I just wanted to start this thread now, because there will be things that I will repair or upgrade as time allows.
I'll start off with the details of the car that I have at the moment..
I will update the info as I find more out about the car
1985 Cougar Base model W/ 5.0 V8 CFI 85,000 original miles
Built in Lorain, OH
Production line # 75962
Converted by Car Craft in 1985. It's #14 out of ??
I guess there are about 16 known to be made.. no one really knows for sure.
It lived it's life in Illinois at least 10 years before Bear bought it a few years ago in Florida, and that's where it's been until March of this year.
I'm also waiting for Bears official list of upgrades done to the car while he had it.
Here's a start of the list of upgrades.....
Rear end:
89 lincoln track lock from a Bill Blass Edition w/ disk brakes
CHE tubular uppers and lowers with Energy Suspension Bushings
Front End: TC and Mark VII parts with Energy Suspension Bushings
5 lug Wheels: Factory 16-195 Cobra's. I put brand new rubber on them before It left Florida.
The back wing w/ upper brake light came from a 92 Nissan Sentra.
Speedo was upgraded from digi to buttstuffog. Along with brushed dash bezels
Rotary AC/ Heater was upgraded from mustang, (95 I think)
pop out coin and cup holders came from a 95 Taurus
Steering wheel was upgraded to a XR7 wheel
So since I have had the car. I've had to put in 3 point seat belts to pass safety inspection. So I didn't have to cut the original panels in the back seat, I decided to mount them to the floor to pass Inspection. They will probably be moved once the car goes through it's make over.
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o434/SDaminski/85%20vert/fixin%20things/IMG_5252.jpg)
I also did the usual tune up/ timing and routine checking of the car after it's 1000 mile journey across the east coast.
here's the pic of that day with all the connected to the motor.
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o434/SDaminski/85%20vert/fixin%20things/IMG_5296.jpg)
Also put an exhaust system on it to pass inspection.
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o434/SDaminski/85%20vert/underneath%20on%20lift/IMG_5257.jpg)
Here's some more pics of what bear had done to it.
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o434/SDaminski/85%20vert/underneath%20on%20lift/IMG_5253.jpg)
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o434/SDaminski/85%20vert/underneath%20on%20lift/IMG_5254.jpg)
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o434/SDaminski/85%20vert/underneath%20on%20lift/IMG_5256.jpg)
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o434/SDaminski/85%20vert/underneath%20on%20lift/IMG_5261.jpg)
Yesterday I put air shocks on the back. I's improved the ride tremendously, and is keeping the tires from rubbing in the wells.
heres a before
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o434/SDaminski/85%20vert/fixin%20things/IMG_5247.jpg)
And an after
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5344.jpg)
It could probably come down a little.
I also installed my Bosh light from the 80s the other day.
They still need to be wired and adjusted,
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o434/SDaminski/85%20vert/fixin%20things/IMG_5316.jpg)
That's all for right now, Mabe I'll add some stuff later tonight
Sometiems I wonder if you even get any sleep at night you have like a bajillion projects to juggle
HA! I KNEW that was the car. LOL.
Cool, congrats.
Very cool! Never seen a convertible, that must of been the conversion by Car Craft? I am starting to wounder the same thing as baxo, do you ever go to bed? lol
What are your plans for it, just a driver?
after looking at the pics again i can see where rust is bubbling threw the paint so this will be an other repair job aye?
The plans are to do some more upgrades, replace anything that needs it, and do a full paint strip and repair any panels that need it. and of course a new coat of paint.
I will drive it on the sunny days. LOL
And welcome to the site.... I see you made it over alright
A quick shot of changing the flex lines and installing new rubber inserts for the caliper bolts and brake pad retaining clips
I replaced all the flex lines in the rear due to dry rotting
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5335.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5336.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5337.jpg)
Yes I know, it's dirty. I'll take care of all that another time
Thanks, Yeah it didn't hurt to bad. I'm going to wait till I get the engine and tranny out before I start cutting metal on my project. I was planning on removing the dash but as I type this I am wondering if I should leave it in for support. I will have to at least temporary move it to get the under seat vents removed.
I really like the lines on those cars with the tops up.
Wow ic, that thing is going to be just amazing. You sir, are my hero.
Post some pics after you remove the interior and we'll see what you have, or "don't have" so to speak.
the coolest part, is the way the back window slopes back. It changes the entire look of the car
So the other day I had decided to pull the side mouldings off, because they were starting to curl, and the piece behind the door didn't match the rest.
After I got it off and started to get the 3M tape residue off the door, I realized that when the car was painted, the masked the trim and mouldings to paint the car. So now there's a n Oxford white stripe down the center of the door on a white pearl car. LOL .....I guess I'll have to put the moulding back on until I redo the car.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5342.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5343.jpg)
I've also noticed that the car is only 3" shorter then my 87. But it feels like it's a foot shorter for some reason
i miss my car .....and she looks naked with out the molding.hmmm topless and naked i like it keep up the good work bro and yes the air shocks look great
Hey, how did this get so sticky already? I haven't really done anything to it yet. LOL
I made the thread sticky where there were just two posts in it. You can't have one of your cars' threads sticky and the other one not! That's just wrong. Besides...we know you're going to tear into this one eventually, and for those that have never seen a convertible it's going to be a really great opportunity to see how it was made.
You've already attained legendary status here. I just made sure that this thread can carry on that tradition. ;)
Thanks, I'll do my best Eric.
The top replacement should be coming soon. :D
Remember Jerry, there's a certified top installer according to that site in Niagara Falls here :)
I know...makes me want one... :(
Wow nice project Jerry. I can't wait to see your progress. I'm glad someone like yourself has this car and will fix it right.
Will do. I guess I could start a thread with what pics I already took. The dash wont be hard (jinx) to get out so I can remove those vents.
@ Chuck W.
Did you get that turbo 4 put back together? I bought some motor mounts from you about 3 years ago ( I live on the west side) and I saw it but it was still on a stand.
So what are the engine plans for this one?
I have no real plans for it right now. It leaves rubber just fine the way it is. :burnout:
Besides, who wants to go light speed in something with no roof.
I'll just clean it up and make it pretty
here's a pic after I cleaned it up.
Not bad seeing the car was from IL.
(http://i342.photobucket.com/albums/o434/SDaminski/85%20vert/fixin%20things/IMG_5319.jpg)
man, it still baffles me why they have AC on a convertible..... :confused:
I actually used it while the top was down. It gets real hot sitting at a signal. :hick:
LOL, try that in a black car with one window down cause your passenger side motor doesnt like the heat, in pants and long sleeves. Going to try and fit the A/C this summer though.
The engine bay looks good. You may want to do a stock HO conversion to the 'Vert ie SEFI HO ;)
lol plus the wind gets coold down on those hot dry days and feels o so good ....tear
A/C was standard on the LS, so that's why mine had it. The PEP packages usually included A/C also, and those were popular back in the day. I really can't recall seeing a convertible without factory air, in fact. However the cars were shipped to Car Craft, that's how they chopped them. :)
When I first got my convertible in '96 the A/C worked great. Then the next summer it lost the freon and I never fixed the system. It was kind of nice to have with the top up, I will admit that. Now that it's removed from the car, trips are very, very hot depending on the time of day I'm travelling. Sometimes I wish it was still in the car...
I gotta say very nice and under the hood looks alot like how my bird did when i brought her home. And is it just me or does she look like a bird when the tops up=]
Some pics of the vert today. I figure I have absolutely no before pics of my other car, so I'm taking pics of this one before.
Anyone interested in how it was chopped, and what it looks like from the inside?
Here's some pics..
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5606.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5607.jpg)
Behind the back seat. the cars in 86 didn't have this plate.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5609.jpg)
This is where they cut the back seat and welded it back together
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5610.jpg)
The official Car Craft plate and door tag
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5611.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5612.jpg)
The original Ford tag covered by weather stripping. I'm pretty sure it's just rubber inner tube
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5613.jpg)
Custom side panels covering the lift cylinders. they're all made from sheet metal and covered in vinyl
Back window switches and speakers.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5614.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5615.jpg)
The subframe connector
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5623.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5624.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5625.jpg)
The door and roof chop.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5626.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5627.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5628.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5629.jpg)
inside the rear quarter panels
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5631.jpg)
Here you can see where the seat belt cane through the pillar trim
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5633.jpg)
Looking down inside the quarter panel
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5634.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5635.jpg)
This confuses me, why are the window switches in this way, and opposite in my 87.
