheels.

Opinions?

Oh, it's a silver poly car. All silver, no trim.
8
Body/Appearance/Interior / Thinking of something a little different, body color side moldings. Opinions?
I always liked the black TC's the best, followed by the dark blue. I think part of the reason is that the side moldings blend right in with the side of the car.

I want to stay silver on my car, but think it will look nice with the moldings painted silver, leaving the red center strip and using red turbocoupe lettering.

This is the closest pic I could find to what I am intending. He went with a lower black stripe.

What do YOU think?



X
14
Audio & Other Aftermarket Electronics / New system for the 5.0 turbocoupe
I finally got my parts together for the carpc in the 'bird. I've been lurking over at mp3car.com for a year, and think I have a handle on what I need.

I see myself using the PC for Megasquirt and Baumann display / tuning and listening to music (of course!) along with nav and hopefully handsfree phone. (The phone part looks a bit dicey from what I'm reading in the forums.)

That said, here's the stuff I have acquired:

FOXCONN R30-D2 D510 51S based barebone ($105 including case and PS)

Selected this one for it's 2 serial ports and ps/2 mouse/keyboard to free up USB (supports 8 USB)

MEMORY 2G CRUCIAL CT25664AA800 $35.00
Approved by Foxconn for this MB


Random HDD for now until I can afford a Mushkin SSD  $48.00

Random ps/2 keyboard  $10.00

Windows 7 pro  $40.00 (3 license deal)

Mo-Co-So  Mini Touch 700 7" VGA Touch Screen Monitor  $175.00

Mo-Co-So  M2-ATX 160 Watt Intelligent Power Supply  $65.00

Chinese 25w 12v-5v DC-DC converter and 2- 5v Dynex B4port powered USB hubs (500ma each port)  $25.00 + $22.00

BLUETOOTH ASUS USB-BT211 (Came free with 1/2 height PCI wireless card)

WIRELESS LAN EDIMAX EW-7128G PCI  $20.00

EXT DVD BURNER ROSEWILL ROD-EX001  $35.00

ADESSO GP-410PB TOUCHPAD (ps/2) (Will mount in console in front of armrest)
$35.00

DIRECTED HD w/ MITCH's CABLE  $110.00

For sound I just have some Polk DB5251 5-1/4 speakers for the doors (from a previous purchase) and a pair of tweeters that came with them. I am not too picky about sound so haven't done much on it yet. I want to see how I like the output from the onboard sound before I finalize that part. I do plan on a low-mid end amp and sub, though. Looking for suggestions here.

I plan to use Riderunner software frontend (with voice if W7 gets supported). I'll get a Andrea Superbeam USB mic when that day comes, or if I decide I can integrate my phone.

Need to buy a GPS receiver yet. I can use Mymobiler and my ATT Tilt for now until I get one. The Tilt can supply an internet connection for when I am out of wireless range.

I'm working on the power scheme, and where to ideally mount the parts to work the best.

I want to let the M2 power supply fire a relay for 12v to the 5v converter and monitor brick. I am using the 5v converter to keep the load off the M2. I also plan to include a PC power switch to override the M2 for cold weather and/or short trips. Wiring it this way will keep all the temperature sensitive stuff off until the car can warm up.

More details and pics to come. If you have any questions or comments, fire away!
15
User Rides / 1988 TC single Holset turbo 5.0/ 4R70W
Hey guys. I've been doing this build for a while, but thought I'd relate some progress.

The car is a real nice 88TC I bought in pieces. Dash out, engine, trans, fuel tank, most everything off the car except the rear end and trunk lid. I towed it home with MANY boxes of parts and it has sat here for a few years.

Recently I bought a 4R70W OD trans for it and an Explorer engine for a donor. The engine ended up needing too much, so I went with a rebuilt 87 'stang long block, using the accessories and intake from the Explorer.

Picked up a Holset 351VGT turbo and a set of BBK shorties and went to work.