I keep trying to push the switch the wrong way to open it. and everytime I do, I think the motor died. LOL
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5636.jpg)
And more stuff behind the back seat.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5637.jpg)
Notice the creative use for spray can caps protecting the top from the shocks.
apparently it came that way from Car Craft
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5638.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5639.jpg)
There you have it. A quick little tour of how it's made
And My new cool vert pic of the month
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5595.jpg)
cool tour thanks.. Looks like a fun car to own
lmao jerry i thought my spray cap idea was the bomb i replaced the rear shocks and the original ones they cut the the rest of the rod off so it wouldnt hit the top and was a bi#ch to get them out i had to cut the plastic boot and put visegrips on the cylynder to hold it wile i took the nut off.and i didnt want to go through that again so i instald covers so i didnt half to cut the rod...so u should be thanking me becouse didnt u just put air shocks on her....lol can i buy her back now
Well, then
you are the man. The shocks came right out in about 2 min.
Sorry, I haven't got tired of it yet. But you'll be the first to know when I do. ;)
An action shot of the top going up.
And yes, It's in need of a new top
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5641.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5642.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5640.jpg)
is that a J-D L100 sitting there?????:D
And it's shots like this that reiterate that the 94-97 Cobra wheels are some of the best-looking factory wheels for these cars. They flow VERY well with the lines of the car.
Also, you Jerry...I'm SERIOUSLY fighting the urge to hunt down a 'vert...
Agreed.
Thanks for the pics ;)
LOL
You know, I have the pattern for a vert sitting right here. We could make them all day long.
I do love those wheels on it too
Man, chuck I think if you had a vert you would end up building a tube frame for the chassis. every convertible I have ever ridden in felt like it was about to break in half while going over diagonal speed bumps and things of the like.
This car takes pot holes and bumps like a tank , with no noticeable flexing. It actually rides like I remember my 87 being. And since I put the air shocks on, it's given the car a lot firmer ride, which I like in a car.
When I redo the car. I'm going to put a full boxed frame on it. right now it has a gigundous U-channel frame on it. which means it will support the weight between the front and back without flexing, but when you change the direction of the stress on the frame on a down ward pull, like when jacking it up in the center of the frame, you will see the door gap open up to almost 1" at the top of the door next to the handle. You can actually see the entire car arc as you jack it up.
I think it needs something like this.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/frame%20rails%20and%20connectors/IMG_3396.jpg)
Just wondering but did any of the Cougar 'verts have dual power seats? I see that Car Craft used the space for the passenger power seat control for the top and rear window controls.
I would think that the pass seat would have the switches relocated to the side of the seat if it was powered. (if there was one)
It may have been possible. I do know of at least one XR7 convertible that supposedly had a power top switch placed next to the power antenna switch, beside the steering column. That would have left room for dual power seats although I can't confirm that it did (never saw the car in person). Otherwise it seems that Car Craft used the passenger power seat switch for the top mechanism (with one of the tracers removed) in all other cars.
Here is another known XR7 convertible with the console switch:
(http://www.coolcats.net/ximages/xr7conv_console.jpg)
So only one Cougar vert had dual power seats, maybe. Kinda rare on a rare car ;)
Well, it's officially mine. I got the vert title back from NYS. I was a little worried with the photocopied bill of sale (that they wouldn't originally take), and the almost 3 month wait for the title transfer.
Jerry, Well then congrats on getting your New Title friend. ;)
Thanks Dan, It was worth the wait.
Todays action shot.
Grabbed a couple pics of the steam coming off the roof after the big rain we had.
As you can see by the beading water, I waterproofed the top. It no longer leaks badly. just a couple of drips from where the window moulding is worn. I admit that I was very worried about the stories of these cars not being very waterproof, but after the insane downpour with 45 mph winds that we had last week, I'm no longer worried about the lower half of the car filling up with water. It's definitely water tight.
I can now check that off my list for this year.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5722.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5721.jpg)
The other day I was evaluating the work for the Vert. It's gonna need some parts for sure.
Fortunately I have acquired lower quarter panels to use as replacements if if comes to that.
This is what I'm looking at on the drivers side. the pass, side is somewhat the same.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/paint%20and%20body/IMG_5915.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/paint%20and%20body/IMG_5916.jpg)
Here you can see that the filler is so thick that it's cracking off in chunks.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/paint%20and%20body/IMG_5918.jpg)
This is how thick it is. I'd say it's about 3/8"
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/paint%20and%20body/IMG_5917.jpg)
Not sure if I mentioned that I cut the door jambs off the parts bird to use on the vert.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/parts%20bird/chopped%20up/IMG_5759.jpg)
I've also acquired another decent set of red door panels for the inside. Formerly from another Cougar Vert. (what are the chances of that :D)
pics to follow later
I also found the front moulding for the front of the drivers side.
now have spring hinges for the hood.
Also have a full (correct color red) center console with storage tray until I change over to a floor shifter.
So I'm almost done with the parts search for this car. All I need now is a power antenna, a new top, and some weather stripping.
This project should go a lot quicker then the 87, seeing that everything has already been upgraded for me.
I've decided to also paint the car black, seeing that I have enough paint to paint both cars now. lol
That's all for the update this month.
got some new to me parts for the repairs.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5941.jpg)
rust free parts at that
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5942.jpg)
And when I fill this trunk up with enough parts. It will be time to start this project.
What do you know....... almost full. LOL
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5943.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5944.jpg)
What's with all the bondo?:hick:
The best that I can figure...... It was totaled in an accident and repaired under a rebuilt title in the Chicago area. there's a lot of welding inside the trunk-well and behind the back seat on the drivers side. I think some of it was rust repair during the collision repair. It must have got smacked behind the door. We'll get into all that when the car comes apart. Should make for another exciting project. :D
The rebuild title went away after it left Illinois and got re-titled in Florida. My NY title also doesn't have a rebuild brand on it either.
or
The carfax info was wrong, and it doesn't have a rebuild title on it from Illinois. Bear also knew nothing about it when I told him.
What to believe.........
any progress on the project? i would love to do one of these one day
Alan
Sorry, where won't be any progress until the other project gets finished.
This was sort of a sneak peek of my next project
While I had a few minutes. I decided to see what the problem was with the top not going up or down....
found the problem... boy does this leak. the down side.... it costs $139 per side to put the top up and down with a switch. The up side..... I rust proofed the entire inside of the floor using this cylinder and about a gallon of fluid.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_6621.jpg)
I'll be doing some odds and ends in the next few weeks to get it ready for the season. I'll have a few updates here
All the people that say, "Sure wish I had a Cougar convertible"...they have no idea how much financial pain comes with ownership. ;)
yea, it's fun..... can't wait to replace every single piece of weather stripping on the car, That they don't actually make for the car. I also have a wiring short in the back going to the pass side quarter window. only goes up when it's sunny out. lol
and the car dies when you turn the headlights on, and drains the battery. (Alex found out the hard way)
also got a complete set of door panels I'll be installing soon. Yes, this is a repost from the last page, but they're actually getting installed this time
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_5943.jpg)
upgrade time..
out with the old
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_6654.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_6655.jpg)
and in with the new...
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_6656.jpg)
Come to find out, that the interior door panels that were on the doors did not match. they were close but the design was different one had power locks and the other didn't.
Looks much better.I'd like to have some solid,light gray TC style door panels for mine...in mint shape.Since that'll never happen,I'll stick with the ol' tried and true......from your parts car.LOL.
I also found the lift cylinder (thanks to Eric) for the top. it should be here by Tuesday.
That set me back $139 for one side. But it sure beats straining my peanuts to put the top up. lol
True....And if there's one thing I hate,it's strained peanuts.LOL.
sorry to hijack the thread but what is the exact color name and code to the console that eric posted of that XR7
i need to paint the ashtray lid and dont want to mismatch the colors
thanx alot
Btw nice vert Jerry congrats on your title
Got the cylinder in, filled the pump....... and BAM, the other side slipped out of the pins and pierced a hole in the other lift cylinder. Guess I have to spend another $139 for another one.
I didn't notice that the other side was missing a pin to hold the lift cylinder, and it turned sideways,and got punctured by the 1 pin left in the frame. Fortunately, I found the other pin on the bottom of the 1/4 panel and wedged along side the wheelwell.
everything was working great until that happened.
Here's a pic of the inside of the 1/4 panels. you can see all the reinforcing that Carcraft ah done, and all the custom made brackets and limit switches for the windows.
here's the side I just punctured.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_6693.jpg)
Here's the side I just replaced.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_6695.jpg)
And here's the insane jumble of hoses and wires that make 1 window and 1 lift cylinder work
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_6694.jpg)
Got another lift cylinder delivered today. We'll try a 2nd take on the top repair. I hope nothing else breaks this time. (yea, right). lol
Another update on the vert. It's inspection time in April, and it's now exempt from emissions. Headers and dual exhaust will be installed this summer. And cat free from now on. (yay) :burnout:
I didn't see this thread until now...sorry to hear about the other cylinder, Jerry. Sucks that you had to spend the money, but at least you have a brand new pair now. Those will be next to go on mine, can guarantee it now. ;)
Yea, it was my fault for not checking the other side before I let the top down, but your right, now there's 2 new ones in that will probably last another 25 years.
I also got a price to get my seats re-upholstered. about $50a seat, and I buy the materials. (so they match the doors, back panels, and boot)
Got a guy at FEP that said he could match the original color for me. I sent him a sample of the seat material today.
Groovy. Canyon Red was used in Mustangs/Capris so it's readily available. That's a good price.
Chock me up for hating strained peanuts, too.
Strained peanuts...... eeewwwwwwww
I'm also going to have them done so they look a little more like todays interiors, I hate all that piping around everything.
installed the new lift cylinder (again) today
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_6751.jpg)
Started planning for the 3 point seat belts today. I think I can get them behind the side panel, with out having to remake them. If I keep them down on the floor in an upright position, the panel will be flat on the retractor.
I'll also have to make a mounting bracket for the upper mounting bracket. but I haven't figured out where I'm going to put it.
Either down low
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_6754.jpg)
or try to put them up higher toward the top of the 1/4 panel.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_6752.jpg)
That's all for today. Probably more planning tomorrow.
oh yea, the top now works using a switch. ;)
How about a custom roll bar (or "sport" bar) like can be had for the convertible Stangs?
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
no.......... not that....
lol
so jerry do you always give your phone some pic time lol.
Sure why not, I'll take a pic of almost anything.
So I decided to mod, the mod of the vert. The car originally had 3 pt safety belts, until they cut them off and made them into lap belts. Personally, I don't have that warm and fuzzy feeling while I'm driving the car without the shoulder belt. Which is really odd, seeing that when I first started driving, seat belts weren't even legally required, and I never wore them. I must be getting old. lol
So anyway, I guess this is the official start of Evolution II. There's a lot of things that need to be done on the interior of the car, so I decided to address those things first. Next winter, I'll probably start the body work, and restoration. I will not be doing any mods to the motor, except headers, and a dual exhaust. I'll also be cleaning it up, and the usual, replacing any gaskets, and minor maintenance.
With that little summery out of the way, on with the project.........
I put a lot of thought on how I was going to install the seatbelts for almost a year now. I decided to use the original retractors and mounting locations wit a few minor mods.
1. the car no longer has a place to bolt the retractors, so I floor mounted them close to the same area where they once were.
2. There is no upper mounting location for the belt to be attached too. I must make one. (oh fun)
after collecting all the necessary parts to install the seatbelts, I decided that today would be the day to start the mod.
first After some more thinking, and a last minute change in design of the upper mounting ring, I started...
Here's the new area where the upper ring will be attached. I changed this idea 2x before I went with this design.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6755.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6758.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6760.jpg)
making sure the rear panel still fits
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6759.jpg)
A dry fit of the parts that need to be bolted
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6758.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6761.jpg)
Everything bolted down
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6763.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6764.jpg)
Need to install these to keep the belt from falling on the floor in the back.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6765.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6766.jpg)
Now i need to figure the correct area to cut a slot for the belt to come through. This seems to be the area.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6768.jpg)
A look on the inside of the maze that the belt has to follow, to get to the top. I still need to install a roller, or sled of some sort that will make sure the belt is free flowing around the corner of the back panel. I already have 2 ideas for that. but for the most part. everything is working great. I even installed the button in the door jamb to retract the belt.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6770.jpg)
Here's an idea, of how it will all look
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6771.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_6772.jpg)
It was a good start for ideas. I'm still going to weld the L bracket I made, and weld another brace frome the wheel well to the bracket, to make sure it's secure. that will be in the next part of the project. after everything is working good, I'll copy everything on the other side. It should only take a few hrs to do the drivers side, unlike the 6 hrs of experimenting today.
So that's the beginning.....
the next project after the belts, will be installing a full center console. and possibly a pass, power seat track.
isn't that going to be a pain to get into the rear of the car? and rattle in the wind with the top down when its just you in the car?
It will be no different to get in the back, compared to all the other cars. the belt folds back and you get in. There isn't really a lot of wind in the car after it hits the windshield. paper will blow around a bit , but I don't think there will be a problem with the tension on a unused belt, if there is, I'll just fold it back as if someone was getting in. The car doesn't go faster then 45 mph anyway to worry about extreme air current in the car.
Good idea dude. I think it'll work out alright!
That's about the same setup as my wife's '01 Mustang convertible. There's really no better way you could do it. I don't blame you for wanting the shoulder belts!
Ahhh....re-engineering what Car Craft did 25 years ago. Gotta love it. ;)
I felt the same way about the lap-only seat belts and changed them out for 3-point belts in 1998, while I was recovering from gall bladder surgery. It's a much more secure feeling now (and it's nice to keep my guts on the inside LOL).
In my case, I used Mustang-style belts...they mount a bit differently than the T-Bird/Cougar belts, but the end result was the same:
(http://www.coolcats.net/eric/86convertible/images/2002_conv02.jpg)
This got them side-mounted and more flush with the panel, and out of the way of the top cylinders.
I like what you did, Jerry, that's a great idea.
Thanks, took a whole year to come up with that.
I really didn't want to re-do the panels back there, and I like the little armrests. I still have to think about making the belt path area, as the belt needs to have absolutely no slack from the retractor on the floor to the shoulder. If there is, the belt won't hold anyone back in the seat, which could result in death, or even worse. :hick:
I have a crazy idea formulating.
Safety inspection today. Only cost $10 for the car, now that it's 25 years old.
Oh yea, it passed too.
Jerry,I love the vert,but,never liked the spoiler.Are you keeping it or doing something a little different.I think the spoiler would look better if it went to the edges of the body without overhang,not just the width of the trunk.I did that to a Bird I had a long time ago.Regretted it.The Cobra wheels look great on a white car.What color is the vert going to be?Without having to replace every inch of sheet metal,you have a head start. I know there are some aspects that will be a different challenge than the hard top.What's in store for the engine?Will it be left pretty much as it is or do have you have supercharged,twin turbo,dual quad,EFI,CFI,6 speed,power in store? LOL.
the spoiler is coming off, and staying off until I eventually find something that could replace it. I have enough black paint to spray that car too, if I choose to.... the motor will be left as is, and I'll be putting headers and catless duals on it. other then that, the front seats are going to be re-upholstered.....I found matching NOS fabric , and have it being sent here next week. the only other mods other then the 3 point seat belts, will be the full center console. I got one that matches the inside color perfect. I will probably leave the column shift until I find the required parts for a floor shifter.
By the way, is there a way to put a gear selector indicator on a TC speedo cluster. mine doesn't have one, and I never really know where I put the shifter unless I count and step on the gas. lol
Good question about the shift indicator.I'd think that one could be integrated by cutting the small rectangle hole in the cluster and installing the indicator.I have about 4 or 5 extra clusters in the garage (Turbo Coupe clusters.....none with speedos).Do you want me to add one to the stuff I'll be sending for you to mess with?I'll be grabbing the plugs and column covers next week for you.Then I can send the care package along.Let me know what else you may be looking for.I'll try to pull the guts from an extra column shift car as well for the indicator.
Yes, if you have one to spare that I could try that on, and any extra indicator parts, that will help a ton. I also have the old parts from the bird to If I really mess things up with the shift indicator. I think they're still on the column.
This is like going in reverse of everyone else....I'm putting in a column indicator instead of taking one out. lol
I'll drop a cluster in the box for you,and any column indicator parts I can find.I'l let you know proabably Wednesday what I come up with.
Thanks, your package will be out to you on Monday. Sorry, I got a little busy last week.
I'm in NO hurry at all.I have other stuff keeping me busy.I have a local guy make a nice offer for my current engine,so,I may be swapping the new one in pretty soon...as in a week or so.That would be awesome.His (the engine's buyer) grandfather has a huge shop with every tool known to mankind,and more.It'll make the swap a breeze.The engine is ready.All I need are a couple of shorty spark plugs,throwout bearing,and fluids.Good to go.
trouble, troubles troubles,
The top doesn't want to go up all the time. it goes down , but not up every time.
Also found the problem with the back pass. window, loose connection on the relay, and bad limit switch. easy fix, easy fix.
Also is idling really strange lately. going to pull the codes this week and see what's not working this year. I already know it probably needs a new engine temp. sensor
Other then that...... I got the seat material being shipped on Thursday, and I'll be swapping the consolette for a full center console. and of course I'll have pics.
Got my material for the seats today..[SIZE="1"]yey[/SIZE]
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_6882.jpg)
finally put these on for the seat belts. still needs a little modding but It's a trial and error sort of build.. At least I don't have to look on the floor behind the seat to put on a seatbelt.
I also made a tool to take the headreasts off. a 12" x 1-1/2" strip of sheetmetal, with a rolled over top edge to push down with. Works great..
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_0135.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_0134.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/seat%20belt%20install/IMG_0136.jpg)
well, after the gear selector install. I decided to install the center console that I had sitting around since I bought the car.
so starts the rippin apart
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/center%20console/IMG_0218.jpg)
I couldn't imagine why on earth the car always smelled like a pine forest... Now I know why. lol
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/center%20console/IMG_0219.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/center%20console/IMG_0220.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/center%20console/IMG_0221.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/center%20console/IMG_0222.jpg)
Cutting off the consolette, and putting the seat back together
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/center%20console/IMG_0224.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/center%20console/IMG_0225.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/center%20console/IMG_0226.jpg)
putting the car back together
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/center%20console/IMG_0227.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/center%20console/IMG_0228.jpg)
Hey... Is this the elusive pass power seat plug?
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/center%20console/IMG_0230.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/center%20console/IMG_0231.jpg)
That's all for today. Not bad for 2 hrs.
Looking good !! I recently did the same thing to my car :D
I like it !!! Much better without the consolette. I wonder about that plug. I actually have no idea where the plug is for the passenger power seat is,and I'm going to be doing that swap eventually. Did you test the plug to see if that was it? It hit 104 today,heat index 118. I stayed in the house when I got home from work.No love for the Sport today.
That should be the main plug for the console harness...
Looks good, Jerry. I can help with the explanation for the pine air fresheners: I once got a part shipped to me from Bearmax and he stuffed a bunch of those in the box also. He must have a fetish for them. :tg:
Cool, now I need to put the power track in the pass side.
Eric, now I know why I found those pine air fresheners everywhere. :rollin: There were 3 hanging in the car when I got it and some in the trunk. but you probably already knew that when it made a stop at your house on the way up here. ;)
So everyone knows.... The inside will be redone when the car gets redone.. I separated the seat from the armrest now, because the seats will get recovered this fall when I put it away for the winter. Just putting things in and modifying now, so they can be refinished or improved on before next spring. After I finish installing the center bezel this week, the shoulder belts will be finished next so I can finally bolt the back seat in. :hick:
installed the cup holder behind the bezel today.. Now looking for some stuff to fill the bottom area. Suppose I should put a lighter or a power port in. Maybe both
(http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy121/daminc-pics/Vert/IMG_0234.jpg)
Still have to pull out the stereo so it's flush, and figure out what to do with the sprayed color of the console tray... Hmmmm
lol laugh it up guys .i have the power of pinetree air freashiners on my side ..
My stereo was back a little too.I just shimmed it with a few washers behind the mounting tabs and used slightly longer screws.Nice work.Hopefully I'll have my cup holder parts tomorrow and I can get mine done.You're still doing great.You should move down here,we'd have a blast.
Is that the plug? I will be hooking up my power passenger side seat and harness soon.
LOl, IDK.... It's still confusing to me
I gotta figure out where the plug is so I can swap the harness. Granted,I'll find out when I pull everything,but,I like to have an idea before hand.
I heard it plugged in under the drivers seat.
On early console cars it plugs in under the drivers seat , I added a passenger side power seat to my 84 TC about 19 or 20 years ago.
Consolette cars I think the connector is under the carpet .
So I had to find out....
It all started out harmless enough.
remove some moulding, remove some bondo, remove some panels........Wait a min....... that's way more then I expected to do...lol
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0611.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0612.jpg)
Apparently, It's easier to slap a barrel of bondo on something instead of actually fixing something..
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0613.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0614.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0617.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0618.jpg)
so I got out my trusty hammer and chisel......Holy .
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0620.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0621.jpg)
I'm actually replacing the fender, but I had to know how much filler was on it.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0622.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0623.jpg)
So with that done to the point to satisfy me, I moved forward with the investigation...
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0624.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0625.jpg)
to my surprise, the door bottoms are in great condition
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0627.jpg)
so I kept on down the side of the car.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0628.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0615.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0616.jpg)
By this time I was set to try and do something about the horrible bodywork on this car..
So I started with the fender
to my surprise, I found this taking the wheel off
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0629.jpg)
I guess in the grand scheme of things, a mushroomed lug bolt is the least of my worries..lol
This is one big gobbin tire if I must say.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0630.jpg)
started removing the inner and outer fender....some pics of that....
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0631.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0632.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0633.jpg)
And again to my surprise, I found very little rust on this car.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0634.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0635.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0636.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0637.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0638.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0639.jpg)
Looks as though this rebuild will be a piece of cake...
New, old rustfree fenders
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0640.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0642.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0641.jpg)
and bolted on the car to size up the damage on the door
I'm kinda liking this brown color. lol
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0643.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0644.jpg)
so here's what we have. 1 pretty crunched door.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0646.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0647.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0648.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0649.jpg)
and while I was at it.....I found a ton more filler on the back for no reason at all.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0651.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0652.jpg)
here's my replacement panels for this end of the car
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0653.jpg)
and another door jamb to fix the rust holes
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0654.jpg)
So that's my story for today. Looks like a nice and quick strip and repair so far. Way less repairs then my 87.
I have a few options to repair the door.
1. pull it back out with a stud welder and do a lot of hammering and shrinking...
2. get another door to replace it...not forgetting that I need to chop the top off the door, and do all the custom work to make a replacement convertible door.
3. get another skin from a rustfree door, and replace it. and pay to have someone find it, cut the rest of the door off to make it lighter and smaller, and ship it to me without damage.
I'll be thinking about what to do as I'm stripping the paint off the entire side of the car, which will be next on the list. I guess this is the official start of the E2 restoration... Should make an exciting winter for all...
until next time...
Hey Jerry, just to let you know...when my convertible got stripped down we found a lot of bondo in the rear quarters as well. Technically it should only be at the top, where the factory roof was chopped, but I did find some lower. Not nearly as bad as what you found though. I think that Cat gave up a few of its lives before...
Oh man! Updates on the convertible! Glad to see you get started on this one.
Obviously, you need someone more interested in the mechanical stuff to help you finish the 87. I wish I was closer, I'd be over there buttoning that up right now. :)
Keep it up!
I figured you'd finish the '87 first. A little back and forth doesn't hurt. Compared to the '87,this is cake. Good luck. I'll bet you won't need much. I'll do what I can when you do need them. Go ONYFTA !!!!
All the filler so far, seems to be right under the pearl paint. So it was definitely after the chop.
According to the carfax report. It seems that it has about 6 lives left.
I may strip the entire side tomorrow. So we'll see what else we can find under there
I need some parts first. gotta save up. plus I got an intake on it's way for Christmas. also need headers and a full exhaust, hard Fuel lines for the engine bay, all that good stuff.
I have everything for the vert, so it's kinda free right now
Hey, good to see that fender lined up good. The brown on those fenders was the only "good" paint on that car. Let me know if you need help finding anything. I am setup alot better to do that kind of thing now. There was a nice 83 or 84 thunder bird with 35k on it with a good vent window. I don't know what kind of trouble converting it to a convertible would be though.
Start making your list Jerry.I'll get what I can for you.
Thanks guys, I think the only thing I may need would be a door skin off a rust free car. But I think I can pull it all out without any problems.
Other then that, I don't really see anything I may need for this car. Everything is there. the inner lips on the doors and trunklid are pretty nice. It just has a real py paint job with poor bodywork on it... This is a gem compared to the 87 and I'm sure others would have sped it. But being #14 of 16 made.....I would never do that. Besides... from what I have heard, This car and another, are the only ones accounted for out of those made in 1985, So I must restore it back to it's original beauty. I think I could probably have it ready to paint by summer if this is the worst of it. I think I'll start to strip the rest later today.....stay tuned
Did a little more work today
removed some stuff so I can strip the paint off,
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0662.jpg)
May need a new one of these..
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0664.jpg)
A view where the chopped off the upper half of the door, filled it
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0666.jpg)
Glad I bought those new chrome mirrors during the summer.. Thanks Eric, that Ebay store really helped a lot of people out.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0667.jpg)
Removing the 1/4 window chrome.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0668.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0670.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0671.jpg)
So I need another limit switch for the 1/4 window, but I can still make it work for right now..lol
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0673.jpg)
So I stripped almost all the paint off the side of the car.. Took about 3 1/2 hrs to do this
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0675.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0676.jpg)
Here's where they chopped the top and welded some 1/4" to the top of the cut and bondo'd it..I took out 1/2" of filler here...They really didn't need that much to do the job.. There should be more of a body line when I get finished up here. I'm going to fix this up better then the way they did it.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0677.jpg)
Overall, I thought there would be a lot more rust, and holes. This will all be pretty easy to repair.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0678.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0679.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0680.jpg)
Next time, I should have the new panels welded on and ready for filler....
Possibly next weekend
For spending time in Illinois that car is pretty solid underneath. Then again I think you have more salt in Buffalo than we do here ;). I'm really glad my car is from California. I'd be in trouble if I bought a car from the Chicago area that wasn't garaged over the winter.....
I'm guessing that this car didn't see a lot of winter driving... The rust holes are probably from the 1/4 windows not being sealed very well. the window on this side is in crooked, and the dew wipes are not touching the window near the Pass. door, and the salt air and rains from Florida didn't help it. The car was in Miami for a bit in the early years of 2000.
Awesome fast work !!! Are you going with the factory color?
Not sure what color yet....It needs to go good with a red interior though
Awesome work, gotta keep that red interior :) there's not many of us around here that stick with it lol
Kind of a Burgundy metal flake that has a slight tint of copper in it. Hard to explain,but I know what I mean.LOL.
Definitely keeping it...I even found more to redo it...lol
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_6882.jpg)
Black will work too, I got 2 more gallons...
thinking maybe a black cherry....
A lighter color would be good to.
That photo looks familiar...LOL.
(http://www.coolcats.net/eric/86convertible/images/2001_conv02.jpg)
Jerry, a word of advice if you will...the area on the quarter panel where the roof was chopped off is very, very sensitive to paint and body filler. That's usually where paint stress-cracks. When my car got redone, we were careful to put the bare minimum of body filler, primer and paint there. And it worked great. Until the next summer, when there was a little more work done over there, and both quarter panels got re-clearcoated. Almost immediately after that, they cracked again. REALLY peed me off but since stress cracks in the paint are the "norm" for a convertible, I learned to live with it.
LFMF. ;)
Yea, I got those cracks.... I also burned off 1/2" thick patch of filler there too.. They just filled the curved body line . If they did a little more grinding on those welds, they wouldn't have needed so much filler. I still can't believe how little rust I found on the car..It was mostly all bad body work that made the car look so bad. We won't even go into the poor paint job.... lol
Are you going to stiffen the car like the '87?
In what way? It already has a 2x3 frame under it, and a CHEs in the back.... I could weld some rails to the rockers I guess.
It must not have. From what I've seen these cars tend to rust out the frame rails pretty bad when exposed to salt.
yea, I've seen that somewhere......
So I take it the white won't be going back on?
I really like white, especially with the red interior, but I know its not for everyone.
White is still an option...It's hard to tell what the car will look like in another color....There aren't a lot of them around to see if the color actually will look good with the red interior.... As far as I can tell... There aren't any verts that are black with a red interior. Black would look good with all the chrome. I would also like to find some chrome or stainless rockers for it too....So many decisions.....lol. At least I'm not rebuilding the entire car.
No chance of that happening.....
Do it, you need more practice!!
lol... You're funny
Today's fun
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0703.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0704.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0705.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0706.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0710.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0709.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0713.jpg)
I should be able to weld everything back together tomorrow
Today's progress....I was slackin today, and only got this far.
I really hoped my 87 would have been this quick and easy
Looks like there won't be much filler on this car either
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0714.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0715.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0716.jpg)
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(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0719.jpg)
Nice progress! I wish I could "slack" like you.
Looking good!
A little work today
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0749.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0750.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0751.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0754.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0755.jpg)
When you're finished with this one are you going to find another to redo? You do such nice work!
Wow. You are the metal master! That looks amazing. Well done. Can you tell me what kind of welder you have? I'm looking to get a welder. Do you STICK or MIG or TIG weld? What is the brand and Amperage of your welder?
Thanks!
I have a Lincoln 130C MIG with gas. it has no presets on it. I think it's now a 135C (maybe a 140)
You need to use .023 wire for sheet metal. and the gas...
Not unless someone pays me to do one. I wasn't planning on restoring 2 of them when I signed on for this....lol
Hey, It gets you out of the cold and snow.
With those skills you could open a shop to restore peoples cars. But it might not be fun anymore if you did.
did some playing around today.
removed the rear bumper cover to reveal ancient technology..... A punch card taped the the bumper reinforcement.... This could contain the secrets to the future, or answers from the past.... We may never know.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0820.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0821.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0822.jpg)
After my amazing discovery today, the rest of the day seemed pretty average..
Testing out an idea for a new hood..
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0814.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0816.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0815.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0817.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0818.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0819.jpg)
Then back to the weekend project..
need to fix a couple holes, but not bad considering the age of the car from the north.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0823.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0824.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0825.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0826.jpg)
A few more days on this side, and I can epoxy prime it... Then on to the other side.
Hope everyone had a good holiday..
Lookin' good so far. So this is the 1st time I've heard of a "punch card"...what exactly was their purpose? Were they like a build sheet?
Maybe the workers punched the options into that card as it went through production, then fed it into a UNIVAC computer and it spit out the build sheet. Who knows! Fascinating...
Let an ancient member help you interpret the IBM card.
The top row of unlabeled holes is the 12 row.
The next row is the 11 row.
The rest of the rows are labeled 0-9.
The card has 80 columns
One hole per column in the 0-9 is a number.
Two holes per column is a letter.
12 + 1-9 is A-I
11 + 1-9 is J-R
0 + 2-9 is S-Z
not to nitpick, but have you ever considered picking 1 of these up? it would eliminate the need for a backing plate.. looks great though, again, not trying to nitpick.. i have 1 of these and love it.. it haso has a hole puncher on the opposite side of the head ;)
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-punch--tool-1110.html
(http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_4.jpg)
I got one, but the backing plate will ensure that the panel won't warp... acts as a heat sink. If you use that tool it won't fit behind existing panels that are already welded, like next to the wheel well... plus you can only use it on flat panels, not curved panels like the lower parts of our cars, they will distort and warp before you even start welding them... it does has it's place though.....I use it where I can, and always use it to punch hole. give it a try.... you'll use a fraction of the filler when your done....My 87 has about a half a quart of filler on the entire car... just remember that every time you use it, you distort the panel your working on to some degree....
yeah, to prevent serious warping when using the tool, i usually snip a piece out every couple inches, just a little 1/8" piece.. it really helps and the little bit i do get, i knock out with a hammer/dolly before i start tacking the patch in
everybody has their own way of doing things... I've been doing it this way since the mid 80s... High end shops will still do it this way, unless instructed to "butt weld" the panels by the customer. it's very quick, with no warping, tapping, straitening, or fixing. If the end product comes out the same, then that's what is important...
pretty much, it doesn't matter how you do it as long as it's done right, straight and doesn't require a gallon of bondo :hick:
IBM card
So what is the purpose of this card on the line? And I will decipher it tomorrow.
I'm sure it will say "be sure to drink your Ovaltine"
funny, i just burnt boxes of them just today. They were from the old "Bell Atlantic" days tied back to AT&T long distance calling.
Record keeping that isnt all that easy to delete if you ask me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5OWoG44VAw&feature=related
^ lmao
Got my rear replacement lights today....I also got a gallon of DTM Epoxy Primer today too.
A little buffin, and they will look good as new
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0839.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0838.jpg)
Well I guess it's that time of year again..... car time..
I found another hole. What are the chances.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1085.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1086.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1089.jpg)
trunk looks better without the wing already
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1090.jpg)
anyone want this thing?..... it's out of here.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1091.jpg)
and some pre-fabing before the welding
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1092.jpg)
Jerry, thanks for getting rid of that spoiler. You don't know how much that means to me.
Also, is that Pepsi can going to be used for the patch panel?
If I have to use the can, I will
Your cars are lucky to have you as an owner!
Thanks... as the owner, I'm not sure I'm so lucky to have these cars.. lol
The end results you get have to make it worth it though.
A little more today.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1097.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1098.jpg)
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(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1103.jpg)
Cake walk compared to the '87. Glad you're making some progress. Are you keeping the car white or going with something a little more ............not white?
I'm thinking... kinda white.. Maybe like a french vanilla white
I decided that the car will be factory Ford Oxford White. The bumper covers will be matching in color. No bumper black... No side moulding between the wheels, and insanely shiny like my 87..... Top will stay black and be replaced. interior will stay red and get Recovered.
You're leaving the rub strips between the bumpers and wheel wells on right?
That sounds good Jerry. Tint the windows to tie it all together. No spoiler?....or are you going with a different style that it came with when you got it? I'm starting to get spring fever....now to get funds together so I can actually take advantage of the illness.
no spoiler, and probably no window tint,,, the top is only up if it rains while I'm out, or parked during winter.. all other times, it's got the top down. The vent windows would look a little weird being tinted I think.
You may be right about that. I forgot about the vent windows. O.K., forget the tint.
I'd like to score some rocker chrome though
Sooooo....kinda like this?
(http://www.coolcats.net/eric/86convertible/images/1997_conv01.jpg)
That was Eric circa 1997. ;)
yep, kinda like that, with a little more chrome.. it's funny how the front bumper cover makes the car look totally diff, compared to the one with the fog lights
a little filler. I will probably have to replace the doorskin, and hopefully not the entire door.. It's got a lot of problems that I don't want to get into right now.. the rest of the car has to be stripped and repaired..... probably next winters work. But for right now it's getting patched and epoxied for summer so I can still drive it....
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1256.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1255.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1254.jpg)
Nice work Jerry-meister. The Sport will be going through a lot of that soon enough.....again. Ont the vert, you're in no hurry, and every little thing that you do is still progress. Again, nice work.
I'm still scratching my head at that rust hole spot...what a strange place for it.
LOL.... which hole? there were plenty on that side so far
Vinnie, I think you let the cat out.......
What cat? There's a cat? I don't have a cat. Can't confirm nor deny.
do you want a cat?.....lol
Great car. Its going to be neat to see how it looks after you work your magic!
BTW,, the stainless fender mouldings on the hood of the vert are from my Lincoln, after I hit 2 deer and had the car redone....
I'm also interested to see what it will look like too. Mainly the lack of rust will be a huge change in looks right off the start.
No, the Sport is plenty right now. Now, if I run across an '87 or '88 somewhere locally, I'd take one for my boy. He'll need a car next year.
Looking great Jerry.. If your going to bored this winter than we need to talk further.. I could drop off in October pickup around March.
Jerry, you should make me a set of subframe connectors that can be welded in, charge me some money, and then send them to me for the Sport.
I don't think I will be bored this winter... maybe next winter though........
I could do that vinnie..... or you can get yourself 2-5' pieces of 1x2 tubing and weld them in..
I can't find what I need around this stupid town. A welder....I got that covered. Don't they have little guide plates on the side?
Mine are cut into my front frames and welded. The rear has a plate on it..
No floor cutting. I'd cry like a school girl. PM sent.
That would work too :) I'd love to have you do it, that way I know it's done right ;)
I have an idea...... and you have a PM
We will talk when the time comes, Bob
almost time to prime... need to grind down some welds... a touch of filler... and a bit of sanding to prep the surface.
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1269.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1272.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1273.jpg)
Still a cool tread design......lol
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1274.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1275.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1276.jpg)
Beautiful !!! Doesn't it feel like you cheated compared to the '87? Too easy.LOL. I like the tires too. They look like mine. Although my rear tires have less tread.
well, I still have to do something about that door, I really don't like it.. I'll wait until I strip the other side and see if I need 2 doors before I go looking and have something shipped.... this side will sit in primer this summer. stripping the rest next winter..
Plenty of time to gather your thoughts.LOL. Now, what about number 1?
....Oh, by the way, I'm going to check on the trim pieces Friday morning. If they have them, you'll have them.
awesome.... see what condition of the doors are in.... just in case
The driver door was damaged if I remember right, but I'm not sure about the trim. On pre-'87 models, those are parts I just never look at. I should, I know better with all the 4 eyed owners here. Whatever is good I'll grab. I have the keys to the car in the console of the Sport .LOL
Primed for the summer season.... Now I can cruise to the ice cream stand and get my milkshakes again....
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1285.jpg)
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Hey Jerry, glad to se the vert is coming along nicely.It's a little piece of motivation for me and the Sport. The Vert is looking sweet. Didn't you say you were going with white paint for it?
Lol... I thought so...but now Sheila's thinking black
I (no offense intended) never liked white for myself. I like a color that can have a nice reflection to be sen in it. I'll probably keep the green on the Sport, although maybe a tiny bit darker. Black would be a great sister car for the '87. Just tell her to pick the color, then go with it. That's what I did with the Sport. I told Gayle to pick any color she wanted. The rest was history.......so to speak.
Charcoal gray=awesome.
I say look through a paint book and find something that will be all yours. Nothing else like it.
not so easy with red interior.... I'm pretty much stuck with black, red, white, or a gray
Burgundy.......lots of shades of reds that will accent the interior without blending......grays are good....lots of shades of those. Check 'em all out. You have a lot of time to decide. Like I said, I made it easy on myself...I told Gayle to pick any color she wanted and let the problem be on her shoulders.LOL.
ever think about a nice dark metallic silver, its a pretty color (but again thats my opinion :D)
started putting it back together....waterproofed the top, caulked the holes in the trunk lid. charged the battery..... and she started right up.. So far it, it looks a ton better just in primer, and no rust
I found out today that you can use an air cleaner of of 3.8 CFI on a 5.0 CFI. I was tired of it sucking hot air from the engine compartment.
Out with the old...
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1301.jpg)
In with the older. Originally of my 87. needs some painting though
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1302.jpg)
broke out one of my NOS mirrors... only because 2 of the 3 bolts were broken off the original mirror. either way looks much better
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1303.jpg)
Should be back together tomorrow. doesn't look to bad for a matte finish
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1304.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_1305.jpg)
Looks like its milkshake time?
Totally...he needs some dark shadow grey metallic on that 'vert.
Well, I guess it's time...... I found a retired guy that does upholstering. he said he would charge me something like 50 a seat. I actually found matching material last year. so it's finally getting done.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_0380.jpg)
good time to do something with this carpet too
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_0381.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_0382.jpg)
got to take the tracks and all the other stuff off for the guy first.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_0383.jpg)
finding this was like finding gold.... well, in a roll of course.. lol
looks like a different color here, but it's a perfect match...
Non-porno red
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_6882.jpg)
NICE !!!! That shade of red looks great. So, I'm guessing it's the vert's chance for some love, or is this just a "do it and get over with" for the seats? What's left for the black Cougar at this point that stands in the way of the vert getting it's makeover?
The Sport's seats will be recovered this year,and will be done in black and grey.
Ah yeah...I remember all that stuff from my car. Canyon Red is a much more forgiving color than Scarlet.
Cool, glad to see some progress.
I had planned to have it done last year but the guy was busy. the seats are horrible to sit on the way they are.... and i love my red interiors. every vehicle I ever owned had red...
The 87 needs the TV cable installed, and the shifter gerbil balls reworked. then I have to find the leak in the steering rack, and either repair the radiator, or get a new one..... that's really about it.
yea, I like this color a bit better. now I can shampoo the carpet.... can't believe all the game tokens under the seats either. It's like a won at the slots in there... lol
what you guys think about doing some gray with that red?... maybe the same gray as the top of the dash
Hmmm....well, I did white and things definitely contrasted:
(http://www.coolcats.net/eric/images/2000_conv02.jpg)
(http://www.coolcats.net/eric/images/2000_conv03.jpg)
(http://www.coolcats.net/eric/images/2000_conv04.jpg)
But I don't know about dark grey...maybe in the door panel inserts, but elsewhere, I'm not sure. It may be too dark. Those are the same issues I had with the Canyon interior, and ultimately I solved the problem by simply changing interior colors. ;)
I'm thinking maybe gray armrests, and the trim that connects to the door pulls.
and gray speaker grilles in the doors
If you do that whole middle section in grey (armrest, speaker grille, door pull, insert, map pocket, main door "backbone"), then yes, it will look pleasing.
Leave the top part Canyon, and leave the carpeting on the bottom of the door panel in Canyon.
If you mix and match too much grey and Canyon together, then you will lose any kind of visual impact and cohesiveness. It's very easy to do this the wrong way...I've seen it before and it can be not pretty.
I think I'll have to do some photoshopped pics of that, and see what it looks like.... scratch that. I'll have to find someone to do that for me... lol
Ask and you shall receive...
(http://www.coolcats.net/ximages/IMG_0381mod.jpg)
cool. thanks Eric
I think it may need something in the back as well
maybe a pic with just the upper middle gray like the white section on yours..
I also have a set of gray seatbelts from a vert stang with matching rear shoulder belts.
I think hints of gray may be the way to go with all that red
I'd really like to paint the car dark gray to.... so many decisions
Here you go...middle part of the door, back panel area, and I also threw in the speaker grilles because it looked "right":
(http://www.coolcats.net/ximages/IMG_0381mod2.jpg)
Contrasting seat belts are always good. As long as they're from a Mustang, you're good to go in the convertible.
Post 236 looks great!! It's the opposit of what I plan to do with my Bird.
I'm liking this one a lot more. What if the door pull was gray also? it would line things up better with the speaker on the front part I think
I like it better in all red but that's me.
K, here's the grey pull strap as requested...
(http://www.coolcats.net/ximages/IMG_0381mod3.jpg)
good call on the pull strap jerry, looks good
so anything new? i spent the better part of this week reading through project evolution and now have read through this one, i think i'm hooked. you've done an amazing job on evolution and now on evolutionII. i hope when i start on my bird i can do as good a job as you. hopefully i can start on it later this year but i've got a lot to do between now and then.
nothing new on this one... it's parked under a tarp for the winter, and the seats will be getting recovered in about a week or so..
the 87 is still getting things done to it.. nothing much to share, but I hope to back it out of the garage in the next week or 2.
A sneak peek of my seats......
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_0856.jpg)
Very nice Jerry...Keep us updated friend. :headbang:
I wanna sit on them !!!! Send them to me....when I'm done, I'll send them back.
Leather?
They look nice. I had my fronts redone about 5 years ago (they were cracked from the california sun but the backs were fine :dunno:). It's a huge improvement when you sit in the car.
it's pleather.... the same stuff that was in the car originally. same grain and texture too.
They look great. Will help finish out the car nicely.
Does the interior smell new? When I had my seats redone it smelled like a new car for a few months. Now it has that distinctive 80's Ford interior smell again. I can't describe it but my grandfather's 84 Escort and 86 Crown Victoria had the same smell.
I don't think you get a new car smell in a vert...
All I smell is canvas top.
Seats got delivered today.... Time for some carpet cleaning, and seat installing.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_1144.jpg)
I'm surprised you didn't get the Cougar emblem sewn into the headrests. That would be sweet. As they are, the seats still loom awesome.
I may not put the headrests on... the holes aren't there, so I have the option
Either way, it'll look great.
decided to install my dual power seats today. I figured whats 50 more lbs on a vert....lol
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/IMG_1152.jpg)
got the drivers seat in finally...
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/IMG_1154.jpg)
I decided to relocate the rear window switches, and the top switch to the ashtray space, and make a custom plate to finish it
Awesome !!! I do have to say, I think headrests are needed to "finish" the seats. I do want to sit in them though.
I'll see what they look like when the top is down... no big deal to put them on
I think some dye'd Halo's are in store. the seats look great Jerry
think I'm going to do some charcoal on the upper door panels.... Mabe the center console too
The more I look at it, maybe no headrests is a good thing. Clean and simple. How's the control panel for the console? Need some of my vinyl panel graphics?
the panel is decent...and also a dual seat panel
Sweet. Hopefully I'll have the Sport back in fighting shape soon and I can get out to my favorite yard and find those mirrors for your truck. In the mean time, well.....waiting.I'll pee myself if he has a Fox body out there....I'm serious.
Installed the seats today. Had to free up the tracks for the rear lift on both seats.. got them working real good too. Ended up welding the rear lift rod to the the lever on one of them... bolts and nuts seem to be the main problem on the power tracks. to much play when you bolt them together..
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_1160.jpg)
I'm going to put the switches for the top and rear windows in the ashtray space.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_1158.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_1156.jpg)
I REALLY want to sit in them now !!! I'd better stop that. If the Sport reads this, I'm finished.
i realllllllllllly want a Vert :P
Ha jerry's not perfect. He didn't hount his seat swithces yet.
All joking aside, its looking good.
I mounted the seat switches.... it's the top switch that's throwing things off....lol
I'm re-doing the visors this week too
I never got to the visors, but I finally got the rear brakes to work,
Got the car inspected, and new battery.
Now to find out why the front end pulls all over the place.. there's a lot of play in the spindles, and the struts are moving when you yank on the wheel by hand....
Looks like I may be pulling the entire front end apart next week
Bad struts? maybe you forgot to tighten a few bolts in all of the excitement. I gotta get new struts and shocks. One thing after a friggin' other lately. Hopefully your fix will be simple.
I have never touched them before....they don't seem right for the car for some reason
Did they need spacers to fit our spindles?
no Idea, but the tires rub somewhere when the steering wheel is turned most of the way.... it's getting annoying.
Did you install the TC style spindles? If so, and you have the stock Cougar's struts, you may need spacers between the strut and spindle.
it has a 5 lug swap, so still not really sure what's going on... I'll snap some pics when I get a chance later
If I rmember right and this was bearmax's car, I believe he use mark7 stuff front and back for the 5 lug. I remember it having 5 spoke gunmetal rims?
I remember some front end parts were from a TC, and some from a Mark.... not sure what parts are from what cars... I'll have pics for the weekend..
I didn't get to the front end, but I decided to get rid of these ratty looking visors
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_1256.jpg)
and make them match the rest of the interior
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/IMG_1258.jpg)
this was a practice run.... and I also put a slit on the edge by accident....I have plenty of extra material, and I think it's going to look pretty nice
I'm also going to recover the console cover to match... and maybe add a bunch of padding too
How dis you secure the material to the visor, the cloth before was inserted into the pre-cut groove in the visor. I'm trying to recover my visors and my vinyl seems to be too thick to fit back in the cutout groove or did you sew it?
I got it in the groove
Nice work. Very Nice work !!!!! I wish I had half your talent. WAIT !!! What am I saying.? I DO have half your talent !!! LOL.
got 2 rustfree door skins ready to make their way across the good old USA.......
Destination...... 85 vert in Grand Island, NY. :D
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/IMG_1398.jpg)
The door skins will be a lot easier and cheaper to ship that the doors as a whole. Quality rust free panels. Nice.
I'm hoping... lol
Back in August, I got collectors insurance for the 87, and the vert...here are some pics I took to send to the insurance company
Drivers side still needs to be restored
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3195_zpscb3944ef.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3198_zpsc4133eca.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3203_zps2519ed5a.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3205_zps12c3a5fa.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3206_zpsf885ea8e.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3213_zps332ff6e5.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3215_zps75fbac93.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3216_zps03fdb915.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3217_zpsc2b0c7f3.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3221_zps77386e85.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3222_zpsb98eff5e.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3227_zps9c843a27.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3229_zps49d7efcc.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/car%20insurance%20pics/DSC_3230_zps68a3bbed.jpg)
Part, Part, Parts.... 1 more delivery, and I can start the SEFI upgrade
After that... body work, and paint....very black paint
Nice car man !!!!! Very clean
I thought you were going with neon pink?
I decided it would clash to much with all that red inside
Have you thought about a subtler pink? This is a factory color combo built car. A one of one 1986 Lincoln Mark VII with a pink exterior and a red interior.
http://thelincolnmarkviiclub.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=518 Black is going to look cool though. It will match the 87 Cougar :D.
the vert already has the pink look in the right light... its a tricolor perl paint.... I'm going with black because there is a ton of chrome on that car...it really gonna "POP" against the black
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/IMG_3740_zpsfr5ibfzh.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/IMG_3743_zpsrk2g8rdw.jpg)
getting things ready
after looking things over...I found 2 things that arent on my vert that are on a SEFI car
this on the rear passenger side shock tower
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/IMG_3745_zpsthdiphmo.jpg)
and this little thing on the front passenger side shock tower
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/IMG_3746_zps3y0nhfqb.jpg)
what are these so I can locate them for the upgrade
Don't recognize the thing in the first pic, my 85 isn't handy or I'd go peek.
The second pic appears to be the AC WOT cutout relay - that's what's in the same location in my 85 TC (I just replaced the connector and relay, so I remember it well).
The first pic is the control valve/solenoid for the egr valve
Yep. The first picture is the EGR solenoid. The second one is the WOT cutoff relay for the A/C.
wouldnt I already have one of those for the A/c already?
well...guessing it wouldnt be the same as it plugs into the main wiring harness to the computer
If not I know they are available cheap at auto parts stores. The WOT cutoff relay went out on my Thunderbird several years ago. I only noticed it because the A/C stopped working. I replaced it and the A/C functioned again.
started yanking all the wiring, and vac lines that I wont need
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/sefi%20upgrade/IMG_3772_zpsgpvmvmfx.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/sefi%20upgrade/IMG_3771_zpsf6fpwodb.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/sefi%20upgrade/IMG_3770_zpsiribydir.jpg)
very little rust for it originally being a Chicago car...must have never ever been driven in winter
I'll remove everything from the sides and firewall...media blast, prime and paint before I start the SEFI upgrade...no turning back now
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/sefi%20upgrade/IMG_3768_zps9suifs8u.jpg)
this is the worst of it
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/sefi%20upgrade/IMG_3766_zpselxy45vb.jpg)
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/sefi%20upgrade/IMG_3762_zpshp8jc0wm.jpg)
I also found that the battery tray works on both sides of the car
de-greasing take 2
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3776_zpskrdmdfm9.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3775_zpsnrozkpps.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3774_zpscxyhs2al.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3778_zpsoir3s72y.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3777_zps0ajslqry.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3779_zps7aukvomx.jpg)
also removed all the smog ....
That's really clean for a Chicago car. Must have never been winter driven. Looks like the only sheet metal work you'll need to do is cut a hole for the SEFI airbox.
yesterdays progress.... computer and wiring harness all gone.... undercoating all gone... bumper cover gone.
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3780_zps7k0id4gj.jpg)
just about ready to get rid of the rust
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3781_zps6k7efs3z.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3782_zpstze6mavs.jpg)
now that the rust is gone and everything in the front is painted... It's time for that EFI upgrade
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/body%20and%20paint/IMG_3905_zpstbgomg4e.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/body%20and%20paint/IMG_3910_zpslcybx9nl.jpg)
YESSSSS!!!!!! I am a little bit anxious to see the pics and end results.
Right on! I'm with Vinnie...ready to see pics :)
thumbs up
I wasnt planning on the painting and rust removal of the engine compartment, but you know how these things go :hick:
I went with a satin.... I'm stepping outside my comfort zone right now.... lol
did some painting
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3968_zpssppfbxne.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3969_zpsaepzvtds.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3971_zps8qaygbgf.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3974_zps6j9p3bk4.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3979_zpstfnj9m2g.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3980_zps3tvjazaa.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3981_zpslzkqcgv1.jpg)
Time to start the upgrade
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3989_zps4ogsqs98.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3990_zpssx4szub3.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_3991_zps0qztl4gp.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_4016_zpsjtuvx3a6.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_4017_zpseidh095a.jpg)
(http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee79/daminc/85%20Vert/EFI%20conversion/IMG_4018_zpsbnwosakl.jpg)
Looks good buddy :)
You'll have it done just in time to put it away for the winter ;).
at this rate, I'll have it done in time to take it out next April. :hick:
so far it looks like it may be a wiring nightmare
Jerry, I saw the fog light covers (NOS) on ebay for $65 buy it now....shipped. That's cheap. Also, your bracket has been shipped.
may be looking for the front wiring harness, the harness that goes into the drivers side firewall, and the AC compressor wiring harness to make this work... they would have to be for an 86 5.0
I'm Back.....
After a year or so of figuring out the best way to tackle my EFI upgrade, I decided to install harnesses from an 87. Dash and engine bay....
There was way to many incompatibilities with an 85 dash harness and an 86 computer harness. Not to mention the front headlight wiring nightmare that has the old wiring that connected to the battery located on the pass side of the car.The next idea was using an 87 dash harness with an 86 computer harness.... Still a bad idea. They also don't connect together without a lot of re-wiring, and re-pinning. and the connectors are also diff between the 2. After looking at wiring diagrams for months, Mustangs included (which were closer to an 87 computer harness), I decided the only way to do this painlessly, and be able to troubleshoot future problems, was to start from scratch so to speak... So everything is now getting upgraded to an 87 in the vert. I also have parts that I can now swap between the 2 cars going this route, so in the end it was a no brainer. Today I stripped the dash and wiring out. And so begins the rest of the story
Im about ready to part out my 86 cougar, lots of miles, but ran like a top. Id imagine the 86 stuff would be easier....
probably the same as what I'm doing with the 87 stuff
Yeah, but the headlights and dash should be the same harness.
The 85-86 cars they only ran the wires needed, the 87-88 cars there are a ton more connectors and wiring to make adding options easier.
Let me know if you need anything.
has anyone replaced the dash harness before? is attaching it to the dash frame, and re-installing the dash the best way to go about this procedure?
That's the way I did mine. Best advice to give is to mount it "loosely" to the connecting points. I used zip ties that weren't quite snug the last time...so if I need to tug on a bundle an inch or so..I could.
My regret is being EVTM-illiterate, else I'd probably still be playing with the sport.
What tires & wheels, offset you have mounted on the convertible. Those look nice and beefy in the back. I would like to install the fattest that can fit under the wells and then give it a nascar kind of look with the rims and wide white lettering and maybe a little lowering.